Beef Buzz News
Andy Holloway on Approaching Annual Hemphill County Beef Conference
Mon, 18 Apr 2022 10:37:49 CDT
It's the stuff that dreams are made of- the emergence and the growth of the Hemphill County Beef Conference the 26th and 27th of April in Canadian, TX this year. What started out as a small county event back in 2015, expanded in 2016 and included not just the conference, but a trade show of about 15 to 16 vendors. From there, it has continued to grow each year.
"We have grown our trade show and we are going to have 85 of the best agribusiness trade show vendors," Holloway said. "Last year we had beef cattle producers from 12 states and 48 Texas Counties."
Holloway says the 2022 headliner will be Mike Pompeo, former Secretary of State.
"The price of our ticket will be worth ten times the amount of that ticket just to hear Secretary Pompeo and the message he is going to bring about the world events, how it is affecting agriculture, and how we can expect that to continue as we go forward as beef cattle producers." Holloway said.
Holloway possesses the desire to help cattle producers survive and thrive.
"I was a rancher myself back in the early 2000's," Holloway said. "I had 500 registered Angus cows, and I lost those cows in the drought of '10, '11 and '12."
Holloway said part of his passion for the conference comes from that experience, so he wants to help those he can influence avoid going through the struggles he endured.
'Unfortunately, we are right in the grips of the situation it was back in '11 '12, and '13, when it was so terribly dry," Holloway said.
Holloway says this is a very intentional program he has assembled.
"We have tried to focus on the right, critical issues that are facing our beef cattle producers, then we have tried to find the best speakers that can address those issues that are in the world, and we brought them in here," Holloway said. "Let me tell you, people have responded to that."
Each year, the conference starts off with Troy Applehans from CattleFax.
"Troy Applehans, who is one of their senior analysts there in Denver comes out every year," Holloway said, "Troy is a brilliant analyst and is one of the most noted CattleFax analysts and he knows that data backwards and forwards."
Holloway said Troy Applehans is skilled at speaking to cow calf producers, which is the primary target audience for the conference.
"This year, we have Dr. Sara Place following Troy," Applehans said. "Dr. Place formerly was with NCBA and now is with Lanco. I believe that Sara Place is perhaps the foremost authority on ranching and agricultural sustainability."
While the conference has highlighted the importance of sustainability in the past, Holloway said with the current drought, sustainability is day-to-day, so there will be more talk on that.
"We are going to talk about how you can improve the value of your calves," Holloway said.
Jason Barber with Superior Livestock, who was born and raised in the Texas Panhandle in Channing, TX, will be another speaker at the conference, Holloway said.
"His family are noted registered Hereford breeders," Holloway said. "He is going to talk to us about new opportunities through some new programming that ranchers can do through superior and other livestock auction markets to add value to their calf crops."
Jack Ward, CEO and Senior Director of the American Hereford Association will be speaking Tuesday evening, Holloway said, about genetic advancements that cow calf producers can take advantage of to improve the quality of their calves as well as the weights and performance of their calves.
For more details about the Hemphill County Cattle Conference coming up on April 26th and 27th, in Canadian, TX, visit www.hemphillcotxbeef.com .
Click on the LISTEN BAR below to hear more from Andy Holloway and Ron on the Annual Hemphill County Beef Conference.
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