South Dakota to Host
2019 BIF Annual Convention
Online registration, preliminary schedule announced.
Online registration is now open for the Beef Improvement Federation’s 2019 Annual Convention June 18-21 at the University Comfort Suites and Convention Center, Brookings, S.D. Hosted by South Dakota State University (SDSU), this year’s program will focus on applying technology and using “big data.”
2019 BIF Program
Activities begin Tuesday, June 18, with a Young Producer Symposium at 1 p.m. MDT. BIF President Lee Leachman will welcome attendees to this thought-provoking session, which has quickly become a favorite of the convention. The session is designed to network and equip young cattle producers with essential knowledge as they grow their role in the business. Speakers Alan Hojer, Keep Farmers Farming; Trey Patterson, Padlock Ranch; and Tom Field, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, will share insights on drafting your team, using data to build your ranch and thinking outside the box.
Following the opening reception at 5:30, the National Association of Animal Breeders (NAAB) will offer its biennial symposium beginning at 7 p.m.
Wednesday morning, SDSU President Barry Dunn will welcome participants to the first session of BIF’s Annual Meeting and Research Symposium. Themed “Applications of Technology,” the morning program will feature Mark Allan of Trans Ova Genetics, Sioux Center, Iowa, and Alison Van Eenennaam of the University of California–Davis. They will share new technologies in cattle reproduction and the correlated acceleration in genetic gain, as well as updates in gene editing. The morning will also feature presentations by a panel of elite commercial producers, including John Moes, Moes Feedlot, Watertown, S.D.; Trey Patterson, Padlock Ranch Co., Billings, Mont.; Tylor Braden, King Ranch, Kingsville, Texas; and John Maddux, Maddux Cattle Co., Wauneta, Neb.
Thursday morning’s session will focus on the “Utilization of Big Data” in agriculture, specifically in the beef industry. Mark Trotter will share an update on the latest agri-technology emerging in the Australian grazing industry. The session will include a look at multibreed genomic evaluations. Kansas Angus producer Matt Perrier will provide the morning wrap-up.
Afternoon breakout sessions both days will focus on a range of beef-production and genetic-improvement topics organized by BIF’s committee chairpersons.
BIF will recognize outstanding seedstock and commercial cattlemen, as well as those who have served the organization and young scholars during two awards luncheons. Wednesday’s honorees will include BIF’s Commercial Producer of the Year, Continuing Service and Ambassador award winners, and recipients of the Frank Baker and Larry Cundiff scholarships. Thursday, BIF will recognize its Pioneer and Seedstock Producer of the Year winners, the Roy Wallace Scholarship winners and its newly elected leadership.
An optional guests tour is planned for Wednesday, June 19, for those not attending the BIF meetings. Buses will load at 9:45 a.m. at the University Comfort Suites. Stops will include the McCrory Gardens, Brookings; Schade Winery, Volga, S.D.; and the SDSU Local Foods Education Center, Brookings. Buses will leave to return to the hotels at 4:30.
A tour is available to all attendees Saturday, June 21. Buses will load from the University Comfort Suites at 7:30 a.m. The tour will include stops at Millborn Seeds at Brookings; Redstone Feeders LLC, DeSmet, S.D.; Redstone Feeders, DeSmet; Wienk Charolais Ranch, Lake Preston, S.D.; and Schade Winery. Buses are scheduled to arrive back at the hotel at 5 p.m.
Full meeting registration is $300 and includes admission to all sessions, the Tuesday evening welcome reception, Wednesday awards lunch, Wednesday evening social and dinner at Club 71 on the SDSU campus, Thursday awards luncheon and Thursday night barbecue at the SDSU Cow-Calf Education and Research Facility. Tours are optional and are an additional $50 each. For online registration, visit http://bit.ly/BIF19reg.
This site — www.bifconference.com — is compiled by Angus Media with the assistance of BIF and the event hosts to provide online coverage of the educational material presented. Prior to the meeting, visit the Schedule page to preview the meeting's agenda. The Travel Info page offers information on how to get to the meeting and where to stay once you arrive. The Archive contains coverage of BIF conferences since 2002. During and after the meeting visit the Newsroom and the Awards pages to see highlights of the event and announcements of the awards presented.
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