Nebraska

Speakers to participate in the Cattlemen's College at this year's Nebraska Cattlemen Convention (Dec. 8 and 9 in Kearney) have been selected. The event will be held Thursday morning (Dec. 8) before convention business starts and is fashioned after the popular Cattlemen's College at the NCBA conventions, with experts from the field sharing production practices and management tips.

Cattlemen's College speakers will include producer and grazing specialist John Immick, Dillon Feuz of the Panhandle Research Center, Alan Janzen of Circle 5 Beef, AgInfoLink CEO Mark Armentrout and Pfizer specialists Lonty Bryant and Dale Groteleuschen.

Due to limited seating, pre-registration is strongly encouraged for Cattlemen's College, and college registration is separate from convention. It's structured that way to accommodate producers who want to attend one but not the other. College registration is $35 for convention-goers and $50 without the convention. The fee includes a special Cattlemen's College luncheon and keynote speaker that will precede the start of the convention at 1 p.m.

The list of speakers for the convention is also taking shape. Convention speakers and guests include NCBA president, Jim McAdams of Texas, Michael Swanson of Wells Fargo, Gov. Dave Heineman, and Nancy Stirling-Neuhauser, president-elect of the American National CattleWomen. Special invited guests include Nebraska Beef Ambassador Kolay Payne of Grant, and Miss Nebraska 2005 Kelly Keiser.

Ventriloquist Greg Classen has been booked to provide entertainment during Thursday night's banquet.

As is tradition, the banquet will also feature the Hall of Fame Award, which goes to an NC member, and the Industry Service Award, which recognizes the contribution of a non-cattleman.

Another tradition: The NC board of directors plans to meet before convention, and then meet afterwards to act immediately on resolutions that came out of the members' business meetings.

Registration has begun for the NC/NCW Convention and Trade Show. Anyone interested can register online at www.nebraskacattlemen.org. Registration forms can also be obtained from the NC office by calling 402-475-2333. Early registration is encouraged, as registration will cost $10 more after Nov. 16. NC requests early registration to help with meal counts and overall planning. On-site registration will be available at the convention site, but that will cost $20 more than early registration.

Nov. 16 is also the deadline for getting the special NC room rate at convention headquarters, the Kearney Holiday Inn. Phone 800-248-4460 or 308-237-5971. Rooms are also available next door at the Hampton Inn 308-234-3400 and the Wingate 308-237-5971.

The Nebraska Cattlemen's Association serves as the spokesman for the state's beef cattle industry and represents professional cattle breeders, ranchers and feeders, as well as 48 county and local cattlemen's associations. Its headquarters are in Lincoln and second office in Alliance serves cattlemen in western Nebraska.