Useful information:

Mark your calendar for February 18, 2006

The BC Sheep Federation will be hosting a one day seminar in conjunction with the Pacific Agricultural Show at the Tradex in Abbotsford B.C.
Presentations will be made by national, international as well as local speakers.
Some of the topics covered will include:

Opportunities and challenges facing today and tomorrow’s sheep producers
Maximizing the profitability of your flock through the use of genetic improvement programs
Scrapie; the disease, its significance and 3 new national programs designed to lessen the risk to your flock
How do producers benefit from Provincial and National sheep organizations?
Maximizing the profitability of your wool clip
The Canadian Sheep Federation’s On Farm Food Safety program; regulation or opportunity?

This well be a full day’s seminar with registration and coffee starting at 8 AM
(More details of agenda to follow)

The cost including coffee and lunch:
BCSF members paying before Feb 8
th …………$30.00
BCSF members paying after Feb 8
th …………...$35.00
Non-BCSF members paying before Feb 8
th…….$40.00
Non-members paying after Feb 8
th. ……………..$45.00

A limited number of rooms are being held for the special rate of $85.00/night at the Best Western Country Meadows in Aldergrove, B.C. (Ten Minutes from Tradex.) Please call 604-856-9880 ASAP to reserve a room. Make sure to mention the BCSF.

Make cheques payable to the BC Sheep Federation and mail along with a completed application form to:
Dianne Crain
5691 Highway 97 South
Quesnel, BC, V2J6L8
250-747-3789

Application and cheque must be received before February 8thin order to receive the early booking reduced rates. There are limited spaces available so please book early to avoid disappointment.

 

Tentative Seminar Schedule  

 
Most all of the speakers have confirmed for the following times and approx. presentation length, so I think this should be fairly close to the way things will go on Saturday.  
 
8:00 Registration, coffee and networking time
 
8:45 Basil Bactawar: Challenges and Opportunities for sheep producers in BC
 
9:30 Penny Stapleton: Scrapie. Is my flock at risk? National Genotyping and Flock Certification programs
 
10:30 Dr. Witold J Wince: National Scrapie Surveillance Program
 
10:45 Coffee
 
11:15 Kathleen Gibson: Meat Industry Enhancement Strategy
 
1200 Lunch
 
1:00 Laurence Reed: Provincial and National Sheep Producer Organizations Are they worth paying for?
 
2:00 France Lanthier: On Farm Food Safety: is it another regulation or an opportunity?
 
2:30 Coffee
 
3:00 Alan Culham: Long time Michigan sheep producer will share what his involvement in the US National Sheep Improvement Program has done for his flock and his bottom line
 
4:15 Kathy Velocci: Information on Canada’s genetic sheep improvement program   Presenter’s panel will take questions from the floor following the seminar