Annual Convention Tours and Schedule Information

Annual Convention Tours and Schedule Information

Special Events and Tours

NLFA Sponsored Golf Tournament
Tues., Jan. 24: 11 am tee time
The National Lamb Feeders Association (NLFA) invites all golf enthusiasts to join them for 18 holes of golf as a way to kick off the convention. The tournament is open to anyone – from the occasional golfer to the true enthusiast. Please notify the NLFA office by Dec.10 if you plan to participate by calling 503-364-5462 or emailing info@nlfa-sheep.org. Payment made with registration.
Grayhawk Golf Club. $165 for green fees, cart and Mexican dinner buffet. Club rental: $45. 

State Executives and Contacts Meeting
Wed., Jan. 25: Noon to 5:30 pm
The meeting will include updates from national organizations (i.e. ALB, ASI, NSIIC, NLFA, etc.) providing information about programs, grant opportunities, promotional aspects and occasions where states can work collaboratively. A roundtable discussion from each state providing information about state activities and programs will follow. Lunch provided by ALB.

Valley Agriculture Tour
Wed., Jan. 25: 8 am-5 pm
$60/person (40 person minimum)
The first stop will be to visit a local vegetable grower. The Rousseau family has farmed in Arizona for four generations. Today the operation consists of 10,000 acres, of which over 70 percent are in vegetable production with the core crops being carrots, broccoli and melons. The operation is vertically integrated with its own harvesting equipment, trucking, cooling, icing and shipping facilities. The second stop is to hear about the nursery business in the valley. For more than 40 years, Mountain States Nursery has been promoting desert-adapted plants to the southwest nursery trade that combine beauty and water economy. The last stop of the day brings the tour to the University of Phoenix Stadium – home of the Arizona Cardinals – a marvel of design, engineering and technology. Lunch included. 

Symposium: Utilization of Genomic Information for the Sheep Industry
Thurs., Jan. 26: 8-11:30 am
Presentations and discussion will focus on global sheep initiatives, the current status of genomic information available to the sheep industry, the application of genomic information in quantitative performance evaluation (e.g., National Sheep Improvement Program/LambPlan) and examples of utilization of genomic information including extension and producer perspectives. 

“A Taste of Old Town Scottsdale” Tour
Thurs., Jan. 26: 10:30 am-2:30 pm
$70/person (15 person min./30 person max.)
Climb aboard the trolley for a ride down to Old Scottsdale. History is brought to life with demonstrations, samples and stories, making this a great behind-the-scenes look at one of the Southwest’s greatest destination – Scottsdale. Guests are taken on a three-hour walking food and cultural tour where they sample great food and sip fine wine as they travel through time to some of the same streets that have been stomped on by the cowboys of the early 1900s frontier. Enough food for lunch.

Emerging Entrepreneur Inaugural Meeting
Sat., Jan. 28: 9 am-4 pm 
This is the inaugural meeting of the Emerging Sheep Entrepreneurs Committee. The objective of the committee is to put together a program designed to bring relevance to the day-to-day operations of sheep producers between the ages of 25 and 40. Money matters, lending opportunities, profit potential, direct marketing, farm insurance and food safety are just a few of the topic areas being considered. A $200 registration discount is available to the first 25 emerging entrepreneur registrants who are first-time convention attendees. 

Convention Schedule

Tuesday, Jan. 24
11 am tee time Golf Tournament

Wednesday, Jan. 25
8 am-Noon American Sheep & Goat Center (ASGC) Board
8 am-4 pm Western Range Board
8 am-5 pm ASI Executive Board
8 am-5 pm Valley Agriculture Tour
Noon-5:30 pm State Executives & Contacts Information Session
1-5 pm National Sheep Industry Improvement Center
2-6 pm ALB Orientation Session
3-5 pm ASGC and NLPA Sheep & Goat Committee

Thursday, Jan. 26
7 am-Noon NLPA Sheep & Goat Fund
8-11:30 am ASI/ASGC Research Symposium
8 am-Noon Re-build the Sheep Inventory Committee
8 am-5 pm ALB
10 am-Noon NLFA Board
10 am-5 pm Vendor Fair
10:30 am-2:30 pm ”A Taste of Old Town Scottsdale” Tour
11:30 am-1 pm Wool Recognition Lunch
1-3 pm Genetic Stakeholders Committee
1-5 pm Wool Council
1-5 pm Resource Mgt. Council Policy Forum with Predator Mgt., Targeted Grazing & Public Lands Committees
1-5 pm NLFA Membership Meeting and 
   Feeder Forum
3-5 pm Animal Health Committee
5:30-8 pm Welcome Reception

Friday, Jan. 27
6-8:15 am State Presidents 
7-8 am ASI Women Executive Committee
8 am-Noon ALB
8 am-4 pm Vendor Fair
8:30-11:30 am Wool Council Policy Forum and Roundtable
8:30-11:30 am Lamb Council Policy Forum
8:30-11:30 am Production, Education & Research Council Policy Forum
8:30-11:30 am Legislative Action Council Policy Forum
8:30 am-Noon ASI Women
11:45 am-1:30 pm Awards Luncheon
1:45-4:15 pm ASI Board of Directors Informational Session
4:30-5:30 pm Regional Caucuses
6-8 pm RAMS PAC Reception

Saturday, Jan. 28
6:30-7:45 am Resolutions Committee
7-9 am Sheep Heritage Foundation
8 am-5 pm ASI Board of Directors 
8 am-5 pm American Goat Federation
9 am-4 pm Emerging Entrepreneurs Inaugural Session
11:30 am-1 pm Lunch
5-5:45 pm ASI Women Cocktail Party and Benefit Auction
6-8:30 pm MIWW Banquet and Fashion Show

 

 

 
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