Around the States
CALIFORNIA
CWGA Unveils New Logo
The California Wool Growers Association launched a new association logo at its 157th Annual Meeting and Convention in Cambria, Calif., in August. The new logo preserves the CWGA’s heritage in a modernized and simplified format.
The logo of the CWGA has been a visual marker of the times, spanning more than 150 years of its establishment. Through time, and staying relevant to the aesthetics of various eras, the CWGA has embraced contemporary styles evident in the evolution of logo designs representing the association. The logo has become a visual language that speaks to the CWGA’s history of prestige, integrity and the strong foundation built more than a century ago.
Remaining true to form, the CWGA is once again acknowledging the importance of staying relevant to the contemporary styles of the times by evolving the design of its logo, a tradition like turning a chapter in the story of the association. The updated logo uses iconography from the 95th CWGA Annual Conference in 1956, held at the University of California-Davis.
INDIANA
Stock Dog Clinics Offered
Success with Stock Dogs is a new, low-cost, three-part personalized training program designed to introduce and educate livestock producers to cost-saving and labor-cutting benefits of stock dog use and help growers learn to incorporate herding dogs into their livestock operations.
Workshops are set for Fall 2017 (the first clinic is set for Nov. 14-16) and Spring and Fall 2018 near Bennington, Ind. Each multi-day workshop includes demonstrations, plus on-farm work.
Part One: Demonstrations/Training Stages
Part one includes demonstrations of common livestock work assisted by stock dogs and training stages. Demonstrations will include: gathering and moving stock, watching and guarding gates, penning, medicating stock, and more.
Participants are then walked through stages of training. These will be demonstrated using a young pup then successive age/training groups ending in a finished dog.
Part Two: Individual Skill Training
Initial stages of training in a round pen or small field, or actual job scenarios that producers and their dogs replicate with help from the clinician. Training tailored to what’s most appropriate and helpful for each dog and its handler.
New dogs (not yet able to work in unfamiliar environments or on stock they don’t know) gain fundamental skills that lead to farm chore mastery. New and uncertain handlers too, learn elements of proficiency that will develop into easier farm and ranch management.
Part Three: Ongoing Support and Skill Building
This is carried out through online discussion, video review and other instruction, after workshop completion. Low stress livestock handling is emphasized throughout.
A big benefit of the program is to cut the cost for livestock producers to learn how a herding dog will benefit a livestock operation. Meanwhile, growers who already use stock dogs are enabled to derive more advantages from their dogs. In addition, meeting and networking with fellow stockmen using herding dogs speeds everyone’s success
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, this is an opportunity for solid training at a bargain price. The USDA’s Sustainable Agricultural Research and Education program has made the educational course possible, funding most of its costs, resulting in a modest fee for workshop attendees.
For more information, contact Program Coordinator Denice Rackley at Clearfield StockDogs and Lamb at [email protected] or visit ClearfieldStockdogs.com.