Drought Addressed by Government, Experts in Petry Workshop

Colorado State University and National Western Stock Show will address opportunities and decisions affecting the ability of farmers and ranchers to financially survive the drought with the Fourth Annual Nick Petry Workshop from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Oct. 18 in Denver at the National Western Stock Show stadium arena, 4655 Humboldt St., Denver.

Mark Rey, undersecretary of agriculture for natural resources and the environment, will give the keynote address at the workshop regarding federal assistance for agriculture production.

A panel of experts from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Risk Management Agency, Farm Service Agency, U. S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development, Colorado Department of Agriculture, Federal Emergency Management Association and the Colorado Small Business Administration will address drought management strategies and federal assistance. The panel will be moderated by Sen. Wayne Allard.

"Ranchers and farmers have never confronted a more challenging economic and agricultural situation than what is occurring today, and with recent changes in legislation, ranchers and farmers need to be apprised of what opportunities for help exist," said Pat Grant, president and CEO of the National Western.

Mark Drabenstott, vice president of Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank and director of the Center for the Study of Rural America is slated to speak about drought management strategies. The workshop will open with remarks from Grant and Colorado State President Albert C. Yates.

There is no charge for the workshop. Lunch will be served. RSVP to Andrea Kemble at 303-297-1166 or e-mail admin@nationalwestern.com.

The Nick Petry Workshops have been held since 2000. The workshops are hosted by the Western Center for Integrated Resource Management at Colorado State and the National Western. The workshops are held in memory of Petry, a long-time Stock Show president and chairman who was dedicated to the Western way of life, including sponsoring funding to improve National Western facilities. The workshop is the first in a series of four this winter hosted by Colorado State that will focus on the impacts of drought.