Media Tip Sheet: National Western Stock Show
Note to Editors: Colorado State is providing the following list of experts as a resource for media during the 101st National Western Stock Show. Some experts listed below will make an appearance at the Colorado State University booth during the stock show. The university’s booth is located in the southeast corner of the third floor of the Expo Hall. Colorado State University Day at the National Western Stock Show, at 4655 Humboldt St. in Denver, is Saturday, Jan. 13. The contact information for experts is intended to provide resources to reporters and editors and is not intended as contact information for the public.
General experts
History of the American West
Mark Fiege, associate professor of history at Colorado State, teaches courses on the American West, United States history since 1876 and American environmental history. Fiege can speak to environmental, agricultural historic foundations of the "cowboy culture" of Western regions of the United States. To speak with Fiege, contact Nik Olsen at (970) 491-7766 or Nik.Olsen@ColoState.edu.
Blizzard recovery efforts
As blizzard recovery efforts continue in eastern Colorado, Colorado State employees with the Colorado State Forest Service have been called to assist with efforts to protect life and property and to help save livestock in a multi-county area of southeastern Colorado. To speak with Tom Wardle from the Colorado State Forest Service, contact Kimberly Sorensen at (970) 491-0757 or Kimberly.Sorensen@colostate.edu.
Agricultural commodities and snow
James Pritchett, assistant professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at Colorado State, can provide insight into how lasting snow will affect agricultural commodity markets. To speak with Pritchett, contact Nik Olsen at (970) 491-7766 or Nik.Olsen@ColoState.edu.
Climate trends and drought State Climatologist Nolan Doesken is available to discuss impacts on drought, weather observation, historical climate data, precipitation and seasonal weather patterns. He also can address agricultural, recreational, hydrologic and industrial applications of climate information. Doesken’s 33 years of professional experience in weather research, climate studies, data acquisition, analysis and archiving provides him the expertise to address a wide variety of climate-related questions. To speak with Doesken, contact Emily Wilmsen at (970) 491-2336 or Emily.Wilmsen@colostate.edu.
Role of agriculture and global warming
Changes in agricultural practices across the nation could offset up to one-seventh of current greenhouse gas emissions in the United States and has the potential to further reduce emissions by replacing fossil fuels with biofuels made from agricultural crops. The agriculture industry in the United States contributes only about 8 percent to the nation’s emissions, but the influential role agriculture could play in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions is its ability to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. To speak with Keith Paustian, professor of soil ecology and author of the Pew Center on Global Climate Change report, contact Kimberly Sorensen at (970) 491-0757 or Kimberly.Sorensen@colostate.edu.
Colorado State University booth/other events
Colorado State University Day
Livestock Hall of Fame
The 2007 Livestock Leader will be announced during the Department of Animal Sciences’ Stock Show Social and honored with acceptance into Colorado State’s Livestock Hall of Fame. The person or people selected each year for this award are dedicated to the livestock industry and have demonstrated leadership and helped advance their field. The Department of Animal Sciences is honored to recognize each of the recipients for their work not only through the prestige of the award and accolades among peers but also with the unveiling of an oil painting prominently displayed in the department. The award will be announced at 2:30 p.m. Jan. 13 in the stadium arena at the National Western complex. For more information, contact Nik Olsen at (970) 491-7766 or Nik.Olsen@colostate.edu.
Colorado State University day
Colorado State University Day at the National Western Stock Show will be Saturday, Jan. 13. Colorado State friends, alumni and students will receive a special welcome. Don’t forget to stop by the CSU booth between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on the second floor in the Hall of Education with CAM the Ram, activities for kids and more.
Search and rescue demonstration
Colorado State University’s award-winning search-and-rescue robot has won national and international awards. The robot, called "Good Samaritan," will be on display from 3-9 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 14, at the Colorado State booth on the third floor in the southeast corner of the Expo Hall. To speak with Wade Troxell, mechanical engineering professor and faculty adviser for the senior design group, contact Emily Wilmsen at (970) 491-2336 or Emily.Wilmsen@colostate.edu.
Solar-cell technology demonstration
Solar-cell technology, which requires sunlight to make electricity, will be on display at the Colorado State University booth on Sunday, Jan. 14, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. W.S. Sampath, mechanical engineering professor, has developed new technology in his Materials Engineering Laboratory to make low-cost solar cells. The technology, which can reduce the cost of solar cells by a factor of three, uses up to 100 times less semiconductor material than the current dominant technology. The energy to produce the solar cells can be retrieved in less than one year. To speak with Sampath, contact Emily Narvaes Wilmsen at (970) 491-2336 or Emily.Wilmsen@colostate.edu.
Music for Dancing Horses show
Wes Kenney, a Colorado State associate music professor and conductor of Colorado State’s University Symphony Orchestra and the Fort Collins Symphony, will lead the music portion of "An Evening of Dancing Horses" on Jan. 17 and 18. The program is full of formal dressage, freestyle reining, drill elements and other equestrian disciplines. The popular National Western attraction features world-class horses, equestrians and musicians. To speak with Kenney, contact Nik Olsen at (970) 491-7766 or Nik.Olsen@ColoState.edu.
Environmentally friendly building display
Colorado State University’s Institute for the Built Environment will provide educational material for people interested in green buildings at the university’s booth on Thursday, Jan. 18. The Institute is devoted to advancing research and education about creating buildings that are sustainable and supportive to the environment. Based in the Department of Construction Management within the College of Applied Human Sciences, the institute will display information about current projects and research including information about Colorado State student involvement in the green Fossil Ridge High School in Fort Collins. To speak to a representative in the Institute for the Built Environment, contact Dell Rae Moellenberg at (970) 491-6009 or DellRae.Moellenberg@colostate.edu.
Colorado 4-H Youth Development day
Colorado’s 4-H participants are welcome to 4-H Day at the National Western Stock Show on Jan. 18. There will be a 4-H booth set up at the Colorado State University exhibition table located the third floor of the Expo Hall and a special recognition of Colorado 4-H participants at 2 p.m. Colorado’s 4-H Youth Development program, which operates through Colorado State University Cooperative Extension, serves more than 88,000 Colorado youths, more than half in urban areas. For more information about 4-H, contact Nik Olsen at (970) 491-7766 or Nik.Olsen@ColoState.edu.
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