Media Tip Sheet: Colorado State University at the 2009 National Western Stock Show

Note to Editors: Colorado State University is providing the following list of experts and events as a resource for media during 102nd National Western Stock Show, Jan. 10-25, at the National Western Complex, Denver, CO. The contact information for experts is intended to provide resources to reporters and editors and is not intended as contact information for the public. Colorado State University Day at the National Western Stock Show is Saturday, Jan. 17.

History of the Stock Show

Jim Heird, director of Colorado State University’s Equine Science Teaching and Outreach, has been associated with the National Western Stock for more than 20 years. A noted trainer of championship horses, Heird has been involved in everything from showing to judging to the "behind-the-scenes" world at the Stock Show. Heird currently serves on the executive committee of the national Western Stock Show. To speak with Heird, contact Jim Beers at (970) 491-6401 or Jim.Beers@ColoState.edu  

2009 Citizens of the West

This year the National Western Stock Show recognized two Colorado State University alumni as the 2009 Citizens of the West. Brothers Dick and Eddie Robinson of Denver graduated in the 1950s from Colorado A&M, now known as Colorado State University. Dick earned a Bachelor of Science degree in animal husbandry, and Eddie earned a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture. Afterwards, Dick and Eddie joined the family business, Robinson Dairy, where they spent their entire working careers. Dick Robinson has been recognized as a Distinguished CSU Alum and is the former head of the State Board of Agriculture, now the CSU System Board of Governors. Eddie Robinson is a former member of the Colorado Commission on Higher Education. Dick and his wife, Marcia, and Eddie and his wife, Susan, both reside in the Denver area. The brothers will accept the prestigious award at the annual award dinner on Jan. 14 at the Hyatt Regency Denver at the Colorado Convention Center. The dinner helps kick off the Stock Show with proceeds benefitting the National Western Scholarship Trust. The trust awards 74 scholarships for the 2008-09 school year. Last year nearly 30 CSU students received scholarships. The grants range from $2,500 to $6,000 and are presented to students who study agriculture and practice medicine in rural areas at colleges and universities in Colorado and Wyoming. For more information, please contact Jim Beers at (970) 491-6401 or Jim.Beers@ColoState.edu  

Livestock Leader Award – Embargoed Until Sunday, Jan. 18, 2009

Polly Johnson was born in Fort Collins, CO, raised in Kit Carson, CO, and then returned in 1956 to attend Colorado A&M, now Colorado State University. After a brief stint in Arizona, Johnson returned to Colorado. For the past 38 years, she’s been the owner/manager/president of Collins Ranch Co. in Kit Carson, a 40,000 acre cattle ranch. Johnson has been active in CSU alumni and sporting events, and serves on the Cheyenne County Hospital Board, the Kit Carson Historical Society, Colorado cattlewomen’s organization and National Cattlemen’s Association. Johnson is the second woman to ever receive will receive the Livestock Leader award, which will be presented on Jan. 17. For more information, please contact Jim Beers at (970) 491-6401 or Jim.Beers@ColoState.edu      

CSU Day at the Stock Show

Colorado State University Day at the National Western Stock Show is Saturday, Jan. 17. The day will be filled with a host of activities including rodeos, a Department of Animal Sciences social, tractor races and more. Alumni and friends are especially invited to stop by the CSU booth on the third floor of Exposition Hall on this day. Pictures will be available with CSU’s mascot – CAM the Ram, the Alumni Association will be on hand and CSU give-aways will be offered throughout the day. CSU Day at the Stock show celebrates western heritage, a Denver tradition and Ram Pride on Jan. 17. For more information, contact Paul Wolansky at (303) 376-2128 or pwolansky@ar.colostate.edu

Ag Adventure

Ag Adventure is a CSU student-run program which introduces all aspects of agriculture to elementary-aged children.  At the National Western Stock Show, Ag Adventure will teach school groups and other visitors about livestock production, crop production, animal husbandry, land stewardship and the "farm to plate" process through hands-on activities. For more information, please contact Jim Beers at (970) 491-6401 or Jim.Beers@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 34 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.

Neil Grigg, civil engineering professor and renowned water resources engineering consultant, can discuss Colorado’s water history, drought management, government water resources planning, Western water management issues, water system infrastructure engineering, flood control and urban water systems management. Grigg recently published the book, "Colorado’s Water: Science and Management, History and Politics," which presents long-range views about Colorado’s water issues, including drought. He has authored or co-authored about 200 publications and several books about water resources engineering and infrastructure. To speak with Grigg, contact Emily Wilmsen at (970) 491-2336 or Emily.Wilmsen@ColoState.edu.

National Western Stock Show Scholarship Program

The National Western Stock Show is the largest individual scholarship donor to the College of Agricultural Sciences, providing significant financial assistance to 26 students each year. For the 2008-09 academic year, the Stock Show provided over $113,000 in scholarships to CSU students. The scholarship recipients will volunteer at a number of events during the Stock Show, including: the Citizen of the West award dinner on Wednesday, Jan. 14 and an auction of Junior Livestock Champions on Friday, Jan. 23. For more information, please contact Kris McKay, Assistant Director of Development in the College of Agricultural Sciences, at (970) 491-0909 or Kris.McKay@ColoState.edu

CSU Booth at the Stock Show

Colorado State University will showcase a variety of projects and programs during the Stock Show. Among the exhibitors: the Division of Continuing Education, Colorado Agriculture Archive, CSU Extension, the Warner College of Natural Resources, Diagnostic Laboratories, Division of Enrollment and Access, Alumni, CSU Global, Ag Day, Department of Soil & Crop Sciences, 4-H, Institute for Livestock and the Environment, and Equine Sciences. The CSU booth is located on the third floor of Exposition Hall. For more information, please contact Jim Beers at (970) 491-6401 or Jim.Beers@ColoState.edu      

Seedstock Merchandising Team

The 10-member team will show six registered bulls at the National Western Stock Show as part of a student project emphasizing learning from, networking with, and competing against the experts. The team is preparing a pen of three Angus bulls, and a pen of three Hereford bulls for display and show in the respective breed Bull Pen Show in the Stock Show yards. The bulls are bred, owned, and raised at the CSU ARDEC facility, and they will be showcased by the students, emphasizing the genetics offered by the CSU Calving Ease Plus program. The specific show dates include Thursday, Jan. 15th for the Hereford Bull Pen Show, and Saturday, Jan. 17th for the Angus Bull Pen Show. For more information, please contact Jim Beers at (970) 491-6401 or Jim.Beers@ColoState.edu

Animal Health

Colorado State University’s world-recognized veterinarians can discuss a variety of topics related to animal health. The experts can talk about steps exhibitors take to protect the health of their animals while showing at the stock show, the importance of animal health and disease control to keep human populations health too, was well as discuss cutting edge research such as the use of an horse’s own stem cells derived from its bone marrow to treat orthopedic injuries. To speak with an expert, contact Dell Rae Moellenberg at 970-491-6009 or DellRae.Moellenberg@colostate.edu.

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