Media Tip Sheet: Colorado State University at the 2011 National Western Stock Show
Note to Reporters: Colorado State University is providing the following list of experts and events as a resource for media during the 105th National Western Stock Show, Jan. 8-23, at the National Western Complex, 4655 Humboldt St., Denver. Contact information for experts is intended to provide resources to reporters and editors and is not intended as contact information for the public.
CSU Day at the Stock Show
Colorado State University Day at the Stock Show is Saturday, Jan. 15. The day includes rodeos, a Department of Animal Sciences Social and Livestock Leader of the Year presentation, CSU mutton busters and giveaways. Alumni and friends of the university are invited to stop by the CSU booth on the third floor of the Hall of Education for pictures with CAM the Ram and enjoy educational information from various campus departments and giveaways. CSU Day at the National Western Stock Show is a celebration of Western heritage and Ram pride. For more information, contact Paul Wolansky at (303) 376-2128 or pwolansky@ar.colostate.edu.
CSU Booth at the Stock Show
Colorado State University will showcase a variety of programs and projects during the Stock Show at a newly redesigned booth located on the third floor of the Hall of Education. Among the exhibitors: Access Center, Admissions, Alumni, Athletics, Career Center, College of Agricultural Sciences, Continuing Education, CSU Global, Equine Sciences, Extension, University Advancement and Warner College of Natural Resources. For more information, contact Jim Beers at (970) 491-6401 or Jim.Beers@colostate.edu.
National Western Stock Show Scholarship Program
The National Western Stock Show is the largest individual annual scholarship donor to the College of Agricultural Sciences, providing significant financial assistance to students each year. For the 2010-2011 academic year, the Stock Show provided 27 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 Monday, Jan. 10, and an auction of Junior Livestock Champions on Friday, Jan. 21. For more information, contact Rick Brase, director of Development in the College of Agricultural Sciences, at (970) 491-7686 or Rick.Brase@colostate.edu.
Ag Adventure
Colorado State University will host the Ag Adventure exhibit from Jan. 8-23. The exhibit, located on the third floor of the Hall of Education across from the CSU booth, will have various features to teach children about animal husbandry and agriculture. Guided tours are planned for children and their parents during weekends and other busy times at the Stock Show. For more information, contact Jim Beers at (970) 491-6401 or Jim.Beers@colostate.edu.
Livestock Leader Award
Randy Blach of Yuma, Colo. is the recipient of the Colorado State University Department of Animal Sciences annual Livestock Leader Award. Blach is CEO of Cattle-FAX, an organization focused on helping member cattle producers make more profitable marketing and management decisions. CattleFAX is the cattle and beef industry leader on timely market information, analyses and research. Blach came to CattleFAX in 1981 and served as director of market analysis for 15 years. He accepted his current role in 2001. Blach will receive the Livestock Leader Award during a presentation at 3 p.m. Jan. 15 in the Centennial Room at the National Western Stock Show complex. For more information, contact Jim Beers at (970) 491-6401 or Jim.Beers@colostate.edu.
Colorado State University Seedstock Merchandising Team
The Colorado State University Seedstock Merchandising Team actively markets bulls and heifers born and raised in the CSU teaching herd, as well as organizing a spring production sale. The CSU seedstock cowherd creates a hands-on learning environment, giving students the opportunity to network within the beef cattle industry and represent the Department of Animal Sciences. The team, made up of eight CSU students plus a faculty adviser, will be working the CSU booth at the National Western Stock Show, prepping cattle, networking with industry leaders, and learning more about the seedstock industry in general. Friday, Jan. 14, the team will show in the Hereford Pen/Carload Bull Show taking place in the livestock center arena. For more information on the CSU Seedstock Team, contact Jim Beers at (970) 491-6401 or Jim.Beers@colostate.edu.
Colorado State University Extension at the Stock Show
Colorado State University Extension, including 4-H Youth Development, continues to be a prominent fixture at the 2011 National Western Stock Show. Extension works to help Colorado communities by providing relevant research information while providing locally-based projects, youth programs and helping to facilitate local economic development efforts. 4-H Day at the Stock Show is Jan. 19. Activities during the day include interactive, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) related 4-H activities at the CSU booth and the rodeo, plus a host of other 4-H events throughout the Stock Show. Colorado 4-H, which is part of Colorado State University Extension, serves more than 85,000 Colorado youth ages 5 to 18 annually with school enrichment activities, after-school programs and long-term experiences through 4-H community clubs. Extension agents from around Colorado will be working at the Stock Show. For instance, a group of Extension agents will be conducting school tours that take place every weekday of the Stock Show; Steve LeValley, Extension specialist who is working his 32nd National Western Stock Show, is responsible for all beef cattle shows – a task that involves more than 3,000 head of cattle; Keith Maxey, Weld County, will be assistant beef superintendent; Mick Livingston, Extension agent in the Golden Plains area, will serve as a superintendent for junior livestock shows; Tom McBride, with many years of experience as an agent and director in Adams County, will be announcing the Breeding Sheep show; and Dinah Peebles, Extension agent in the Tri-River area, is co-superintendent for the Catch-A-Calf program. For more information on Extension or 4-H programs, contact Jim Beers at (970) 491-6401 or Jim.Beers@colostate.edu.
Colorado 4-H Celebrating 100 Years
4-H began a century ago as an educational program for the nation’s rural youth. Today, 4-H meets the needs of and engages young people in positive youth development experiences. 4-H youth-development – based in Colorado counties and on the Fort Collins campus – is part of Colorado State Extension’s effort to offer sound and effective solutions based on research-based information from Colorado State University and national resources. Each year, more than 85,000 Colorado youth benefit from Extension’s 4-H programs by participating in hands-on projects including environmental science, rocketry, foods and nutrition, animal science, photography and more. As a result, they learn valuable life skills such as leadership, ethics, decision making, record keeping, responsibility and community service. An exhibit of the inaugural class of the Colorado 4-H Hall of Fame will be on display in the Hall of Education near the CSU booth. The 4-H Hall of Fame recognizes notable people in the state who were 4-H members and who attribute success in life to their 4-H experiences. Eleven individuals were inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2010. For more information, contact Jim Beers at (970) 491-6401 or Jim.Beers@colostate.edu.
MLK Rodeo
Gillian Bowser, assistant dean in the Warner College of Natural Resources, can speak on the multicultural dimensions of the West including the presence of African Americans as mountaineers, buffalo soldiers and pioneers. She can discuss how the MLK rodeo highlights Colorado’s land legacy which includes Hispanics, African Americans and Native Americans. Bowser can also speak on several programs at CSU that work on encouraging minority students to enroll in the sciences and explore natural resources as related to sustainability, climate change and equity. To speak with Bowser, contact Kimberly Sorensen at (970) 491-0757 or Kimberly.Sorensen@colostate.edu.
Animal Health
Colorado State University’s world-class veterinarians can discuss a variety of topics related to animal health. These 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 healthy and cutting-edge research such as using a horse’s own stem cells derived from its bone marrow to treat orthopedic injuries. For more information, contact Dell Rae Mollenberg at (970) 491-6009 or DellRae.Mollenberg@colostate.edu.
Stem Cells Used to Treat Equine Injuries
Equine athletes, like those horses that perform in rodeos and other competitions at the National Western Stock Show, can become injured just like any other athlete. CSU equine orthopedic experts are using stem cells derived from injured horses to treat common joint, tendon, ligament and cartilage injuries with a great deal of success. Early clinical data suggests the use of stem cells more quickly and efficiently heals equine orthopedic injuries and reduces the incidents of future arthritis in healed joints. Stem cells from bone marrow of patients are harvested and expanded and then injected directly into the area of tendon or ligament damage. In some cases, veterinarians also make a glue from the blood of the patient horse, called fibrin glue – that holds stem cells at the site of the injury. To speak with a veterinarian about stem cell therapies and horses, contact Dell Rae Moellenberg at (970) 491-6009 or DellRae.Moellenberg@colostate.edu.
Stock Show Weather
Colorado State University State Climatologist Nolan Doesken is available to discuss snow totals and 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 36 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. He can also talk about the statewide volunteer network, called the Community Collaborative Rain, Snow and Hail Network that improves precipitation monitoring and helps provide detailed storm analysis, drought, water supply and other water decision-making information to municipalities, homeowners, industries, utility providers, resource managers and educators. To speak with Doesken, contact Emily Wilmsen at (970) 491-2336 or Emily.Wilmsen@colostate.edu.
Role of Agriculture and Climate Change
Changes in agricultural practices across the nation could offset up to one-seventh of current greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. Those changes have 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 report, “Agriculture and Global Climate Change,” contact Kimberly Sorensen at (970) 491-0757 or Kimberly.Sorensen@colostate.edu.
Rangeland Restoration
Mark Paschke, associate professor of restoration ecology in the Warner College of Natural Resources at CSU, is available to discuss issues related to ecological restoration of degraded rangelands. Paschke teaches classes on ecological restoration and the ecology of disturbed lands and his research focuses on mechanisms that control changes between vegetation types. To speak with Paschke, contact Kimberly Sorensen at (970) 491-0757 or Kimberly.Sorensen@colostate.edu.
Ecological Conservation
Renee Rondeau, ecologist with CSU’s Colorado Natural Heritage Program, can discuss how the economic value of native range and critical to a productive ranch and native range is critical to species biodiversity. The Colorado Natural Heritage Program, which is conducting a biological inventory in southeastern Colorado, has visited more than 30 ranches and is working with landowners to conserve the state’s unique biodiversity. Additionally, Rondeau has worked with the Colorado Beef Council and the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association and can talk about the values of producers to Colorado’s economy, biodiversity and production. To speak with Rondeau, contact Kimberly Sorensen at (970) 491-0757 or Kimberly.Sorensen@colostate.edu.
Conservation Planting and Colorado State Forest Service Seedling Tree Program
The Colorado State Forest Service seedling tree program encourages landowners to plant new forests; establish effective windbreaks that reduce erosion; protect homes, cropland, livestock and highways; and enhance wildlife habitat. Trees and shrubs are grown at the CSFS Nursery for conservation benefits only. The CSFS Nursery has 18,000 square feet of greenhouse space, where many evergreens are produced; deciduous stock is produced on a 130-acre farm. History has shown that container-grown evergreens offer improved survival over bare-root evergreen seedlings. To purchase seedling trees from the CSFS Nursery, landowners must own two acres or more of land; use the seedlings for conservation practices only; purchase seedlings in minimums of 30 to 50 (depending on species and size); and agree not to use seedlings for landscaping or resell them as living plants. For more information about the CSFS seedling tree program, contact Randy Moench, CSFS Nursery manager, at (970) 491-8429, or treeseedlings@hotmail.com and on the web at http://csfs.colostate.edu.
Rangeland Resource Management
Roy Roath, Extension range specialist in the Department of Forest, Rangeland, and Watershed Stewardship, can discuss various aspects of rangeland resource management. He can talk specifically on grazing management and design to meet the needs of livestock and wildlife habitat and rangeland ecology. To speak with Roath, contact Kimberly Sorensen at (970) 491-0757 or Kimberly.Sorensen@colostate.edu.
Paul Meiman, assistant professor of rangeland ecology and management in the Warner College of Natural Resources, is available to talk about rangelands and rangeland management in general. He is particularly interested in the management and ecology of riparian systems, invasive plants, animal/habitat interactions and livestock grazing management. One focus area for his research is invasive plants and how/why they invade rangelands and what can be done to minimize the chances of invasion or decrease their abundance after they have invaded. To speak with Meiman, contact Kimberly Sorensen at (970) 491-0757 or Kimberly.Sorensen@colostate.edu.
Water in the West
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 published a 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.
Reagan Waskom, director of the Colorado Water Institute, can talk about water conservation, Colorado water uses and needs, agricultural water use, water quality, Colorado water law, administration and policy. His broad research interests have included irrigation water optimization in water limited environments, evaluation of municipal water conservation programs, development of best management practices for crop production and evaluation of groundwater vulnerability and sensitivity to contamination. Waskom manages a $2.5 million USDA program to develop stronger partnerships on water and water quality with five other land-grant universities – Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming- that make up the Northern Plains and Mountains regions. To speak with Waskom, contact Emily Wilmsen at (970) 491-2336 or Emily.Wilmsen@colostate.edu.
Colorado and Politics in the West
John Straayer, professor of political science, has more than 40 years experience researching and teaching Colorado politics. Straayer can speak on a range of political topics in Colorado including the state’s political history. To speak with Straayer, contact Kimberly Sorensen at (970) 491-0757 or Kimberly.Sorensen@colostate.edu.
Robert J. Duffy is a professor of political science. Duffy’s research and interests include American politics with particular emphasis on elections, interest groups and energy policy. He is also interested in environmental politics and policy issues. To speak with Duffy, contact Kimberly Sorensen at (970) 491-0757 or Kimberly.Sorensen@colostate.edu.
Early Exploration of the West
Jared Orsi teaches courses on Colorado history, environmental history and U.S.-Mexico borderlands at CSU. His particular areas of interest and expertise are environmental history and early exploration of the West. To speak with Orsi, contact Kimberly Sorensen at (970) 491-0757 or Kimberly.Sorensen@colostate.edu.
-30-