In November 2009, I wrote a blurb in the Ozarks Farm & Neighbor Rumors column blasting Drury University, in Springfield, Mo., for their new Animal Rights program funded by Bob Barker. I gave you the University President’s phone number and apparently you used it. The whole thing caused quite a stir.
Since that time, Mr. Parnell and I have had a couple of occasions to talk and I can assure you that he thinks I was wrong. I can also assure you that Mr. Parnell is a very fine guy and Drury is a great institution, but I still disagree with their curriculum in this case, which I think is one sided.
Something good has come from all this. Drury has reached out to producers, livestock markets, associations and others for their input and have on at least one occasion brought them into the classroom to share their thoughts.
On March 3, 2011, the Drury University Convocation Series and the Office of the President will present Dr. Temple Grandin to speak to their students and anyone else who wishes to attend. Dr. Grandin’s life story has recently been made into an HBO movie titled “Temple Grandin, starring Claire Danes.” The movie shows her as a teenager and how she started her career.
She is a designer of livestock handling facilities and a Professor of Animal Science at Colorado State University. Facilities she has designed are located in the United States, Canada, Europe, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand and other countries. Almost half of the cattle in North America are handled in systems that she designed for meat plants. Curved chute and race systems she has designed for cattle are used worldwide and her writings on flight zone and other principles of grazing animal behavior have helped many people to reduce stress on their animals during handling.
Dr. Grandin has been called “the most accomplished and well-known adult with autism in the world.”
The bottomline is, Dr. Grandin is taking time from an unbelievable schedule to come and talk to these students, and Drury University is making this available to all of us at no cost. Let’s show up, show our support and show how important this matter is to the Ozarks.
Get there early for the best seats and parking. For more information call us toll free at 1-866-532-1960 or see the ad on page 22 of this issue.
