Top horseman to speak at Kirksville event

KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – One of the nation’s most versatile horsemen headlines the equine section of the 2013 Missouri Livestock Symposium.

Van Hargis of Victoria, Texas, will give three workshops during the symposium, Dec. 6-7 at Kirksville Middle School.

University of Missouri Extension and the Missouri Department of Agriculture, with assistance from state commodity groups and associations, sponsor the event, which offers sessions on horses, cattle, sheep and goats, working stock dogs, farm and ranch succession planning, and more.

Another Texan, Ron Gill, extension livestock specialist and professor at Texas A&M, will speak on equine industry concerns and issues related to animal welfare. He also will speak on cattle behavior and handling in the beef section of the symposium.

Gary Webb of Missouri State University will speak on feeding fescue to performance horses and opportunities for competition.

Doors open at 4 p.m. on Friday, with a free beef dinner served at 6 p.m. The Saturday event is 8 a.m.-5 p.m. A free governor’s-style luncheon is served at noon on Saturday.

For more information, go to www.missourilivestock.com, or call the MU Extension Center in Adair County at 660-665-9866 or Garry Mathes at 660-341-6625, or email Zac Erwin at [email protected] and put “MLS” in the subject line.