Angus enthusiasts should mark their calendars for the 2008 National Angus Conference & Tour, set for Oct. 7-9 in Oklahoma City, Okla. The American Angus Association® is pleased to announce that Purina Mills, LLC, and Alpharma Animal Health are the major sponsors of this year’s event. The conference headquarters is the Clarion Meridian Hotel & Convention Center, where the conference, “125 Years—the Challenges of the Next Decade” will focus on production, marketing and performance. The Oklahoma Angus Association will host “An Angus Gathering,” a two-day tour of Angus operations, along with a museum and reining horse training facility.

“Purina Mills is proud to partner once again with the American Angus Association on this great educational event,” says Rod Nulik, Purina Mills marketing manager. “Purina Mills and our key corporate partner, Alpharma Animal Health, share with the American Angus Association the common goal of continuing to improve the competitive advantage and profitability of America’s beef producers now and in the future.”

A welcome reception will be Monday, Oct. 6, for those who have traveled and want to visit with fellow Angus breeders. The official event begins at 8 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 7 with the conference program. A slate of industry speakers will address the state of the beef industry, performance information, selection tools, branded beef programs and marketing. Speakers include John Lawrence, Iowa State University; Mark Allan, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center; William Herring, Smithfield Premium Genetics Group; Paul Roach, Reasor’s Stores; and Rod Nulik, Purina Mills. Deb Norton, Graphic Arts of Topeka, will moderate a marketing panel that includes Don Meador, Dreamcatcher Ranch; Dick Beck, Three Trees Ranch; and Leo McDonnell Jr., Midland Bull Test.

A two-day tour of scenic Oklahoma begins on Wednesday, Oct. 8. Stops include Smith Land & Cattle, Claremore; Woolaroc Museum & Wildlife Preserve, Bartlesville; Buford Ranches LLC, near Hominy; and Limestone LLC, Perkins. On Thursday, the tour will travel to Oklahoma State University (OSU), Stillwater; Big Lake Ranch home of Brainard Cutting Horses, Mulhall; Pollard Farms LLC, Enid; and Express Ranches, Yukon. The Smith family and OSU will also host cattle from other producers from the state.

Registration is available online. Just $75 covers the conference and tour, meals and bus transportation during the tour. Register by Sept. 1 to get the early registration rate. After that, registration is $125. Register online at www.angus.org or by contacting Monica Jordan at 816-383-5100. Hotel accommodations are available at the headquarters, the Clarion Meridian Hotel. A room block is available at the rate of $73 plus tax per night. Make reservations early to ensure availability, by calling 405-942-8511, and ask for the American Angus Association rate and schedule information.