If you are looking to brush up on some hot topics in the cattle industry and learn from hundreds of exhibitors at trade shows, you will have the opportunities at several livestock industry conventions and trade shows this fall.

The Amarillo Farm & Ranch Show kicks things off on December 3-5 in Amarillo, Texas. It is the largest agricultural farm show in the Panhandle region, with over 700 exhibits and more than 300 companies present each year.

The Amarillo Farm & Ranch Show offers daily educational seminars containing CEUs at no charge to the producer. The Western Canada Exhibit will be back again this year.

Next is the Kansas Livestock Association Convention, December 5-6 in Wichita, Kansas. The pros and cons of generating wind energy on a commercial basis in Kansas will be one of the workshops, which is sponsored by Elanco.

Three other industry information workshops will cover new animal care standards requested by restaurants and supermarkets, individual animal identification and strategies to minimize livestock production risks associated with weather.

The featured session of the KLA Convention will highlight the findings of various groups studying the industry's fed cattle marketing problems and conclude with an extended discussion among the membership on the association's official marketing policy. Members are encouraged to bring their opinions and solutions to the convention for this special forum.

Registration materials are included in the November/December Kansas Stockman.

The Iowa Cattlemen's Association Convention and Trade Show is December 10-13, 2002 in Des Moines, Iowa. Convention highlights include Dr. Dale Grotelueschen, discussing Health and Therapy in the Feedlot, Preventing BVD from Robbing Cowherd Profits from Dr. Jerry Woodruff and "Generations of Pride" keynote address by columnist Trent Loos.

Cattlemen's College topics include environmental solutions for feedlots, economics of adding value to cull cows and ration formulation using co-products.

Registration information for the Iowa convention can be found at www.iacattlemen.org or by calling (515)296-2266.

The Nebraska Cattlemen will hold its annual convention December 11-13 in Kearney, Nebraska. Confirmed speakers are Sarpy County Senator Jon Bruning, NCBA President-Elect Eric Davis, American National CattleWomen President-Elect Patti Townsend, financial planner Robert Mundy and Nebraska Beef Ambassador Wravenna Phipps. Governor Mike Johanns has also been invited.

The feedlot, cow/calf, seedstock, and farmer/stockman councils will all meet. To register, call the Nebraska Cattlemen office at (402) 475-2333.

The NCBA Convention will draw members to Nashville, Tennessee, January 29-February 1, 2003. The popular Cattlemen's College will feature information on alliances, futures and options, the packer-feeder game, genetics for cowboys, emergency response systems for livestock operations, the new farm bill, facilities for low stress handling and many more.

Meeting of various NCBA Committees will occur throughout the four-day event, with highlights of the convention to include some of country music's top performers. For information, log on to www.beef.org or call NCBA at (303) 694-0305. ©