Meetings

The HHCA annual meeting and gathering will be held on Sat., March 3, 2012 at the Branson Towers in Branson, MO.  This year there are several changes in the time of the activities on Saturday.  Registration will begin at 10 AM in the Table Rock Room.

There will be a speaker from 11:00-noon with the noon reception to follow.  The annual meeting will begin at 1:00 PM followed by a group membership discussion on marketing and promoting Highland cattle and beef.  There will be much information on the upcoming Highland Cattle auction scheduled for Thursday, April 19th at 4 PM at the Norwood Sale Barn in Norwood, MO.  The banquet will begin at 6 PM in the Gazebo Room.  There will be the volunteer awards and Lee Wolfgang Recognition Award presented following the banquet.  You will be receiving your annual meeting notification letter, ballot, and banquet reservation by Feb. 1st in a separate mailing.

There is a block of rooms set aside for the HHCA at the Branson Towers.  Room rates are as follows:  single $53.95; double $53.95; triple $60.95; quad $67.95 plus tax.  The Branson Towers is located at 236 Shepherd of the Hills Expressway, Branson, MO.  To make reservations, call 417.336.4500 and mention the block of rooms for the HHCA and give them the contract #1090.  There are rooms reserved for both Friday and Saturday nights, March 2^nd and 3^rd, 2012.                              
You can book anytime.  The Branson Towers provides elevators to the different levels, a full breakfast, indoor heated swimming pool and sauna. 

Dr. Craig Payne will be the speaker at the annual meeting.  His topics will include animal health, recommendations for shots and shot schedule, nutrition requirements and feed supplements.  He also will include information about TRICH which concerns breeding bulls.

Craig Payne received his DVM degree from the University of Missouri-College of Veterinary Medicine in 1993.  Upon graduation he practiced at the Animal Medical Center in Marshfield, MO for one year before moving to Sedalia, MO where he became a partner at the Sedalia Veterinary Center.  He practiced in Sedalia until 2005 at which time he and his wife moved to Kingsville, TX where he pursued an MS degree in Agribusiness from the King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management at Texas A&M – Kingsville.  After completing his MS degree in 2007, Craig accepted a position as an extension veterinarian for the University of Missouri and is currently the Director of the Department of Veterinary Extension and Continuing Education at the MU-College of Veterinary Medicine.