Goats: Farming's New Frontier

2010 IGS Agenda

Tuesday, August 10^th

8:30 am                 Arrival at the Agriplex for Departure on the Farm Tours

9:00 am                 Departure on North and South Tours

12:00 am               Lunch on Farm

5:00 pm                 Return to Agriplex

6:00 pm                 2010 International Goat Symposium Official Opening

                                Pub Grub and Social, Tradeshow Opening 

Wednesday, August 11th

8:30 am                 Registration, Morning Refreshments and Tradeshow Open

9:00 am                 Welcome and Opening Remarks

9:30am                  Spouse’s Tour leaves the Stratford Rotary Complex

9:15 am                 Keynote Speaker: What’s Bugging Your Goats: How to get the Parasites Under Control

                                Terry K. Hutchens, Extension Associate Specialist University of Kentucky

10:15 am               Keynote Speaker: Crossing Your Xs and Dotting Your Ys: Successful Reproductive Management of Goats

                                Dr. Lionel Dawson, Theriogenologist (Goat Reproductive Specialist), Oklahoma State University

11:30 am               Lunch
                                Tradeshow and Demo Stage that will include: Show Fitting Tips and Tricks, Goat Comfort, and Handling and Proper Tagging of Goats 

1:30 pm            Keynote Speaker: The Ins and Outs of Caprine Arthritis and Encephalitis
                               Dr. Mary Smith, Cornell University

2:30 pm                Breakout Sessions (Choice between 3 speakers and one tour)

1.       Keeping Disease Out and the Steps to Take If It Gets In – Biosecurity and Its Growing Importance in Agriculture
Charles LaLonde, eBiz Professionals, Biosecurity Specialists 

2.       Homeopathic Solutions in Goat Herd Health
Dr. Terry Fisk, Homeopathic Veterinarian 

3.       A Breath of Fresh Air – The Importance of the Right Kind of Ventilation in Your Goat Barns
Harry Huffman, Agricultural Engineer 

4.       Guided Tour of the Monforte Dairy Company, Stratford
Ruth Klahsen, Monforte Dairy Company, Owner/Lead Cheesemaker 

3:30 pm              Tradeshow Closed

5:00 pm              Social Hour and 4-H Goat Fundraiser (Silent Auction) Begins

6:00 pm              Ontario Goat Industry Celebration and Grill
                             A Caribbean themed dinner event with entertainment provided by local comedian, Dan Needles

Thursday August 12th

8:30 am               Registration and Tradeshow Begins

9:15 am               Keynote Speaker: Q Fever: A Dutch Dairy Goat Farmer’s Personal Story
                               Jeannette van de Ven, Chair Dairy Goat Committee of LTO Netherlands, and Farmer

                              Q Fever: What Does it Mean for Ontario Goat Producers?
                               Shannon Meadows, University of Guelph

10:30 am             Breakout Sessions (Choice Between 3 Speakers)

1.       Mastitis – A Problem Not Only in Dairy Cows and How It Can Be Controlled
David Lee, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey 

2.       Dehorning and Hoof Trimming: What Am I Doing Wrong?
Dr. Sherry Smith

3.     Ethnic Consumer vs. Traditional Consumer: What are the Opportunities in this Emerging Market?
Cara Epp, Cara Epp Marketing Communications

11:30 am               Lunch
                                Tradeshow and Demo Stage that will include: Show Fitting Tips and Tricks, Goat Comfort, and Handling and Proper Tagging of Goats

1:30 pm                 Breakout Sessions (Choice between 3 speakers)

                1.       Production Limiting Goat Diseases

        Dr. Allyson MacDonald

2.       Feeding and Finishing Meat Goats

        Brian Tarr, Shur Gain, Nutreco

3.     The Nuts and Bolts of Converting Barns for Goat Production
                         Wayne Blenkhorn, Faromor Ltd., President

2:30 pm   Keynote Speaker: Global and Local Insights on the Opportunities and Challenges Facing the Goat Industry
Tony Dutra, President, Woolwich Dairy Inc.                           

Banquet

Join us for this casual Caribbean themed Goat Industry Celebration and Social.  Take time to catch up with your colleagues, fellow goat farmers and industry partners in this laid back culinary celebration of all things goat!  Delight your taste buds with our wonderful Caribbean inspired Dinner Buffet. 

 Wear your bright coloured shirts, comfortable attire and come prepared to relax and unwind in true Caribbean spirit!  This event will take place at the Stratford Rotary Complex but you will feel like you have been whisked away to the beaches so have no worries.  We have a lot to celebrate in the goat industry! 

 5:00pm        Social Hour, Appetizers and Licensed Cash Bar Open
                    Bidding opens for the 4-H Goat Club Silent Auction Fundraiser             

 6:00pm        Caribbean Inspired Ontario Goat Dinner Buffet

KEYNOTE ENTERTAINMENT:

Dan Needles, Author and Playwright

“A Stroll Through Persephone Township”

Dan Needles is the creator of the popular Wingfield Farm plays, full length stage comedies that have filled theatres across Canada and the United States for more than 3,000 performances since 1984, including runs at the Stratford Festival and Toronto’s Royal Alexandra Theatre.  Wingfield Lost & Found, the seventh and latest in the series of plays starring Rod Beattie is coming to the Panasonic Theatre in Toronto in January 2011.  Dan lives on a small farm near Collingwood with his wife and their four children.

ONTARIO GOAT 4-H SILENT AUCTION FUNDRAISER 

Ontario Goat and the International Goat Symposium are proud to introduce this silent auction with the goal of raising funds for the development of new 4-H Goat Club resources and tools.

 Various items donated by our goat industry partners will be on display throughout the evening for your bidding pleasure!

Help support our goat youth, 4-H goat club leaders and our goat farmers of tomorrow by bidding in this fun Silent Auction!

If you would like to donate an item for the silent auction please contact the Ontario Goat office.

NEW THIS YEAR: SPOUSE’S TOUR WEDNESDAY AUGUST 11th

New this year, we have organized a fun and educational day in Stratford for those spouses/partners wishing to try something a little different.  Your registration for this event includes all transportation, admission fees and lunch.  Come and meet some new people and enjoy your day away from the farm.  Space is limited for this fun event so registration is accepted on a first come first served basis. 

9:30am         Depart Stratford Rotary Complex
9:45am         Tour Monforte Dairy Company
10:45am       The Art of Cheese making with Ruth Klahsen, Owner/Lead Cheese maker
Have the opportunity to talk to Ruth about her passion for cheese making, her community shared agriculture program and even sample some of her creations. 

12:00pm        Lunch at Pazzo Ristorante
Sit back and relax and let graduates of the Stratford Chef School prepare a delicious three course meal for you.

2:00pm          Stratford Festival Theatre Costume & Props Warehouse Tour
See North America’s largest warehouse of props and costumes.  Even try one on!