October 4 – The Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) College of Agriculture and Human Sciences recently hosted the 4th National Goat Conference, further expanding the college’s reach to producers in the United States and other countries.
The conference is the signature event of the National Goat Consortium, an initiative of the 1890 Land Grant Institutions.
The college’s Cooperative Extension Program’s Agriculture and Natural Resources unit spearheaded the program, with Extension Program Specialists Ashley Pellerin and Kesha Henry, Ph.D., and Interim International Goat Research Center Director Bill Foxworth, Ph.D., serving as conference co-chairs.
The theme for the virtual two-day conference was “Collaboration and Cooperation for a Viable and Sustainable Goat Industry,” and it provided an array of resources, activities, and sessions created to support and strengthen the skills of farmers and producers alike.
“In addition to international participants, the virtual setting allowed busy farmers to attend the conference and get much-needed information without having to sacrifice time away from their operations,” Pellerin said. “Often, it is easy to get overwhelmed managing a livestock operation so, having the ability to come together with others from across the globe and learn from professionals and other producers is important.”
Faculty and staff from various 1890 Land Grant universities around the country and leading experts hosted the workshops, including economists, biologists, and business owners. Participants attended modules covering a range of lessons, including effective management practices, marketing, nutrition and grazing, biosecurity and predator control, and more. Additionally, three farmers were also honored for their entrepreneurial endeavors and herd management practices.
In collaboration with numerous organizations, including government, non-government, private, and other stakeholders, the National Goat Consortium is committed to the advancement of the goat industry and supporting farmers. Since 2010, the consortium’s National Goat Conference has trained over 1,000 producers, agricultural professionals, and other stakeholders.
“We hope attendees left the conference with a renewed passion for the goat industry and also useful information that will help them improve their businesses and maximize economic gains over time,” Pellerin said. “We also hope that they took away that the goat industry thrives on collaboration and cooperation, as our theme states.”
Pascale Mondesir
Communication Specialist II
pamondesir@pvamu.edu
(936) 261-5155