Annual Conference Update

As many of you are aware, ALBC recently had to change the location of it's 2009 Annual Conference. The conference was scheduled to be in Houston, TX, but due to some last minute, unexpected circumstances, the conference was moved to Raleigh, NC.

These past few weeks the ALBC staff have been working extremely hard to re-work all the logistics for the conference in NC. We are very excited about the opportunities and programming that North Carolina presents - and we think it will be a great conference.

So, do we have you curious? Are you ready to start making your reservations?

The conference is still November 13-14, 2009

The host hotel for the conference will be the Clarion Hotel State Capital in Downtown Raleigh, NC. The hotel is in the heart of Raleigh's downtown area and it's a great central location for the conference. The hotel is about 13 miles from RDU International Airport.

Conference attendees will receive the promotional rate of $79.00 per night (Friday and Saturday). When contacting the hotel, be sure to mention the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy in order to receive the discounted rate.

Clarion Hotel State Capital

320 Hillsborough Street

Raleigh, NC, US, 27603-1786

Phone:(919) 832-0501

Fax: (919) 833-1631

http://www.raleighclarion.com/

Below are some images of the hotel:

Pre-conference clinics will include the following: (November 13th)
Breed Association Workshop

Rare Breed Pig Husbandry Workshop

The Lost Art of Last Cuts: Taking Advantage of Underutilized Cuts of Meat

Introduction to Micro-dairying with Rare Breed Cattle, Goats, and Sheep

Breeding Rare Breed Rabbits for Productivity

Selecting Heritage Chicken Breeding Stock for Productivity

Conference talks will include the following: (November 14th)
Ecology of Place: The Association of Rare Breed Foods & Where They Come From

The Kentucky Hamburger Alliance: Finding An Outlet For The Rest Of The Beef
Poultry Incubation: Hatching for Success
Incorporating Rare Breeds Into Your Farm Plan
Emergency Preparedness for Responsible Endangered Breed Stewardship
Introduction to Rare Meat Rabbit Breeds
New Genetics Technologies for Breed Conservation: DNA Analysis & Interpretation
Pork: The Other Red Meat
How to Work Productively with Your Processor
Because They Taste Better: The Competitive Edge of Heritage Breeds In Grass Based Production System
Demystifying Farm Economics
Navajo Churro Presidium: Direct Marketing Rare Breed Sheep
Marketing 101: A Closer Look at Marketing Strategies for Independent Producers
New Tools and Strategies For Rare Breed Producers

More information will continually be added to the conference website, http://albc-usa.org/Conference2009/ALBCconference2009.html - so check here for regular updates.

Also, all members will receive a conference packet within the next few weeks outlining the entire conference and all the presentations. The online registration form will also be available in the coming weeks. We are very excited about the event and look forward to seeing you all there.