CLARION — Legendary artist, singer/guitarist Teddy Gentry from the country music group Alabama, along with noted author and mob grazing guru Greg Judy, will be featured at this year’s 21st annual Western Pennsylvania grazing conference

The conference is being extended to two days, March 21 and 22. It will be held at the Trinity Point Church of God, just south of Interstate 80, Clarion Exit 62.

This year’s conference will focus on many aspects of improving low input grazing systems.

Sessions will cover topics such as brood cow efficiency and nutrition, how soil health and profitability are related, extending the grazing season, marketing opportunities, health and economics of grass finished meat and developing and implementing grazing leases.

The two keynote speakers, Gentry and Judy, bring a wealth of knowledge gained through experience in tuning and evaluating the many pieces of a grazing system to maximize functionality and profitability.

Gentry will share his insights into breeding cattle to fit environmental conditions along with how grazing management has benefitted his beef cattle operation. Gentry owns and operates the Bent Tree Cattle located near Fort Payne, Ala.

Judy wrote a book titled “NO RISK RANCHING, Custom Grazing On Leased Land,” which gives a complete breakdown on the methods used to build an operation of 1,600 acres from scratch. Other sessions will include:

n Meg Grzeskiewicz — Generating cash flow in cow-calf operations

n Tara Felix — Advance nutrition in beef cows

n Jessica Williamson — Extending your grazing season

n Ron Gargasz — Health benefits of grass finished beef

n Aaron Miller — The economics of marketing grass-fed beef

n Russ Wilson — Nutrient recycling in adaptive grazing systems

n Melanie Barkley — Winter feed budgets ... how much of what?

n Gary Gilmore — Charcoal; helping your livestock and building soil

n Local Farmers — Beth Wingard, George Gaffron, Gary Yeaney.

Registration costs $85 for 2-days and the evening session or $45 for one day only. Continental breakfast and lunch is included. Registration deadline is March 14. The bonus evening session with Judy on March 21 costs $20.

To register or for more information, call Headwaters RC&D at 814-503-8653, send email to info@headwaterspa.org or visit the website at www.headwaterspa.org

Andy Gaver is a conservationist with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Butler County.