FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 13, 2008	CONTACT:  Charles Hord (615) 837-5304 Charles.Hord@state.tn.us
Tennessee Beef Agribition Features Best, Latest in Cattle Industry NASHVILLE, Tenn. – One of the largest cattle exhibitions, sales and tradeshows in the Southeast will be held in Murfreesboro, Mar. 7 - 9 at Middle Tennessee State University’s Tennessee Livestock Center.  The Tennessee Beef Agribition will feature new products and the latest information with a focus on the future of the cattle industry. The annual three day cattle show and sale event also includes a tradeshow that will be held Mar. 7 – 8, and a Junior Show that will be held Mar. 9. “This year’s show again will provide information to producers on how to qualify for cattle genetic and handling equipment cost share assistance through the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program,” said Charles Hord, livestock marketing specialist with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture. “The show is also great way for producers to find out the latest trends and opportunities in the cattle industry.” The TAEP Cattle Improvement Initiative is a statewide program aimed at increasing farm income in Tennessee by providing cost-share funds to producers for the improvement of beef and dairy cattle genetics and livestock handling facilities. “The popular program can be a boost to Tennessee cattle producers looking to improve their bottom line and to minimize their losses in bad weather like we experience this past year,” says the marketing specialist. “We’ll also have information on hay and feed storage cost share opportunities to help producers better manage forage and nutrition.” Ten different chartered beef breeds are represented and more than 20,000 people are expected to attend the Agribition.  Breed shows begin Friday at 11 a.m. with sales for each breed immediately following that breed’s show.  Saturday shows and sales begin at 8:30 a.m. and at about 10:30 a.m., respectively. A limited number of cow and calf pairs will be available for sale.   All animals will be available for viewing at the center before being sold.  The junior show, one of the event’s most popular features, will take place Sunday. Agribition continues to offer serious producers its traditional benefits as well, says Hord, including the opportunity to purchase cows and heifers, purebred breeding stock and even donor embryos during cattle breeding seasons. The added benefit of watching breeds being shown and judged just before sale is an opportunity few buyers ever experience except during Agribition, according to Hord. For more information about Tennessee Beef Agribition as well as the Junior Show, contact Quintin Smith at (615) 207-0830, or for information about the tradeshow, call Phyllis Ferguson at (615) 274-6267. For more information about the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program, visit the TDA Market Development Web site at www.picktnproducts.org. ### This and other news releases from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture can be found at http://tennessee.gov/agriculture/news/index.html Market Development/Pick Tennessee Products news releases can also be found at http://picktnproducts.org/press/index.html