The Bent-Prowers Cattle and Horse Growers Association annual meeting, set for April 6 in Lamar, marks the start of its 150^thyear serving producers across southeast Colorado.

The meeting will feature an auction, banquet and cowboy ball.

A free, hands-on Colorado Beef Quality Assurance training session will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the equine arena at Lamar Community College. Scott Stinnett, CSU extension agent from Kit Carson County, will be the certified trainer. He will demonstrate cattle handling techniques on live animals, as well as a classroom session. The training is open to any ag producer. No registration is needed.

Senator Larry Crowder will present a legislative update starting at 1:00 p.m., followed by industry updates from the Colorado Beef Council, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The presentations are open to the public.

Dr. Ryan Rhoades, CSU beef specialist, will talk about the Beef cow-calf Standardized Performance Analysis, which is designed to help producers reduce their cost of production and improve their production and marketing efficiency. The 150^thannual business meeting follows.

Southeastern Colorado Junior Cattlemen Association also will hold afternoon activities.

Evening activities kick off with a cowboy punch bowl at 5:30 p.m. The banquet, featuring a prime rib meal, follows at 6:00 p.m., and will include an auction, awards presentation, and entertainment. Clyde Chess, a rancher from Rush, will share cowboy poetry during the meal. Dancing follows at 8:00 p.m.

Activities will take place at Lamar Community College’s Equine complex, 3205 S. Main Street, Lamar.

Tickets are available at WW Feed & Supply in La Junta, or by calling Matt Neuhold at 719-688-9522 or Amber Freouf at 719-688-1184.

The association serves Baca, Bent, Crowley, Kiowa, Otero, and Prowers county ranchers and ag supporters. It is one of the oldest livestock organization in the United States.