Members of the sheep and goat community flocked into the Joseph S. Koury Convention Center this past weekend to share research and innovative farming techniques.
The School of Agriculture and Environmental Science (SAES) is hosting the 2nd triennial 2013 National Goat Convention from Sept. 15 to Sept. 18.
Over 600 sheep producers, agricultural professionals, government and nongovernment officials, and students traveled across the nation to empower and inspire the sheep and goat industry.
“This was an opportunity for A&T to build its brand and expose ongoing and current research being done on campus,” said Torel Daniels, an animal health graduate student who participated in the convention.
Daniels explained the significance of hosting such a distinguished event and the potential for scholarships and grants. “This will give students a platform to present research and promote student leadership [and] give the city of Greensboro a reason not to develop on the land.”
Earlier this year, the city of Greensboro announced plans to build a road through the Aggie farm, linking East Lee Street and McConnell Road. This plan would take 2.7 acres of the farm and disturb farm activities, but the city would give the University approximately $280,000, the value of the land.
The SAES aims to strengthen the goat industry through partnership and collaboration. Hosting the convention at A&T allowed the university to network with industry leading companies.
One organization in attendance was the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). According to the USDA, the goat industry is steadily growing in the United States because of the multi-functionality of producing goats. Goats’ small size and their small demand for roaming land increase their popularity amongst farmers. They are excellent providers of both meat and milk to every household. Soap, milk, yogurt, and pharmaceuticals are products made from goats.
The convention is an initiative of the National Goat Consortium of the 1890 Morrill Land Grant System. The land grant gave federal land to states in an effort to create universities that would further agricultural and veterinary research.
“A&T was picked to host the convention, so people could see the farm,” explained Ralph Noble, chairman of A&T’s department of animal science.
Nobles described how the United States imports 15-25 tons of goat products from Australia and New Zealand every year, but consumers would prefer “fresh” meat. So, he wants to increase the local farmer’s income by educating them, therefore, decreasing the need to import goat products.
“The best thing is not always right in front of us. Many people just don’t know about the health benefit of goat. Protein is driving the world economy and goat is the better red meat, its low fat and low cholesterol compared to beef and pork,” said Nobles
A few of the universities in attendance included Florida A & M University, Kentucky State University, Lincoln University, Tuskegee University and Virginia State University.
“I’ve networked with Universities and experts in the industry,” Delaware State University graduate student, Ashley Grace said. “I hope to apply the information I’ve gathered at my university.”
Sessions included hands on training, demonstrations of current farming techniques and a tour of the A&T farm. Other sessions educated attendees on current, accurate, and relevant goat information. In addition, the convention focused on expanding the attendees’ knowledge of goat care such as how to trim goat hooves or why to pasteurize goat milk.
- TRISTAN BAILEY Contributor