Hotel accommodations Contact the Holiday Inn Ithaca-Downtown by may 15, 2011 at (607) 272-1000. Be sure to mention you are with the American Highland Cattle Association to receive the rate of $119/night main building or $129/night tower building (1-4 people). Both buildings have been renovated in the last year but the tower offers great views while the main building has larger rooms. The second fl oor of the main building has no elevator but porters will assist with luggage. The hotel is just a block from Ithaca Commons, an energized and artistic city center and located at 222 S. Cayuga St., Ithaca, NY 14850.

Camping Facilities There are several camping and RV parks in the Ithaca area. Check out visitithaca.com/camping. Robert H. Treman and Buttermilk Falls State Parks (800-456-2267 or reserveamerica.com) are highly recommended as they are affordable, near the hotel and offer waterfall swimming. If you stay at a campground you need to provide your own transportation to the Holiday Inn each day for activities.

travel arrangements Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport is serviced by Delta, US Airways, Continental and United; visit fl yithaca.com. Elmira Corning Regional Airport is approximately 45 minutes from Ithaca; fi nd info at ecairport.com. The closest major airport Syracuse Hancock International Airport is approximately 1 ½ hours from the hotel and at syrairport.org.

There is a complimentary hotel shuttle to/from the Ithaca Airport which is just 15 minutes from the Holiday Inn; no reservation is needed. The airport shuttle courtesy phone is located at baggage claim. Schedule with the hotel front desk 24 hours prior to your departing fl ight.

tourist information Five hundred generations ago, glaciers a mile high surrendered to a landscape of crystal lakes, jagged gorges and thundering waterfalls. But Ithaca is more than just Gorges! Wineries invite you to discover the rich bounties of the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail. There are also numerous museums, art galleries, state parks and plenty of outdoor adventure. National magazines like Bike, Outside and Sports Afi eld repeatedly name Ithaca among America’s top outdoor towns. More restaurants per capita than New York City? It’s true. Though Ithaca is small in size, it’s a city of worldly palettes, with a corresponding overabundance of fabulous restaurants. Also, you are only three hours from Niagara Falls but bring

your passport as the most stunning views are on the Canadian side. Learn more about the area on visitithaca.com and fi ngerlakes.org. Or contact fellow Highland breeder Jacquelyn Chotkowski (607) 732-0448 or chotbeck@stny.rr.com.

trade show (optional) Promote your farm, regional association or cattle related products/services for only $25. The trade show will be open each day during free time so you can attend the convention and have a booth. A 6’ rectangular table with tablecloth/skirting and two chairs will be provided. Please be sure to bring an extension cord if you need it.

Junior Program (ages 5-16) New York is a great place to vacation! The area abounds with awesome adventures for all ages and the junior program is sure to be action packed. Youth 5-16 years old will enjoy fun activities Thursday-Saturday while Mom and Dad are attending the general membership meeting and educational seminars/tours. Bring your suit; swimming at the hotel is on the schedule. Chaperones are adult AHCA members or older junior members and transportation will be by charter bus. A permission slip for each child will be sent after the registration deadline and must be received by AHCA on or before June 16th.

auction at the Banquet To donate items for the Mid-Atlantic Highland Association (MAHA) please contact Jacquelyn Chotkowski (607) 732-0448 or chotbeck@stny.rr.com. For donations of auction lots to benefi t the Highland Cattle Foundation (HCF) please contact Bill Roberts (717) 567-7216 or wirdvlpcorp@aol.com.

notice of general membership meeting The American Highland Cattle Association will hold its 60th Annual General Membership Meeting in Ithaca, NY on Thursday, June 16, 2011 at the Holiday Inn Ithaca-Downtown. At this meeting the membership will elect three at-large directors. All members of AHCA with dues paid for 6/1/11-5/31/12 (excluding junior members) will be entitled to a vote. Absentee ballots will be sent in May and should be completed and returned to AHCA in the envelopes provided by those who are unable to attend the membership meeting.

Weather During June, temperatures are typically 55°-80° with rain possible. We suggest dressing in layers and traveling with a jacket.

June 16-18, 2011Ithaca, nY

AH

CA

4701 Marion St., Ste. 200

Livestock Exchange Building D

enver, CO

80216-2139

HO

TE

L D

EA

DL

INE

MA

Y 15th

RE

GIST

RA

TIO

N D

EA

DL

INE

MA

Y 25th

I n f o R MAtI o n

Please mail, fax or email form and payment by may 25th to:AHCA

4701 Marion St., Ste. 200Livestock Exchange Building, Denver, CO 80216-2139

(303) 292-9102 fax (303) 292-9171info@highlandcattleusa.org

Annual nationalconvention60th

Please cut along dotted line and send to AH

CA

.

RegistRation FoRm Hotel Deadline may 15th

Registration Deadline may 25th

✂

Contact information

Nam

e(s) _________________________________________________________________________

Farm N

ame ______________________________________________________________________

Street Address ____________________________________________________________________

City/State/Zip ____________________________________________________________________

Phone __________________________________________________________________________

Email ___________________________________________________________________________

Payment inform

ationC

heck One: n

Check Enclosed n

Visa n M

C n

Discover

Card N

umber: n

nn

n n

nn

n n

nn

n n

nn

n

Expiration Date: n

n/n

nSignature (required): _______________________________________________________________

Registration information

Registration _______ x $165/adult

= _______

_______ x $110/child ( ages 5-16) = _______

Nam

e(s) & age(s) of each child attending:

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

trade show Booth (optional)

_______ x $25/booth = _______

I need electricity for my booth. n

Yes n N

o

Choice of tours (specify number attending each)

Cornell Equine &

Farm A

nimal H

ospital _____ o

R Ithaca Farm

ers Market

_____

Registration fee includes: a

ll activities, transportation during convention, one continental breakfast, one breakfast buffet and

three dinners. all fees are non-refundable.

total Due

Wednesday, June 158:00 AM-2:00 PM aHCa Committee meetings2:00 PM-5:00 PM 2nd annual Best Practices Workshop for

Regional association Board members & officersBack by popular demand! Have you ever been asked to exhibit your cattle at a festival or other event but weren’t sure how? The Heartland Association will share tips, a fool proof checklist, insurance considerations, etc. to make the best possible impression on potential buyers and the public. Then it will be an open forum to network, share ideas and ask questions of other regions. We will once again share success stories in promotion and regional activities and further explore and strengthen the relationship of AHCA and the regional associations.2:00 PM-5:00 PM HCF Board of Directors’ meeting6:00 PM aHCa Board of Directors’ & guests’ Dinner

thursday, June 168:00 AM-3:30 PM aHCa Board of Directors’ meeting12:00 PM-4:00 PM Registration & trade show4:00 PM-5:00 PM enhancing Your marketing:

selling in the Local meats marketplace• Matt LeRoux, Agricultural Marketing Specialist, Cornell Cooperative Extension

– Tompkins CountyMatt works on a five county extension team and recently received his master’s degree in ag marketing. Previously, he worked for the New England Heritage Breeds Conservancy and as an ultrasound technician specializing in beef carcass quality for the New England Livestock Alliance. Learn to target your market and capitalize on your farm’s strengths in the ever growing local meats marketplace. Matt discusses how to communicate with customers and other marketing tips.4:00 PM-6:00 PM Juniors swim at Hotel5:00 PM-6:00 PM Highland Beef marketing PanelDon’t miss this interesting panel with marketing helpful hints and successes from John Bates – Hemlock Highlands, Sedro Woolley, WA; John Jenkins – OZ Highland Farm, Auburn, KS; William Lipsey – Drover Hill Farm, Earlville, NY; Tina MacCheyne – High-Point Farm, Trumansburg, NY and Doug Matthews – Strawberry Park Farm, Steamboat Springs, CO.6:30 PM-9:30 PM Dinner & general membership meetingThis session is the formal annual meeting of our Association. Hear the annual update which includes reports from the Board President, Board standing com-mittees and regional associations. Make your vote count in the membership’s election of at-large directors. HCF will announce the Memorial Junior Scholar-ship winners. 6:30 PM-9:30 PM Juniors enjoy movie night

Friday, June 177:00 AM-8:30 AM aHCa Board of Directors’ meeting7:00 AM-8:30 AM Breakfast Buffet, Registration & trade show

Buses depart hotel lobby at 9:00 AM and return at 12:00 PM.9:00 AM-12:00 PM taste of Highland Beef with

special guest speaker angus mackayWith the assistance of Cornell University and faculty, we will sample purebred

Highland and Highland x Angus beef from three farms. In addition, Angus Mackay, Coirefuar Fold, Scotland will discuss all things beef. Angus is a leading breeder worldwide who received extensive publicity recently. Mark Schatzker, the author of Steak, said Mackay’s Highland ribeye was the most flavorful, juici-est and tenderest steak he’s ever eaten!

9:00 AM-12:00 PM Juniors explore museum of the earth

Where the earth comes to life! Touch and feel history through hands-on explo-ration of fossils at the Discovery Stations. See specimens being prepared for research in the Fossil Preparation Lab. Marvel at the skeleton of the Hyde Park Mastodon, one of the most complete skeletons ever found. It’s a journey from the past into the future.

12:00 PM-1:15 PM Lunch on Your own

Buses depart hotel lobby at 1:15 PM and return at 9:00 PM.

1:15 PM-2:30 PM Hot Carcass Composting

• Jean Bonhotal, Associate Director, Cornell Waste Management Institute

Jean has worked at the Cornell Waste Management Institute in solid waste edu-cation for over 20 years. Currently her time is split between manure and carcass and butcher waste composting education and research. Animal mortalities are among the farm-generated organic residuals that can be managed through com-posting. Learn the proper methods to safe and effective hot carcass composting.

2:30 PM-9:00 PM Herd tour, Demonstrations & Farm to table Dinner at spring Flight Farm

Spring Flight Farm’s history goes back nearly as far as settlers in the region. It is marginal hilltop land best suited for livestock grazing. Imme-diately prior to Highland and Angus cattle, Boer goats and heritage pigs, it was crop farmed and grazing land for Holsteins. In addition to acreage owned by the Chotkowskis much surrounding land is under contract for hay. Additionally, during 4 months each summer they lease pasture land for 35+ animals to graze away from the home farm. The operation is dedi-cated to raising animals in the most sustainable ways possible all the while striving to produce sound, award winning breeding stock and great beef. Beef is sold through farmers markets, restaurants and by the individual cut, quarter, half and whole. Following dinner the 2010 Roll of Excellence (ROE) awards will be announced.

estrous synchronization Programs

• Dr. Mike Baker, Beef Cattle Extension Specialist, Cornell University

With 26 years of experience in beef cattle extension programming, Mike is the director of the Empire Heifer Development Program. In this capacity he has supervised the development and breeding of 600 heifers using various synchronization protocols. He also has a small commercial cow/calf and back-grounding operation. New technology in estrous synchronization programs have made AI on beef farms an economical and labor efficient method of increasing the genetic quality of the beef herd. A review of estrous synchroniza-tion programs will be presented.

great Livestock Photography

• Matt LeRoux, Agricultural Marketing Specialist, Cornell Cooperative Extension – Tompkins County

Want to take great photos for promotion and sale catalogs or dynamic ones of your farm and cattle? Bring photos from home on your flash drive, smart card or disc plus promotional materials you currently use. We will help evaluate them. Don’t forget your digital camera and take photos while you’re here for instant critiques. Start on the path to being a pro!

saturday, June 187:00 AM-8:30 AM Continental Breakfast & trade show

Buses depart hotel lobby at 9:00 AM and return at 12:00 PM.9:00 AM-11:00 AM tour of Cornell equine & Farm animal HospitalFor the fourth consecutive year, Cornell’s College of Veterinary Medicine is ranked #1 by U.S. News & World Report. This outstanding hospital boasts a state of the art facility along with developing cutting edge procedures and technology for the bovine and equine. oR9:00 AM-12:00 PM ithaca Farmers marketA festival of food and art on Ithaca’s waterfront. Enjoy the bounty of the Finger Lakes. Find fruits, vegetables, meats, cheeses and more grown by local farmers. You’ll also experience fine wines, flowers, plants, gifts and accessories as well as paintings, photography, pottery, woodwork and jewelry by local artisans.9:00 AM-12:00 PM Juniors Visit taughannock Falls & sciencenterFirst visit Taughannock Falls which is three stories taller than Niagara Falls. Then suspend a ball in mid-air, make music on the musical stairs, walk into a giant camera and stroll through the solar system at the Sciencenter. This is a spectacular interactive museum appropriate for all ages. They have 200+ exhibits including an outdoor science park. 12:00 PM-2:30 PM Lunch on Your own

Buses depart hotel lobby at 2:30 PM and return at 10:00 PM.

2:30 PM-10:00 PM Farm tour, Workshops & Banquet at Ledyard Farms Ledyard Farms encompasses 800 acres on seven farms in the beautiful Finger Lakes region. They raise 80 head of Highlands for breeding stock and beef which is sold off the farm directly to the consumer and to local restaurants. They’ve had a successful ROE show career and use it as a promotional tool. Forty Morgan broodmares and show horses also call Ledyard home. Juniors will embark on a scavenger hunt throughout the farm. After a delicious chicken barbeque, the Highland Member of the Year and Hall of Fame honors will be awarded. MAHA and HCF will offer nifty items as a fundraiser auctioned by our own Dick LeClar. Then dance the night away…. Hoof Health & on-Farm necropsy

• Chuck Guard, DVM, Ambulatory & Production Medicine Clinic, Cornell University

Dr. Guard has been a large animal veterinarian for the last 30 years with 28 of those years working in the Ambulatory & Production Medicine Clinic. He has trained thousands of veterinary students and dozens of residents and interns in the practical aspects of cattle work. Most of his research activities have revolved around cattle lameness, evaluation of management procedures for routine activi-ties and interventions for common diseases. He has been an invited speaker in more than 25 countries and runs a small commercial sheep flock. Dr. Guard will speak on foot health issues and on-farm necropsy in beef cattle. Cattle Boot Camp• Heather Birdsall, Regional Livestock Specialist, Cornell Cooperative

Extension – Cortland CountyHeather and her husband own and operate Birdsall Beef Farm, a Hereford x Angus operation. They sell premium quality, natural beef directly to the consumer and supply several area grocers and restaurants. She offers the opportunity for novices or those wanting to brush up on their skills (juniors encouraged too) to learn normal bovine temp, tattooing, fundamentals of BQA like injection sites, needle size, etc. and much more.

Sc h e d u l e o f ev e ntS