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Dr. Kate Lewis (right), associate professor of soil fertility and chemistry at Texas tech University, takes a soil sample in the field alongside research technician Robert Fielding (left). (Contributed photo)

Do you know where your food comes from? Do you know how your food is made before it comes to the grocery store? If not, you need to come to the 40th annual South Texas Farm and Ranch Show this Wednesday and Thursday at the 足交视频 Community Center.

鈥淭his show is a long standing and long running agriculture show that highlights the importance of agriculture in this area,鈥 Matt Bochat, Chairman of the Educational Programs Committee, said.

The South Texas Farm and Ranch Show started back in the 1980s and continues on today as a testament of the importance of the agricultural industry in the Crossroads area.

鈥淎griculture is a 100 million dollar industry in 足交视频 and there鈥檚 still people in the rural areas outside of the city who make 100% of their living from agriculture,鈥 Bochat said.

Approximately 110 booths will be set up during the trade show which is free to the public. All educational programs such as crop management, managing feral hogs and beef cattle marketing cost $40 a day to attend. All educational sessions will be held in the annexes at the Community Center. 14 CEUs for private, non-commercial and commercial pesticide applicators will be available at the two day show.

Early Registration and breakfast starts at 6 a.m. on Wednesday and Thursday. The first round of educational sessions will run from 7 to 10 a.m. on both days. The trade show will open at 10 a.m. and the luncheon will begin at 11:30 a.m. The second round of educational sessions will begin at 1:30 and run until 4:30 p.m.

鈥淭he average American is two to three generations removed from the family farm,鈥 Bochat said.

Bochat encourages people to come out to the show to learn more about where their food comes from and meet the people who grow their food.

Wednesday, Oct. 23Annex 1&2

Cattlemen鈥檚 College I

CEU Credit 1 drift, 2 general

7 -10 a.m.

Plant identification contest

Picolinic acid training (Invora)

Dr. Stacy Hines, AgriLife Extension

Pasture & Hay Field Weed Management Alternatives

Dr. Josh McGinty, AgriLife Extension

Understanding your Ag Exemption

Mrs. Keri Wickliffe, 足交视频 County Appraisal District

Moderator 鈥 Dr. Stacy Hines

Annex 4

Crops Management

CEU Credits: 1 Drift, 1 IPM

Cropping System Management for Herbicide Drift

Dr. Josh McGinty, AgriLife Extension

Cropping System Management for IPM

Mr. Stephen Biles, AgriLife Extension

Moderator 鈥 Mrs. Hailey Hayes, AgriLife Extension

10 a.m. - Trade Show Opens

11:30 a.m.-Luncheon 鈥 Dr. Jacquelyn Prestegaard-Wilson, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension 鈥淏eef Sustainability鈥

Annex 1 &2

1:30-4:30 p.m.

Cattlemen鈥檚 College IICEU credits: 1 General

Keeping the Cow Herd Healthy

Dr. Karl Harborth, AgriLife Extension

Beef Checkoff at Work

Mr. Kaleb McLaurin, Texas Beef Council

Beef Cattle Marketing Outlook

Dr. Yuri Calil, AgriLife Extension

Moderator 鈥 Dr. Karl Harborth

Annex 4

WildlifeCEU Credit: 3 IPM

Managing Feral Hogs

Mr. Jay Long, Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute

Bobwhite Harvest Research in South Texas

Dr. D. Abraham Woodard, CWB, East Foundation

Whitetail Deer Management & Habitat

Dr. Jacob Dykes, AgriLife Extension

Moderator 鈥 Dr. Jacob Dykes

6 p.m. - Trade show closes

Thursday, Oct. 24Annex 1&2

7 -10 a.m.

TDA License Recertification I

CEU Credit: 1 Laws & Regs, 2 Drift

Pesticide Compliance Issues

Mrs. Melissa Barton, Texas Department of Agriculture

Innovative Pasture Management Concepts

Mr. Brian Cain, Envu Range & Pasture Specialist

Broadleaf Weed Control in Pastures

Mr. Bryce Macdonald, Corteva Agri-Science

Moderator 鈥 Mr. Greg Baker, AgriLife Extension

Annex 4

7-11 a.m.

Pesticide Applicator Training

Mr. Brian Yanta, AgriLife Extension

10 a.m. - Trade Show opens

11:30 a.m. 鈥 Luncheon 鈥 Dr. Katie Lewis, Texas A&M AgriLife Research 鈥淯nderstanding Carbon Credits鈥

Annex 1&2

1:30-4:30 p.m.

TDA License Recertification II

CEU Credits: 1 Drift, 1 Laws & Regs, 1 IPM

Texas Water Issues

Mr. Lucas Gregory, Texas Water Resources Institute

IPM Strategies For Agriculture

Mr. Stephen Biles, AgriLife Extension

Pesticide Laws & Regulations

Dr. Mark Matocha, AgriLife Extension

Moderator 鈥 Mr. Stephen Biles

Annex 4

1:30-4:30 p.m.

Women in Agriculture

Cotton Board for Women in Ag

Ms. Christi Short, Regional Communications Manager, Texas Cotton Board

Working in Agriculture for Success

Ms. Lindsey Bowers, Grain Merchandiser, United Ag, 5B Farms

Moderator 鈥 Mrs. Hailey Hayes, AgriLife Extension

5 p.m. - Trade Show Closes

For more information about the South Texas Farm and Ranch Show, please call the 足交视频 County Office of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension at 361-575-4581.

Madison can be reached by email at mohara@vicad.com.

Madison works at the 足交视频 Advocate as a multi-media journalist. She was born and raised here in 足交视频.