Entry forms for the 2012 Missouri Livestock Symposium Classic Tractor Contest are due on Friday, November 2nd, according to Garry Mathes, chair of the Symposium Planning Committee at Kirksville. The winning five tractors will be on display at the 2012 Missouri Livestock Symposium December 7th and 8th at Kirksville Middle School.

Entry information may be found at http://www.missourilivestock.com/ by calling 660-665-9866 or 660-341-6625, or send email Bruce Lane at lanen@missouri.edu and put Classic Tractors in the subject line. There is no cost to enter your classic tractor and more than one tractor can be entered if desired.

The public can vote online for their favorite tractor from 8 a.m. on November 19 until 5 p.m. November 25th. The top 5 vote-getters can display their tractors at the Missouri Livestock Symposium. Winners will receive a plaque recognizing their accomplishment and prize pack from one of the sponsors: Orscheln Farm and Home. Recognition comes December 7th in an awards ceremony. The contest is open to individually-owned and group-owned tractors.

Van Hargis of Victoria, Texas, will be one of several equine experts to be in Kirksville December 7th and 8th to share their knowledge about horses. There also will be speakers on beef cattle, sheep, meat goats, forages, stock dogs, farm and ranch succession, the weather, and more topics.

Also speaking in the Horse Section will be Dr. Ron Gill of Texas A & M. Gill has served livestock and equine producers in Texas for 25 years as a Professor and Extension Livestock Specialist for Texas AgriLife Extension Service. He will also be a speaker in the Beef Section where he talks on Cattle Behavior and Handling.

Emily Costello, horsemanship instructor and lecturer in equine science at Truman State University in Kirksville will talk about horse color genetics. Bob Johnson, owner of BJ Border Collies of Tingley, Iowa, will share his knowledge on stock dogs, whether they are experienced or novice.

The Missouri Livestock Symposium opens its doors at 4 pm Friday, December 7th. Hours for Saturday, December 8th are 8 to 5 at Kirksville.

The symposium also features an agriculture-related trade show; a free beef dinner at 6 Friday night and a free Governor’s Style Luncheon noon Saturday. In addition to all of the educational speakers on Saturday, the Friday evening program will headline Tony Clayton of Clayton Agri-Marketing who will talk on “Livestock Exports and the Effect on U.S. Agriculture.”