The 2008 Mid-South Stocker Conference is February 12-13, at the James E. Ward Agricultural Center in Lebanon, Tenn. The conference is a cooperative educational program by the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service and University of Tennessee Extension in partnership with Bayer Animal Health.The conference theme is “Plan for Success.” The conference offers practical information to aid stocker operators in planning and managing their operations to maximize profit. Stocker production is the sector of beef production between weaning and the feedlot. The market currently has greater demand for healthier feeder cattle. Kentucky and Tennessee, as well as the Mid-South area, produce thousands of cattle that would increase in market value by stockering them. The conference gets under way at 1 p.m. Feb. 12 with a tour of stocker operations and other stops of interest to conference attendees. The tour will conclude with a reception and Certified Angus Beef steak meal at Horn Springs Angus Farms, hosted by Quinton Smith. Mark McCauley of Certified Angus Beef will make a presentation to wrap up the tour. The tour will also provide an opportunity for stocker operators to interact with each other and the program presenters in an informal environment. The following day’s program includes topics related to successful stocker operations presented by nationally recognized experts in the stocker industry. Topics include health and management of stocker cattle, risk management, outlook for the stocker industry and using byproducts from ethanol production in stocker cattle rations. The day will conclude with a panel discussion by successful stocker operators from the Mid-South area who will share what they do to be successful with their operations. Pre-registration for the conference is $95 and must be made by Feb. 5, 2008. Registration the day of the conference will be $145. Registration forms, hotel information and other materials are available at http://www.midsouthstocker.org.For additional information, contact John T. Johns, UK beef cattle specialist at 859-257-2853 or jtjohns@uky.edu. In Tennessee, contact Jim Neel, UT Extension Beef Cattle Specialist at 865-974-7294 or jneel@utk.edu or John Bartee, Montgomery County director, UT extension at 931-648-5725 or jbartee1@utk.edu.