About half of the approximately 1,400 people attending this year's short course have attended before, said Dr. Larry Boleman, assistant vice chancellor at Texas A&M University and conference coordinator.
About 1 percent to 2 percent of the total travel to the short course from other countries, and 3 percent to 4 percent come from other states.
Only 10 percent of the attendees make their living solely from livestock, he said. The conference also brings in people who make their living as engineers and physicians - among other occupations - who raise cattle as a sideline.
One of the best parts of the short course is the trade show, he said, and this year's short course has 104 exhibitors on the inside of Rudder Tower and 10 exhibiting equipment, pens, and livestock outside.
The educational experience the participants have goes a long way, Boleman said. The attendees will go home and tell their neighbors about what they learned.
"They're considered leaders in their neighborhoods," he said.
And the Beef Cattle Short Course is the largest of its kind in the nation, he added.
-EDITH CHENAULT
e-chenault1@tamu.edu
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