Wednesday, October 22, 1997

Trail ride raises more than $13,000 for Rehab Center

By J.T. Smith / Abilene Reporter-News

The Fall Trail Ride for Rehab at the Louis Brooks Ranch near Sweetwater drew more than 200 people this past weekend.

Volunteer Trail Ride chairmen Mac Sayles, Kelly Gill and Thomas Hicks reported that more than $13,000 was raised for the West Texas Rehabilitation Center.

Rehab rides are held each fall and spring. Participants bring horses, wagons or buggies. There is always room for folks without horses to ride in a wagon.

The trail rides offers a chance to explore different ranches and enjoy a variety of West Texas scenery. Host ranches to date have been the Pitchfork, Chadbourne, Mesquite Grove and Renderbrook-Spade, in addition to the Brooks Ranch.

For more information about WTRC Trail Rides, contact John Thomas at (915) 691-7291 or (915) 949-9535.

Rabies vaccination clinic at Jim Ned

Jim Ned High will host a rabies vaccination clinic from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. Nov. 4 at Tuscola.

The vaccinations will take place in the new Jim Ned FFA ag building. Rabies shots are $8 for dogs or cats. A combination shot of several vaccines is available for $23 for dogs or $25 for cats.

Dr. Jimmy Smith, well known veterinarian from Winters, will conduct the rabies clinic.

Lamb validation time

Lamb validations in advance of winter livestock shows are coming up soon.

A validation will be held from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. Saturday in the new Abilene-Wylie FFA Show Barn just west of the Bulldog football stadium at 4502 Antilley Road.

Another lamb validation is 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Abilene ISD School Farm at S. 22nd Street off of Maple Street Exit. For more, call Kyle Miller at (915) 674-1321.

Meat Goat Symposium slated

The 1997 West Texas Meat Goat Symposium is Oct. 30-31 at the Texas A&M Research and Extension Center at San Angelo.

Registration is 9:30 a.m.

Meat goat experts Drs. Frank Craddock, George Ahlschwede and William Edmiston along with Terry Blair, a nutritionist and producer, will speak on breeds and feeding. Ross Stultz, Extension Servic specialist, will talk about the difference in goat genetics.

Dr. Dan Waldron, a San Angelo sheep and goat researcher, also will talk about the latest research as will Dr. Roch Machen, Extension specialist of Uvalde.

And that's just the first day. Day two begins at 9 a.m. with an update on meat standards by Steve Olsen of USDA in Washington, D.C., and Dr. Dan Hale, an Extension meats specialist, from College Station.

Registration is $35 per person for $60 per couple for both days. For more, contact Jeff Ripley at (915) 659-6524.