Pavilion D, which is home to beef and livestock exhibitors, seminars, live cattle demonstrations and new for this year, a ranching and livestock competition, is the place to be to see the latest advances in the beef and livestock industries.

The 20,000 square foot pavilion, sponsored by Agrinos, will be home to more than a dozen beef and livestock seminars and demonstrations. Attendees can expect to learn about low stress cattle handling; pregnancy checking using digital technology; cow dog training fundamentals from the Hearst Ranch cowboys; ultrasound imaging; equine first aid; BVD virus prevention and more. Visit www.WorldAgExpo.comfor a full schedule of beef and livestock pavilion seminars and demonstrations.

Progressive Cattleman magazine will be in the Beef Pavilion, and invites readers and participants to drop by and pick up a copy of the magazine and chat with editor David Cooper.

New for 2012 is World Ag Expo's first-ever Ranching and Livestock Competition. The contest, which drew entries from more than two dozen California FFA and 4-H members, encouraged students to learn about the state's ranching and livestock industries. Cash prizes were awarded to the top three winners and the top ten projects will be on display in Pavilion D during World Ag Expo, February 14-16, 2012.

First place and $600 was awarded to "Alpaca Wool vs. Sheep Wool" by Camille Smith of Santa Paula FFA; second place and $300 went to Rylin Lindahl of Elbow Creek 4-H with her entry, "This ain't your Grandpa's Dairy Farm"; Mireya Lemus of Santa Paula FFA took the third place spot with her presentation, "I Spy a Cancer Eye" and received $100 for her entry.

The idea spurred from an interest to involve more FFA and 4-H members in World Ag Expo which will celebrate its 45th year next week.

"It's important to educate people who know little about agriculture and what it provides for our society," said Julia Panozzo, World Ag Expo space sales coordinator. "It was a perfect fit to have students who are involved with agriculture help us while we engage them in an education competition." 

—World Ag Expo press release