95th National Block and Bridle Convention

On behalf of Texas Tech University, we would like to say welcome. We are honored to host fellow students and guests, who are passionate about animal agriculture for the 95th Annual National Block and Bridle Convention and ecstatic to be hosting the convention for the first time in Lubbock, Texas. There is a multitude of opportunity for you to cultivate your interest in a new sector of agriculture or just make a new contact during the industry tours, the networking fairs and the educational sessions. We are confident that there is something everyone can take away from each distinguished guest speaker – whether that's knowledge on a new subject or a strategy on how you can be a better steward of your ideals. We hope you enjoy your time here with us and that this convention would ignite burning enthusiasm in each of you that will help inspire your home Block and Bridle chapter to join in and Stand for the Brand!

Sincerely,
Our Chapter
Texas Tech University Block and Bridle Club

Registration

All participants and advisors who plan to attend the convention must mail in a registration form and payment. No online registration or credit cards will be accepted.

Late Registration Fee: $225 (REGISTRATION ENDS OCT. 10)
No refunds will be given; however substitutions are allowed until Oct. 10.

Print and mail your completed registration form with payment to:
Department of Animal and Food Sciences
Attn: Block and Bridle Club
Box 42141
Lubbock, Texas 79409

If you have registration questions, please contact Kayla Rathmann at kayla.rathmann@ttu.edu.

Travel and Lodging

The 95th National Block and Bridle Convention will be headquartered at the Overton Hotel and Conference Center in Lubbock, Texas, Participants are responsible for making their own lodging reservations. The Overton Hotel does provide a shuttle service to and from the Lubbock International Airport.

Guest rooms are FULL at the Overton Hotel and Conference Center. For reservations, we recommend the Hawthorne Inn and Suites. Call (806)784-4611.

For more information about traveling to Lubbock, visit www.visitlubbock.org.

Tentative Convention schedule

Thursday, Oct. 23

Friday, Oct. 24

Saturday, Oct. 25

Tour Descriptions (Tours are subject to changes based on unforeseen circumstances)

Tour 1: The Legacy Ranches Tour– Visit two of the legendary ranches in West Texas who have each been in continuous operation for more than 100 years. These ranches produce exceptional quarter horses and commercial cattle. The 6666 Ranch is the AQHA All-Time Leading Breeder of both performance horses and race money winners. The Pitchfork Land and Cattle Company spans 180,000 acres in two states and specializes in commercial cattle, hunting, horses and oil production. (Limit 50 people, Departs at 7 a.m. from the north parking lot at the Overton Hotel and Conference Center.)

Tour 2: Live, Love, Lubbock Tour– Known as the HUB City, Lubbock is centrally located in the South Plains of Texas. Its economy has been driven by agriculture for over a century. This tour will give a glimpse into the past and current industries that make this city thrive. Expect to visit the Llano Estacado Winery which is the largest, best-selling premium winery in Texas; the National Ranching Heritage Center, a facility with 48 authentic ranch structures that was established to preserve the history of ranching and the pioneer life; and much more! (Departs at 8 a.m. from the north parking lot at the Overton Hotel and Conference Center.)

Tour 3: Cotton is King Tour– The South Plains of Texas is the world's largest cotton producing region where it is the most common crop grown. In 2005 alone, more than a million bales were harvested. This tour will focus on the production of cotton with tour stops at a local cotton gin and a denim mill owned by the American Cotton Growers which can produce 36 million linear yards of denim annually in a variety of styles, shades and weights. (Departs at 8 a.m. from the north parking lot at the Overton Hotel and Conference Center.)

Tour 4: Agriculture on the High Plains Tour– Head north to Amarillo, a city where the availability of the railroad and freight service contributed to its growth as a cattle marketing center in the late 19th century. Visit Cactus Feeders, a large-scale feedyard established in 1975 with a capacity for more than 520,000 head of cattle at its 10 yards in Texas and Kansas. Also, make a stop at the American Quarter Horse Association which is headquartered in Amarillo. (Departs at 7 a.m. from the north parking lot at the Overton Hotel and Conference Center.)

Tour 5: The Cattle Baron Tour – Texas has long been recognized as the largest cattle producing state in the nation. It comes as no surprise that it is also home to many large cattle feedyards. However, it may be a surprise to learn that the Panhandle of Texas is also a growing dairy region. On this tour, visit JBS Five Rivers, located in Dalhart with a feeding capacity for more than 980,000 head of cattle and locations in six states. Also, learn more about the dairy industry with a stop at a locally owned dairy. (Limit 50 people, Departs at 7 a.m. from the north parking lot of the Overton Hotel and Conference Center.)