Steve Miller, Journal staff

RAPID CITY - Property rights, trade issues and animal health are among topics to be discussed at the South Dakota Stockgrowers Association's 116th Annual Convention Thursday through Saturday, Sept. 6-8, in Rapid City.

About 200-250 people are expected to attend the convention at the Rushmore Plaza Holiday Inn, according to Stockgrowers officials. All convention sessions are open to the public. Registration is $10.

Speakers at the convention will include Max Thornberry, R-CALF USA president; Jeff Vonk, South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks secretary; and GB Oliver, executive vice president of the Paragon Foundation.

Vonk will speak at 9:30 a.m. Thursday during a Stockgrowers Wildlife Committee meeting.

Thornsberry, of Richland, Mo., will speak at a Marketing Committee meeting at 11 a.m. Friday.

Oliver will speak at the recognition banquet beginning at 7 p.m. Friday. The Paragon Foundation advocates on behalf of ranchers on federal land issues. Oliver, of Alamogordo, N.M., is a former banker, who has been an official with the Paragon Foundation since its inception in 1996.

The convention also includes a trade show.

Other convention highlights include:

* A trade committee meeting at 8 a.m. Thursday featuring Elizabeth Drake, an attorney who represents R-CALF USA on trade issues in Washington, D.C.

* The Federal Lands Committee and South Dakota Public Lands Committee meeting at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, featuring Kimmi Lewis, R-CALF USA Private Property Rights Committee chair. Lewis is a rancher from Kim, Colo.

* Opening ceremonies lunch at noon Thursday, with David Frengel of Butler, Pa., of the Coalition for a Prosperous America, who will speak about trade issues.

* Property Rights Committee meeting at 2 p.m. Thursday, featuring Julie McIvor of Fort Davis, Texas, who will speak on conservation easements.

* "Beef for Boys" Banquet at 6 p.m. Thursday, featuring McIvor. A rollover calf auction will raise money for the Rapid City Club for Boys.

* Inspirational breakfast at 7 p.m. Friday, with long-time radio/TV personality and lay minister Verne Sheppard.

* Animal ID/Animal Health committee meeting at 10 a.m. Friday, featuring Judith McGeary of Austin, Texas, of the Farm & Ranch Freedom Alliance. McGeary also will speak at the Friday noon lunch.

* General membership meeting at 3 p.m. The new brand contract between the Stockgrowers and the South Dakota Brand Board will be explained, and brand data requested by the South Dakota Beef Industry Council will be discussed.

On Saturday, the South Dakota Stockgrowers Association Board of Directors will meet at 8 a.m. For more information, call the Stockgrowers office at 342-0429.