Wealth of Wildlife
The 23rd Annual Spring conference of Holistic Management Texas
March 5 & 6, 2010 at T Bar M Ranch in New Braunfels, TX
Seeking attendees, sponsors, trade show participants, silent auction items

Cost: $400 REDUCED to $200 for the WHOLE event and $100 for Friday or Saturday only.

We've had an ear to the ground and we take your comments seriously. We know the economy has left your wallet a little thin. We really want to see you there so we've lowered the price as low as possible. Already registered? Don't worry! Now you can bring someone else for free- that's two for the price of one!

We need you there to make this a great event, so call Amy at (830) 868-2427 today or sign up online. What are you waiting for?! CALL TODAY!

Press Release
Speakers' Bio's

Ranchers, farmers and other land stewards who could use some added income will want to attend the Wealth of Wildlife conference in early March, hosted by the statewide nonprofit, Holistic Management  [International] Texas.

HMI Texas is bringing Gregg Simonds all the way from Utah to teach a special Friday afternoon workshop March 5, where participants will acquire tools for planning and monitoring to ensure the right animals are in the right place at the right time for optimum health of all.

Gregg Simonds is best known for his many years managing the Deseret Ranch in Utah. Google “Utah's Deseret Ranch” for an excellent article on Gregg’s management philosophy.  He has spent 30 years managing or consulting on ranches whose mission was to make money while improving these ranches’ natural resources. This includes many of the largest ranch enterprises in the United States. Simonds received his B.S. and M.S at Utah State University and has since earned many awards for management and conservation. See what he is up to on his own website, www.openrangeconsulting.com.

The Friday night dinner party features fabulous food, a silent auction full of items and opportunities, and a great keynote address by Dr. Jerry Cooke. Jerry spent his entire career at Texas Parks and Wildlife striving to understand How Landscapes Work. A passionate and entertaining speaker, Jerry is sure to gift you with amazing insights.

The Saturday conference will focus on the practical and business aspects of a wildlife enterprise. Wildlife biologist, Greg Simons joins us from San Angelo where he runs a major hunting service called Wildlife Systems, Inc., providing quality outfitted hunting trips and professional wildlife management services to landowners. He is on the board of several wildlife organizations including his current position as treasurer of Texas Wildlife Association. Greg’s talk is “Creating and Marketing a Successful Hunting Enterprise”.

“Culinary Considerations for Hunters,” is a presentation by David Griffith about an essential set of considerations for the care and feeding of the customers bringing income to a wildlife enterprise. After 24 years of teaching Ag. Science, acting as a paramedic after hours, and catering in between, David Griffith is currently enjoying cooking for the hunters at Wildlife Systems, Inc.

Images for Conservation Fund partners with HMI Texas by sending founder John Martin to point out the huge market for wildlife photographers searching for ideal places to see wildlife. “Ranch Nature Photography For Fun And Profit” will explain how to attract not only the wildlife, but paying photographers eager to shoot – not to kill, but to preserve—wildlife. John will teach about creating blinds and watering holes, as well as marketing to photographers and birders. Nature photography ties revenue directly to the quality and preservation of habitat. “With the exception of hunting leases, private landowners in South Texas have never had an economic reason to preserve wildlife habitat,” explains John Martin. “With photography, we can give pure economics to wildlife.” In practice, the concept joins some of Martin’s guiding principles: (1)“conservation is accomplished through the creation of wealth,” and (2) “photography is the most powerful conservation tool on the planet.”

Gregg Simonds returns with more practical tools to use in the operation of a wildlife enterprise.

After a great lunch, attendees will learn what Holistic Management Texas is up to for 2010 and members will vote on the 2010 board of directors during a short annual business meeting.

The afternoon features a varied panel of land managers who operate wildlife enterprises. They will share ideas to inspire and improve. Forrest Armke manages cattle and wildlife together on the Ford Ranch near Brady. Brett Addison operates the Addison Ranch in Oklahoma, specializing in hunts of all types and improving wildlife habitat with livestock. Pam Mitchell manages Northrup Pipe Creek Ranch, which is strictly a wildlife and B&B operation. Dale Prochaska, biologist at TPWD’s Kerr Wildlife Management Area, oversees a diverse management and research program and provides hunting, wildlife viewing and birding opportunities to the general public. Each panelist will describe their operation and join the other speakers for questions and answers about wildlife enterprise topics such as exotics, liability, pricing structures, and accommodations.

Dr Jerry Cooke will wrap it up with a brief look at why anyone should be concerned about wildlife and how that fits with the message at this conference.

Holistic Management Texas is transforming people’s relationship with the land, through awareness of its impact on every aspect of life, using the power of Holistic Management. This conference will transform awareness of the wealth wildlife brings to land, life and financial sustainability.

Agenda
Friday, March 5
1-5 pm: Managing Wildlife and Livestock Together for Maximizing Land, Animal and Financial Health,  with Gregg Simonds, Open Range Consulting, Park City, Utah

6:30 -10 pm Dinner party and silent auction 
8 – 9 pm - Keynote Address: How Landscapes Work,  Jerry Cooke (TPWD retired, Lockhart, TX)

Saturday March 6,
8-8:30 am   Welcome and what is HM – Peggy Maddox, HMI Texas President

8:30 to 9:30 Developing and Marketing a Commercial Wildlife Enterprise - Greg Simons, Wildlife Systems, Inc., San Angelo TX

Break

9:45 - 10:15 - Culinary Considerations for Hunters- David Griffith, Wildlife Systems, Inc., San Angelo TX
10:15 – 11:00 – Ranch Photography for Fun and Profit – John Martin, Images for Conservation Fund, Edinburg, TX

Break

11:15--12 :30 Monitoring and Financial Planning with Wildlife Enterprises, Gregg Simonds, Open Range Consulting, Park City, Utah

12:30-2:00 - Lunch and HMI Texas Annual Business Meeting

2:00-4:00 pm Wildlife Enterprises Panel- Forrest Armke (Ford Ranch), Pam Mitchell (Northrup Pipe Creek Ranch), Brett Addison (Addison Ranch), Dale Prochaska (Kerr Wildlife Management Area) – Each describes his enterprise, followed by: Questions of panel, plus Gregg Simonds, Greg Simons, Jerry Cooke, & John Martin

Break

4:15-5 pm- The Role of Wildlife in the Ecosystem and Conference Wrap-up– Jerry Cooke

Registration Details
The Friday (March 5) workshop    REDUCED to $100
Saturday Conference                    REDUCED to $100
Whole event                                  REDUCED to $200

Register online at www.hmitexas.org or call Amy at 830-868-2427.
Deadline for event registration is February 23.
T Bar M rooms ($99.00 night) until February 5. Book HMIT rooms at 830-625-7738.