MANHATTAN, Kan. – When Oklahoma cattleman Paul Hitch set out to sell fellow cattle feeders on the idea of a marketing cooperative, the response was lukewarm at best. But long-time concerns over a lack of marketing leverage prompted some to listen – and finally to act. The result is Consolidated Beef Producers, Inc., a consortium of 130 cattle feeders from Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Kansas, and Colorado.

Hitch, and Kansas cattle feeder Mike Callicrate will be featured luncheon speakers on the first day of the Agricultural Law Symposium, to be held April 26-27 at the Dodge House Inn in Dodge City, Kan. The symposium is sponsored by Kansas State University and Lone Tree Publishing of Topeka, Kan.

The conference will address legal issues in agriculture, including water, taxes, estate planning, and real estate, as well as cattle marketing cooperatives, said Roger McEowen, specialist in agricultural law and policy with K-State Research and Extension and a conference coordinator.

The conference is designed for attorneys, accountants and anyone involved in or interested in the cattle business. For attorneys, approval is being sought for a maximum of 12 CLE credit hours [Kansas] or MCLE credit [Oklahoma], including 2 hours of ethics.

The symposium has also been designed to meet the requirements of the Kansas and Oklahoma Boards of Accountancy for 4 hours of CPE credit.

Topics and speakers include:

* Agricultural Law Update - Roger McEowen, attorney and professor, Kansas State University.

* Water Law Update - Michael Ramsey, attorney and co-author of the article "Kansas Water Rights: Changes and Transfers."

* Contract Production of Ag Products and Related Legal Issues - Roger McEowen.

* How Fear and Irritation Moved Cattle Sellers Toward a More Rational Market - Paul Hitch, president of Hitch Enterprises, Inc.

* Insights Into Market Structure in the U.S. Cattle Industry - Mike Callicrate, Callicrate Feedyard.

* Cooperative Marketing Issues - John Huffaker, attorney.

* Real Estate Developments - James Wadley, professor of agricultural law, Washburn University, Topeka, Kan.

* Ethical Issues for Estate Planners and Tax Practitioners - Roger McEowen.

* Litigating Damages in an Agricultural Law Case - Robert Schmisseur, District Court Judge, 30th Judicial District of Kansas

* Recent Developments in Probate, Estates, and Trusts - Steven Graber, attorney, author of the recently-published book "Ways and Means of Estate Planning."

* Ethics - Philip Ridenour, attorney and lecturer.

For more information or to register, call Marcella Budden at 785-532-1501 at K-State’s Department of Agricultural Economics. Participants may register for one or both days. The fee structure varies, depending on the number of days attending and whether continuing credits are sought.

Reservations for the Dodge House Inn at 2408 W. Wyatt Earp Blvd can be made by calling 620-225-9900.