Temple Grandin to Speak Dec. 11 at MU Extension's Pearls of Production

Dr. Temple Grandin, the animal scientist whose livestock-handling designs are used on more than half of the cattle in the United States, will speak Friday, Dec. 11, at 7 p.m. at Trowbridge Livestock Arena on the University of Missouri campus in Columbia. Her presentation anchors a two-day celebration of the International Year of the Woman Farmer hosted by MU Extension's Pearls of Production program.

Grandin, a professor of animal science at Colorado State University, has spent her career improving livestock handling and animal welfare. She is equally known for her advocacy for people on the autism spectrum and as the author of several New York Times bestselling books. For cattle veterinarians, feedlot consultants and anyone who audits handling systems, her name is attached to the curved chute designs and welfare principles that reshaped how American slaughter facilities and ranches move animals.

What does the event include?

The 2026 Pearls of Production Conference continues Saturday, Dec. 12, starting at 8:30 a.m. at the MU Beef Research and Teaching Farm. Heather Conrow, MU Extension livestock specialist and 2026 Pearls of Production committee chair, described the format in direct terms.

"Dr. Grandin's work has had an extraordinary influence on animal agriculture, but her message reaches well beyond the livestock industry," Conrow said. "We are excited to welcome people from across Missouri to hear from her and to conclude our International Year of the Woman Farmer celebration with such impactful speaker."

The conference targets working livestock producers. Conrow said it combines hands-on learning with opportunities to connect with other producers and agricultural professionals. The Saturday program also marks the close of the International Year of the Woman Farmer, an observance that highlights the leadership, innovation and contributions of women in agriculture.

What about families attending?

Organizers have built in a child-care option with an agricultural bent. Future Pearls of Production serves children ages 5-12 with hands-on agricultural activities while parents attend the conference sessions. Registration for children is open only to kids whose parents are registered participants in Pearls of Production.

Registration is required for all attendees. Options cover three configurations:

• Friday only, for the Grandin presentation
• Saturday only, for the conference at the Beef Research and Teaching Farm
• Both days, for the full program

Attendees can learn more and register at https://pears.io/events/mu/7067.

Who should make the trip?

For Missouri practitioners, the Friday evening lecture offers a rare chance to hear Grandin frame handling and welfare principles in person — material that translates directly to chute-side conversations with clients and to welfare audits in the field. The Saturday program carries a more practical weight for producers and the veterinarians who advise them: hands-on sessions at a working beef research farm, plus networking with Extension specialists and other producers.

Pearls of Production itself is a University of Missouri Extension program that provides education, networking and leadership development for people involved in livestock production. Through workshops, webinars and special events, it aims to help producers build skills, connections and confidence. Program details are available at https://muext.us/PearlsofProduction.

The Friday session begins at 7 p.m., Dec. 11, at Trowbridge Livestock Arena in Columbia, and registration remains open through the event portal.