The University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory will host its 17th annual open house Aug. 24. The beef cattle research facility is three miles north and five miles east of Whitman.

Presentations will be given on various aspects of cattle and natural resource management. Businesses, services and associations supporting the beef cattle industry will participate. Activities, demonstrations and commercial exhibits are planned throughout the day so guests can come and go as they please.

Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and exhibits run from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Kelly Bruns, director of the UNL West Central Research and Extension Center, and Jack Whittier, director of the UNL Panhandle Research and Extension Center, will give the welcome at 9:30 a.m.

Along with discussions on cattle markets and yearling management systems, the morning session will feature an update from Ron Yoder, interim vice chancellor of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and a legislative update from Adrian Smith, U.S. representative for Nebraska's 3rd District.

After lunch, participants will have the choice of attending research update sessions focused on the effects of size of heifer development, pasture fly management, feed beets as a commodity option for beef cows, and grazing systems.

To RSVP, visit http://go.unl.edu/gsl-openhouse, call 308-696-6701 or 800-657-2113 or email ellen.heil@unl.edu. RSVP by Aug. 22 for the complimentary lunch.

The Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory is part of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at UNL. For more information, visit http://westcentral.unl.edu/gudmundsen.