The annual University of Wisconsin-Madison Short Course Alumni Reunion is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 28 at Pooley”s Restaurant and Sports Bar on the far east side of Madison. The event will begin at 12:15 p.m., preceded by a social hour beginning at 11:30 a.m. As usual there will be ample door prizes donated by many agri-business companies.

Short Course Service to Agriculture Awards will be presented to Rock County dairyman George Barlass and UW-Madison dairy economist Bob Cropp. The Friend of Short Course Award will be given to the Wisconsin State Farmer newspaper for their coverage of the Short Course program and support of the annual reunion.

The reunion will feature short presentations by Alice in Dairyland Gena Cooper, CALS interim dean David Hogg, WALSAA president Jennifer Vincent, and Short Course director Rick Daluge. Special recognition will be given to all alumni in the Half Century Club (graduates of 1956 or earlier), as well as classes from 1976, 1986 and 1996.

A pre-reunion seminar at 10:30 a.m. will feature Dane County dairy farmer Walter Meinholz of Blue Star Dairy and Sue Porter, nutrient management specialist with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. Meinholz and Porter will look at nutrient management issues and storm water runoff regulations.

The registration deadline is Jan. 20. The cost remains $17.50 person ($20 for walk-ins or reservations received after Jan. 20). Pooley”s restaurant is at 5441 High Crossing Boulevard, near the southeast corner of U.S. Highway 151 and Interstate 90/94. For more information or to make a reservation, please call Lin Williams at (608) 262-5784.