Pat White has traveled across the country in passionate pursuit of raising Highland cattle.
Today she will bring one of her favorite show animals, a 4-year-old cow named "Voodoo," to the Heritage Livestock Exhibition at the MSU Pavilion for Agriculture and Livestock Education.
During the event, which is from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., breeders will bring a wide variety of now rare domestic animals, which were once commonly used for agricultural practices in America.
"It's like a livestock zoo," White said. "You're not going to see these animals on a commercial farm anywhere in the country."
White got her start raising the shaggy, long-horned Scottish cows in 1983 with two heifers, as a way to raise her own beef. Today she has a herd of 120 animals and travels across America and Canada to show her cows as a member of the American Highland Cattle Association.
"They're absolutely beautiful." White said. "If you're going to have to look at cattle, whether on your plate or in your pasture, it helps if they are good looking."
The exhibition kicks off the 90th annual Agriculture and Natural Resources Week, which begins today and runs through March 12. The week brings a variety of agricultural and environmental programming to campus.
"It began as a way to bring educational forums to farmers in Michigan," said Sandi Bauer, programming coordinator for the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Bauer said the range of events has expanded during the years and now includes presentations on conservation, horticulture and environmental education, as well as agriculture.
"It's become a crossover between farming and natural resources," Bauer said.
Another event, the "Quiet Water Symposium" is on Saturday in the Pavilion. The symposium explores human-powered recreation on water as well as snow shoeing and dog sledding. Exhibits will include an antique and handcrafted water craft and presentations by outdoor recreation clubs on travel destinations.
Other events taking place during the week include a Michigan Wildflower Conference, Agriculture's Conference on the Environment, Growing of Michigan's Organic Future and the 22nd Annual Michigan Horse Council International Stallion expo.
Neil Kentner, Heritage Livestock Exhibition director, said the event was one of the few live animal exhibits left as part of the Agriculture and Natural Resource Week.
"Everyone knows about the blue whale and giant panda, but few people realize the many breeds of domestic animals that are almost extinct," Kentner said.
