Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, July 2, 1995 TAG: 9507050023
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
BLACKSBURG - About 1,200 people from across the state are expected to attend Virginia Tech's annual Animal Industry Day on Friday, a presentation of research at the university as well as commercial displays.
The keynote speaker will be William Mies, an associate professor of animal science at Texas A&M University, who will talk about value-based marketing of beef and pork.
Such marketing is an important topic in beef and hog raising, fields in which different ways of raising animals produce different results - namely, some animals become fatter than others. But consumers increasingly want lean beef and pork, so industry insiders are looking at ways to pay producers premiums to raise leaner animals.
The one-day event also will focus on the university's Kentland Farm and faculty research. A variety of commercial vendors will display their wares.
Business showcase deadline
BLACKSBURG - The deadline for businesses to apply to participate in the annual beginning-of-school business showcase at Virginia Tech, which drew 5,000 students in 1994, is July 28.
This year's showcase is scheduled for Aug. 26, from 1 to 5 p.m. in Squires Student Center. Businesses that participated in 1994 must register by July 14. Businesses that did not participate in 1994 but are members of the Greater Blacksburg Chamber of Commerce will be given until July 28 to sign up.
Fifty tables, at $75 each, will be available at the event, which also will showcase student organizations. Businesses will be allowed to give away items but not sell any.
For more information, call the chamber at 552-4061.
Internet conference
ABINGDON - Rural governments, businesses and individuals who do not have free local access to the Internet can learn about efforts to provide such access at a conference sponsored by Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Abingdon, July 24, in Abingdon.
Access to the Internet and electronic mail are becoming increasingly commonplace and requisite in business and personal life, yet many residents of rural Southwest Virginia have access only by dialing long distance. The conference, to be held in the auditorium of Virginia Highland Community College at 9:30 a.m., will deal with the advantages of Internet access and efforts to provide it through local telephone calls.
Boucher, chairman of the House Subcommittee on Science, has urged telephone companies to provide such local service, and several have done so, his office reports.
The conference is free. For more information and to register, call Boucher's Abingdon office at 628-1145.
CCS certification
CHRISTIANSBURG - Comprehensive Computer Solutions has been awarded product certification from Hewlett Packard and Compaq, meaning CCS can repair and install hardware and software manufactured by the companies.
CCS repairs and services Hewlett Packard printers, its Vectra personal computer and its NetServer network server. The company also sells and repairs a full range of Compaq's hardware and peripherals.
To attain certification, CCS had to complete company-authorized training programs and is one of few local computer repair firms to have done so, said Richard Shumaker, the company's manager of service and support.
CCS provides computer support and training to businesses, and it also services computers owned by individuals. The move is another step in CCS's expansion. The company opened a programming and application development office at Virginia Tech's Corporate Research Center two weeks ago.
by CNB