1 Board of Regents Larry K. Anders, Chair .................................................................................................. Dallas, Texas Jerry E. Turner, Vice Chair ........................................................................................... Blanco, Texas L. Frederick (Rick) Francis ........................................................................................... El Paso, Texas Mark Griffin ................................................................................................................... Lubbock, Texas John F. Scovell ............................................................................................................. Dallas, Texas Daniel (Dan) T. Serna................................................................................................... Arlington, Texas John Huffaker ............................................................................................................... Amarillo, Texas Mickey Long.................................................................................................................. Midland, Texas Nancy Neal ................................................................................................................... Lubbock, Texas Kelli Stumbo.................................................................................................................. Student Regent Kent R. Hance, Chancellor ........................................................................................... Austin, Texas Texas Tech University System Angelo State University Management, Instruction, and Research (MIR) Center The Angelo State University Management, Instruction, and Research Center is located on the northern shore of O.C. Fisher Lake in San Angelo, Texas. The Center is situated between the Edwards Plateau and Rolling Plains regions of Texas. Elevation of the area is approximately 1,950 ft above sea level with an average annual precipitation of 23 inches. Topography of the region is nearly flat with level clay loam soils with occasional shallow ridges and small drainages. The 235-day average growing season supports mainly warm season grasses, forbs and shrubs, including a mixture of Edwards Plateau and Rolling Plains vegetation. The Management, Instruction, and Research (MIR) Center serves three primary objectives. The first objective is to conduct research to improve animal production, food technology, and range and wildlife management. These include studies related to improving the reproductive and nutritional efficiency of sheep, cattle, and goats in conjunction with projects designed to improve range and wildlife management practices. Some research projects are very basic in nature and designed to better understand mechanisms controlling animal and plant production. Others are applied studies with immediate implications for management. The second objective is to serve as a demonstration site for Agricultural industry. This objective is accomplished by managing rangelands for livestock, wildlife, and food production. The development of sustainable, economically efficient management systems is a primary a focus of the MIR Center. All experiments, investigations, and research projects sponsored through the Management, Instruction, and Research Center are open for review by the public. Seminars and field days are being conducted periodically to provide to the citizens of west Texas the results of the projects being undertaken at the Center. Personnel at the Center are available to assist ranchers, farmers, and others in the region with management issues associated with their operations. Where appropriate, results of research and management demonstrations are published in area newspapers, magazines, and agricultural journals. The Center’s facilities are also utilized by various agricultural groups for meetings throughout the year which include a 4-H/FFA livestock judging contest, wool and mohair judging contest, meat judging contest,land judging contest, wildlife contest, and a range and pasture evaluation contest. The third objective of the MIR Center is to serve as a laboratory and outdoor classroom for the undergraduate and graduate programs in Agriculture. Laboratory classes are taught weekly at the MIR Center for Agriculture, Animal Science, Food Science, and Range Management courses. Undoubtedly, these “hands-on” experiences have been essential in shaping the knowledge of the department’s 928 graduates since 1974. The MIR Center is crucial for the Master of Science (M.S.) program in Animal Science. Since 1978, the department has produced 178 M.S. graduates. Several of those have continued their education at other universities by pursuing a Ph.D.