Animal Welfare, Autism Expert Grandin to Visit Wichita

Dr. Temple Grandin, professor of livestock handling and behavior at Colorado State University, and the subject of an Emmy-nominated HBO docudrama that debuted nationally on Feb. 6, will make a swing through Wichita, Kan., on Aug. 5 and Aug. 6 to speak with Cargill employees about animal welfare, participate in a public book-signing, act as keynote at an autism conference and meet with representatives of the Lose the Training Wheels organization for youth with disabilities.

Internationally heralded for her work in the areas of animal welfare and autism, Grandin has been responsible for major livestock-handling innovations and improvements that have been adopted throughout the United States and internationally.

“Cargill has a very close working relationship with Temple, and has for many years,” said Dr. Mike Siemens, Cargill’s Wichita-based head of animal welfare. “We have learned a great deal from her as she has helped us understand the importance and benefit of properly handling and respecting live animals raised for human consumption. Her contributions in the areas of animal welfare, food production, people with disabilities and society as whole are enormous, and we are privileged to have a long-standing and mutually beneficial working relationship with Temple.”

Siemens said Grandin has been instrumental in helping Cargill enhance its animal-handling systems and programs at its beef and pork facilities.

Grandin, who is autistic, has written nine books on animal welfare and the human potential for overcoming disabilities. She actively teaches, consults, and pursues new and better animal welfare techniques. She received an honorary doctorate degree of humane letters from Duke University earlier this year, and was also named one of Time magazine’s 2010 top 100 most influential people, and No. 5 in the “heroes” category. She has also made television appearances on CNN’s “Larry King Live,” “20/20,” “48 Hours,” “Prime Time Live,” “Today,” C-Span and the British Broadcasting Corp. (BBC).