PICKENS COUNTY — Nationally known author and celebrated speaker on animal behavior, Dr. Temple Grandin, will be featured at this year’s South Carolina Cattlemen’s Association meeting to be held April 5 at the T. Ed Garrison Arena.

Grandin, an animal science professor at Colorado State University, also has Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and has spoken widely on the subject promoting acceptance and understanding.

April is Autism Awareness Month.

Her life, struggles and subsequent succerssful career was the subject of a 2010 HBO movie starring Claire Danes.

Grandin, who uses experiences she has gained from dealing with ASD to help others, will be presenting “The Importance of Accepting and Promoting All types of Thinking! Harnessing Neurodiversity.”

The program begins at 1 p.m.

“We are very pleased to have Dr. Grandin join us for the Cattlemen’s Association meeting,” said Matthew Burns, Clemson Extension beef specialist and Livestock and Forage Program team leader. “She has a wealth of knowledge to share and everyone who attends her presentation should leave with a greater understanding of how to accept others who may think or do things differently.”

Grandin did not talk until she was three and a half years old, according to her biography. She began speech therapy at an early age. When she was 5-years-old, Grandin was mainstreamed into a normal kindergarten.

As a child, Grandin was considered “weird” and was teased and bullied in high school. The only place she had friends were activities where there was a shared interest such as horses, electronics or model rockets. Her science teacher encouraged her interest in science, she has stated.

Along with being a professor, she also has a successful career as a consultant on both livestock handling equipment design and animal welfare.

Today, half of the cattle in the United States are handled in facilities she has designed.

In addition to her appearance at the Cattlemen’s Association Meeting, Grandin also is scheduled to talk at 7 p.m., Thursday April 5, at Clemson University’s Hendrix Student Center.

This appearance is free to everyone registered for the Cattlemen’s Association meeting. A $7 donation is requested of everyone else who attends the Thursday evening event. Tickets for Thursday evening are available online at www.bit.ly/GrandinMeetAndGreet

The T. Ed Garrison Arena is at 1101 W. Queen St., Pendleton.

For more information, call or text Kirby Player at 864-650-0932 kplayer@clemson.edu.

Dr. Temple Grandin to speak at the T. Ed Garrison Arena.
https://www.sentinelprogress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/web1_TG1.jpgDr. Temple Grandin to speak at the T. Ed Garrison Arena. Courtesy photos

Today, half of the cattle in the United States are handled in facilities Dr. Grandin has designed.
https://www.sentinelprogress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/web1_TG2.jpgToday, half of the cattle in the United States are handled in facilities Dr. Grandin has designed. Courtesy photos

By Kasie Strickland

kstrickland@championcarolinas.com

Reach Kasie Strickland at 864-855-0355.