MARYSVILLE, Ohio — The Ohio Cattlemen’s Association (OCA) held their Annual Meeting and Awards Banquet on Jan. 14, 2023 at the Nationwide Hotel & Conference Center. Cattlemen and women from across the state gathered to engage in important association business, hear updates from many industry partners and recognize the recipients of several prestigious industry awards.
The day was made possible by the following sponsoring partners: Ag Credit, Alltech, COBA/Select Sires, Corteva AgriScience, Heartland Feed Services, Kent Nutrition, Ohio Angus Association, Ohio Association of Meat Processors, The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Sancic Family Farms.
Colin Woodall, CEO for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) joined members to present an industry update on policy issues and highlights from the NCBA Federation’s role as a contractor to the beef checkoff. In addition to several issues the industry is managing, Woodall noted that beef demand is at a 30-year high.
OCA President Tom Karr of Meigs County led the OCA Annual Meeting. The first order of business was awarding the association’s Top Hand members. The OCA Top Hands are awarded for recruiting five or more members throughout the year. This year’s awards were sponsored by Purina Animal Nutrition and Quality Liquid Feeds. Frank Phelps, Logan County, was the top recruiter with 14 memberships. Additional Top Hand winners were Mark Goecke, Allan County; Glen Feichtner, Crawford County; Andy Lohr, Crawford County; Tom Karr, Meigs County; Jim Jepsen, Fairfield County; Dona Tullis, Madison County; and Becky Vincent, Stark County.
Following these awards, members received updates from industry partners including the Ohio Beef Council (OBC) and the Beef Checkoff by Erin Stickel, OBC Chairman and Kelly Keirn OBC staff; Ohio Department of Agriculture Division of Animal Health by Dr. Dennis Summers, State Veterinarian; OSU Extension Beef Team from Garth Ruff, Beef Cattle Field Specialist and Ohio Legislative Outlook for 2023 by Tony Seegers Esq., President of 1803 Consulting.
Members of the meeting then engaged in meaningful discussions and voted on association policy resolutions.
The Ohio Cattlemen’s Foundation (OCF) also held their annual meeting to award 23 scholarships to beef industry youth who have aspirations of pursuing careers in the beef industry. These scholarships were made possible from the Cattlemen’s Gala, sales from the Ohio beef license plates, funds raised from the putt-putt booth at the Ohio State Fair and generous donors such as Saltwell Western Store, the Noah Cox memorial fund and the Ohio Cattlewomen’s Association.
The following are the 2022 scholarship recipients:
Cattlemen’s Gala Scholarships
- Hannah Cochran, Franklin County
- Joshua Dickson, Licking County
- Makayla Feldner, Noble County
- Megan Garrison, Belmont County
- Alicia Graham, Licking County
- Luke Jennings, Clermont County
- Ellie Kidwell, Knox County
- Erica Patterson, Hancock County
- Macie Riley, Fayette County
- Kristina Scheurman, Cochocton County
- Michael Soltis, Geauga County
- Abigail Tooill, Fairfield County
Tagged for Greatness Scholarships
- Stephanie Altstaetter, Logan County
- Sadie Holman, Licking County
- Erin Pope, Gallia County
- Jacie Wolfinger
Cattlemen’s Country Club Scholarships
- Owen Brinker, Wood County
- Caitlin Koschnick, Crawford County
- Maria Mcintosh, Champaign County
- Charity Moore, Montgomery County
Noah Cox Memorial Scholarships
- Megan Becker, Washington County
Saltwell Expo Scholarship
- Delaney Moore, Fairfield County
- Caroline Winter, Pickaway County
Cattlewomen’s Association Scholarships
- Megan Becker, Washington County
- Joshua Dickson, Licking County
- Shala Graham, Licking County
- Ellie Kidwell, Knox County
- Shelby Morehead, Portage County
In addition, the Ohio Cattlemen’s Foundation recently announced a new program the Beef Industry Fellowship (BIF) grant that will be awarded to two individuals who show promising leadership potential and an interest in becoming more involved in Ohio’s beef industry.
The BIF grant is a $1,500 in-kind grant offered after recipients experience six specified industry events and volunteer opportunities throughout the year. Upon their involvement, they will receive the $1,500 grant which will be used toward registration and travel expenses associated with their trip to the 2024 National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Convention in Orlando, FL. Jack Cochran of Franklin County and Alyssa Lambert of Licking County were introduced at the first recipients of the BIF grants.
During the Awards Banquet attendees celebrated the achievements of their fellow cattlemen. The six awards handed out throughout the night were as follows:
Outstanding County – Muskingum County Cattlemen’s Association
Sponsored by Ohio Corn and Wheat
Young Cattleman of the Year –Ian Brinker, Frazeysburg, Ohio
Sponsored by Kalmbach Feeds and United Producers, Inc.
Commercial Cattleman of the Year – Fannin Ag and W J Fannin, Washington Court House, Ohio
Sponsored by Burkmann Nutrition and United Producers, Inc.
Seedstock Producer of the Year – Cedar Lane Farms owned by Jeff and Sue Winkle, Cedarville, Ohio
Sponsored by Ohio Shorthorn Breeders’ Association
Industry Service Award – United Producers, Inc., Columbus, Ohio
Sponsored by The Hartford Financial Services Group
Industry Excellence Award – R. C. Packing Co. and Jamie and Amy Graham, Bidwell, Ohio
Sponsored by Gallia County Cattlemen’s Association
The night ended with a social event and a live auction to raise money for OCA’s Political Action Committee (PAC) which raised over $9,700 to be used to support political candidates who support the beef cattle industry and to ensure representation at the State House and on Capitol Hill.
To learn more about OCA’s award winners or the Annual Meeting, visit www.ohiocattle.org.
— Ohio Cattlemen’s Association
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