Beef Briefs IN MEMORIAM
John C. Foltz, passed away Jan. 7, 2021 from complications of COVID-19, with his family at his side. Foltz was a native of Fairfield County and retired as deputy undersecretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and agency administrator. A graduate of The Ohio State University, he also served in positions with the Ohio Department of Agriculture and as the first executive of the Ohio Agribusiness Association.Foltz also held several federally appointed positions in the agriculture field. He was on the USDA Extension and Research Advisory board, council chair for the OARDC Advisory board and president of the Ohio Agricultural Council. He served as chair of the President’s Alumni Advisory Board for OSU. For three terms he was on the High Council of the Fraternity of Alpha Zeta, then went on to become the first President of the National Alpha Zeta Foundation. He most recently served as an ex-officio member of the Farmhouse Foundation Board of Trustees. He was a recipient of the Distinguished Service to Agriculture award from the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, Distinguished Alumni Award from the College of FAES and the Alpha Tau Zeta Alumni Association Distinguished Service award. Foltz’s agriculture commitment also extended to youth education. He held a number of volunteer leadership roles with the Boy Scouts of America, FFA and 4-H. Foltz and his wife Anne successfully led the $15.5 million campaign to construct the 4-H Center at The Ohio State University, the first “green” building on campus. (Bio courtesy of Ohio AgriBusiness Association)
Roy Lee Johnson, 91, of Fredericktown, Ohio passed away Jan. 23, 28 | Ohio Cattleman | Expo Issue 2021
2021. He was born in Flushing, Ohio in 1929 and grew up there on the family farm called Mill Brook as a 3rd generation Shorthorn cattle breeder. He and his wife, Frances K. Johnson, their six children and Johnson’s parents moved from Flushing to their Fredericktown farm location in 1967. Known as Lee or R. Lee, he was involved in farming and raising and selling Shorthorn cattle from Mill Brook Farm his entire life. During the 1970’s and 1980’s, Johnson and his family showed cattle at many state fairs and National Shows in Chicago, Kansas City, Baltimore, Harrisburg, Houston, Ft. Worth, Louisville, and Denver and even as far away as San Francisco. They exhibited several National Champion bulls and females and were recognized as one of the top Shorthorn breeders in the country over those two decades. They also held cattle sales at their farm in Fredericktown during that time drawing breeders from across the country and promoting the breed. Johnson was actively involved with the Shorthorn Association, acknowledged as a “builder of the breed” served as President of the Ohio Shorthorn Association, and was a longstanding member at the national level. Besides cattle, he also liked draft horses and attending horse pulls in his later years. Johnson is preceded in death by his wife Frances. He is survived by his six grown children and their extended families. A memorial service will be scheduled by the family at a later date. Donations may be made in his memory to the Shorthorn Foundation. The foundation provides youth scholarships, educational programs, and research to improve performance of the Shorthorn breed. Donations can be sent to the Shorthorn Foundation, 1800 Lovers Leap, Van Alstyne, TX 75495 (Tax ID: 36-6221032).
Andrew (Andy) Burl Mayer, 62, of Plain City, Ohio passed away on June 6, 2020 after a long battle with cancer. He was born in 1958 in Marysville, Ohio and graduated high school in 1977. Mayer lived out his childhood dream to be a farmer, as he spent his entire life on the family farm in Madison County. He enjoyed the annual Miami Valley Steam Threshers Reunion and was a member of the Board of Directors. He took pride in collecting vintage signage, tractors, John Deere equipment and memorabilia. Mayer was a cattle feeder known for finishing black Angus cattle. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Marysville. Contributions in his memory may be made to Loving Care Hospice, 779 London Ave., Marysville, Ohio 43040 or Miami Valley Steam Threshers, P.O. Box 364, Plain City, Ohio 43064.
SELECT SIRES HIRES HAMILTON AS BEEF ACQUISITION AND PRODUCT MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST
Reneé Hamilton was recently hired at Select Sires’ beef department as a beef acquisition and product management specialist. Hamilton is working towards her Bachelor of Science in agriculture at The Ohio State University with an anticipated graduation date in December 2022. She started working at Select Sires as a livestock technician in June 2020. As a beef acquisition and product management specialist, Hamilton will provide administrative support to all aspects of Select Sires’ beef program. She will be responsible for genetic contracts and royalty processing, while offering support and resources to Select Sires’ customers and field staff.
