OCA HOLDS ANNUAL MEETING & CELEBRATES AWARD WINNERS

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.

The following were the Top Hands for 2022:

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 as 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.