Beef Briefs

IN MEMORIAM...

TONY FORSHEY

Dr. Tony Forshey (DVM), 69, of Hebron, passed away on Nov. 26, 2021. Forshey was born in 1952 in Caldwell, Ohio and graduated from Shenandoah High School in Sarahsville, Ohio. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Sciences from The Ohio State University and went on to receive a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree from Ohio State. He was a member of the Johnstown Baptist Church and served in many community service roles. Dr. Forshey was a leader in animal health with a passion and commitment to agriculture and animal health. He practiced veterinary medicine for 27 years, with a major interest in swine production involving much of the Midwest. From 1985-2005, he was an Adjunct Associate Professor at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, mentoring Ohio State Vet Med students while maintaining his private practice. From 2006 to the present, he was a State Veterinarian and Chief of Animal Health with the Ohio Department of Agriculture. He held numerous leadership roles at the national level, serving on the Board of Directors for the United States Animal Health Association and Chairman of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the National Institute for Animal Agriculture. Forshey’s professional memberships and affiliations were extensive including local, state and national organizations. On behalf of the Ohio Department of Agriculture and in the role of State Veterinarian, he worked side by side with Ohio commodity groups: Beef and Dairy Cattle, Cervid, Poultry, Swine, Small Ruminant, Equine Industry, Dog Breeders, Aquaculture, Future Farmers of America, 4-H and Ohio Fair Boards & Managers, and Ohio Farm Bureau Federation. Some of his more recent honors and awards include the following: Ohio Farm Bureau Federation Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award 2021, NIAA Meritorious Service Award 2021, Ohio Agricultural Hall of Fame Inductee 2020, Ohio Fair Managers Dedication and Service Award to Ohio Fair Managers and 95 Fairs 2020, NIAA Chairman’s Award 2019, and the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association Beef Industry Service Award 2013. Forshey is survived by his wife, Jill, and their blended family including sons and daughters-in-law, Dr. Brandon and Dr. Melissa Forshey of Morral, Ohio and Brady and Dr. Ashlea Forshey of Pittsburgh, PA; daughters and son-in-law, Janelle Snyder of Omaha, NE and Jessica (Jeff Mankel) Meehan of Birmingham, AL; and six grandchildren. He is also survived by 12 siblings. Dr. Forshey left a lasting mark on the Ohio Department of Agriculture, the state, and the nation.

ROBERT HOOVLER

Robert Hoovler, 69, of Belle Center, Ohio passed away on Nov. 28, 2021. He was born in 1952 in Mt. Vernon. Surviving are his three daughters, including Marcia Hoovler who is part of the cattle operation and two sons, in addition to many family members and four grandchildren, as well as his faithful companion: his dog, Buckeye. Hoovler was a lifelong farmer and worked as a cattle buyer for Egbert Livestock for 29 years. As owner of Rolling Hills Farms Simmentals LLC, Hoovler’s life revolved around his farm and cattle. He was a member of the American Simmental Association, the Ohio Simmental Association, the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association, and the Hardin County Cattle Producers. He loved everything about being a cattle farmer. Even in his free time he would attend cattle shows and fairs. Memorial donations in his honor may be made to the Ohio Jr. Simmental Association, 11203 Mullinix Road, West Salem, Ohio 44287.

JOHN NEER

John Neer, 98, of North Lewisburg, Ohio passed away Oct. 19, 2021 at his log home in Champaign County. He was born in Catawba, Ohio in 1923 and married Barbara “Jeanne” Dallas in 1945. Neer and Jeanne, who passed away in 2019, were married 73 years. He is survived by his daughter Susan of Bellefontaine, his sons, Kent of Marysville and Chris of West Jefferson, and an extended family that included ten grandchildren, nineteen great grandchildren and eleven nieces and nephews. Neer graduated from Urbana Local schools in 1942. He farmed in Tipp City, Mechanicsburg, Woodstock and Mingo, raising hogs, registered Angus cattle and feeder cattle. He was a member of the Spring Fork Grange in Plumwood. Neer was a 4-H beef club advisor, a member of the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association, NCBA, the Woodstock Lions Club and the North Lewisburg United Methodist Church. Neer provided years of volunteer leadership for OCA, serving as association president in 1983 and 1984. He actively promoted beef at the county fair, Farm Science Review, the state fair and the Ohio Beef Council. He and his wife travelled to all fifty states and Brazil for the cattle industry. The Neers reconstructed a pre1820 log cabin on their property, which they rented for vacations and meetings until they moved there upon retirement. He enjoyed hunting and fishing on his property, as well as out west and in Canada. Memorial contributions may be made to the Ohio Cattlemen’s Foundation, 10600 US Highway 42, Marysville, Ohio 43040 or to the Woodstock Lions Club, 2335 St. Rte. 559, Woodstock, Ohio 43084.

Randall Reed, 100, of Canaan Valley, West Virginia passed away on Sept. 6, 2021. He was born and raised on his 500-acre Highland View Farm in Canaan Valley where he was active in 4-H. “Randy” was the 8th of 9 children. He attended a one room schoolhouse and graduated high school in 1939. Reed served in the Navy during WWII. He received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in animal science from West Virginia University (WVU), and later received a doctorate from Ohio State University majoring in animal science reproductive physiology and genetics. Reed served on the faculty of the Animal Science Departments at WVU, Rutgers University, and spent the majority of his career, 27 years, at Ohio State University. He coached the OSU Livestock Judging Team, winning the 1964 national championship competing against 38 other colleges and universities. Reed was an accredited cattle judge and worked most state and national shows east of the Mississippi, in addition to the National Western in Denver. Reed was the first recipient of the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association’s Beef Industry Service Award in 1981. He traveled and studied the agriculture industry in 17 foreign countries and 47 states. After retirement, Reed spent his winters in Florida, returning to the farm he loved in the summer. A memorial fund has been created at the Ohio State University Foundation - fund number 313911. Checks should be made payable and mailed to OSU Foundation, Attn: gift processing, P.O. Box 710811, Columbus, Ohio 43271-0811.

OBC AND OCA WELCOME SCHULTZ AS MANAGER OF DIGITAL MARKETING AND CONSUMER PROGRAMS

Nicole Schultz of Waynesfield, Ohio was recently hired as the manager of consumer programs and digital marketing for the Ohio Beef Council (OBC). She has four years of digital marketing and event management experience and will graduate with a master of science degree in management and organizational behaviors in Dec. 2021. Schultz’s responsibilities will include oversight and implementation of digital, social media and visual content planning; engaging with media, industry and consumer food influencers; guiding advertising, retail and foodservice programs; management of outside partners and interns; and coordination of events and consumer displays.

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OHIO DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE DIRECTOR ANNOUNCES DR. DENNIS SUMMERS AS OHIO’S STATE VETERINARIAN Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) Director Dorothy Pelanda announced Dr. Dennis Summers as Chief of the Division of Animal Health, which is charged with protecting and promoting the health of Ohio’s livestock and poultry industries. In that capacity, he serves as Ohio’s State Veterinarian and oversees all operations for the division. Dr. Summers first joined ODA in 2014 as a field veterinarian for the Division of Meat Inspection, then was transferred to ODA’s Division of Animal Health in the same capacity in 2015. He was appointed to the position of Assistant State Veterinarian in 2018 and then Interim State Veterinarian in 2021. Prior to his service at ODA, Dr. Summers was a private practitioner in Vermont, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. His areas of practice focused on large animal medicine and surgery, mainly dairy, equine, and beef, but also some small ruminants and exotics. Dr. Summers was born and raised in Muskingum County. He attended The Ohio State University for his undergraduate studies, majoring in Animal Sciences, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture in 2001. He completed his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine studies at OSU, earning his DVM degree in 2006. In 2019, Dr. Summers successfully passed the board-certification examinations from the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine (ACVPM). This earned him the status of Diplomate from the ACVPM. ACVPM is a specialty discipline in veterinary preventive medicine. He also serves as a captain in the United States Army Reserve as an army medical officer. Dr. Summers and his wife, Angela, have three children. Dr. Kristy Shaw will serve as Assistant State Veterinarian. Dr. Shaw will support all functions of Ohio’s State Veterinarian and maintain her role as Emergency Preparedness and Disease Programs Coordinator to ensure the health and safety of Ohio’s livestock interests.

OCA LED EFFORTS CREATES OHIO MEAT PROCESSING GRANT PROGRAM The Ohio Cattlemen’s Association (OCA ) has advocated for the development of the Ohio Meat Processing Grant program that will provide grants of up to $250,000 to Ohio meat processing facilities so they can implement processing efficiencies, expand or construct facilities at existing sites, assist in training and certification and improve harvest services. To be eligible, the business must own or operate a meat processing facility located in Ohio that was in operation as of July 1, 2021. The facility must provide processing services for livestock and/or poultry producers, and it must be a for-profit entity, such as a corporation, LLC, partnership, joint venture or sole proprietor. The business also must be in good standing with the Ohio Secretary of State, the Ohio Department of Taxation and any other governmental entity charged with regulating the business. For more information on successfully completing an application, login to the OCA Membership portal to watch the December Cattlemen’s Academy LIVE recording featuring John Werkman, Chief of the Business Services Division for the Ohio Department of Development, who will walk you through the application. The grant application is now open and applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. More information is available at www.development.ohio.gov.

HOUSE PASSES TWO NCBA-BACKED BILLS ON MARKET TRANSPARENCY The U.S. House recently voted to pass two NCBA-supported pieces of legislation that are critical to providing producers with greater transparency in the cattle markets. The House voted 418-9 to advance H.R. 5290, introduced by House Agriculture Committee Chairman David Scott (D-GA). This legislation, which was supported by Ranking Member Glenn “G.T.” Thompson (R-PA) and unanimously approved by the Committee, would extend authorization for livestock mandatory reporting (LMR) through September 30, 2022. The authorization for LMR — the most important tool cattle producers have for understanding transactions and trends in the cattle markets — is currently set to expire along with federal funding on February 18, 2022. By an overwhelming vote of 41113, the House also passed the Cattle Contract Library Act of 2021. NCBA secured the introduction of this bipartisan legislation in October, led by Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD) and Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX). The creation of a cattle contract library and the reauthorization of LMR are both widely supported across the cattle and beef industry. When livestock groups met in Phoenix earlier this year to identify common goals and priorities, those two measures were agreed upon as urgent.