Hall of fame prepares to honor industry leaders

Since 2009, the Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame has recognized the outstanding innovators and entrepreneurs who helped build the U.S. cattle-feeding business to what it is today. On Wednesday, August 1, the group will hold their annual banquet in Denver to induct two prominent cattle feeders to the hall of fame, and time is running out to purchase tickets.

The group also will present the 2012 Industry Leadership Award, recognizing someone from outside cattle feeding for outstanding beef-industry leadership, and the Arturo Armendariz Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes the critical roles of employees in the success of a cattle-feeding business.

The list of past inductees includes individuals most people in the beef business recognize as true leaders and innovators. They are (2009) Paul Engler, Cactus Feeders and W.D. Farr, Farr Feeders, (2010) H.C. (Ladd) Hitch, Hitch Enterprises and Kenny Monfort, Monfort Feeders and (2011) Lee Borck, Livestock Marketing Group and Dave Wood, Harris Feeding Company.

The Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame continues to gain prestige and recognition, as attendees at the 2011 hall of fame banquet represented an estimated 50 percent of all cattle on feed in the United States. The program celebrates the people who helped shape the cattle-feeding business, highlighting their spirit of entrepreneurship and creativity. And the gathering of cattle feeders, ranchers and allied industry representatives offers a great atmosphere of camaraderie and shared passion for the beef business.

Also, watch for profiles of each of the 2012 inductees and award winners in the August issue of Drovers/CattleNetwork magazine. Their stories make for compelling reading.

The banquet is open to beef industry stakeholders, and you can purchase tickets through the CattleFeeders.org website. Tickets must be purchased by Friday July 20. This year's event will take place at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Denver, Colo. A reception begins at 5:30 p.m. with the dinner and program following at 6:30 p.m.

Founding partners in the Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame include Merck Animal Health, Osborn & Barr marketing agency and Drovers/CattleNetwork.

You can learn more and purchase banquet tickets on the program’s website, CattleFeeders.org.

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