OCA Awards
Nominations due September 1 and are presented at the OCA Annual Meeting & Awards Banquet the following January
The Ohio Cattlemen’s Association (OCA) is seeking nominations for cattlemen across the Buckeye state excelling in their operations. There are seven distinguished awards available in the following categories: Environmental Stewardship, Commercial Producer, Young Cattleman, Seedstock Producer, Industry Service, Industry Excellence and Outstanding County.
Nominations are due by Sept. 1. Fellow industry leaders, county cattlemen’s associations, soil and water conservation districts and other local agricultural organizations are encouraged to nominate local cattlemen deserving of any of the above mentioned awards.
The seven distinguished awards will be presented at the OCA Annual Meeting & Awards Banquet set for January 9, 2021 at the Hilton Columbus/Polaris.
Please view the description of each award area below:
OCA Beef Industry Excellence Award
The Excellence Award is presented to beef producers who have worked over a period of years for the betterment of Ohio’s beef industry. Recipients are those that have contributed as a volunteer/leader to the success of the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association and/or through their individual cattle operations have been trailblazers for the beef industry creating new paths for other beef producers to follow.
OCA Beef Industry Service Award
The Service Award is presented to those who have through their careers contributed to the betterment of Ohio’s beef industry. Recipients may or may not also be beef producers. The award is presented for efforts made outside, but complementary to beef production. Recipients of the award are selected based on actions they have taken through their career in academia, Extension, government, agri-business, etc. that have benefited the beef industry.
OCA Young Cattleman of the Year Award
The Young Cattleman of the Year Award is presented to individuals or couples, typically under 40 years of age, who have demonstrated the initial stages of a successful beef operation and exhibited leadership potential. The recipient is also the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association’s automatic nominee (if available) to participate in the NCBA Young Cattlemen’s Conference.
OUTSTANDING COUNTY Award
The Outstanding County award is OCA's opportunity to recognize the outstanding achievement, industry education and consumer promotion efforts of counties from across the state. Activities, participation in OCA events, communication efforts, support of industry youth and a cohesive partnership are all areas of focus for award recognition. The Outstanding County will be featured in a video and the award will be presented during OCA’s annual awards banquet on January 12, 2019. Officers will accept their county’s award and as many as are available are encouraged to attend the celebratory evening.
OCA Seedstock Producer of the Year Award
The Seedstock Producer of the Year Award is presented to Ohio farms who have demonstrated breeding success through their registered cattle operations. These farms utilize performance information and the latest technologies available to increase the predictability of the cattle they raise as breeding stock for others, in addition to maintaining a continued focus on meeting and exceeding the expectations of beef consumers.
OCA Commercial PRODUCER of the Year Award
The Commercial Cattleman of the Year Award is presented to Ohio farms who have demonstrated success through their commercial cattle operations. These farms utilize performance information and the latest technologies available to increase the predictability of the cattle they raise, in addition to maintaining a continued focus on meeting and exceeding the expectations of beef consumers. The award is traditionally presented to cow-calf operations, but may also include feeders who feed the cattle they produce.
OCA Environmental Stewardship Award
The Environmental Stewardship Award is presented to Ohio farms who have demonstrated a strong commitment to being good stewards of their land, water and air resources, as well as their livestock and operate their farms in a sustainable manner. Recipients implement beef practices to control water run-off, reduce damage in high-traffic feeding/watering areas, exercise good pasture management, preserve woodlands, and provide for wildlife. They often partner with government entities, such as Soil & Water Conservation Districts and the USDA NRCS to implement conservation measures.
2024 Award Winners
Industry Excellence
2023 R.C. Packing Company2022 John Grimes
2021 Gene Rowe
2020 Roger Thompson, DVM
2019 Bob Agle
2018 E.R Boliantz Co.
2017 Tom & Susie Turner
2016 Henry Bergfield
2015 Sam & Laura Sutherly
2014 Mike & Beth Carper
2013 Kris & Becky Vincent
2012 Bill & Beverly Roe
2011 Janet Butler
2010 Frank Phelps
2009 Roy Wallace
2008 Bill Sexten
2007 John King
2006 Joe Foster
2005 Steve R. Rauch
2004 Ed, Fred & Ray Vollborn
2003 Glen Feichtner
2002 Mel Earich
2001 Curt Balthaser
2000 Elwain Dreyer, Sr.
1999 Merrill Evans
1998 John Kline
1997 Jim & Marlene Campbell
1996 Jim & Jackie Murray
1995 Earl McKarns
1994 Bob Evans
1993 Dave & Donna Tullis
1992 Wayne Carlin
1991 Henry & Roberta Whitehead
1990 Kent Jeffers
1989 Pete Everhart
1988 Bill Cleland Sr.
1987 Gene & Marilyn Byers
1986 John & Jeanne Nee
1985 Bob & Betty White
1984 Bill Butler
1983 -
1982 Don Benecke
1981 Lloyd Householder
1980 Jean Thiergartner
1979 Gordon Flax
1978 Fred Johnson
1977 Dwaine Demmitt
1976 Mary Kay Woodard
1975 Harold Etling
1974 Marvin Berschet
1973 Demorest Brothers
1972 Joe Beam
1971 Wally Nelson
1970 Maderia Brown
Industry Service
2023 United Producers, Inc.
2022 Todd Pugh
2021 Denny Ruff
2020 Rick Heffelfinger
2019 Tom Price
2018 Rep. Brian Hill2017 Stan Smith
2016 Jim, Jackie, & Jarrett Murray
2015 Jim Buchy
2014 John Albert
2013 Dr. Tony Forshey
2012 Dr. Bobby Moser
2011 Dr. Henry Zerby
2010 Dave Puthoff
2009 Representative Steve Reinhard
2008 Senator Larry Mumper
2008 Representative Tony Core
2007 The Kroger Company
2006 Sam Roberts
2005 Elizabeth Harsh
2004 Dr. Steve Boyles
2003 Dr. Francis Fluharty
2002 Dr. David Glauer
2001 Dr. Glen Hoffsis
2000 Representative Joe Haines
1999 Dr. Tom Turner
1998 Senator Doug White
1997 Senator Ben Gaeth
1996 Dennis Bolling
1995 Charles "Chuck" Lugbill
1994 Joe Cornely
1993 Fred Dailey
1992 Merlin Woodruff
1991 Dr. Bobby VanStavern
1990 Lorin Sanford
1989 Dr. James Warner
1988 Dr. George Wilson
1987 Leon Lugbill
1986 John Bricker
1985 Dr. Earl Klosterman
1984 Ed Johnston
1983 Charlie Boyles
1982 Don Lowry
1981 Dr. Randy Reed
Young Cattleman
2022 Zane Gross
2021 Lindsey & Adam Hall
2020 Luke Vollborn
2019 Brad Thornburg
2018 Kyle Nickles
2017 J.L. Draganic
2016 Randy Hollowell
2015 Scott Payne
2014 Al Gahler
2013 Allan Robison
2012 Scott & Sasha Rittenhouse
2011 Patrick Saunders
2010 Mike & Pam Haley
2009 David Felumlee
2008 Chad McDowell
2007 Steve White
2006 Jake Wolfinger
2005 Jamie Graham
2004 Andy Lohr
2003 Tim Sheeley
2002 Bob & Katie Shugert
2001 Jim Jepsen
2000 Jim Sutherly
1999 John Grimes
1998 Randy Day
1997 Andy Rittberger
1996 Dave Eversole
1995 Joe Foster
1994 Bob Agle
1993 Doug Nickles
1992 Ron Parks
1991 Joe Zupan
1990 Mike Babcock
1989 Lynn Holley
1988 Randy Nelson
1987 John Potter
1986 Pam Beam
1985 Gary Short
1984 Dennis Crock
Seedstock Producer
2023 Cedar Lane Farms
2022 Jones Show Cattle
2021 Raines Farms
2020 Haley Farms
2019 Paint Valley Farms
2018 J&L Cattle Services
2017 Claylick Run Angus Genetics
2016 Charlie, Jordan & Scott Diehl
2015 Karr Red Angus Farms
2014 Chippewa Valley Angus Farm
2013 Tim & Peggy
2012 Turkey Run Angus
2011 NS Polled Herefords
2010 Way View Farms LLC
2009 Maplecrest Angus
2008 Burgett Angus Farm
2007 O'Connor-Phelps Farm
2006 Champion Hill, Inc.
2005 Morrison Stock Farm
2004 Byland Shorthorn Farms
2003 Shamrock Vale Farms - Earl McKarns Family
Commercial Producer
2023 Fannin Ag
2022 Seibert Livestock
2021 Shugert Farms
2020 Fred Voge
2019 Robison Farms
2018 Gerber Farms
2017 Vollborn Family
2016 Jamey & Jody Rauch & Family
2015 Dagger Family
2014 Watts Farms LTD
2013 Christian Hoffman
2012 Sutherly Brothers LLC
2011 John McKarns
2010 Adams Farms
2009 Noll Family Farms
2008 Corcoran Farms
2007 Rick & Jayne Young
2006 McDorman Farms
2005 Bob Pontius
2004 Porteus Farms
2003 Shriver Farms
Environmental Stewardship
2021 Turner Shorthorns
2020 ST Genetics
2019 Stickel Farms
2018 Gibbs Farms
2017 Hord Family Farms
2016 Pete Conkle
2015 Whitehead Angus Farm
2014 -
2013 Paint Creek Cattle
2012 Berry Farms
2011 Royer Grain & Livestock LLC
2010 Raines Farms
2009 Young Cattle Company
2008 Sims Farms
2007 Stoll Select Farms
2006 David Noll Family
2005 Jake, Robert & Andy Wolfinger
2004 Don Lohr
2003 Earl & RuthAnn LeMaster
2002 Wayne & June Williams
2001 Paul Ryan
2000 Noll Family Farms
1999 Sweeting Farms
1998 O'Conner Farms
1997 Tom Price
1996 Thomas & Mollie McConnell
1995 John & Kathy Siegel
outstanding county
2023 Muskingum County Cattlemen's Association 2022 Fayette County Cattlemen's Association 2021 Fairfield County Cattle Feeders Association 2020 Shelby County Cattlemen's Association 2019 Clark County Cattlemen's Association