Nick Seger (left), OPC president, items Dr. Dave Shoup with the Ohio Red meat Trade Excellence Award. Dave’s spouse, Alona, joins him.
Shoup, Blankenship, Adams, Dirksen, and Ag Credit score commemorated
The Ohio Red meat Council concluded a extremely a hit 2024 Ohio Red meat Congress with its annual awards luncheon on Feb. 7 that featured updates through Ohio Director of Agriculture Brian Baldridge and OPC Government Vice President Cheryl Day. OPC identified a number of most sensible volunteers for his or her remarkable contributions to the state’s red meat business. Those incorporated awards for Ohio Red meat Trade Excellence, Carrier, Red meat Promoter of the Yr, Supervisor of the Yr, and Buddy of the Red meat Trade.
Ohio Red meat Council President Nick Seger, a manufacturer from Shelby County, mentioned, “Taking a look forward, our business will proceed to stand giant demanding situations, however we’ve proven that Ohio’s red meat business is as much as the duty as it’s made up of serious leaders like the ones we’re honoring these days. We’ll proceed to construct at the paintings those leaders have made to be sure that our business stays sturdy for years yet to come so long as we’re ready for what’s subsequent and will adapt to the converting setting.”
Dr. Dave Shoup, Orrville, Ohio, won the Ohio Red meat Trade Excellence Award. Given yearly, this award acknowledges a red meat farmer, or farm circle of relatives, for his or her willingness to move above-and-beyond to donate time, cash, and abilities on behalf of the business on the state and nationwide degree.
Upon receiving the award, Shoup mentioned, “I’m very commemorated to obtain this award. There are such a large amount of individuals who have formed my lifestyles and I need to thank them since you by no means know who would possibly have an effect on your lifestyles perpetually.”
Shoup grew up on a multi-generational farm, elevating pigs, corn, soybeans, and wheat. His hobby for the red meat business led him to a occupation as a veterinarian. His most sensible considerations have at all times been the well being and well-being of the pigs at the circle of relatives farm, and he has spent many a long time on bettering pig care and general swine well being.
Shoup has served at the Ohio Red meat Council’s Board of Administrators, together with as president and on many nationwide taskforces and committees for the business. His voice on lobbying journeys to Washington, D.C., has been useful in selling business pursuits to lawmakers. His enthusiasm for connecting with customers led him, his spouse Alona, and circle of relatives to host meals blogger excursions on the farm the place they provide members a first-hand have a look at actual pig farming.
The Ohio Red meat Trade Carrier Award is going to a person who exemplifies remarkable carrier, exceeding volunteer expectancies, and prepared to toughen the red meat business in a lot of tactics. This 12 months, the Ohio Red meat Council identified Tom Blankenship, Morrow County, Ohio, with those 2023 honors.
Blankenship is a lifelong member of the Morrow County Red meat Manufacturers group and a lifelong supporter of Ohio’s red meat business together with his spouse Pam through his aspect. His willpower to supporting the red meat business thru his knowledge and repair in point of fact exemplifies expectancies from the organizations and people he works with. Blankenship’s willpower to serving the red meat business incessantly method you’ll in finding him concerned with the formative years of the business as a mentor, together with his most up-to-date involvement with the luck of the Cardington FFA Pig Challenge and the 2023 Ohio State Truthful Land & Residing Birthing Middle.
As a mentor, Blankenship makes use of his over 40 years of enjoy elevating pigs and being concerned within the business to offer a wealth of steering, abilities, and sources to the following technology of red meat manufacturers. When he isn’t within the barn aiding formative years in finding out right kind animal care and husbandry, he can also be discovered in the back of a grill or smoker prepping and cooking red meat for hundreds of Morrow County and state honest attendees, and on the numerous different occasions Blankenship participates in every 12 months. For him, it isn’t almost about spending the time in the back of the grill. He’s a champion of training and teaching on right kind red meat cooking strategies together with the 145-degree messaging.
The Red meat Promoter of the Yr Award is given to a person or corporate that excels in selling the red meat business. This 12 months, the Ohio Red meat Council commemorated Madison Adams, Crawford County, because the Red meat Promoter of the Yr.
Adams’ love for agriculture and animal care landed her a occupation within the red meat business, the place she has been hired for seven years. Her time within the barn temporarily led her to be offered to Ohio Red meat Council’s Digital Box Travel Program the place Madison started aiding within the internet hosting of Digital Box Journeys. Over the years, Madison’s help with the OPC program led to her turning into one of the most primary hosts for the Digital Box Journeys, which took benefit of her wisdom of red meat manufacturing and her innate talent to effectively train audience time and again.
Adams excels in selling the business and not shies clear of an opportunity to inform her sure pig farming tale with Digital Box Travel audience. Along with her can-do perspective, she has begun the use of her wisdom and enjoy to coach new box travel hosts. If it is sharing animal care processes, educating about environmental stewardship, or just answering audience’ questions, Adams has taken the chance to make use of her voice to advertise an business she loves.
The Ohio Red meat Council Swine Supervisor of the Yr is Pat Dirksen, who lives in Rossburg, Ohio, together with his spouse and 4 youngsters. This award acknowledges a pacesetter of a swine operation who is extremely a professional of the red meat business and has demonstrated the power to make key choices on behalf in their operation.
Dirksen grew up on a circle of relatives farm the place his hobby for agriculture in point of fact started to take form. During the years, he has held quite a few occupation roles within the ag business, together with hauling pigs, operating for Break of day Co-op, and ultimately turning into the swine supervisor for Thompson Farms for seven years. Throughout his time with Thompson’s, he assisted with the super enlargement of the farm, and logged numerous hours aiding contract growers with new barn designs, building protocols, feed trials, and each different facet in their operations.
Dirksen’s occupation has taken him thru almost about each nook of the red meat business, and his enjoy and data are a great deal coveted. His care and compassion for the folk, pigs, and planet does now not pass disregarded. His hobby for his process and the betterment of the red meat business has helped to form the following technology of leaders. Dirksen his spouse, and 4 youngsters live in Rossburg, Ohio.
The paintings of the Ohio Red meat Council is made imaginable through supporters who dedicate time to reinforce the group’s efforts on behalf of all manufacturers. To recognize their efforts and categorical gratitude, OPC established the Buddy of Ohio Red meat Trade Award. This award acknowledges a person, group, or corporate making a considerable have an effect on at the group thru financial toughen, voluntary actions, or common toughen to the red meat business. This 12 months, the Ohio Red meat Council commemorated Ag Credit score with the award.
AgCredit has been an established supporter of the Ohio Red meat Council. Via their toughen and contributions, AgCredit has equipped numerous hours and sources for the betterment of the Ohio red meat business and Ohio Red meat Council’s methods, such because the OH-PIGS Program. The group’s toughen is likely one of the maximum distinguished and has in point of fact formed the paintings of the Ohio Red meat Council over time.
Nick Seger, OPC president, items Tom Blankenship with the Ohio Red meat Trade Carrier Award.