Robbi H. Pritchard was raised in Annawan, IL. where he went to church and school and spent his formative years working on the family farm raising corn and soybeans, along with a significant feedlot and hog operation.  He didn’t much care for the hogs, but absolutely loved the feedlot.  He learned a lot from his grandfather, Albert, who was very successful and progressive with managing his family feedlot. In 1970 they were feeding diets that were a blend of high moisture corn and dry rolled corn with either alfalfa or corn silage along with a liquid supplement that contained urea and DES.  They fed twice a day and read bunks long before reading bunks was a normal practice and managed those bunks with the goal in mind of no feed left in the morning and no cattle looking for feed.  Now days that is called slick bunk management.  They had a big 2’x3’ illuminated clock in the feedmill and it absolutely ruled the day.  They understood the meaning of consistency, every day.  With the cattle they fed in this manner, they usually topped the market at the Chicago Stockyards.  It was not your typical Illinois cattle feeding operation.  Robbi spent most of his initial 15 years of research trying to figure out whether there was really any merit to what Albert had taught him and coming up with data to support what he was taught as a kid.

Robbi left high school with the intention of only going back to the farm.  But by August he enrolled at Black Hawk East in an associates program hoping to learn how his grandfather knew how to change diets and get the cattle finished and ready on time.  Black Hawk East didn’t teach him what he wanted to know so he enrolled at Southern Illinois University.  As luck would have it Jim Males was a new professor at Southern Illinois University.  Dr. Males was very instrumental in Robbi’s development and ultimate professional career.  Robbi was on the livestock judging team and was hired to feed bulls in the brand-new bull test station which contained 72 Calan Gates.  Robbi says you learn a tremendous amount about cattle intake behavior with Calan Gates. Dr. Males allowed Robbi to conduct some experiments on his own and worked with Elanco on some Rumensin projects while an undergrad.  Robbi nearly finished his BS in three semesters but had a little trouble with making required labs while on the judging team.  He was 4 credits short, so he was talked into an assistantship to attain those four credits.

The next thing he knew he had a Master’s Degree and Dr. Males and his new bride, Terry, decided he should follow Dr. Males to Washington State University to pursue a doctorate program.  Robbi was into cow nutrition at this point and Dr. Males would be a great person to study under.  However, when he arrived at WSU, Dr. Preston who was head of the department didn’t think Robbi had an assistantship since he had never taken a college entrance exam at any level.  Therefore, to prove he belonged in a doctorate program he had to enroll in some very tough weed-out classes on his own that had little to do with Ruminant Nutrition.  He proved himself and was finally awarded an assistantship.   As Robbi states “my marriage survives, Dr. Males gets tenure, and I actually earn a Doctorate in 1982”.  It was a long, strange trip and ultimately worth the sacrifice.  But he says it was definitely lean times and there was no money for things like razors or haircuts.  But it was the 70’s and he fit right in anyway.  He just didn’t outgrow it!!

At some point he impressed Dr. Preston who shows up one night and explains that Robbi doesn’t need to take the cow/calf position he was thinking about and needs to come to Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX to set up and run his ruminant nutrition lab where Dr. Preston had taken the original Thornton Chair position.  He must have really impressed Dr. Preston because he didn’t even ask him to get a haircut!!

Robbi worked as a Post Doc with Dr. Preston at Texas Tech University and conducted research at Pantex while running the Texas Tech University ruminant nutrition lab.  While at Texas Tech University he overlapped with Kendall Karr, which must have been quite a pair to draw to and learned of and participated in Plains Nutrition Council at that time. Robbi accepted the position at South Dakota State University.  Interestingly, Robbi studied under Dr. Males at WSU.  Then while Robbi was at South Dakota State University, Dr. Males accepts the head of the department position, and they get to work together for another 10 years!  It seems it was a genuinely great partnership.

When his grandfather discovered Robbi was going into academia, he gave him two rules to live by if he was going to be an academic and give advice to producers: 1) the data better actually matter, and 2) the advice and data better really work.  He lives by those standards as his research has been well received by producers worldwide.  Dr. Pritchard is very well published and much of his research is cited today and quite often.

Robbi received a plethora of awards during his academic tenure.  However, most of them went into a box somewhere as his biggest reward was meeting expectations 1 & 2 from his grandfather.  Another was at WSU at the end of his 4^th graduate biochemistry class the profs that taught the class gave him a mint condition wall map of metabolic pathways. It was to honor the only cowboy that ever got that far in their biochemistry department!  The second one was the Illinois Community College Trustees Assoc recognition as a Distinguished Community College Alumnus. However, his biggest rewards and honors are things like being invited to speak at Plains Nutrition Council meetings in front of his peers, and things like the CNES anniversary symposium, the old Oklahoma State intake and implant symposiums, and producer meetings are the accomplishments that count. The fact that Iowa State chose to continue the old Feedlot Short Course that they started in the John Wagner days at South Dakota State University, and they allow him to participate, and he gets to do it with Dan Loy (fellow Black Hawk East alum) and Dan Thomson.  That counts. That Jim Elam and Ken Eng knew who he was and consulted him on his research and thoughts, that he got to work and be friends with Rod Preston, that Jim Males became a good friend and took on and salvaged a kid that no one would ever take on as a grad student today, those things count. That Bill Larson stepped up and made it possible/justifiable for him to stay on at South Dakota State University for so long. That award has no name, but he says, “it was about as big an honor as one could ever imagine”.  He was honored to be on the NCR committee with Bob Brandt, Steve Loerch, Steve Plegge, Pete Anderson, Todd Milton, Allen Trenkle, Jack Riley, Chris Reinhardt, and Rick Stock.

Robbi had a plethora of exceptional grad students he mentored.  And I believe every one of them would testify that they learned a tremendous amount under Dr. Pritchard.  At one time he signed undergrad payroll time sheets for Brad Johnson, Mike Brown and Tosha Opheim, as well as the lab tech time sheet for Dan Thomson and the post-doc workload sheets for Simone Holt and Anna Taylor (Smith).  Other grad students that are busy in the cattle nutrition business that he says he didn’t irreparably damage include Kelly Bruns, Zach Smith, Sandi Parr, Allen Stateler, Wanda Kreikemeier, Sheri Bierman, Wes Gentry, Ethan Blom, Howard Blalock, and Mark Robbins. There are more outstanding people on the grad student list and post-doc lists, but they aren’t as involved in the world of PNC and cattle nutrition.  He is proud to have been on the Feedlot Extension Specialist search committee that hired John Wagner, Brad Johnson, Simon Holt, Erik Loe, and Ben Holland.  What he thought was even more outstanding was the fact that he got to work with them and learn from them all.

Robbi now spends his time with his wife Terry on their cow/calf operation under the name of Annawan Cattle, LLC.  He also stays busy with some consulting gigs and speaking engagements as he is still sought after for his knowledge.  Probably has to do with satisfying his grandfather’s two requirements if he was going into academia.  Robbi and Terry have a wonderful daughter, Calli, who along with her husband, Tate Williams, have a robust cow/calf and bull sale operation of their own.  Calli and Tate have two sons, Jack (4) and Tommy (1.5), that Robbi and Terry dote over as proud grandparents.  Perhaps Robbi will teach them some of the things his grandfather taught him.  That is the way of our business, and we shouldn’t trade it for any other way to teach our younger generation.  Robbi says, “I think of myself as a Forrest Gump”.  That simple guy who ended up in some of the most remarkable places and interacted with some of the most remarkable people. Dr. Robbi H. Pritchard you are truly a remarkable individual and very deserving of being inducted into the class of 2023 as a Legend in Feedyard Nutrition.

David A. Yates was born and reared on a livestock farm in Claremore, OK.  David received his BS in Animal Science from Oklahoma State University, an MS in Animal Science from New Mexico State University, and his PhD in Animal Nutrition from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

After 3 years at the University of Wyoming as an Extension Animal Nutritionist, David went to work for Elanco Animal Health as a Commercial Development Specialist where he was involved in the development of the beta agonist Ractopamine and in expanding the use of Rumensin.  In 1989 David became Director of Technical Services for Syntex Animal Health where he helped develop combination implants, anthelmintics, and ionophores.  This work continued with Roche Animal Health and Alpharma Animal Health.  In 2004, he went to work for Merck as Manager of Performance Technologies Development where he helped lead the commercialization of Zilpaterol.  This project involved in developing, funding, and overseeing research at 7 major universities with the involvement of all 4 major beef processors resulting in 31 referred journal papers in which he was a coauthor.

David retired in 2015. Today he has a consulting business primarily involved within the pharmaceutical industry and in the use of medicated feed additives and growth promotants.

Those who nominated David all stressed his ability to work in building outstanding research and development teams, as well as his ability to maintain a pleasant demeanor even when working with somewhat hostile participants.  He always listened to opponents and treated them with respect. David was always guided by the principal “Leave agriculture better than you found it.”

Dr. Yates also devoted much of his own time serving with professional societies, serving through the officer sequence of PNC and on the Foundation Board of the American Society of Animal Science.  David has always been willing to work and talk with the many graduate students whose research he helped to fund over his 35 years in the industry.  He has had a tremendous impact on the careers and lives of dozens of those students.

Because of his contributions to the livestock industry, in 2006 David was awarded the Graduate of Distinction Award by the Department of Animal and Food Science at Oklahoma State University.

David and his wife Paula are the proud parents of their son Derek and of 2 granddaughters.  They live in Claremore where David enjoys his hobbies of supporting local organization, physical fitness, studying U.S. history, and college sports.

Because of his profound and lasting impact on the feedlot industry as it relates to innovation, leadership, advancement, service, and education in the area of feedlot nutrition, it is our honor to present David the 2023 PNC – Legends of Feedlot Nutrition award.

Dr. Nathan Reese was born and raised on a livestock and wheat farm near Mooreland, Oklahoma, one of 14 children.  He attended Oklahoma State University, graduating with a B.S. degree in Animal Husbandry in 1960, after which he entered the University of Wisconsin graduate school. In 1964 he received his Ph.D., with a joint major in Animal Science and Biochemistry with emphasis in nutrition.  Nathan married Patricia Nunley in 1958.  Pat was a true partner during Nathan’s career and their 60 years of marriage, until her passing in 2019.

Dr. Reese was a nutritionist with Anderson-Clayton (ACCO Feeds) in Abilene, TX from 1964 to 1973, and lived 2 years in Guadalajara after ACCO became the largest feed company in Mexico.  He then worked several years (1977-1983) for Ralston Purina as a consulting feedlot nutritionist, serving numerous commercial feedlots primarily in Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma and Nebraska.  Nathan co-founded Feedlot Nutrition, Inc., later to become part of Midwest PMS, where he continued to serve (1983-1989) as consulting nutritionist for prominent feedlots in the region.

In 1989, Nathan became Chief Executive Officer of Irsik & Doll Feeders, a privately owned company that operated 6 grain elevators and 3 commercial cattle feedlots with a capacity of 76,000 head. Through Nathan’s wisdom and determination, during his 10-year tenure as CEO, the company acquired 3 additional feedlots, doubled its capacity and served a vital role in the cattle feeding industry in western Kansas.  Nathan retired in 1999, first returning to his childhood home in Oklahoma and then relocating to Bryan, TX, where he resides with his son Randall and family.

Dr. Reese was influential in the formation and early growth of PNC, being involved in its organizational meetings and subsequent events.  He was also active in cattle producer organizations, including the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association, Kansas Livestock Association, Texas Cattle Feeders Association and National Cattlemen‘s Beef Association.

An invited presentation by Nathan at an ASAS meeting in the early 90’s stimulated the NRC to revise published tables of feedstuff composition.  At the time, data were primarily from the 1952 edition of Morrison’s Feeds and Feeding.  Dr. Reese was recognized in 2011 as a Graduate of Distinction by the Department of Animal and Food Sciences at Oklahoma State University, portrayed at the ceremony by this tribute: “Nathan is widely regarded as a consummate professional.  Respected for his integrity, candor and loyalty, he is trusted by all and uncompromising in placing the interests of others before his own.  His quiet, unassuming manner belies an intense work ethic and unique leadership skills, evident in his substantial achievements.  Among his legacies, he remains a role model for others to emulate, both in their careers and personal lives.”

Instilling the importance of these attributes has been a hallmark of Nathan’s work as he supported colleagues and mentored young consultants.  Lauded as a skilled educator and an exemplary leader during his distinguished career in the feedlot industry, Dr. Nathan Reese well deserves to be honored among the Legends of Feedlot Nutrition.

Growing up on a family livestock operation near Follett, TX, Bob Albin developed an early love for animal production. He enrolled at Texas Technological College in the fall of 1957, earning a BS in Agricultural Sciences (1961). He remained in Lubbock, completing his MS in Animal Science (1962). He entered the doctoral program at the University of Nebraska, receiving his PhD in Nutrition (1965).

Dr. Albin returned to the Animal Science Department in Lubbock, leading to a distinguished 42-year career at Texas Tech University as teacher, researcher, administrator and internationally recognized feedlot management specialist. He was named Outstanding Teacher in the Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources in 1973 and fall semester 1974 and received several Teacher of the Month Awards. He was named Outstanding Educator in America in 1972 and received an Outstanding Young Men of America Awards in 1973. He was the recipient of an AMOCO Distinguished Teaching Award in 1974.

Dr. Albin’s illustrious administrative career included serving as Department Chair (1977-1979) and culminated as Associate Dean and Director, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (1997-2002). For his contributions, he was honored as Fellow (Administrative Category) in 2012 by the American Society of Animal Science. Retiring from the Dean’s office in 2002, he returned to the Department of Animal and Food Sciences to teach and assist farm operations.

He co-authored the book published in 1990, “Cattle Feeding: A Guide to Management”, a key cross-reference used worldwide. Dr. Albin travelled the globe providing expertise in a variety of programs, including evaluating the U.S. Peace Corps’ beef cattle program in Peru; serving as a feedlot management consultant to private industry in Monterrey, Mexico; conducting a feasibility study on ranching/mixed agriculture programs in Niger, Africa; and evaluating small-ruminant collaborative research support programs in Peru and Kenya.

Even though he spent the majority of his career as an administrator, Dr. Albin had a passion for teaching. His legacy is reflected in the Bob Albin Graduate Student Research Award, bestowed annually in his honor for exemplary research presentation. Further, he and wife Donna established the Robert C. and Donna J. Albin Scholarship Endowment to provide scholarships for majors in the Department. His relationship with former students continues to this day.

Dr. Albin played a pivotal role in the formation and early leadership of the Plains Nutrition Council. He is a Certified Animal Scientist in the American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists, and a Charter Diplomat with the American College of Animal Nutrition.

Dr. Albin retired from the Department in 2008. Reflecting on 40+ years of experience, his advice for a solid career is to work hard, tell the truth, and stand by your word. In 2009 he was honored by CASNR with the Distinguished Alumni Award.
Bob and Donna, his wife of 61 years, reside in Lubbock, enjoying retirement at Raider Ranch and spending time with their children, Sydney Dean and husband Sonny of Crawford, TX, Craig Albin and wife Jeannette of Clovis, NM. They treasure special times with their grandchildren.

Dr. Michael (Mike) Hubbert has been involved in ruminant nutrition his entire life having been born on the Squaw Butte Experiment Station in Eastern Oregon where his father, Farris Hubbert, Jr., was for many years a Livestock Research Scientist. Farris Hubbert later served on the Animal Sciences faculty at the University of Arizona. Mike followed in his father’s footsteps and during his 35-year (and counting) career has made numerous innovative contributions, which have found application in the commercial cattle feeding industry.

Mike earned his BS in Agriculture from the University of Arizona, then spent time on the professional rodeo circuit before starting graduate school at New Mexico State University, where he was Dr. Michael Galyean’s first graduate student. Upon completion of his master’s degree Mike went to the University of Wyoming to manage a federally funded project evaluating grazing interactions between cattle and feral horses. He then continued his graduate studies at the University of Alaska where he earned his PhD in ruminant biology studying energetics and nutritional physiology of moose and other wild ungulates. Dr. Hubbert returned to New Mexico State for a post-doctorate with Dr. Glen Lofgreen, where he was instrumental in the conceptual development and initial conduct of research to evaluate the efficacy and implementation of ionophore rotation programs.

Throughout his career as a feedlot consultant and technical services nutritionist, Dr. Hubbert has touched nearly every facet of the cattle feeding industry. As founder of Hubbert Biological Systems Mike consulted for a diverse cliental ranging both in feedlot size and geographic location. He used his observations and knowledge of feeding behavior in wild ruminants in refining innovations in feeding management of cattle, helping to facilitate development of “clean bunk” and “two-ration” systems for feeding cattle.

Later in his career Dr. Hubbert was Professor, and Superintendent of the New Mexico State University Clayton Livestock Research Center, where he brought his extensive knowledge and experience of cattle nutrition, feedlot management and operations to provide a unique educational and training experience to many graduate students.

Reflecting his commitment to both students and the industry, Dr. Hubbert was a driver in establishing the Feedlot Nutritionist Boot Camp, an event for select graduate students, that has been held every other year since 2012. Dr. Hubbert has over 60 published professional papers, abstracts, and conference proceedings, has co-written several invited papers, been an invited speaker at national and international conferences, and is the co-inventor and holder of 12 US Patents related to cattle feeding. He is Board Certified in Animal Nutrition (ACAS/ARPAS) and received the WSASAS Distinguished Service Award in 2015. Dr. Hubbert’s accomplishments throughout his career reflect his commitment to advancing knowledge through sound research and applying that knowledge for the benefit of cattle and the people who care for them.

Dr. Hubbert currently resides in Ft, Collins, CO with his wife, Zeno, and their daughter, HannahRose and is a nutritionist with Cargill Animal Nutrition. A person of many outside interests and talents, Mike has at various times become interested in and become proficient at golf, fly fishing, 3-gun competition and cycling.

Dr. David Paul Hutcheson grew up on a dairy farm in Hill County TX. He received a B.S. degree in Animal Science from Texas A&M University in 1963 and his MS in Animal Husbandry (1967) and PhD in Nutrition (1970) from the University of Missouri under the leadership of Dr. Rodney Preston. His graduate research included early studies with growth promoting implants (diethylstilbesterol) and body composition of beef cattle.

Hutch began his career as an Assistant/Associate Professor of Biostatistics and Nutrition at the Sinclair Comparative Medicine Research Farm at the Univ. of Mo. from 1969 to 1977 where he worked with a variety of mammalian species and even collaborated on studies of the nutrient requirements of astronauts with NASA. Much of his work at Sinclair revolved around developing animal models for human disease. He helped develop an alcoholism model to better study rehab of alcohol withdrawal during delirium tremors (DT) and helped develop a model using heavy metal markers to determine the digestibility of nutrients by astronauts during the Apollo Space Program.

In 1977, Hutch moved to Amarillo, TX to take an appointment as an Associate Professor for the Texas A&M Agricultural Experiment Station as a Research Beef Cattle Nutritionist. In 1980 he was promoted to Full Professor. At Amarillo, Hutch’s team research focused on the nutrient requirements of beef calves stressed through the marketing system and on strategies to decrease the incidence and severity of bovine respiratory disease. This research played a major role in establishing the effects of stress on nutrient requirements and the adding of a new chapter (which Hutch wrote as a member of the committee) on stress in the 1996 NRC Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cattle. The research was recognized as one of the top-10 contributions to beef cattle production in the 1980’s by Feedstuffs Magazine. Today much of the cattle feeding industry relies on the research results produced by that team.

While at Univ. of Missouri and Texas A&M AgriLife, Hutch was instrumental in the training of numerous graduate students that themselves have become leaders in the industry.

In 1992, Dr. Hutcheson founded Animal-Agricultural Consulting International He has consulted on ruminant nutritional management of beef and dairy cattle, sheep, and goats in the US and 17 foreign countries. His specialty has been developing sustainable and competitive integrated production systems for dairy-beef value chains. Hutch has shared his expertise in both academia and as a nutritional consultant for over 50 years (although he still claims he is only 39 years old). Hutch currently serves on the Research Committees of both the Texas Cattle Feeders Association and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. In honor of his contributions, many of Hutch’s friends and colleagues established the Hutcheson Endowed Scholarship in the Dept of Animal Science at Texas A&M University, providing scholarships to deserving students.

Hutch currently lives in Van, Texas where he enjoys fishing and continues consulting in the USA with limited international projects. He is the proud father of two grown children, John and Sherry, and 3 grandchildren.

Lowell Schake was born on his family farm near Marthasville, MO, attended one-room Cedar Grove School (he and one other in the first two grades) followed by Marthasville Grade School. After graduating from nearby Washington High School, he enrolled at the University of Missouri-Columbia, where he earned a BS Degree in Agriculture (1960) and an MS Degree in Animal Husbandry (1962). He then attended Texas A&M University-College Station, earning a PhD in Animal Nutrition (1967). In 1959 Lowell married Wendy Walkinshaw, a Michigan native and member of TAMU’s first class of women.

Dr. Schake had a long and prolific career in extension, research, teaching and administration. While serving the cattle feeding industry as TAMU Area Livestock Specialist in Lubbock (1967-69), he also held Graduate Faculty and Experiment Station Research appointments, the first position of its kind in the U.S. In this role he taught graduate Beef Cattle Production courses and published research conducted at two commercial feedlots to evaluate grain-sorghum processing methods.

After returning to TAMU campus in College Station, Dr. Schake advanced from Assistant to Full Professor in Animal Science (1969-84). He established the Master of Agriculture Degree program (professional MBA concept) emphasizing internships in feedlots, on ranches or other allied industries. Instead of a thesis, Degree candidates were required to author problem-solving professional papers addressing current industry issues. The MAg degree soon became a model for similar endeavors at other universities. Dr. Schake chaired over 80 MAg, MS and PhD students from across the U.S. and abroad.

He also developed today’s Domestic Animal Behavior curriculum for undergraduate and graduate students while continuing his primary research focus on feed-energy utilization as affected by harvesting, processing and storage techniques.

Later, while Chair of the Animal Science Department at the University of Connecticut (1984-1992), Dr. Schake established the New England Biotechnology Conference with allied industry co-sponsors and served as President of the NE Section of ASAS Department Heads and Chairs. He concluded his administrative leadership serving as Chairman of the Animal Science Department at Texas Tech University (1992-1995). In addition to his exemplary career in roles at several universities, Dr. Schake consulted with the U.S. government and with commercial entities in the U.S. and internationally.

Schake is among those credited as instrumental in the formation and early growth of the Plains Nutrition Council, acknowledged as a leader of the endeavor. He documented that evolution in the proceedings of the 2004 PNC Spring Conference. He authored or co-authored more than 350 publications in an academic career spanning 30+ years. His innovative leadership contributions were further recognized as the recipient of the Texas A&M Innovative Teaching Award (1978),

In 1995 Lowell and Wendy retired to the Texas coast, residing first on North Padre, now at Port Aransas on Mustang Island. There they enjoy the amenities of beach living, chronicling the history of their Schake and Walkinshaw ancestors, and most importantly being with the families of daughter Dr. Sheryl Schake-Meskin and son Dr. Scott Schake, a Plains Nutrition Council member.

Dr. Zinn a native of El Centro, California, received his B.S. (1974) and M.S. (1975) degrees in Animal Science from Brigham Young University. His Ph.D. in Nutrition from University of Kentucky (1978) with postdoctoral studies at Oklahoma State University. In 1981, Dr. Zinn joined the Animal Science Department U.C. Davis. Dr. Zinn is stationed at the university’s Desert Research and Extension Center, in the Imperial Valley of California.

Dr. Zinn’s research in beef cattle energetics yielded more accurate equations predicting mature weight and growth performance of feedlot cattle. His widely cited approach for determining the net energy value of feeds based on growth performance has yielded valuable, practical information on a wide variety of feedstuffs.

His research has established metabolizable amino acid requirements during the early growing phase (first 56 to 112 d on feed) of feedlot cattle. This work resulted in a stand-alone empirical assessment of requirements.

His work with grain processing and starch utilization is recognized world-wide, leading to important changes in feeding standards. His research has led to a greater understanding of feeding value of dietary fat. The greater fat NE values have also resulted in the establishment of constraints on the upper levels of supplementation. Dr Zinn’s research also focuses on optimizing growth performance of calf-fed Holsteins. In addition to requirements for macro minerals, his studies characterize the growth curve, energetics, and carcass characteristics as affected by growth implants, forage NDF, and environmental stressors during periods of high ambient temperatures.

World-wide, Dr Zinn has compiled and analyzed large datasets at the commercial feedlot level to help optimize growth performance, health and profitability, to better understand the intricacies of how certain technologies may respond in various feedlot nutritional programs and to access research outcomes.

Dr. Zinn recognized early in his career, diverse demographic of feedlot personnel. To maximize his ability to effectively communicate with all, Dr. Zinn became proficient in the Spanish language. He is a visiting professor in Mexico and his class presentations are presented in Spanish.
Dr Zinn has been active throughout his career in PNC. He or his graduate student(s) have presented research findings and given University Updates at our meetings. A few of his honors and awards include;
• Merito Academico 1996, Research. Given by Universidad Autonoma de Baja California
• Catedratico Patrimonial. 1999 (National Endowment Scholar. Given by CONACYT, Mexico City, Mexico
• AFIA Ruminant Nutrition Research Award. 2000. Given by ASAS, July, 2000. Baltimore, MD

He has been a reviewer, and editor in chief of science-based journals. He has been on the committees of 30 plus graduate students to date. Dr. Zinn is respected as a friend and mentor to many consulting Nutritionists.

Dr. Zinn is devoted to his faith and serves his church and its mission with the same drive, integrity and service that have helped his great success in agriculture.

Guiding philosophy: When we think we know, learning stops dead in its tracks.

Bill grew up near Wauneta in southwestern Nebraska, on a farm that has remained in the family for over a century. He graduated from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, with a B. S. Degree in Animal Science and Agricultural Economics in 1972, and an M. S. Degree in Ruminant Nutrition in 1974. After honing his skills in three industry positions, Bill embarked on a career as an independent consultant, founding Cattlemen’s Nutrition Services in 1981 and Dicke Consulting LLC in 2015. He has provided nutrition and management services to cattle feeders for 40 years and remains active in that role.

His impact in Nebraska, the surrounding Plains and the Pacific Northwest has been immeasurable. The firm grew to be among the largest feedlot consulting practices, influencing more than one million cattle on feed. Many of Bill’s clients are family owned and operated lots that have been feeding cattle since the 1950’s. He was an early advocate of feeding corn milling byproducts, resulting in win-win outcomes for the ethanol and feedlot industries. Guided by science and seasoned by experience, Bill became an expert to whom feedlots and consultants often turn for counsel they trust.

He cultivated a special relationship with faculty and students at his alma matter, lecturing graduate students and inspiring them to pursue careers in the beef industry including consulting. His team directed numerous large-pen studies in client feedlots, involving UNL graduate students and providing them onsite experience. These collaborative efforts generated over a dozen beef reports and 5 peer-reviewed journal articles.

Bill contributed to the success of the UNL Feedlot Management Internship Program, connecting faculty with cattle feeders willing to provide students with meaningful experiences. He was responsible for organizing the Timmerman Fund, given in the family’s honor to support the Internship Program. And he was instrumental in garnering funds for UNL from the Kenneth and Caroline Eng Foundation, for confined-cow research.

Well regarded by clients and colleagues for his genuine, humble and friendly manner, Bill is also forthright and open-minded. Always the optimist, he seeks the higher road when viewpoints differ. Bill Dicke is defined by his “gentleman values” said a fellow consultant. His integrity and civility are hallmark qualities, setting by example a standard for the next generation of consultants.

Noteworthy is his longevity with clients, some connections spanning decades. One long-term client praised Bill’s coaching and teaching skills, his capacity for building relationships, and the time he dedicates to people on operational details. Another client summed his experience saying Bill knows his stuff and tells it like it is. Both called him friend. Both mentioned (wife) Laurie’s positive influence, one concluding “Bill is a more complete nutritionist with Laurie in the office.”

Apart from work, Bill’s priorities include family time with Laurie, daughters Nan and Sarah, and six grandchildren. Another passion is TeamMates, an organization facilitating adult mentoring of youth. Also important are respites on the family farm, fishing, hunting, golfing and Husker football, not necessarily in that order.

Dr. Andy Cole grew up on a grain and livestock farm near Pampa, TX. He received a B.S. degree in Animal Science from West Texas State University in 1971, a M.S. in Animal Science, and Ph.D. in Animal Nutrition from Oklahoma State University in 1973 and 1975, respectively. Andy was a recipient of a National Science Foundation Fellowship in 1973 and was named the Oklahoma Feed Manufacturer’s Outstanding Graduate Student in Animal Nutrition in 1974.

Andy began his career with the USDA-ARS Conservation and Production Laboratory in Bushland, TX in 1976. He provided leadership in two major research areas during his career. First, he developed a renowned program in stressed feeder calf research. His applied nutrition and management studies with beef calves subjected to the stressors of weaning and transportation were pioneering in this area. The knowledge gained from his efforts is applied extensively today in management of feeder calves in the U.S. and Canada. In addition, this research played a major role in establishing the nutrient requirements associated with stress in the 1996 and 2016 NRC Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cattle publications. His research was recognized by Feedstuffs magazine as one of the top-10 contributions to beef cattle production in the 1980s.

Programmatic changes within the USDA-ARS resulted in a transformation of Andy’s research efforts in 1996. He embraced this challenge and led a team of scientists studying nutrient excretion and gaseous emissions from beef cattle feedlots. His research focused on the development of management and nutritional practices to decrease the adverse effects of cattle feeding operations on the environment without unfavorably affecting production efficiency. Much of Andy’s research is being implemented in the nation’s feedlots today. For the final three years of his career, Andy served as Laboratory Director of the Bushland facility, while continuing to conduct research.

Andy has authored 136 journal articles and hundreds of book chapters, proceedings, and popular press publications. He has made over 200 presentations to scientists and producers around the world, and he has been principal or co-investigator on grants totaling over $10,000,000. As an adjunct faculty member at four universities, he has been involved in training 39 M.S. and Ph.D. students. He has served in all officer positions of the Plains Nutrition Council and as Secretary and President of ARPAS. He also has served on the editorial boards for both the Journal of Animal Science and the Professional Animal Scientist and as Section Editor for the Journal of Animal Science.

Andy received the ASAS Animal Management Award in 2005, was named a Fellow of ASAS in 2009, received the AFIA-ASAS Ruminant Nutrition Research Award in 2012, and was recognized with the Western Section Distinguished Service Award in 2019. He was named an Advanced Degree Graduate of Distinction by the Animal Science Department at Oklahoma State University in 2008. Andy continues to live in Amarillo and stays active in research and golf.

Dr. Mark Branine is a native Coloradan, born into a family that homesteaded there 100 years ago and that taught him the value of hard work and education and treating people right. Mark earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Animal Science from Colorado State University, and the University of Wyoming, respectively, and his doctorate in Ruminant Nutrition from New Mexico State University.

Mark’s early interest was in forage-based ruminant animal production, which was the focus of his master’s and Ph.D. research. While still completing his Ph.D. dissertation Mark was hired as a Research Specialist at the NMSU Clayton Livestock Research Center where he worked closely with Dr. Glen Lofgreen, with whom he collaborated on over 50 projects related to nutritional and health management of feedlot and wheat pasture beef cattle, with a particular emphasis on newly received, stressed feeder calves.

The bulk of Mark’s now nearly forty-year career has been with allied industries working in clinical development, applied research and technical services in support of beef cattle nutrition, health, and management products. He worked for many of the major animal health companies, and currently is a Research Nutritionist with Zinpro Corporation. At each stop Mark has been a valuable and respected member of the technical services team. His forte has been working, often behind the scenes, in the research and technical information arenas, contributing to every aspect of the process including experimental design, protocol development, study site identification and selection, trial conduct and monitoring, data collection, quality assurance, summarization and statistical analysis, and preparation of final reports and technical bulletins.

Mark also spent six years as Associate Director of Research and Operations Manager for Cactus Research supervising the 12,000 head large-pen research section at Cactus Feedyard, as well as conducting industry-sponsored and in-house research projects. Mark’s time with Cactus Research was special to him not only because of the involvement with large scale projects on contemporary feedlot products and management practices but also because it immersed him in the feedlot culture and enabled him to interact with feedlot personnel and work directly with cattle every day.

An excerpt from his nomination form illustrates Mark’s impact on people beyond just his research contributions to the beef cattle industry. “If there is such a thing as an unsung hero among those who are worthy of recognition as a Legend of Feedlot Nutrition, it is Dr. Mark Branine. During his entire career as a beef cattle nutritionist, he has demonstrated his passion for cattle and the people who are responsible for their nutrition and well-being. Mark treats everyone with respect, kindness and recognition for their contributions whether it is the person responsible for the daily feeding and care of the livestock, the nutritionist, the veterinarian, the manager or the owner.”

Mark and his wife Laura reside in south-central Colorado with their three daughters and a host of dogs, cats, goats, and horses. Whenever he can, Mark enjoys getting away to the mountains to hike, ski, or fly fish.

Bob was raised on a cattle ranch and wheat farm in northwestern Colorado, where he graduated from Meeker High School and soon thereafter married Nareen Philp.  He graduated from Colorado State University with B.S. (1968) and M.S (1970) Degrees in Animal Nutrition.  Dr. John Matsushima, his undergraduate advisor and graduate professor, was honored in the 2016 inaugural class of LOFN.  Bob continued his graduate studies at the University of Nebraska under the guidance of Dr. Don Clanton, earning a Ph.D. (1972) in Animal Nutrition.

After concluding his graduate studies, Dr. Lake served as Research Associate at the University of Nebraska North Platt Research Station, conducting an early dose-titration field study on monensin.  In 1973 Bob joined Hitch Enterprises, Guymon, Oklahoma, as Staff Nutritionist, a role in which he made immeasurable contributions over the next 42 years.  In a myriad of responsibilities while tending to 3 feedlots, 2 farms and a ranch, all the while serving 3 generations of the Hitch family, he developed remarkable expertise in numerous realms – 

• Identifying and adopting technologies to enhance performance

• Formulating feedlot rations and supplements 

• Leading feed departments on bunk management and feed delivery

• Advising feed mills on grain processing and quality control

• Managing all aspects of high-moisture corn (300 million bushels) and corn silage

• Limit feeding of high-energy rations for growing cattle

• Purchasing ingredients for rations and supplements

• Manufacturing pelleted supplements

Defined by his hands-on style and meticulous approach, Dr. Lake is a recognized authority on high-moisture corn, grain processing, bunk management and limit feeding, having authored scientific articles and lectured at U. S. and international symposia on these topics.  One nutritionist respectfully describes Bob as the “godfather” of feeding high-moisture corn, given his unparalleled knowledge of managing this feedstuff from farm to feed bunk.

Because his counsel is highly regarded on an array of subjects, and thus sought after by colleagues, he is appropriately described as a “consultant to consultants.”  He has had a profound impact as a catalyst and facilitator for many collaborative university research trials.  Bob is also greatly respected by technical and marketing teams throughout the cattle feeding industry, with whom he generously shares his wisdom.  Soft spoken, witty and unpretentious, his answers are always direct, honest and deliberate.  Integrity and loyalty are the abiding hallmarks of his career.  Anyone well acquainted with Bob will attest he is the consummate professional and a true gentleman.

Following Bob’s retirement in 2015, he and Nareen moved from Guymon to Fruita, Colorado, where he remains active as ever, keeping in close contact with daughter Heather and son Kirk, piloting his Cessna 182, gardening, working on family ranches, remodeling a ranch house, elk hunting and fly fishing.

Michael Galyean is currently the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at Texas Tech University.  Mike received his B.S. in Agriculture from New Mexico State University and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Animal Nutrition from Oklahoma State University.  He worked on the NMSU main campus in Las Cruces and at the Clayton Livestock Research Center from 1977 to 1996 and two years at West Texas A&M University before moving to Texas Tech as the Thornton Distinguished Chair in the Department of Animal and Food Sciences in 1998. During his career he developed an internationally recognized research program that focused on digestive physiology of grazing cattle, nutrition and management effects on the health of feeder calves, prediction of feed intake by cattle, and nutrition and management of feedlot cattle.  Mike has authored or coauthored over 250 referred journal articles and hundreds of other technical publications.  In 2011 he became Dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources at Texas Tech and in 2016 was promoted to Provost.   He has served as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Animal Science (2002-05), President of ASAS (2007-08), and President of ARPAS (2013-14). Mike served on the committee that wrote the 1996 NRC Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cattle and chaired the subcommittee that wrote the 2016 Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cattle.  He received the ASAS-AFIA Ruminant Nutrition Research Award in 1999, the ASAS Animal Management Award in 2006, the ASAS Fellow Award in 2010, the ASAS Morrison Award in 2012, the AFIA New Frontiers in Animal Nutrition Award in 2013, Diplomate of  the American College of Animal Science in 2014, the Western Section of ASAS Distinguished Service Award in 2016, and was named an Advanced Degree Graduate of Distinction at OSU in 2002.  Mike and his wife Charlotte live in Lubbock and are proud parents of 3 sons and grandparents of 3 grandchildren.

Allen Trenkle earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of Nebraska in 1956 and his master’s and doctorate degrees (in 1958 and 1960) from Iowa State (ISU).  After a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California, Berkeley, he joined ISU faculty in 1962 where he taught advanced classes in ruminant physiology and metabolism, protein requirements of finishing cattle, and ruminant nutrition both on campus and through the ISU distance education program.  He served as an astute advisor for many graduate students and published more than 200 refereed papers and research reports. 

His pioneering research forms the basis for much of our knowledge about the mechanism of action of estrogenic implants.  He also conducted corn co-product research with wet corn gluten feed.  His scientific curiosity and publications helped him become internationally recognized as an expert in factors regulating growth of ruminants, improving the composition of beef, efficiency of production of ruminants, and utilization of by-products of ethanol production.  His literature compilations and extensive discussions with graduate students and faculty established and validated many of the basic relationships behind the development of the widely used equations from ISU that describe ruminal nitrogen metabolism.  He served as a coauthor of the NRC publication concerning Nitrogen Metabolism of Ruminants in 1985.   Allen also played a pivotal role in the NRC Feedlot Committee as a steady, thoughtful, classical scientist that helped to guide that committee and its members for nearly 30 years.

Allen served as the ruminant nutrition section coordinator for the animal science department and was a member of the advisory board of the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture starting in 1989, serving as the Center’s director in 2000.  Allen officially retired in 2007 but has continued to work with faculty and students at ISU.  

Allen has a unique ability to apply basic aspects of tissue growth and developmental biology to the practical aspects of growth and nutrition of feedlot cattle.  His recommendations regarding feedlot nutrition and cattle management helped support and grow the feedlot industry of the upper Midwest.  His quiet-spoken demeanor, his vast but diverse knowledge, and his quest for sustainable and environmentally friendly production and processing methods earned him the title of Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor of Agriculture at ISU in 1984, and he became a member of the ISU Animal Science Hall of Fame in 1994.  The deep respect of students, colleagues, livestock producers, lawmakers, and the beef industry worldwide truly make Allen Trenkle a Legend of Feedlot Nutrition.