CALF_News_August_September_2021

38 CALF News • August | September 2021 • www.calfnews.net  CALF COMMUNITY On the Human Side Trail’s End SHARI FLAMING , 69, of Paxton, Neb., passed away June 4, after battling Alzheim- er’s. She and her husband, Chuck, operated the Sadle Cattle Company. Shari served on the Nebraska Cattlemen Foundation Board, was a longtime member of the Nebraska Cattlewomen, served on the National Beef Checkoff Council and was the founder of the Cattlemen’s Ball of Nebraska, raising millions for cancer research. She is survived by her husband, Chuck. JOHN (JAY) JOSEPH HICKERT , 95, passed away June 8, in Akron, Colo. Jay was one of the pioneers in the cattle feeding industry in Colorado and an early adopter of center pivot irrigation and chemical fallow. Jay grew their farming and cattle feeding operation through the 1970s and 1980s. His cattle feeding business eventually provided him opportunities in the commercial feedyard and banking industries He was a member of the Colorado Livestock Association, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the Colorado State University (CSU) Advisory Council for the Animal Science Department and he was a founding member of Colorado Wheat Growers Associa- tion. Jay was awarded the CSU Livestock Leader Award in 1998 and was inducted into the Colorado Agriculture Hall of Fame in 2018. Jay is survived by his wife, Leota, and their six children. KENNETH “KENNY” EDWARD KNIGHT , 82, Lyons, Kan., passed away May 30. Kenny was a passionate farmer and cattleman. He, along with his father and brother, formed Knight Farms in 1961. In 1972, they expanded their business and built Knight Feedlot. Other business interests included Bar K Bar Trucking and grazing cattle in the Flint Hills. He served on the Innovative Livestock Services Board of Directors and was president of the Kansas Live- stock Association in 1980. Kenny received many awards and recognition in the agricultural world including the Stockman of the Year award by the Livestock and Meat Industry Council at Kansas State University. He is survived by his wife, JoAnna, and four children.  National The Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) recognized W & S Ranch Inc. , of Smith Center, Kan., as the Commercial Producer of the Year during the group’s annual convention in Des Moines, Iowa. The Livestock and Meat Industry Council has named U.S. Premium Beef as the recipient of the 2021 Don L. Good Impact Award . Named in honor of Good, who is a former head of the Kansas State University Department of Animal Sciences and Industry , the award recognizes those having a posi- tive impact on the livestock and meat industry or agriculture. Colorado Colorado Livestock Association CEO Bill Hammerich announced he will retire mid-2022 after 20 years of service to the association. An Executive Search Committee has been appointed to begin the process of selecting Hammerich’s successor. Colorado State University has hired Craig Huffhines as director of Equine Science, and Elite Bovine and Equine Genetics. He will lead the Equine Sciences program in the Department of Animal Sciences and will serve as the Wagon- hound Land and Livestock Endowed Chair in Equine Sciences. Previously, Huffhines was CEO of the American Quarter Horse Association and the American Hereford Association . He replaces former director Jerry Black . Iowa Cattlemen’s Heritage , a newly formed corporation with its roots in livestock production, plans to open a $325 mil- lion federally inspected beef processing facility in Mills County to process 1,500 head per day and employ 750 work- ers. Construction will begin in 2022. Chad Tentinger, founder and owner of TenCorp Inc. , project developer and an Iowa cattle producer, wants to provide a market for cattle raised by smaller, independent cattle producers. Company The J. R. Simplot Company’s Animal Sciences division has hired Whitney Sandberg as its sales and marketing team data specialist. In her role, Sandberg will be responsible for data analysis for a variety of projects, as well as leading and executing social media efforts and targeted marketing plans.  Bill Hammerich Craig Huffhines Whitney Sandberg