CALF_News_February_March_2021

33 CALF News • February | March 2021 • www.calfnews.net  CALF COMMUNITY On the Human Side National The Government of Japan has announced that Philip M. Seng , former president and CEO of the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), has been named a recipient of the 2020 Autumn Imperial Decorations. Seng is to receive "The Order of the Rising Sun," which is awarded to those who have made distinguished achievements in areas such as international relations and promotion of Japanese culture. Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs recom- mended Seng for his contributions to "strengthening Japan-U.S. economic relations, particularly in the meat field, and promoting mutual understanding between Japan and the United States." Texas Texas Tech School of Veterinary Medicine has hired Animal Welfare Specialist Nichole Chapel Anderson . Prior to joining Texas Tech University, Anderson spent the last two years as an assistant teaching professor at the University of Missouri . At Missouri, she taught courses in stress physiology, animal behavior, animal production biology and animal welfare. The veterinary school has also hired Emily Sundman as assistant professor of medicine, with a focus on large-animal health. Since December 2013, Sundman has served a role in clinical development for Kindred Biosciences . Sundman has also been co-owner and veterinarian at Picolino Ranch since 2015. Company Global animal health company Huvepharma’s Optigrid ® 45 , a feed additive used to promote weight gain and improve feed efficiency in finishing feedlot cattle, has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for combination use with other drug feed additive products in the manufacture of Type B and C medicated feeds. ServiTech, Inc. , has hired Ashley Fenix , professional geologist, as its senior environmental scientist. In addition to helping ServiTech expand its lab services to include more expansive environmental testing, Fenix will focus on building cooperative solutions that improve waste stream management, optimize wastewater treatment and disposal, establish protocols and develop training curriculum for industrial sites. TechMix, LLC , is announcing the acquisition of Immuno- Dynamics, Inc. , of Fennimore, Wisc. Immuno-Dynamics manufactures products that effectively aid in prevention of disease and fortify an animal during acute stress conditions. Top Dollar Angus Inc. , an industry leader in genetic verifi- cation and marketing of high-value Angus and Red Angus- based feeder calves, has hired Nathan Smith as its new general manager. Smith joins Top Dollar Angus with a strong cattle and crop background, stemming from his family’s farm near Pratt, Kan.  Trail’s End VIRL OTIS LAMUNYON , 86, of Per- ryton, Texas, died Dec. 4, 2020. After earning his degree in animal science from Oklahoma A&M University, Virl joined the United States Air Force where he learned to fly. He served in the Pacific and loved to mention that he was in both Alaska and Hawaii on the days that each entered statehood. Virl’s true love was the cattle indus- try. He and his wife, Patsy, lived on his in-law’s Carlisle Ranch near Laverne, Okla., where he managed the ranch’s cow-calf operation. During the 1980s, Virl became owner of Perryton Feeders, Inc., and Union County Feedlot in Clayton, N.M. Virl was also involved withWestern Beef and Consolidated Beef Producers. He rented land and fed cattle all over the South and Southwest. He was open minded to new innovations in the cattle industry, and he was always there to be a mentor to many young ranchers and farmers; his influence will be felt for years to come. Virl served on the Oklahoma State University (OSU) Foun- dation Board, the OSU College of Agriculture Advisory Board, was a member of the Oklahoma and National Cattlemen’s Asso- ciations and also served on the Texas Cattle Feeders Association Board of Directors. Virl is survived by his daughter and son and numerous grand- children.  Iconic cattleman, entrepreneur and philanthropist HARVEY DIETRICH , 86, passed away Dec. 24, 2020, in Phoe- nix, Ariz., due to COVID-19. Harvey owned Sun Land Beef Co., and put together the Ralph’s California Grown Beef Program, the first ever program of its kind. When customers complained about toughness of the beef, Sun Land hired scientists to study cows and feed. That led to a change in the cattle being used and Holsteins came on the scene as a beef breed, which changed the whole beef industry. Over the years Harvey created Cholla Livestock and ran his cattle operation on his acquired Diamond A Ranch, the largest ranch in Arizona, stretching more than 750,000 acres from Seligman to the northern edge of the Grand Canyon. He was inducted into the Arizona National Livestock Show’s Pioneer Hall of Fame. In 2015, he received the coveted Chester A. Reynolds Award from the National Cowboy &Western Heritage Museum. In 2019, Harvey was appointed to the Arizona Beef Council by Gov. Doug Ducey. Harvey is survived by his wife, Marnie, and his son and daughter from his first marriage, Steven and Lisa.  Virl Otis LaMunyon Harvey Dietrich Philip M. Seng