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don Birk and dale Stith Inducted into Hereford Hall of Merit Lackey named KCARD
KANSAS CITY, MO — Don Birk, El Dorado Springs, Mo., and Dale Stith, Mays Lick, Ky., were inducted to the Hereford Hall of Merit Oct. 22 at the American Hereford Association (AHA) Annual Meeting and Conference in Kansas City, Mo. Hall of Merit inductees have greatly influenced the Hereford breed and cattle industry.
Don Birk grew up in southeast Missouri on a diversified farming operation. Don’s family grew crops and Hereford cattle, and they exhibited at local livestock shows. Don graduated from high school in 1965 and attended Southeast Missouri State University for three years, before transferring to Missouri State University (Mizzou) in 1968. It was at Mizzou that Don joined the livestock judging team and met Glenn Richardson. Don developed a close relationship with Glenn and graduated from Mizzou in 1970. In 1971, Don got a life-changing call from Glenn to return to Mizzou as a graduate assistant coaching the livestock judging team. When Glenn switched jobs about a month into Don’s tenure — Don took over Glenn’s students and coached the Mizzou livestock judging team to a national championship in 1971. Upon finishing his time at Mizzou, Don joined the Drovers Journal in 1972 as a fieldman and worked with the publication for six years. While working for the Drovers Journal, Don gathered experience selling advertising and working livestock sales. In April of 1973, Don and his wife, Linda, were married. Don then joined Eddie Sims with National Cattle Services Inc. to provide ring service, marketing and photography. Don developed his photography skills at National Cattle Services, and he stayed with the company until 1982, when he started his own business, Birk Enterprises. As catalogs have gone from printing in black and white to color and live auctions have transitioned to online sales, Don has been there through it all. A pioneer in the livestock photography industry, Don worked with Hereford breeders exclusively until the late ‘90s, when he began working with cattle of all breeds. Don has spent many years working with breeders from across the U.S, providing ring service and picturing cattle. Some of Don’s first clients were Glenkirk Farms, Maysville, Mo., ACE Polled Herefords, Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Mohican Farms, Glenmont, Ohio, and Beartooth Ranch, Columbus, Mont. Since getting that call from Glenn to return to Mizzou, Don’s career has spanned 51 years. While Don enjoys the cattle, he is especially passionate about the breeders, ranchers and business owners he’s been able to meet.
Dale Stith took an interest in cattle at a very early age under the tutelage of his father, Ralph, who was an accomplished herdsman that managed the 250 polled Hereford cows on their farm in Stith Valley. Dale attended cattle shows and sales with his father beginning at the age of six. His early interest in the cattle business sparked a lifelong, passionate career in the Hereford breed.
Dale would work long hours on the family farm, and then groom a show string of cattle. He would load his string into a gooseneck trailer and show across the state of Kentucky. He showed at as many as 14 county fairs a summer, including the Kentucky State Fair, where he won many awards. Dale and his father had a keen eye for evaluating and selecting top genetics in the Hereford breed.
Dale is the oldest of three children. He graduated from Meade County High School in 1970, where he was president of the Meade County FFA chapter. He was later elected Kentucky State FFA President. Dale attended the University of Kentucky, where he was president of Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity, active in the Block and Bridle Club and a member of the Omicron Delta Kappa senior honorary. He graduated with bachelor’s degrees in animal science and agricultural education in 1974.
Upon graduation, Dale returned to the farm where he continued building the family’s purebred Hereford herd. However, he was eager to expand his horizons beyond his family’s herd. Dale is a master marketeer and has been a passionate promoter of the Hereford breed for most of his life. Dale’s original post-graduation plan was to teach high school agriculture classes. However, when one of Dale’s mentors, A.W. “Ham” Hamilton, was preparing to retire, he encouraged Dale to attend auctioneer school. The class was two weeks long and Dale graduated in January of 1975. He auctioneered for the first time at the Kentucky Hereford Association’s annual meeting, selling directory advertisements. In the years following, Dale spent his time selecting cattle, auctioning cattle, photographing cattle, and assisting breeders. His loyalty to the Hereford breed, cattle marketing skills and cow sense would propel him to become one of the preeminent auctioneers in North America.
Dale has three children and seven grandchildren. He currently resides on a 50-acre farm in Mays Lick, Ky., with his partner, lover and friend, Elizabeth. Dale is involved in his community and was a magistrate on Meade County’s fiscal court. He also served many years as the Meade County Fair Board manager. Dale has worked with Hereford breeders big and small from coast to coast and all across Canada. He is a mentor and friend to many and has an unmatched passion for Hereford cattle.
The American Hereford Association, with headquarters in Kansas City, Mo., is one of the largest U.S. beef breed associations. The not-for-profit organization along with its subsidiaries — Certified Hereford Beef (CHB) LLC, Hereford Publications Inc. (HPI) and American Beef Records Association (ABRA) — provides programs and services for its members and their customers, while promoting the Hereford breed and supporting education, youth and research. For press releases and photos, visit Hereford.org/media.
executive director
ELIZABETHTOWN, KY - The Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development (KCARD) board has announced Brent Lackey has been appointed KCARD's new executive director, effective November 1. “The KCARD board is excited to have Brent serve as the next executive director for KCARD," said Eddie Melton, KCARD board president. "Brent brings over 15 years of experience doing cooperative and business development for KCARD that will allow him to provide the leadership and vision needed for the organization to continue meeting its mission for the state of Kentucky." As executive director, Lackey will continue KCARD's dedication to facilitating agricultural and rural business development in Kentucky. “It is truly an honor and very humbling to be hired as the new executive director of KCARD,” said Lackey. “I strongly believe in its mission, and due to growing up on a farm in the rural community of Pembroke, KY, the clientele of KCARD holds a very special place in my heart. KCARD has become an important part of Kentucky agriculture under the leadership of Aleta Botts and before her, Larry Snell.” Brent Lackey has worked for KCARD for over 16 years, most recently serving as a Senior Business Development Specialist. Before working at KCARD, Brent served as the General Manager for the Kentucky Produce & Aquaculture Alliance and Cumberland Farm Products. Brent graduated from Transylvania University with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics, and he received a Master’s degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Kentucky. Brent has been married to his wife, Cindy, for 24 years, and they have two children, John and Hannah. “I truly believe KCARD’s best days are ahead, and I am excited and ready to go to work to lead KCARD into the future,” said Lackey.
The Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development fosters business success and growth by developing and delivering technical assistance and by providing educational opportunities for agricultural and rural businesses seeking to enhance their economic opportunities. For more information, visit www.kcard.info and follow KCARD on Facebook.
LIMOUSIN Breeders of the Bluegrass
Fullblood & Purebred Embryos & Semen Stephen: 270-799-8685 760 Emily Court Bowling Green, KY 42101 achhlimousin@twc.com Facebook: ACHH Limousin Foundation Sale IX • September 16, 2023 United Producers Facility • Bowling Green, KY
CUMMINS POLLED LIMOUSIN
David & Donald P. Cummins 4312 Willow-Lenoxburg Rd. Foster, KY 41043 David: 606-747-5886 (C) 606.782.7003 cumminsd@windstream.net
Tom & Chris Daniel
5171 Camargo-Levee Rd. • Mt. Sterling, KY 40353 859-498-0030 859-585-1785 859-585-8388 “Your source of purebred homopolled/homoblack.”
Daniel Gettings GETTINGS LAND & CATTLE
Elbow Bend & Center Point Rd. Tompkinsville, KY 42167 (270) 487-9454 or (270) 202-7755
“Registered Limousin - LimFlex - Angus Genetics”
Buck’s Limousin Farm
“secrets out”
John Buck: (606) 474-7451 • (606) 922-8174 2494 South St. Hwy. 7, Grayson, KY. 41143 johnbuck474@windstream.net
“Black & Red Purebred & Limflex for sale - private treaty” “Qualifies for CAIP”
B.F. Evans Cattle Company
Byron Evans
P.O. Box 1509 599 Ray Allen Lane Versailles, KY 40383 Byron 859-509-8046 bfevanscattlecompany@gmail.com byron.evans59@yahoo.com
Joey & Donnie Massey 80 Sublimity School Rd. • London, KY 40744 606-682-2126 • 606-682-2125
R
icci olanDR
Ricci & Brenda Roland 423 Lebus Lane Cynthiana, KY 41031 859-234-3986 • 859-234-7344 rolandlimousin@earthlink.net
Allen & Jon Anderson
260 Henderson Rd. Eubank, KY 42567 Allen: 606-872-8072 Jon: 606-305-8859
“Quality Limousin + LimFlex Cattle!”
ROLLING OAKS FARM
Terry W. McPhetridge • 606-843-6903 Cell: 606-524-9241 1645 Winding Blade Rd. East Bernstadt, KY 40729
WHITE LIMOUSIN & WHITE ANGUS
Donald & Mary Ann Wenzel
994 Airport Road • Falmouth, KY 41040 (859) 654-3612 • (859) 322-0752 maryawenz@aol.com
TOMORROW’S REGISTERED WHITE ANGUS TODAY!
Bob Minerich, 859-582-6888 2003 Barnes Mill Rd. Richmond, KY 40475 minegwen@aol.com “Cattle for sale private treaty”
Greg Blaydes
859-338-9402
James Hicks
859-227-0490
1225 E. Leestown Rd. Midway, KY 40347
Decker Family Limousin & LimFlex Kenny & Tiffany Decker Leitchfield, KY • (270) 589-7999
BULLS - HEIFERS PROCESSED BEEF Brad Kidd
(606) 495-6396 (606) 738-9493
Paul Kidd
(606) 743-7349 8254 Hwy 711 West Liberty KY 41472
FOUNDATION SALE IX
September 16, 2023
United Producers Facility • Bowling Green, KY
SIMMENTAL
KEVIN AND RACHEL BARRON Crestwood, Ky (502) 905-5851 rkbarron812@gmail.com
SWAIN SELECT SIMMENTAL 12113 Green Valley Dr. Louisville, KY 40243 frederickswain@bellsouth.net facebook.com/swainselectsimmental Fred & Phyllis: 502-245-3866 502-599-4560 Chi & Angie: 502-287-2116
JUDY AND RONDAL DAWSON 1156 Buzzard Roost Road Shelbyville, KY 40065 502-593-5136 • jrdawson22@outlook.com
BILL KAISER • Shelbyville, KY • 502.639.4337 ROCKING P LIVESTOCK 8308 Orangeburg Road Maysville, KY 41056 Chan: 606-584-7581 Keith: 606-584-5626 rockingplivestock@maysvilleky.net
BRIAN & HEATHER SWAIN 3906 Pottertown Road Murray, KY 42071 • 270-293-4440 wksbswain@murray-ky.net SIMMENTAL AND SIMANGUS BULLS FOR SALE
1939 Huntertown Road Versailles, KY 40383 BULLS FOR SALE Chris Allen 859-351-4486 callenuky@hotmail.com Dr. Henry Allen 859-229-0755
BRET AND LAURA JACKSON 859.533.3718 or 859.707.7200
NO
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406-587-4531 • simmental.org
JOIN KENTUCKY SIMMENTAL ASSOCIATION
Mail to: Laura Jackson 1254 Cynthiana Road Paris, KY 40361
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