Industry leaders inducted into Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame
The Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame inducted its 14th class and recognized two more award winners on. Jan. 31, prior to the 2023 Cattle Industry Convention and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Trade Show in New Orleans.
The two Hall of Fame inductees for 2023 include Jerry Adams, with Adams Land and Cattle in Broken Bow, Neb. and the late Ed Barrett of Barrett and Crofoot Feedyard in Hereford, Texas.
Thomas “Dee” Likes, chief executive emeritus of the Kansas Livestock Association (KLA) in Larkspur, Colo. received the Industry Leadership Award, and Terry Wegner with Drinnin West Cattle Company in Palmer, Neb. received the Arturo Armendariz Distinguished Service Award.
Hall of Fame inductees
Jerry Adams and his brother Bill Adams started in 1972 with five employees, 5,000 calves and 3,000 acres of farmland near Broken Bow, Neb. From this humble start, the Adams brothers grew Adams Land and Cattle to a finishing capacity of 125,000 head and a backgrounding network of up to 100,000 head in more than 85 locations.
In 1990, Adams started to focus on research and technology in feeding cattle, and today, Adams Land and Cattle is known for its innovation and data-driven model of cattle production, according to the Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame.
Ed Barrett spent his lifetime in the cattle feeding industry. He began his career running Lubbock Feedyard before moving back to Emporia, Kan. in 1968 and building and operating Flint Hills Feedyard.
In 1975, Barrett, with the help of the Crofoot family, established the Barrett and Crofoot Feedyard in Hereford, Texas, growing it to three yards with a total capacity of 135,000 head.
Barrett passed in 2020, but today, his sons and grandsons are continuing his legacy owning and operating the family business.
Industry leadership
According to the Hall of Fame, the Industry Leadership Award is given to distinguished individuals who demonstrate outstanding leadership, provide exemplary service and contribute to the advancement of the cattle feeding industry.
Likes returned to Kansas from his tour of active duty in the U.S. Navy in the 1970s and earned his bachelor’s degree in animal science from Kansas State University.
In 1976, he joined the staff of the KLA, where he spent the rest of his career lobbying on behalf of the state’s livestock producers. He retired after serving several decades as chief executive officer of KLA.
Distinguished service
The Arturo Armendariz Distinguished Service Award is named for a longtime devoted employee of Poky Feeders in Scott City, Kan. It recognizes feedyard employees who go above and beyond in their work to raise beef and improve the cattle feeding industry.
Wegner has worked for more than 45 years with dairy cattle, and today, is employed by Drinnin West Cattle Company, where he uses his wealth of knowledge.
He’s adopted new technology and tools to bring efficiency to the yard, ensuring animal welfare and efficient feeding is maintained.
Farm Progress Editor Jennifer M. Latzke, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame published this article in Farm Progress on Feb. 21. It can be found at farmprogress.com.
