FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For a high-resolution photo of the winner, click here (will activate link when photo is available).
For more information contact:
Joe Cassady, executive director, Beef Improvement Federation, North Carolina State University; 919-513-0262; www.BIFconference.com; www.beefimprovement.org
Larry Olson Honored with
BIF Continuing Service Award
HOUSTON, Texas. (April 19, 2012) — The Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) honored Dr. Larry Olson with the Continuing Service Award during the organization's 44th annual meeting and research symposium in Houston, Texas, April 18-21. The award recognizes those who have made a significant contribution to the industry.
Dr. Olson was raised on an Oklahoma cattle and wheat farm in the northwest corner of Osage County, which is the southern end of the Flint Hills and cow country. His first cows were four registered Hereford heifers purchased from Codding Cattle Research at Foraker, Okla. Charles Codding — his second cousin — was one of the founders of Performance Registry International (PRI) and BIF.
Olson received his bachelor's degree in animal science from Oklahoma State University and master's and doctoral degrees from the University of Nebraska with BIF pioneers Gordon Dickerson and Larry Cundiff.
Recently retired, Olson spent 31 years as Clemson University's state extension beef cattle specialist at the Edisto Research & Education Center. He wrote the South Carolina Beef Cattle Improvement Program and created its performance records database. In 1982, he built the grazing-based Edisto Forage Bull Test program and managed 27 tests. The Edisto Forage Bull Test was one of the first central bull tests to offer expected progeny differences (EPDs) in the monthly progress reports, as well as one of the first tests to offer a website and to post its progress reports and sale catalogs online. Dr. Olson helped other states and organizations in the Southeast and Southwest develop grazing-based bull test programs, and he assumed numerous leadership roles in Clemson's performance testing programs and extension outreach activities.
Dr. Olson attended his first BIF meeting in 1973 in Omaha, with the 2012 symposium being his 27th meeting. Throughout BIF history he has served on numerous standing committees and provided unwavering commitment to the Guidelines Revisions and Producer Awards Selection committees for 20 years. He has been willing to serve in any role for the betterment of BIF and the cattle industry. Many of the times a behind-the-scenes workhorse, he has always kept the purpose of BIF and its role in performance in his sights.
Since retirement, Dr. Olson has established Olson Cattle Research, a horizontally integrated operation of consulting and registered Angus. An avid fisherman, he is never without a good fishing story.
Dr. Olson was presented the BIF Continuing Service Award at a luncheon Thursday, April 19, in Houston.
For more information about this year's symposium, including additional award winners and coverage of the meeting and tours, visit www.BIFconference.com. For more information about the BIF organization, visit www.beefimprovement.org.
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Editor's Note: This article is provided as a news release by the Beef Improvement Federation. For a high-resolution photo of the winner, additional award announcements and coverage of the meeting, visit the Awards page at www.BIFconference.com.
The Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) was formed more than 40 years ago as a means to standardize beef cattle performance programs and methodologies and to create greater awareness, acceptance and usage of these concepts of genetic improvement. BIF represents more than 40 state and national beef cattle associations. For more details about the BIF organization, contact Executive Director Joe Cassady at 919-513-0262.
