Jack Ward Honored with Continuing Service Award
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (June 14, 2013) — The Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) honored Jack Ward with the Continuing Service Award during the organization's 45th annual meeting and research symposium in Oklahoma City, Okla., June 12-15, 2013. The award recognizes those who have made a significant contribution to the industry.
Ward is a third-generation seedstock producer and grew up in Indiana as an active 4-H and FFA member showing cattle, sheep and pigs. He earned his associate of science degree from Black Hawk East, Kewanee, Ill., and bachelor's degree from Purdue University. Prior to joining the American Hereford Association (AHA) staff in 2003, Ward managed several prominent Angus herds in Kentucky and Indiana.
Currently Jack holds the position of chief operating officer and director of breed improvement for the American Hereford Association and is spearheading AHA’s effort to include genomic data in AHA’s expected progeny differences (EPDs).
AHA’s Whole Herd Total Performance program and National Reference Sire Program illustrate the commitment to BIF principles by Ward, the AHA staff and board of directors. A proponent of performance data coupled with phenotypically correct cattle, Jack has judged livestock shows for over 25 years in the United States, Canada and South America.
He served on the BIF board of directors from 2006 to 2012 and participated on the National Beef Cattle Evaluation Consortium advisory board. Ward and the AHA lent their offices to the BIF board in 2008 to host the Strategic Planning session.
He has received numerous awards citing his commitment to the beef industry and the training of young people for careers in agriculture. Practicing what he preaches, he and his wife Mary Ann and sons Cameron and Carter also manage about 25-30 cows near Plattsburg, Mo.
Continuing Service award winners have made a major contributions to BIF past, present and future. This includes serving on the Board of Directors, speaking at BIF conventions, working on BIF Guidelines and other behind the scene activities. As BIF is a totally volunteer organization it is the contribution of time and passion for the beef cattle industry that keeps BIF moving forward.
Ward was presented the BIF Continuing Service Award at a luncheon Friday, June 14, in Oklahoma City.
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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