Kirkpatrick Presented Continuing Service Award
Tennessee extension leader recognized for contribution to Beef Improvement Federation.
MANHATTAN, Kan. (June 10, 2020) — The Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) presented David Kirkpatrick, Knoxville, Tenn., a BIF Continuing Service Award June 10 during the group’s 52nd annual meeting and symposium hosted online.
Continuing Service Award winners have made major contributions to the BIF organization. This includes serving on the board of directors, speaking at BIF conventions, working on BIF guidelines and other behind-the-scenes activities. BIF is a volunteer organization; it is this contribution of time and passion for the beef cattle industry that moves BIF forward.
 |
David Kirkpatrick was awarded the BIF Continuing Service Award, recognizing his contribution of time and passion to the Beef Improvement Federation to move the beef industry forward.[Photo courtesy BIF] Click here for original image. |
Kirkpatrick, a native of Shattuck, Oklahoma, earned his bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma State University, master’s from New Mexico State University, and doctorate from the University of Tennessee. Kirkpatrick dedicated his entire career as genetics extension leader for the University of Tennessee. He regularly attends the BIF Research Symposium and Convention and was committee chairman for the 1989 convention in Nashville, Tennessee.
A seasoned leader, Kirkpatrick has served in several industry leadership roles. While serving as the superintendent of the National 4-H Livestock Judging Contest, he was responsible for including performance data on judging classes. Kirkpatrick has served as director of the Tennessee Bull Evaluation Station for nearly four decades and established the criteria for “genetically superior” bulls in each breed for the three categories of calving ease, balance and terminal sires. In addition, he developed extension educational programs to teach producers how to use expected progeny differences (EPDs) and conducted extension training sessions and producer meetings across Tennessee.
The Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program (TAEP) was established by the Tennessee legislature and included major funding for beef cattle genetics. In 2016, Kirkpatrick worked with TAEP administrators to increase funding for bulls with genomically enhanced (GE) EPDs, allowing producers to receive 25% more funding to purchase bulls with GE EPDs. In 2018, he developed an online bull calculator to determine cost share eligibility.
“The goal for this program has been to improve Tennessee cattle genetics — increasing the quality, value, marketability and reputation of Tennessee cattle,” says Gordon Jones, BIF board member. “Dr. Kirkpatrick has been the major educational leader in accomplishing this goal.”
More than 1,200 beef producers, academia and industry representatives have registered to participate in BIF’s 52nd Annual Research Symposium online. BIF’s mission is to help improve the industry by promoting greater acceptance of beef cattle performance evaluation.
For more information about this year’s symposium, including additional award winners and coverage of meeting, visit the Awards and Newsroom pages of BIFconference.com. For more information about BIF, visit BeefImprovement.org.
Editor’s note: This article is adapted from a news release by the Beef Improvement Federation. For more information contact Angie Stump Denton, BIF communication coordinator, at 785-562-6197.
BIFconference.com is a meeting coverage site provided by Angus Media. Coverage is made possible through the generous contributions of our site sponsors, including American Angus Association, AngusLinkSM, Albrecht Ranch, Branch View Angus Ranch, CattleVisions, Connealy Angus, Deer Valley Farm, Express Ranches, Fink Beef Genetics, Genex, Krebs Ranch, Nichols Farms, Penz Angus Ranch, Pollard Farms, Select Sires, Spur Ranch, Sydenstricker Genetics, and Yon Family Farms. For questions about this site, or to notify us of broken links, click here.
