Dairy Science Hall of Service: 1980-1985

Noland VanDemark*

Educator

Born July 6, 1919, Columbus Grove, Ohio. B.S., 1941, M.S., 1942, The Ohio State Univ .; Ph.D., 1948, Cornell University. Head, Physiology Division, Department of Dairy Science, University of Illinois, 1948-64. Professor and Chairman, Department of Dairy Science, The Ohio State University, 1964-74. Director of Research, Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences 1974-present. Recipient of Alpha Zeta Outstanding Teacher Award (Illinois, 1960); the Borden Award (American Dairy Science Association, 1959); Italian Gold Medal for Pioneering Research in Animal Reproduction (1964); Ivan or Centennial Medal (Russian, 1975). Dr. VanDemark 's service to teaching, research, and administration in the dairy industry has been of the highest caliber for a period spanning five decades.

Jim Lewis*

Dairy farmer

Jim Lewis is an outstanding breeder of Holstein cattle and leader at local, state and national levels. He and his brother developed an outstanding herd of Holstein cattle near Hamilton, Ohio. At the time of its dispersal in 1979, the herd averaged 19,631 pounds milk and 750 pounds fat.  They developed 30 Holstein All-American animals. Jim is recognized nationally and internationally as a dairy cattle judge. He has served as vice president and president of Landmark, Inc., as a member of the Ohio Extension Advisory Committee, as a member of the board of directors of the National Holstein-Friesian Association, as president of the state Holstein Association, as a member of the Ohio Expositions Committee, and as a board member of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.

Harold Kaeser*

Educator

Professor Harold Kaeser was born and reared near Waukon, Iowa and received his B.S. degree from Iowa State University and his M.S. degree from The Ohio State University. In 1943, he came to The Ohio State University as manager of the dairy herd and moved through the academic ranks to Associate Professor in Dairy Science. Throughout his long association with OSU, he has made numerous contributions to the University and the dairy industry. He coached the dairy cattle judging team for 34 years and his teams won the national title four times. Students were fond of him as an advisor and team. He was in charge of the OSU dairy herd for 30 years and developed outstanding herds in all 5 breeds and supervised more than 500 students in the feeding and management of the herd.  He was the dairy cattle superintendent at the Ohio State Fair for 25 years. He has judged many local, state, national and international dairy shows. Professor Kaeser retired from The Ohio Sate,University faculty in 1980.
 

William Brakel*

Educator

Ph.D., OSU, 1954 - retired Professor of Dairy Science at OSU from 1946-78.  Named one of the top 10 professors in the College of Agriculture in 1955, 56, 57, and 58. He has advised over 500 undergraduate and graduate students, and over 4500 students have been enrolled in the various dairy courses taught during his tenure at OSU. His primary interests were in the areas of dairy herd management and dairy cattle genetics.  It was said by one of his former students, "He was a designer and builder of character, and a teacher who advocated high standards of action and insisted on proper ethics."

Ralph Turley

Guernsey breeder

Named to the Hall of Service for outstanding contributions to the dairy industry and junior dairymen throughout the state of Ohio. Born in Pickerington, Ohio. Presently the superintendent of the Raemelton Guernsey Farm, Mansfield, OH. Past president of several dairy organizations which includes the Ohio Guernsey Assoc. and the Purebred Dairy Cattle Assoc. Served as herdsman for the Belts Guernsey herd and Wetherell Jersey herd. He is also well known around the state as a dairy cattle judge and was given the honor of judging the 1981 National Guernsey show. He has given staunch support to the development of the OSU herd.

Ralph Porterfield*

Educator; Ext. Specialist

BS/MS, Agr . OSU, 1942, 1959. Prof. Emeritus,  Dept . of Dairy Science,  OSU,  1981.  He has been a dairy farmer, an educator and extension dairyman first at the Univ . of Maryland from 1946-50, and served as a professor of Dairy Science and state extension specialist at OSU from 1954-81. Served in the U .S. Army, WWII. Editor of the monthly dairy newsletter, "The Ohio Observer." Developed the 4-H dairy project books and served as a dairy cattle judge. He has devoted a lifetime of loyal and dedicated service toward the betterment of the dairy industry in Ohio and the U.S. in conducting educational programs in dairy herd replacements and herd management and significant publications. He had great perception for the feelings and needs of the Ohio dairy farmers. Dr. Porterfield currently writes published poetry  books.

Donald Zehr*

Columbus milk cooperative manager

Retired Milk Marketing, Inc. (Columbus Division, Manager) 1982. Previously general manager Central Ohio Cooperative Milk Producers for 18 years. Sec.-Tres. of Mid East UDIA and officer of Ohio Dairy Farmers Federation. Seventeen years service on the National Milk Producers Federation Board.  Past Extension Specialist, milk marketing, county agent in Mercer County.
B.S. - Purdue, M.S., Ph.D. - The Ohio State University. He has served agriculture and the dairy industry with excellence from 1936 to present.

Thomas M. Ludwick*

Educator; dairy farmer; AI

OSU Professor of Dairy Science 1948-1983. Served as director of the Ohio segment of the North Central Regional Breeding Project for 35 years. Served as advisor to 112 Masters and Ph.D. candidates, plus more than 200 undergraduate students. Received Outstanding Alumnus Award, East Kentucky State Univ. - 1974; ADSA Teaching Award - 1976; OSU Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching - 1979; Gamma Sigma Teaching Award - 1980. A teacher, scientist, and a humanitarian with an insatiable quest for knowledge concerning the dairy cows.

Bryce Weiker*

General Manager of NOBA; AI

General Manager, Noba, Inc. He has served the Ohio dairymen in many ways throughout his career. Starting with Noba in 1946, he has been an A.I. technician, area sales supervisor, Director of Sire Procurement, general sales manager, and general manager. He has served the Ohio Holstein Association, has a vested interest in Weikland Farm, a registered Holstein operation, has served the NAAB. He is a member of the Dairy Shrine, and is very active in community activities which includes 4-H, FFA, Boy Scouts, local school board, state school board, Seneca County Library Board, and the State Library Board.

Norman Alger*

Dairy farmer

Active dairy farmer since graduation from OSU in 1952. He has been active in the dairy industry and dairy co-ops since 1955 when he was selected as the young co-operator winner of the Milk Producers Federation of Cleveland. He has been a Board member of his milk marketing co-op since 1957. Received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the College of Ag at OSU in 1984. He has done much to further youth interested in a dairy career and is a leader in his community. He is a native of Cleveland, Ohio.  With his wife Marilyn, he actively manages his Portage County dairy farm and has reared four sons.