Hall of Fame
Hall of Fame Award Winners
DEADLINE: February 7, 2023
Established in 1990, to honor distinguished livestock publishing leaders. Several had received Headliner Awards. For consistency, these have been moved to Hall of Fame.

2023 – Diane Johnson
The 2023 Hall of Fame inductee, Diane Johnson, is no stranger the organization, having served more than 20 years as its executive director. During that time, she was a part of the development of the Ag Publications Summit which later became the Ag Media Summit. Diane was an integral part of 21 Ag Media Summit events including two Congresses held in the United States for the International Federation of Agriculture Journalists.

2022 – Shauna Hermel
The 2022 Hall of Fame inductee, Shauna Hermel, started her career at National Hog Farmer and BEEF magazines under Joe Roybal before moving to the American Angus Association. During her 25-year tenure there, Hermel has served as editor of the Angus Journal and Angus Beef Bulletin. She created the Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA, Angus Journal Daily, numerous topic websites and virtual library, the Feeder-Calf Marketing Guide, and she pioneered online meeting coverage of industry events. Hermel earned the Ag Communicators Network’s Master Writer recognition, led the Angus Beef Bulletin to win LPC’s coveted Flanagan Award twice, and has earned numerous writing and photography awards from both organizations. She’s been an LPC board member and was program chairman for Ag Media Summit.

2021 – Burt Rutherford
Burt Rutherford, Rangeview Strategies, has committed 40 years to livestock journalism. He began writing for a beef breed association in college. After graduation from Colorado State University with a degree in agricultural journalism, this part-time job turned into a 3-year full-time position with the North American Limousin Foundation. That was followed by a 3-year stint as editor of the Western Livestock Journal, and then he served as the communications director for the Texas Cattle Feeders Association from 1985 to 2006. Many know him from his 14-year career with BEEF magazine, serving as Senior Editor of the magazine and digital products.

2020 – Don Norton
A long-time Livestock Publications Council member and supporter, Don Norton was inducted posthumously into the Hall of Fame. Norton served the organization as a leader on the Board of Directors and eventually as president of the Board. For his dedication to LPC and Ag Media Summit, Norton was honored with the Ed Bible Distinguished Service Award.

2019 – Todd Domer
The 2019 Hall of Fame award winner is Todd Domer. Pictured presenting the award is Scarlett Hagins, past LPC president.

2018 – Steve Suther
The 2018 Hall of Fame award winner is Steve Suther. Pictured presenting the award are Miranda Reiman, Certified Angus Beef; Suther; and Greg Henderson, editor of Drovers.

2016 – Joe Roybal
Joe Roybal, This year’s Hall of Fame honoree is Joe Roybal, Woodbury, Minn. Roybal is a native of South Dakota and graduate of South Dakota State University (SDSU) with a degree in journalism. After rising to the position of the second editor in BEEF magazine’s history, Roybal held the top editorial position for 22 years. During that time, he helped grow and expand the magazine’s reach and audience in both print and electronic markets and presided over the magazine’s 50th anniversary in September 2014.
When he began with BEEF magazine in 1985, it was purely a print effort. When Roybal left the publication in May 2015, BEEF staff was producing 12 monthly issues of the print magazine for its 100,000 beef industry readers, 300 electronic newsletters per year, and a website, beefmagazine.com, logging 7 million page views annually.
A feature writer for the SDSU Collegian while in college, Roybal’s professional work experience has also included sports writing for the Rapid City Journal, serving as city staff editor for the Brookings Register, writer with SDSU’s Office of University Marketing and Communications, managing editor of Dairy Herd Management, contributor to Feedstuffs, and editor of Feedlot Management. As a freelance writer he is currently working with the Jorgensen family of Ideal, S.D., in producing a biography of Martin Jorgensen, Jr., the patriarch of Jorgensen Land and Cattle. He also was recently recognized as the 2015 SDSU Friend of the Beef Industry and with the presentation at the 2015 SDSU Beef Bowl. He served on the LPC board from 1996 to 2000 then served on the executive committee and as president in 2004-05.

2015 – Dick and Pete Crow, Crow Publications, Greenwood Village, CO.
Dick and Pete Crow, Crow Publications, Greenwood Village, CO. Dick Crow and his son, Pete, represent the second and third generation of publishers to take the reins of the family business that started almost a century ago, Crow Publications, which was founded by Dick’s father, Nelson Crow, in 1922. Their longest running publication, the Western Livestock Journal, boasts 92 years in print and is a charter member of LPC.
Dick Crow joined his father in the publication business when he returned from the war at the age of 20. He worked for Western Dairy Management, a Crow publication, for 15 years before joining the staff of the Western Livestock Journal in the mid-1950s. He became President of Crow Publications in 1971 and served on the LPC Board of Directors from 1977-1982. Over the years, the reins where handed over to Pete and Dick currently serves as publisher emeritus. Pete has maintained the professionalism, integrity and reliability that has allowed the Western Livestock Journal to attract and maintain an extremely loyal following of readers.

2014 – Wayne Bollum
Wayne Bollum was extensively involved in the livestock publications industry for most of his career and served on the LPC board from 1994 to 2000 and served as president in 1993-1994. He attended the University of Minnesota and received a bachelor’s degree of Animal Science in 1978 and later received hi Masters Degree from the Carlson School of Business. In the mid 1980’s he moved to the Chicago area and began working in the publishing business for the Farm Progress Company. After his marriage to Jean in 1988, Wayne began working with Beef and National Hog Farmer. Wayne started his Limousin cattle operation, Golden Oaks Beef, and continued to work as an advertising representative for Farm Journal Publications. His wife, Jean, passed away on September 8, 2010 and Wayne retired from the publications business to stay home with his children and began his Golden Oaks Consulting business. Throughout his life he was very involved in agriculture. He was a member and past Noble Ruler of Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity, a member of the University of Minnesota Ag Alumni Board and many other organizations. He was a generous man, had a great sense of humor, and was a loving husband and father. We lost Wayne on May 15, 2013.

2013 – Sherman Berg
Sherman Berg who has been involved in the Shorthorn cattle industry his entire life. The Osage, Iowa native worked for the American Shorthorn Association (ASA) for 18 years, serving as the junior activities director and editor of the Shorthorn Country. During his time with ASA he helped form the American Jr. Shorthorn Assn., as well as develop the National Shorthorn Youth Conference and the National Junior Shorthorn Show. He served on the LPC board of directors from 1978-1981, serving as president in 1980-81. After leaving ASA, he served 22 years with Ak-Sar-Ben in Omaha, Neb. He joined the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben Foundation in 1982 as Director of Agricultural Programs and was appointed president in 1998. He retired in 2005. During his time with Ak-Sar-Ben, he established the River City Roundup Fair and Festival and the “Catch-a-Calf” program. During his roles with ASA and Ak-Sar-Ben, it is estimated that he impacted more than 30,000 youth involved in agriculture.

2012 – Glen Klippenstein
Glen Klippenstein, representative of District 5 in the Missouri House of Representatives, and also serves on the Missouri House Agriculture committee. is this year’s honoree. He served as chief executive officer of the American Chianina Association from 2000 to 2009, and has been involved in the beef industry all of his life. In 2010, he was awarded the Beef Improvement Federation Pioneer Award. Once graduated from Penn State University, Klippenstein moved to Missouri and started his involvement in the Polled Hereford business, traveling worldwide to promote the breed. He also served as chairman for both the National Beef Promotion and Research Board and the American Polled Hereford Assn.

2011 – A.J. Smith
A.J. Smith, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. An icon in the world of livestock representatives Smith was honored posthumously. Before his 24 years with the Oklahoma Cowman, he managed the family farm north of Lone Wolf, Okla.; was field representative and editor for Better Beef Business, and a field representative for both Gulf Coast Cattleman and Weekly Livestock Reporter. He also served as an agricultural and 4-H educator for the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service. Then the Hobart-area, Okla., native began his storied career as editor of the Cowman in 1985, and built the magazine into a nationally recognized publication. During his tenure, he wrote 295 editorials and countless feature stories, took thousands of photographs, planned numerous ranch tours and traveled the country providing ring service.

2010 – Lionel Chambers
Lionel Chambers, Fort Worth, Texas. Chambers spent more than 40 years in the livestock publications industry with 28 of those years at the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association. Born in Wichita, Kan., he earned a degree in animal science from Kansas State University. He began his career in agricultural publications as southwest fieldman for Western Horseman magazine and moved on to become Texas field editor for the Western Livestock Journal. He was named advertising manager for The Cattleman in 1968, and served until 1971 when he struck out on his own as founding publisher of The Brahman Journal based in Sealy, Texas. Chambers sold the journal in 1981 and moved back to Fort Worth as a field editor for the Weekly Livestock Reporter. He returned to The Cattleman as a field editor in December 1983 and was elevated to editor in July 1987.

2008 – Greg Henderson
Greg Henderson, Drovers, Lenexa, Kan. A graduate of Kansas State University, he had been with Drovers for eight years when he was named editor of the publication in 1992, becoming only the fourth person to hold that osition since 1920. In 1995 he was promoted to Associate Publisher/Editor. Greg is a former LPC President and was one of the driving forces to develop the Ag Media Summit. He led the group as chairman of the first two conventions and served on the steering committee for five years. His dedication to LPC has been evident in his participation on numerous committees through the years. He and his wife, Ruth, have two children, Lisa and Jared. Raised on a ranch in the southern Flint Hills of Kansas, Greg remains actively involved in beef production as part owner of the family operation.
Previous Hall of Fame Award Winners
2007 - Larry Atzenweiler
Larry Atzenweiler’s experience stems back to 1970 when he founded the Atzenweiler Company to sell commercial advertising for several livestock publications. Seeing a need in the beef cattle business in Missouri for a publication, the first issue of Missouri Beef Cattleman magazine was published in June 1971 and one year later this became the official publication for the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association. In 1987 the American Simmental Association hired Larry to start a magazine to be owned by the Association. When the association moved it to their home in Bozeman, Montana, Larry decided to stay in Kansas City. He is a member of the Livestock Committee of the American Royal and serves as a Governor. Larry served on the LPC board from 1978 to 1981.
2006 - Amber Spafford
Amber Spafford brings nearly 20 years of service to LPC. Her years in LPC leadership roles started in 1985 when she was elected as director and continued through her presidency in 1990-91. For 10 years she chaired the Critique Contest and was also the chairman of the 1989 Kansas City LPC annual convention, chair of the Royal Gala and was instrumental in the concept of the LPC Heritage Center in Kansas City. She has also been honored with LPC’s Distinguished Service Award. A graduate of Oklahoma State University, her professional career started at the Charolais Banner, Gulf Coast Cattleman, then back to the Charolais Journal for nine years. This job took her to Kansas City where she eventually went to the American Polled Hereford Association, then formed her own company Spafford and Associates. Since March 2000, she has been at Osborn & Barr Communications in Kansas City.
2005 - Jim Jennings
Jim Jennings joined the staff of the Quarter Horse Journal in 1972 as the editorial assistant. Since that time, he has been a driving force behind the editorial improvement of the magazine. Jennings was promoted to Senior Director of the AQHA publications department in 1995. One of his greatest achievements was being instrumental in the development of AQHA’s additional award winning publications, The American Quarter Horse Racing Journal and America’s Horse. He served on the board for has served as president of American Horse Publications and Miss Rodeo America Inc. along with being very active on numerous committees of all of these organizations. His monthly column makes him famous for his writing skills, but he is also an exceptional photographer and horseman.
2004 - Henry King
Henry King has more than 40 years of continuous years of service to the livestock publications industry. In 1960 he went to work for the Quarter Horse Journal. After 10 years he left to co-own and publish the Ranchman magazine. Following its sale he went to work for the American Paint Horse Association. In the early ‘80s he started the Lone Star Horse Report selling it in 1996. He then became editor of the Fort Worth based Drover magazine. In 2002 he became a contributing editor for the Texas Longhorn Trails. King is a founding member of LPC, writing the original letter outlining the mission of the organization.
2003 - Cheryl Oxley
Cheryl Oxley has been a part of Angus Productions Inc. (API) since the Angus Journal was purchased by the American Angus Association in 1979. She started as a typesetter and progressed to productionmanagement responsibilities. Those duties were combined with overseeing the advertising department in 1991. Today Oxley oversees and coordinates activity relevant to API office personnel and business activity, primarily supervising the production of all API published materials, including the Angus Journal, Angus Beef Bulletin and Special Services promotional products. Oxley was elected to the LPC board in 1983. She then served as secretary/treasurer from 1988-93. After serving as second and first vice president she served as president in 1995-96.
2002 - Dan Wedman
Dan Wedman has a lifetime with the Limousin breed when right out of college Dale Runnion hired him at the International Limousin World in 1974. In October 1983 Wedman and Runnion branched out and started Limousin World. Wedman has owned and operated Limousin World for 15 years after Runnion sold his interest in 1986. This proves Wedman’s determination and hard work to be with the same company for more than 26 years. Wedman graduated from Oklahoma State University with a degree in animal science. He is also a past president of LPC and served on numerous committees and on the board from 1986 through his presidency in 1991-92.
2001 - E.C. Larkin
E.C. Larkin, San Antonio, Texas has been active in the livestock communications industry for 35 years and is currently publisher of the Gulf Coast Cattleman, an LPC charter member, and The Beefmaster Cowman, the official publication of Beefmaster Breeders United. Larkin graduated from East Texas State University in 1966. He was LPC president from 1984-85 and has served on many LPC committees since 1979. Larkin has also worked for other LPC-member-publications, including Polled Hereford World magazine and Western Livestock Journal.
2000 - J. Neil Orth
J. Neil Orth, San Antonio, Texas. For 12 years Orth served as executive vice president of the International Brangus Breeders Association and president of Brangus Publications, Inc. (BPI). He has been on the staff of member organizations of LPC since 1975 plus being involved in numerous other other livestock associations including U.S. Beef Breeds Council, National Pedigreed Livestock Council, Beef ’s Beef Association (NCBA) Seedstock Steering Committee.
1999 - Warren Morse
Warren Morse, Lenexa, Kansas. Morse, was vice president and publishing director of Vance Publishing overseeing the livestock division including the titles of Drovers, Dairy Herd Management, Pork ‘99, Swine Practitioner, Bovine Veterinarian, Meat and Seafood Merchandising. He joined the Drovers Journal in 1958 as a livestock fieldman and became livestock sales manager in 1966. He was also an active member of the APA. Morse
served in the US Army following his graduation from the University of Missouri.
1998 - Warren Kester
Warren Kester, Bella Vista, Arkansas. Features editor, BEEF Magazine. He has more than 54 years’ experience in both broadcast and written media with a trademark throughout his career being his commitment to the producer. A native of Audubon County, Iowa, he graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in agronomy. His background extends into radio work but in 1969 became managing editor of the Beef Extra supplement for Farm Journal. In 1980 he moved to BEEF in a similar position and remained until 1986. He continued in semi-retirement
as features editor for BEEF.
1997 - Susan Wagner
Susan Wagner, Fort Worth. Associate editor of The Cattleman magazine. Joined the magazine soon after graduation from the University of Texas at Austin. She was instrumental in designing the LPC student award program and was its first chairperson. She was also the first woman to serve as LPC president (1986-87) and helped plan and produce several annual meetings. She was news editor and then production manager at The Cattleman before becoming associate editor.
1996 - Audie Rackley
Audie Rackley, Amarillo, Texas. Executive editor of the Quarter Horse Journal and Quarter Racing Journal at the time of his retirement in 1995. Serving longer than any previous editor of the Quarter Horse Journal, he joined the American Quarter Horse Association in 1970 as advertising director. During Rackley’s tenure the Journal became one of the largest equine breed magazines in the country. Quarter Racing Journal, EXTRA, Show Results and Race Results were begun while he was editor.
1995 - William D. (Bill) Fleming
William D. (Bill) Fleming, Eagan, Minnesota. Editorial Director of National Hog Farmer and BEEF magazines of Webb/Intertec at his retirement in 1994. Fleming spent his career in livestock journalism. He graduated from Iowa State University in 1950 and first worked as farm director of an Iowa radio station. He spent 28 years with Webb, first for BEEF magazine and later as editor of National Hog Farmer (1980-93). He is noted for his photography, writing and innovations he brought to livestock journalism.
1994 - Ed Bible
Ed Bible, Kansas City, Missouri. Editor of the Polled Hereford World and president of the American Polled Hereford Association (APHA) since February, 1994. Bible earned B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Tennessee before joining APHA in 1973. He is a past LPC president and his publication is a charter member. The winner of numerous publishing awards, he is especially noted for his efforts to improve the marketing of Polled Hereford cattle and for being an innovator in publication production.
1993 - Roger Berglund
Roger Berglund, Littleton, Colorado. Retired National Cattlemen’s Association (NCA) Director of Public Information. At NCA he established a communications department that was responsible for an external public relations program as well as industry and member communications. As vice president of communications at NCA, he played a part in establishing the National Cattlemen magazine, Beef Brief and other publications designed to fulfill specific communication needs.
1992 - Keith E. Evans
Keith E. Evans, St. Joseph, Missouri. Director of Communications and Public Relations of the American Angus Association. In his work with the association, Evans developed a network of news releases for individual and breed promotion, has won national media awards for advertising and educational programs and has set professional standards for the entire industry.
1991 - Fred Knop
Fred Knop, Editor, Drovers Journal, Shawnee Mission, Kansas. Saluted for achievements within Drovers Journal since joining that publication in 1982. Recognizing significant cattle business changes, Knop and associates “moved with the tide,” converting Drovers Journal from a weekly general livestock newspaper to a bi-weekly tabloid cattle-business journal and finally to today’s cattle business-oriented monthly magazine. Knop was president of LPC in 1989-90.
1990 - Paul D. Andre
Paul D. Andre, Founding and only editor of the now 28-year-old BEEF Magazine, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Highly respected innovator in livestock publishing. At the startup of BEEF only two things had been decided, the logo and the page size. Andre proceeded to select type faces, style and design. He enjoyed complete freedom in the direction and philosophy of editorial product. He was LPC’s 1988-89 president and was chairman of the LPC Publications Contest. 1993 marked his retirement as editor of BEEF Magazine as well as chairperson of the publications contest.
1988 - John T. Jenkins
John T. Jenkins, Macon, Georgia. For major contributions to livestock publishing and the livestock industry. Editor/publisher of Beefweek. Starting on Florida Cattleman in 1947, buying Southern Livestock in 1948, merging with Breeder Stockman to establish Livestock Breeder Journal 10 years later, converted LBJ into Beefweek. Jenkins was president of the Association of Georgia Printers, and of LPC. He was awarded more honors than there is space to mention.
1987 - Dale F. Runnion
Dale F. Runnion, Fountain Hills, Arizona. For a colorful half century of industry influence. Founder/Publisher/ Editor Emeritus, Limousin World. Successful livestock buyer, stockyard manager, World War II Major, Drovers Journal fieldman, Angus Journal fieldman to general manager, International Limousin Journal founder, North American Limousin Foundation interim executive, LPC president. He has hired, fired and inspired many on livestock publications.
1985 - Allan W. McGhee
Allan W. McGhee, Overland Park, Kansas. Honored for lifetime livestock industry editorial leadership. Editor Emeritus, The Drovers Journal. Starting on Chicago’s Daily Drovers Journal in 1940, his career spanned the decline of central markets, surrender of market dailies to instantaneous radio, television and direct wire reporting. He helped editorially convert the four Corn Belt Dailies into the weekly Drovers Journal.
1981 - Forrest Bassford
Forrest Bassford, Encinitas, California. In recognition of a lifetime of meritorious service to the livestock industry. LPC Executive Director Emeritus. Publisher Emeritus, Western Livestock Journal and Charolais Journal. In livestock publishing since 1930; Denver Daily Record Stockman, American Hereford Journal fieldman, Record Stockman and The Westerner editor, Western Livestock Journal editor and then publisher, Charolais Journal founding publisher. A founding member of LPC.