Purdue News
Purdue News
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September 29, 2000 Two inducted into Livestock Breeders Hall of FameWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Indiana Livestock Breeders Association (ILBA) recently inducted two Hoosiers into its Hall of Fame. William H. Wilson of Cloverdale, Ind., and Del Guard of West Lafayette, were recognized by the ILBA for their contributions and dedication to the livestock breeding industry. "Bill Wilson is a longtime cattle producer who has made a significant impact on Indiana's beef cattle industry," said Lt. Governor Joe Kernan, Indiana's commissioner of agriculture. "His leadership at the national, state and local levels exemplifies his commitment to Indiana agriculture." Kernan credits Guard's emphasis on quality for setting a high standard for Indiana's pork industry. "He has helped to define the standards producers use to measure reliability when it comes to herd genetics. Consumers reap the benefits with the quality pork they purchase today," Kernan said. Matt Claeys, Purdue Extension beef specialist, said Wilson and Guard are tops in their industry. "These people are the builders of the industry, on both the genetics and the people side. They focus on improving efficiency and trying to provide the best product to the consumer," he said. Wilson, owner and operator of an Angus breeding farm, also is part owner of a Nebraska-based company that evaluates and markets 700 to 800 bulls per year. In 1965 he became the general manager of Stark Wetzel Farms in Cloverdale, Ind. He has a long list of champion show cattle, and the farm he owns and operates today, Wilson Cattle Company, registers the most Angus in Indiana annually. Wilson is a respected livestock judge, has been an active leader in state and national cattle breeding associations, and has sold breeding genetics in more than seven countries. Guard, a pork producer with Young & Guard Purebred Hampshire and Yorkshire Corp. since 1958, became the sole operator of the farm in 1961 when his father-in-law, Raymond Young, died. According to the Hoosier Hampshire Swine Breeders and Indiana Purebred Swine Breeders, Young & Guard has been known for consistent improvement and providing high-quality breeding genetics to many commercial pork producers. Young & Guard's operation has sold animals in countries all over the world. Genetic evaluation testing has been used to improve the quality of the herd since 1954. Guard has been an active leader of the Hoosier Hampshire Swine Breeders, Indiana Yorkshire Club, Indiana Swine Evaluation Station and the National Swine Registry. The ILBA is an organization that supports the improvement of livestock and 4-H and youth activities. Sources: Matt Claeys, (765) 494-4834, mclaeys@purdue.edu Dee Dee Sigler, Commissioner of Agriculture Office, (317) 233-2207 Writer: Theresa Lawton, (765) 494-8402, news_students@aes.purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu NOTE TO JOURNALISTS: A publication-quality head-and-shoulders photographs of William Wilson and Del Guard are available at the News Service Web site and at the ftp site. Photo IDs: Claeys.guard and Claeys.wilson
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