Beef Checkoff names inaugural Advocate of the Year

CENTENNIAL, Colo. — The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, a contractor to the beef checkoff, has selected blogger and cattlewoman Anne Burkholder as the recipient of the inaugural Advocate of the Year award.

The Advocate of The Year is selected by NCBA and state checkoff staff as the standout advocate amongst the 12 monthly award winners. A Florida native, Burkholder moved to Nebraska with her husband in 1997 to run a family feed yard that had been in her husband’s family since the 1970s. Since then, the mother of three started a successful blog entitled “Feed Yard Foodie” and works for Progressive Beef to ensure that its supply chain is producing high-quality, sustainable beef. While many beef advocates grow up with an agricultural background, Burkholder grew up in Palm Beach County, Florida, a self-proclaimed jock, and attended Dartmouth University where she majored in psychology. This unique perspective allows her to relate to consumers who may not be familiar with beef production. Burkholder’s passion for communicating with consumers led her to become an early graduate of the Masters of Beef Advocacy program. She has taken that training, paired with her firsthand experience, to another level over the years partnering with the beef checkoff as a spokesperson. She has participated in national media interviews and high-profile panel discussions to share beef’s positive story with consumers around the country. Burkholder was awarded the BEEF Magazine Trailblazer award in 2014, she was named to Vance Publishing’s 40 under 40 in agriculture in 2013, and in 2009, she was awarded the Beef Quality Assurance Producer of the Year award.

Pohlman named president of Patterson Animal Health

GREELEY, Colo. — Patterson Companies announced that Kevin Pohlman has been named president of Patterson Animal Health. Pohlman replaces John Adent, who left the company in July to pursue other leadership opportunities. In 2015, Animal Health International was acquired by Patterson. With Patterson Veterinary Supply, the two entities are combining as one business unit, Patterson Animal Health. Patterson Animal Health is one of the largest animal health products distribution businesses in the world, supplying pharmaceuticals, consumables, equipment, technologies and practice management and operations management tools to veterinarians, livestock producers, and farm store/retail operations across North America and the United Kingdom. “It’s my privilege to have the opportunity to lead this great team — the best in the industry,” Pohlman said. “We’ve reached a real tipping point in our efforts to bring the two organizations together. We’ve integrated our sales forces, our ‘back office’ operations and systems are running smoothly, and we’re seeing real, tangible results in our continuing efforts to ensure that our customers are satisfied. It’s something we measure against — that our customers are getting the service levels and product mix they expect, and are receiving practical solutions to the challenges they face every day. Making their business better makes our business better.” Pohlman joined the organization in August, 2001, and prior to assuming that role, Pohlman was president of corporate sales and marketing for Animal Health International. Beginning in 2001, Pohlman held a variety of leadership roles, including vice president of dealer sales with oversight of the marketing department until June 2011. Pohlman began his career with Pohlman Bros. Supply, a family-owned dealer and distributor of dairy equipment, animal health supplies and food plant supplies in Ohio. Pohlman also commented, “at Patterson Animal Health, our focus is on the customer, and doing all we can to ensure the customer can be successful in his or her practice, store or operation, and growing. ❖