<b>By MEGGIE I. FOSTER<br>
Assistant Editor</b> </p><p>

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Just last Saturday, on one of the coldest evenings of the new year, Ohio cattle producers shuffled in the chilly doors of the Buckeye Hall of Fame Café for their annual state meeting and awards banquet.<br>
And while many producers came to visit with old friends or to enjoy the steak dinner, a handful of outstanding producers and cattle enthusiasts were honored for their continued hard work, dedication to the industry and promotion of high quality Ohio beef products.<br>
To start the evening, outgoing Ohio Cattlewoman President Kathy Sautter named the 2008 Ohio Queen of Beef and her court. With the new sash in hand, the outgoing queen Kayla Alexander of Clinton County, crowned Emily Brinkman of Henry County as this year’s queen. The second runner-up was Megan DeBruin of Fairfield County and Kayla Shipley of Adams County was the first runner-up.
The evening continued with the presentation of the outstanding county affilates.<br>
“OCA continues to have an outstanding group of county affilates that continue to be so active, positively impacting the industry everyday,” said recent past president John Siegel. “Our counties do a great job both at the local and state level.”<br>
This year’s third place winner was the Crawford County affiliate, with Highland County in second and Fairfield County claiming first for the second year in a row.<br>
Steve Foglesong, vice chair of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Assoc. (NCBA) policy division and owner of Black Gold Ranch in Illinois, was the featured speaker. “The NCBA boils down to two main goals really,” he said, touting the work done by the NCBA’s Washington D.C. staff.<br>
“No. 1, we’re fighting everyday for the rights of beef producers,” Fogelsong added. “It’s really tough out there, and we have a great group of people in D.C. that are striving everyday to protect, promote and fight for this industry we love so.”<br>
“Secondly,” he continued, “our right to eat and promote beef in the United States; this is something that hasn’t always come easily - especially when you have people like Wayne Pacelle at (the Human Society of the United States) fighting every day to shut down animal agriculture. Their business is strictly about taking out our business.”<br>
As Foglesong wrapped up, he grabbed a $1 bill from his pocket and said, “see this $1 bill, it’s our job (at NCBA) to put these back in your pocket, helping to make your business viable and save some more of these ($1 bills) for your children.”<br>
The Industry Service Award was presented to Rep. Tony Core (83rd Dist.) and Rep. Larry Mumper (26th Dist.).<br>
Additionally, Keith Burgette of Burgette Angus Farm in Carroll County was named the 2008 Seedstock Producer of the Year, an award sponsored and presented by Farm World. A brief video presentation introduced Burgette and family and detailed the many successes of the their purebred Angus farm. Also, as a special award, Dennis Corcoran of Pike County was named the outstanding Commercial Cattlemen of the Year. Chad McDowell was named the Young Cattlemen of the Year and Bill Sexten was awarded the coveted Industry Excellence Award, which honored him for being the “best of the best” in the Ohio cattle industry.<br>
“Bill Sexten has contributed far and beyond to the Ohio beef industry and to the leadership of this outstanding organization,” said Siegel. “Bill is the very epitome of excellence in this industry.”<br>
Sexten, said by his friends and family, to work the jobs of three men, at least, is extremely involved in his local Fairfield County OCA, as well the state organization, serving as a past state president. Sexton is also heavily committed to working hard everyday on his home farm and with friends and family in numerous community organizations, according to Siegel.
For more information or for a complete list of award winners, visit the OCA website at www.ohiocattle.org