CARROLLTON, Ohio — Local beef producer Earl McKarns was recently recognized with the Carroll County Cattlemen’s Association Distinguished Service Award.
McKarns was presented with the award at the Tri-County Cattlemen’s Banquet Feb. 25 held in Hopedale, with Ohio Director of Agriculture Robert Boggs in attendance.
According to Mike Hogan, Ohio State University Extension Educator for Carroll and Harrison counties, this was the first time this award has been given.
Unanimous choice
“The board of directors of the Carroll County Cattlemen’s Association wanted to develop this award to recognize truly outstanding service to the beef industry, and Earl McKarns was the obvious and unanimous choice to receive this inaugural award,” said Hogan.
McKarns was selected for the award on the basis of his service to the beef industry at the local, state and national levels. He has served as president of the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association and has served on the Ohio Beef Council; served on committees of the National Cattlemen’s Association; and is a founding member of the Carroll County Cattlemen’s Association.
McKarns has also served on various Ohio State University and Ohio Department of Agriculture committees and task forces.
Family operation
Along with his wife, Nedra, son Dan and other family members, McKarns operates the nationally-recognized Shamrock Vale Farms, a purebred Angus seed stock operation that uses an innovative managed grazing and forage-based production system in Carroll County’s East Township.
