Fund Detail

Fund Purpose:

This fund was organized to recognize the contributions of Dr. Harlan D.Ritchie to the field of beef cattle extension. The money is used to support a symposium on issues important to Beef Cattle Extension at the Midwest ASAS meetings.

We are actively fundraising to establish this Appreciation Club. To help honor Dr. Ritchie, click here or you may send a donation by mail to: ASAS Foundation, PO Box 7410, IL 61826. If you prefer, please contact the ASAS office at 217-356-9050 and we will take your pledge and generate a pledge form for your donation.

Biographical Sketch:

Dr. Harlan Ritchie is the author or coauthor of 200 scientific or technical articles, 195 Extension papers, 350 trade journal articles and more than 400 newsletter articles. Dr. Ritchie has spoken at livestock programs in 38 states, 7 Canadian provinces, 6 Australian states, Argentina, Europe and Mexico.

Dr. Harlan has also officiated the national shows of 13 beef cattle breeds and seven swine breeds in the U.S. and Canada. In 1994, he was inducted into the Saddle and Sirloin Portrait Club, the highest honor awarded in the U.S. livestock industry.

Past Symposia:

2023 Harlan Ritchie Symposium: Creating Value for U.S. Beef in a Global Market

Chair: Allison Meyer, University of Missouri
Presented: Tuesday, March 14, 2023

  • Future of global markets for US beef.
    Bree Thompson – Meat Export Federation
  • Global competition for calories (diversion of energy from food/feed to fuel).
    Brian Shultz – MPB Commodities
  • Increasing value of steers relative to heifers: An opportunity for male sexed semen.
    Kenneth G. Odde – Kansas State University
  • Creating a more efficient production system (feed efficiency in the real world).
    Zachary K. Smith, South Dakota State University and Wes Gentry, Midwest PMS, LLC

2022 Harlan Ritchie Symposium: Charting the Course Ahead in the Beef Industry

Chair: S. Greiner, Virginia Tech
Presented: Tuesday, March 15, 2022

  • Climate Change and the Beef Industry: A Rapid Expansion.
    K. Stackhouse-Lawson, Colorado State University
  • The interface between agriculture producers and supply chains in relation to sustainability.
    J. Knock, Millborn Seeds, Inc.
  • Sustainability on the ranch–Defining a vision for the future.
    T. Patterson, Padlock Ranch
  • Cattle feeding in today’s challenging environment: Industry perspective.
    T. Milton, Midwest PMS

2021 Harlan Ritchie Symposium: Beef Industry Infrastructure

Chair: K. Bruns, University of Nebraska
Presented: Tuesday, March 9, 2021

  • The importance of recognizing economic factors influencing the beef industry.
    B. Rishel, Rishel Angus
  • How will the Purebred Association adapt to a changing beef industry?
    M. McCully, American Angus Association
  • Genetics industry infrastructure: How are artificial insemination organizations adapting to changes in the beef industry?
    B. Harstine, Select Sires, Inc.
  • What is the impact of dairy influence cattle on the traditional beef industry structure?
    B. J. Johnson, Texas Tech University
  • The beef industry in a post-pandemic world.
    D. S. Peel, Oklahoma State University

2020 Harlan Ritchie Symposium

Chair: Robert Weaber, Kansas State University
Presented: Tuesday, March 3, 2020

  • Consumer perceptions of beef and beef production.
    R. Husted, National Cattlemen's Beef Association
  • Where we are at and evolving in management systems that are consumer focused?
    J. B Morgan, Colorado State University
  • Carcass composition and leanness-industry trends and needs.
    D. McKenna, Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc.
  • The impact of changing consumer preferences on production and management practices at cow-calf level.
    R. H. Pritchard, Annawan Cattle, LLC.
  • The future of genome editing in food animal species.
    A. L. Van Eenennaam, University of California, Davis

2019 Harlan Ritchie Symposium

Chair: Daniel Shike, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Presented: Wednesday, March 13, 2019

  • Mature cow size and Iipacts on cow efficiency.
    D. Lalman, Oklahoma State University
  • Impacts of dam age and milk production on cow/calf profitability.
    T. Mulliniks, University of Nebraska
  • Traceability
    J. Butler, Beef Marketing Group
  • Current and future feedlot research needs: An industry perspective.
    B. Holland, Cactus Feeders 

2018 Harlan Ritchie Symposium

Chair: Dan Loy, Iowa State University 
Presented: Wednesday, March 14, 2018

  • Current trends in beef cattle genetic evaluation.
    M. L. Spangler, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
  • New technologies in cattle reproduction and the correlated acceleration of genetic gain.
    M. F. Allan, Trans Ova Genetics
  • Feed yard performance trends and analysis.
    P. T. Anderson, Midwest PMS, LLC
  • Genomewide Association analysis identifies quantitative trait Loci associated with clinical and subclinical bovine respiratory disease.
    H. L. Neibergs, Washington State University

2017 Harlan Ritchie Symposium

Chair: C. R. Dahlen, North Dakota State University
Presented Wednesday, March 15, 2017

  • Beef cattle type and selection tools have evolved to meet consumer demands and maximize producer profitability.
    D. W. Shike, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
  • Factors contributing to increased quality grade of U.S. fed cattle.
    W. J. Sexten, Certified Angus Beef, LLC
  • Where are we going as cattle get bigger?
    K. W. Bruns, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
  • Beef yield grading: History, issues and opportunities.
    T. E. Lawrence, West Texas A&M University

2016 Harlan Ritchie Symposium: 2016 Beef NRC

Chair: W.J. Sexten, Certified Angus Beef, LLC
Presented Tuesday, March 15, 2016

  • Alternative cow-calf production systems: Opportunities and challenges.
    R.J. Rasby, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
  • Implementing the 2016 Beef NRC changes in cow herd nutrition.
    Ron Lemenager, Purdue University
  • Implementing the 2016 Beef NRC changes in growing and finishing cattle.
    Galen Erickson, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
  • Transparency in the food system: Communicating science to the consumer.
    J. Jones, The Center for Food Integrity

2015 Harlan Ritchie Symposium: Have we entered a new era in beef production

Chair: Larry R. Corah, Certified Angus Beef, LLC.
Presented Tuesday, March 17, 2015

  • Trends to watch in cattle nutrition.
    G. P. Lardy, North Dakota State University, Fargo
  • Cow herd investment opportunities during a period of prosperity.
    W. J. Sexten, Division of Animal Sciences, University of
  • New innovations in how we sell beef.
    B. E. Wasser, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Centennial, CO
  • Tracking beef industry dollars.
    N. Speer, Bowling Green, KY

2014 Harlan Ritchie Beef Symposium: Today’s And Tomorrow’s Beef Industry

Chair: Maynard Hogberg, Iowa State University 
Presented Wednesday, March 19, 2014

  • Today’s and tomorrow’s application of DNA genomics.
    K. Andersen, Zoetis Animal Genetics
  • Tomorrow’s feedlot industry.
    T. Brink, formerly of JBS Five Rivers Cattle Feeding
  • Future applications of reproductive technologies in the beef industry.
    G. Seidel, Colorado State University
  • Current state of distillers utilization.
    G. Erickson, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

2013 Harlan Ritchie Beef Symposium

Chair: Larry Corah, Certified Angus Beef Program
Presented Tuesday, March 12, 2013

  • The future of genomic selection in animal agriculture.
    J. Taylor, University of Missouri
  • Industry issue or opportunity – Increasing carcass weights?
    J. Stika,Certified Angus Beef LLC
  • Creating customer-centric beef production systems.
    N. Speer, Western Kentucky University
  • Economic rewards of hitting consumer targets for beef.
    S. Brown, University of Missouri

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