Virginia Tech alumni and faculty to be inducted into the Virginia Livestock Hall of Fame

A group of Virginia’s livestock and horse organizations will induct five new members into the Virginia Livestock Hall of Fame located at the Alphin-Stuart Livestock Teaching Arena on Virginia Tech's Blacksburg campus.

The 2014 inductees will have their portraits hung in the arena during a ceremony to be held Saturday, Sept. 27, at 10 a.m. Family, friends, and the public are invited to attend. 

The portrait gallery was relocated in 2012 to the Alphin-Stuart Livestock Teaching Arena from the Meadow Pavilion at the State Fair of Virginia in Doswell, Virginia.

"The Livestock Hall of Fame allows Virginia’s beef, sheep, dairy, pork, and horse industries to recognize those who have made outstanding contributions to the commonwealth’s livestock industry," said Ike Eller, a retired Virginia Cooperative Extension animal scientist who chairs the hall of fame committee. "We are proud to celebrate the accomplishments of this year’s honorees. They join a distinguished group of leaders who have helped make Virginia’s livestock industry what it is today."

The 2014 inductees are:

• William E. Blalock of Baskerville, Virginia; 1955 Virginia Tech alumnus, dairy farmer, and Holstein cattle breeder.
• Patricia Ann (Keller) Douglas of Berryville, Virginia; board member, president, and office manager of the Virginia Angus Association and cattle farm manager.
• Arden N. Huff of Dugspur, Virginia; 1955 Virginia Tech alumnus, Virginia Tech professor emeritus of animal science and Extension horse specialist, and judging team coach.
• John H. Parker of Dinwiddie, Virginia; executive director of the Virginia Pork Industry Association (1972-2014) and North Carolina Department of Agriculture Livestock Marketing agent.
• Louis Andre "Andy" Swiger of Blacksburg, Virginia; dean emeritus of the Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and head of the Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences.

Established in 2009, the Virginia Livestock Hall of Fame bestows honor and recognition on outstanding Virginians who have made significant contributions to the state’s livestock industry and its people. The Virginia Cattlemen’s Association, Virginia Pork Industry Association, Virginia Sheep Producers Association, Virginia State Dairymen’s Association, and Virginia Horse Council have the opportunity to nominate living or deceased individuals to the Virginia Livestock Hall of Fame. 

Since its inception, 48 industry leaders have been recognized.

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