In recognition of his contributions to the National Western Stock Show (NWSS) and the University of Wyoming over more than three decades of service, the Red Meat Club of Denver has named Dr. Doug Hixon the 2020 Friend of the National Western. Hixon will be honored at the group’s annual meeting at the National Western Club on Jan. 16, 2020.
Hixon judged at the National Western almost every year from 1982-2015, evaluating bulls and females of numerous breeds in addition to feeder cattle, pens, and market steers. He also served as superintendent of both the collegiate carload and livestock judging contests.
He retired from the University of Wyoming in 2013 after a 31-year career in Laramie, 13 of which were spent as head of the Department of Animal Science.
Born and raised on a grain and livestock farm in east central Illinois, Hixon received his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. from the University of Illinois where he managed the purebred and commercial beef cow research heard as well as the feedlot research facility. After a brief stint at the University of Tennessee, he and his family moved to Laramie in 1982 as he began his lengthy career as an assistant professor and beef cattle extension specialist.
As extension specialist, Hixon served as state coordinator of the Wyoming Integrated Resource Management program, assisting Wyoming livestock producers in evaluating and integrating management and production resources critical to decision-making to enhance profitability to the production system. As leader of the Wyoming Beef Cattle Improvement Association, he directed the group’s Bull Test and Sale, Replacement Heifer Development Programs, and Feedlot Test and Carcass Evaluation Program.
Hixon’s research activities focused on studying the effects of heifer development and management systems of 2-year-old, first-calf heifers on their future production under range conditions. His focus also included management systems and cow herd winter nutrition on production, reproductive efficiency, and economic return.
At Wyoming, Hixon taught beef production and management classes for over 20 years. In addition to his teaching duties he served as academic advisor for 25-45 undergraduate students each year, while directing eight graduate students and serving on 21 additional graduate student committees over his career.
Hixon has judged national, regional, and state beef cattle shows in 31 states, including national junior beef breed association shows for the Angus, Limousin, Salers, Gelbvieh, and Red Angus breeds. In addition to numerous shows throughout the years at the National Western, he has also judged the North American International Livestock Show, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, the American Royal Livestock Show, the Fort Worth Stock Show, and the San Antonio International Livestock Show.
Hixon stays active in retirement working with Marilyn, his wife of 52 years. Like most parents and grandparents, the couple follows the activities of their three adult children and their families which includes six grandchildren and two step-grandchildren. They also enjoy following University of Wyoming Cowboy and Cowgirl athletics, and Hixon assists the Cowboy Joe Club with their Steer-A-Year Program.
The Red Meat Club will also welcome Junie Anna Potts, president and CEO of the North American Meat Institute, as featured speaker for the evening. Those interested in attending should contact Anneliese Phippen at 303-299-5556 or aphippen@nationalwestern.com to see if reservations are still available. — NWSS
