2007 Recipients of the Dairy Science Hall of Service

Dr. Maurice Eastridge, Dairy Specialist, The Ohio State University 

The annual Dairy Banquet for the Department of Animal Sciences and the Buckeye Dairy Club was held on Saturday, May 12 at the Der Dutchman in Plain City. One of the highlights of the banquet was the induction of Mr. Tom Noyes (Creston, OH) and Mr. Lowell Stevens (Urbana, OH) into the Dairy Science Hall of Service. This award was initiatied in 1952 with the objectives to recognize worthy men and women who have made a substantial and noteworthy contribution toward the improvement of the dairy industry of Ohio, elevated the stature of dairy farmers, or inspired students enrolled at the Ohio State University. The citations for the 2007 award recipients are provided below.

Tom Noyes grew up on a small farm in Johnston, Rhode Island and was a 10-year member of 4-H and Boy Scouts, attaining the rank of Life Scout. He spent his high school and college years working on family dairy farms and spent some time working at a wholesale produce market.

He graduated in 1967 with a B.S. in Agriculture from the University of Rhode Island, with a major in Animal Science and a minor in crops and agronomy. In 1974, he completed a M.S. in Agriculture from the University of Massachusetts with a major in Animal Science (dairy nutrition) and a minor in Agronomy.

His first position was with the University of Massachusetts Cooperative Extension Service in Berkshire County, Massachusetts as an Extension 4-H Youth Agent (1967 to 1974). He had the responsibility of 4-H youth programs in Berkshire County and in conducting regional dairy programs for the 4-H youth. He coached the state dairy judging team, winning the national contest in 1972, and he assisted with the writing of the 4-H Dairy Project Material that was in use in Massachusetts.

From July, 1974 to October, 2005, he was the Extension Dairy Agent for Ohio State University Extension in Wayne County. As an Extension agent, he was responsible for planning, conducting, and teaching dairy Extension programs in Wayne County and northeast Ohio. He was a member of the OSU State Extension Dairy Team, Northeast Ohio Dairy Excel Team, OSU Extension Forage team, and the OSU Extension Sustainable Agriculture Team. He has conducted field research in dairy nutrition, forage production, and farm financial management. He wrote bi-weekly news columns for the Wooster Daily Record Newspaper, monthly columns for the Dairy Excel program, grazing articles for Farm and Dairy, and various articles for the OSU dairy newsletter known as the Buckeye Dairy News.

He has been involved in many professional organizations, including Ohio Extension Agents Association and the National Association of County Agricultural Agents, having received the Distinguished Service Award from both organizations; American Dairy Science Association; National Mastitis Council (served on Education Committee); Ohio Forage and Grassland Council (received Distinguished Service Award); American Forage and Grassland Council; American Jersey Cattle Association; Ohio Jersey Breeders Association (received Pioneer Service Award); and National Ayrshire and Ohio Ayrshire Breeders Associations. He served on the Planning Committee for the Tri-State Dairy Nutrition Conference for 3 years.

Tom is currently retired from The Ohio State University Extension, and he owns and operates, along with his wife (Rosalie), daughter (Cheryl King), and son-in-law (Russell King), a 100-cow dairy farm that utilizes management intensive grazing. The dairy has been operating at 9959 Canaan Center Road, Creston, OH since 1983. He enjoys vegetable and flower gardening and playing golf, including assisting the local Boy Scout troop as advisor to gardening and golf merit badges. He is a member of the Wooster- Madisonburg Evening Lions (Past President), and he does some consulting on dairy management and teaching Extension dairy programs upon request, including teaching milking management schools and milking system trouble shooting for Amish dairy producers.

Throughout his life, Tom has exemplified a passion for the dairy industry. From his professional role as an educator to managing a family dairy operation, he has taken hold of the advancements in agriculture. He has shared his knowledge, skills, and leadership with many organizations connected with the dairy industry. The recognition provided as a recipient of the Dairy Hall of Service Award is most fitting for his life of service to the Ohio dairy industry.

Lowell W. Stevens was born in Champaign County, OH on April 7, 1939, and he has been a part of the dairy industry ever since. He grew up showing Jersey cattle in 4-H and became a Dairy Herd Improvement milk tester after graduating from Urbana Local High School in 1957. During those 9 years as a milk tester, he met a girl on a Holstein farm named Julia Yoder, and they have now been married for over 43 years. Lowell and Julia have 2 daughters (Molly McCumons and Margaret Sennett) and 5 grandchildren.

Following a stint with the Air Force National Guard, Lowell began to work for NOB A in 1964, breeding cows for farmers in Champaign and Logan Counties. During the last 41 years, he has been with the organization as it has progressed from NOBA to Genex. Lowell has served as a breeding technician, Area Sales Representative, and during the past 8 years, he has served as an Area Program Consultant. Throughout his tenure at Genex, Lowell has developed a very profitable sales unit with a loyal customer base through his dependable service and valuable advice and training on sire selection and A.I. training, and his experiences have been priceless in training newer employees.

The Stevens family was in partnership with Mrs. F.E. Lowry, and in 1980, Lowell and Julia purchased his family's half of the Jersey herd. Club Hill Jerseys was formed from this very successful partnership, and over the next several years, Club Hill Jerseys and the Stevens family enjoyed much notoriety on the show circuit. For example, at the 1985 Ohio State Fair, Club Hill Jerseys enjoyed a banner day, winning Junior Champion, Grand Champion, and Premier Breeder and Exhibitor. His family has participated in the All-American Jersey Show for 12 years, with highlights including several Genetic Index Awards and breeding the 1989 Reserve Grand Champion. Club Hill Jerseys was always a regular stop for 4-H and collegiate judging teams from across the country, especially when practicing en route to the World Dairy Expo. In 1992, Club Hill Jerseys hosted a complete dispersal that commanded the highest sale average ($1700) and the highest selling female at public auction ($10,000) for the year.

Lowell's eye for good cattle has been realized in the steady improvement of his customers' herds and the accomplishments of his own herd, and it has also been recognized through his appointments as a judge. In addition to overseeing several county and district shows each summer, Lowell has judged many state and national shows, including being Associate Judge at the All-American Jr. Jersey Show.

Lowell was a director on the Champaign County Dairy Service Unit for 30 years, serving in many positions including President. Lowell's commitment to youth is evident as he has served as a Chair of the Junior OJBA, he has served as a 4-H advisor for 25 years, and he sat on both the county and state 4-H Advisory Boards. He served on the 2006 All-American Junior Jersey Activities Committee, a national committee that he has chaired twice. He has also served on the Spring Dairy Expo Committee, the State Ethics Committee, and the Host Day Committee for the 2000 National Holstein Convention. He was Co-Chair for the 2003 National Jersey Convention held in Ohio. Lowell currently represents Genex on the board of the Ohio Dairy Producers, and he is a member of OJBA (has served as President and represented District 9 for many years), Ohio PDCA, American Jersey Cattle Association, and National Dairy Shrine. For many years, Lowell has assisted Julia in managing the secretarial and treasury duties of the OJBA. Lowell is probably most well-known in Jersey circles on the state level for the outstanding Ohio Spring Classic sale that he manages every Memorial Day that consistently rates as one of the best state sales in the country.

Among the awards that he has received include: DHIA Superior Achievement Award (1966), Ohio Jersey Breeders' Pioneer Service Award (1990), 1995 Kentucky Colonel, Ohio State Fair Hall of Fame (2000), and Genex Mission Award (2006). Lowell is a member of the Urbana United Methodist Church where he has been President of the Methodist Men and served on the Church Administrative Board. The recognition provided as a recipient of the Dairy Hall of Service Award is most fitting for commitment to advancing the Jersey breed, his dedication to educating youth, and his untiring efforts to advance the Ohio dairy industry.