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Well-known member
Congratulations, Bill Rishel.
Bill Rishel has been inducted into the Nebraska Cattlemen Hall of Fame for his work in shaping, promoting and preserving the beef industry. The Lincoln County rancher was presented with a pair of spurs in a glass case during the organization's annual convention on Dec. 6 in Kearney.
Chuck Folken, past president of the NC, made the presentation. He said the induction is the most prestigious honor the NC gives.
"It's really based on lifelong dedication," Folken said. "Bill's leadership ability has been second to none, and his contributions in the line of genetics have been amazing."
According to his biography, Rishel's passion for the cattle industry developed when he was a child living on his family's crop and livestock farm in York, Pa. It was further fueled when he attended Penn State University, where he worked in the campus beef barn and was a member of the 1966 national champion livestock judging team.
Rishel obtained a bachelor's degree in animal science in 1967 and a master's degree in animal breeding two years later. He went on to manage Sayre Farms in Phelps, N.Y. and Topp Hill Farms in Hillsdale, N.Y. before moving to North Platte in 1975 with his wife, Barb.
Bill worked for the National Livestock Brokers and then started Rishel Livestock Service, Inc., a sales management company in 1977. While managing sales, Rishel also developed Rishel Angus.
"Rishel Angus genetics have played a dominant role in the artificial breeding companies, American Breeders Service, Accelerated Genetics and Select Sires," Folken said. "Rishel Angus is the breeder of the number one sire for registrations in Angus breeding for 2001 and 2002 and the number one semen sire for ABS Global for two consecutive years."
Rishel has received numerous industry awards. He has been on the board of directors for the American Angus Association, Certified Angus Beef and the Nebraska Cattlemen Research and Education Foundation, on which he served as president from 2000-2001.
He was also a member of the Cattlemen's Beef Board and the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, where he was the chairman of product enhancement for two years. In 2010, Rishel was president of the Nebraska Cattlemen.
Folken said Rishel played a pivotal role both in helping the NC be the voice of the Nebraska cattle industry and in promoting the state as the beef epicenter.
"It has been said that 'When Bill speaks, everyone listens,'" Folken said. "He is the true definition of a highly respected leader. Bill is known to always be two steps ahead, which is a main reason why he has become such a dominant figure in the beef industry. Bill is truly an inspiration, and the induction couldn't have happened to a more deserving individual."
Bill Rishel has been inducted into the Nebraska Cattlemen Hall of Fame for his work in shaping, promoting and preserving the beef industry. The Lincoln County rancher was presented with a pair of spurs in a glass case during the organization's annual convention on Dec. 6 in Kearney.
Chuck Folken, past president of the NC, made the presentation. He said the induction is the most prestigious honor the NC gives.
"It's really based on lifelong dedication," Folken said. "Bill's leadership ability has been second to none, and his contributions in the line of genetics have been amazing."
According to his biography, Rishel's passion for the cattle industry developed when he was a child living on his family's crop and livestock farm in York, Pa. It was further fueled when he attended Penn State University, where he worked in the campus beef barn and was a member of the 1966 national champion livestock judging team.
Rishel obtained a bachelor's degree in animal science in 1967 and a master's degree in animal breeding two years later. He went on to manage Sayre Farms in Phelps, N.Y. and Topp Hill Farms in Hillsdale, N.Y. before moving to North Platte in 1975 with his wife, Barb.
Bill worked for the National Livestock Brokers and then started Rishel Livestock Service, Inc., a sales management company in 1977. While managing sales, Rishel also developed Rishel Angus.
"Rishel Angus genetics have played a dominant role in the artificial breeding companies, American Breeders Service, Accelerated Genetics and Select Sires," Folken said. "Rishel Angus is the breeder of the number one sire for registrations in Angus breeding for 2001 and 2002 and the number one semen sire for ABS Global for two consecutive years."
Rishel has received numerous industry awards. He has been on the board of directors for the American Angus Association, Certified Angus Beef and the Nebraska Cattlemen Research and Education Foundation, on which he served as president from 2000-2001.
He was also a member of the Cattlemen's Beef Board and the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, where he was the chairman of product enhancement for two years. In 2010, Rishel was president of the Nebraska Cattlemen.
Folken said Rishel played a pivotal role both in helping the NC be the voice of the Nebraska cattle industry and in promoting the state as the beef epicenter.
"It has been said that 'When Bill speaks, everyone listens,'" Folken said. "He is the true definition of a highly respected leader. Bill is known to always be two steps ahead, which is a main reason why he has become such a dominant figure in the beef industry. Bill is truly an inspiration, and the induction couldn't have happened to a more deserving individual."