Livestock Marketeers induct two into Hall of Fame

The Livestock Marketeers—an informal fraternity of livestock fieldmen, auctioneers, sale managers and related livestock business leaders—met for their 53rd annual banquet at the National Western Club during the National Western Stock Show. The event was hosted by American Live Stock. Master of ceremonies was J. Neil Orth, executive vice president of the American International Charolais Association and 1984 hall of fame inductee.

The Livestock Marketeers group was formed in 1965 by Harry Green, Ross Miller and Claud Willett. Their purpose was to establish a fraternal organization of livestock professionals and to make annual awards to encourage younger members of the industry to succeed in their chosen profession This year’s inductees were Tim Lackey and Mark Smith.

Lackey grew up showing and selling Hereford cattle on his diversified family farm in Shelbina, Missouri, where he was very active at the local and state level. His college career was interrupted after his freshman year when he was drafted by the U.S. Army to serve a tour in Germany. After his tour of duty, he returned to the University of Missouri and graduated with a bachelor’s in animal science. While attending MU, he was a member of the Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity and competed on the meats and livestock judging team, where he was second high individual at Louisville in 1977.

Quickly joining the workforce Lackey went to work for the Drovers Journal in 1978 where he covered the state of Missouri for nine years. In 1987, he left the Drovers to spend more time on his family farm where along with his brother Kerry they maintain 500 acres of crops and 120 cows. Lackey has stayed active in the marketing circles as he covers sales for various publications. Lackey plans to continue raising cattle and working ring side as long as he is able.

Smith was born and raised in Jefferson City, Missouri, and attended Jefferson City Public Schools, graduating in 1974. In 1978, Smith graduated from the University of Missouri with a degree in animal science. While at Mizzou, Smith was active in Farmhouse Fraternity, Block and Bridle Club and was a member of the Livestock Judging team in 1976 to 1977.

After graduation, Smith took a job for The Record Stockman in Denver, Colorado, and moved to North Platte, Nebraska, as field editor for Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota. In 1980, Smith went to work for the Limousin World in Ft. Collins, Colorado and covered the upper Midwest.

In 1983, Smith joined Ken Holloway and Bruce Brooks at American Cattle Services of Chattanooga, Oklahoma, where they managed limousin sales across the U.S. and Canada. In 1987, Smith was hired by the North American Limousin Foundation of Denver, Colorado, as the director of advertising and member services. In 1990, Smith went to work for Symens Brothers Limousin in Amherst, South Dakota, and in partnership with Symens Brothers started and managed LimiGene Semen Sales and Consulting, then located in Longmont, Colorado.

In 2000, Smith and his wife Deidre started Grasssroots Genetics, a semen sales and consulting and livestock insurance business featuring the products of American Live Stock, a division of Markel Insurance Services.

Smith has served as a board member for the Iowa Limousin Association as well as a national board member and past national president of the North American Limousin Foundation. He has been married for 25 years to Deidre Smith and they reside in Ankeny, Iowa.