William “Bill” Webster, past president of the Colorado Cattle Feeder’s Association, now known as the Colorado Livestock Association, was selected as the 2018 Livestock Leader by Colorado State University’s Animal Sciences Department.
Bill has spent his career dedicated to the innovation and progression of the cattle feeding industry and to strengthening his local community.
“His desire to create efficiencies and improvements within the livestock industry made him well known and very well respected,” said Kevin Pond, head of CSU’s Department of Animal Sciences. “He also worked diligently to strengthen his community and the state of Colorado.”
Bill made many contributions to agriculture that revolutionized the cattle industry from new feeding techniques, to implementing new computer technology while owning and operating Webster Land and Cattle.
Bill enrolled in Animal Sciences as a freshman at CSU in 1951, later serving in the US Army for two years and then returned to CSU. Bill left CSU in 1957 to develop his vision. The family purchased a 3,000 head capacity feedlot in 1961. This feedlot became a custom feeding operation that fed cattle for ranchers and investors throughout the United States, Canada and Japan. The operation expanded to 25,000 head capacity. Danny joined his father, Bill, in the operation of the feedlot after college.
Bill and Danny’s record of service to both local and state entities is impressive. Bill was a Weld County Commissioner and a member of the Colorado Legislature. He served on several national beef industry committees and was a Director of Safeway Stores. Bill also served on several state level committees dealing with two of the major issues of our time; water and environment. He was also active as a civic leader in Greeley. Bill was inducted into the Farm Credit Colorado Agricultural Hall of Fame in February 2017.
Bill returned to Colorado State University Animal Sciences in fall of 2013 to complete his remaining coursework for his Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science; at the age of 81, Bill received his degree in spring 2014.
He was a founder of the Boys and Girls Club of Weld County, County Commissioner, State Representative and was active in many agriculture related and community development organizations like Colorado Livestock Association formerly known as Colorado Cattle Feeder’s Association, National Cattleman’s Beef Association, United Way of Weld County and Aims Community College Agriculture Advisory Board.
