Joel Dickinson of Barnesville, Ohio, received the Pioneer Breeder Award from International Texas Longhorn Association President Larry P. Smith II at the Oct. 9 ITLA annual convention and banquet. Dickinson has raised registered Texas longhorns for 40 years, starting at age 9.
The annual Pioneer Breeder Award is presented to honor an ITLA member who has, over a period of 15 years or more, demonstrated a strong commitment to ITLA and exceptional initiative in establishing a Texas longhorn of superior value genetically, with commercial merit.
Based at Glen Rose, Texas, ITLA registers pure Texas longhorn cattle, holds educational seminars to strengthen efforts by producers, trains and approves show judges, sponsors shows all over the United States, and works to promote the breed worldwide.
Dickinson manages Dickinson Cattle Co. in Belmont County, Ohio, running up to 1,300 cattle on about 5,000 acres. He manages scientific efforts to improve the breed with progressive breeding by AI, embryo transfer and careful banding of select genetics. In recent years, progress has been made developing genes with high omega-3 fatty acids for cutting-edge human health benefits.
Dickinson Cattle Co. provides public educational pasture tours in buses, with 75-minute narration by DCC staff. High omega-3 Texas longhorn beef is sold at the Longhorns Head to Tail Store near the operation.