Kevin Herrick Senior Manager, Dairy and Livestock Technical Services Purina Animal Nutrition Gray Summit, Missouri
What education are you bringing with you to this position?
I hold a Bachelor of Science in animal science, a Master of Science in ruminant nutrition and a Ph.D. in dairy science from South Dakota State University. My Ph.D. work focused on the effects of butyrate supplementation on metabolism and production in lactating dairy cows. My Ph.D. work was recognized with a Midwest American Dairy Science Association (ADSA) Young Scholar award in 2013 and the John Brandt Scholarship in 2011.
Please describe your agricultural background.
I grew up on a family dairy farm in South Dakota. We farmed approximately 1,000 acres of small grains and alfalfa, and milked approximately 60 Holstein cows. During high school, I was very active in the local FFA program and held several local and district officer positions.
What territory will you cover?
My office is located at our research farm, the Purina Animal Nutrition Center in Gray Summit, Missouri. The center is the heart of the company and the backdrop for the company’s extensive nutrition research.
What are your new responsibilities?
I lead a cross-functional team that works with research and development, sales and marketing to provide technical resources to consultants in the field.
What previous positions have you held?
Before joining Purina Animal Nutrition, I worked for Kemin as the dairy technical service manager in North America. Prior to this, I worked as the ruminant global product manager at Kemin, as a dairy production consultant for Land O’ Lakes Purina Feed and as the herdsman for Cederberg Dairy, a 1,000-cow herd in Ramona, South Dakota.
Who has made the biggest impact on your career?
I’ve been fortunate to have several influential mentors, including my high school vo-ag instructor, co-workers and previous supervisors. However, I think that my Ph.D. advisors (Drs. Arnold Hippen and Kenneth Kalscheur) probably had the biggest impact because of the time they took to help me take the next step in my education and career.
How will you be of most help to producers in your region or area of expertise?
I think the biggest asset will be my experience in sales, production and research. This gives me a unique perspective that allows me to interpret data and the ability to present the data in a manner that will provide the most value to producers.
Why did you choose this company?
I previously worked for Purina Animal Nutrition and wanted to eventually return because I really enjoyed the people and culture of the company.
What goals would you like to accomplish while in this position?
My main goal is to work with the technical service team to continue to provide services that add value to the producer as well as to the company. PD
