The highly coveted Bovine Practitioner of the Year award from the American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP) was recently given to Dr. Tom Latta of Spearman, Texas, at the 2013 AABP Annual Conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The award, sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc., honors a veterinarian in who is active in organized veterinary medicine and who has made significant contributions to bovine medicine.Six other bovine veterinarians also were honored at the Annual Business Meeting and Lunch on Sept. 21.

Merial Excellence in Preventive Medicine
Dr. Scott Tripp, Richmond, Utah (Dairy)
Dr. Randall Spare, Ashland, Kansas (Beef)
This award recognizes individual member practitioners or practices that have developed outstanding preventive medicine programs. Because of differences in management goals and needs, one award is given to recognize an outstanding program for dairy production, and one for beef production.

AABP Award of Excellence
Dr. Ken Nordlund, University of Wisconsin
Sponsored by AABP, recipients must be involved in teaching, research, industry or government areas. The recipient’s professional activities must have had a consistent and direct influence on daily activities of veterinarians in bovine practice.

Zoetis Distinguished Service Award
Dr. Robert Van Saun, Pennsylvania State University
The recipient of this award is an individual who, through long and continued service, has promoted the goals of the AABP and whose accomplishments have served as a model for service to bovine agriculture through organized veterinary medicine.

Merck Animal Health Mentor of the Year Award
Dr. Robert BonDurant, University of California – Davis
The recipient of this award is an AABP member who has been engaged in the field of veterinary medicine for at least 25 years and has served as both advisor and role model to pre-veterinary and/or veterinary students. This award is given to a member who embodies this spirit whether in practice, the clinic or the classroom.

James A. Jarrett Award for Young Leaders
Dr. Ben Wileman, Willmar, Minnesota
This award is for a deserving AABP member within 10 calendar years of graduation from veterinary school. Recipients will have given extraordinary service to the AABP in a manner that significantly enhances the mission of the organization.

Cattle Production Veterinarian Hall of Fame
Dr. Elmer Woelffer, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin (Dairy, deceased)
Dr. Don Williams, Colorado Springs, Colorado (Beef)
This annually recognizes one beef and one dairy veterinarian for their lifelong commitment to bovine veterinary medicine. This award is sponsored by AABP, the Academy of Veterinary Consultants, Bovine Veterinarian, Merck Animal Health and OsbornBarr. PD

—From American Association of Bovine Practitioners news release