Missouri cattle producer Jim McCann, from Miller, received the 2014 Missouri Beef Cattle Legacy Award, recognizing him for leadership in Missouri's beef cattle industry. Missouri Agriculture Director Richard Fordyce presented McCann with the award during the 45th Missouri Governor's Conference on Agriculture.

As Missouri's Cattle Legacy Award recipient, McCann, owner of Shining Cross Farm, LLC, was recognized for his outstanding contributions to Missouri agriculture. McCann has been a longtime member of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association where he is a leader on the National Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Program and sits on the BQA advisory board.

LEAVING A LEGACY: Jim McCann receives the 2014 Missouri Beef Cattle Legacy Award from Missouri Agriculture Director Richard Fordyce during the Missouri Governor's Conference on Agriculture last month. Also seen here is Missouri State Veterinarian Linda Hickam.

McCann's farm backgrounds steers, taking them to 9-weights on fescue-based pastures and grain supplementation, and runs a small cowherd. McCann and his wife, Linda, and their children, hold regular management meetings to make family business decisions. The McCann family includes Travis McCann and Jason McCann, and Monica Chute.

McCann is president of the state's largest and longest beef cattle organization--the Missouri Cattlemen's Association. His work with the Cattlemen's Association allows him to travel the state working to build, strengthen and advocate for the beef industry.

"The Missouri cattle industry continues to be a success story for our state time and time again," Fordyce said. "It's examples like Jim McCann who are bringing together cattlemen across our state to move the needle in agriculture."

Missouri's Beef Cattle Legacy Award was recognized alongside Legacy Awards in Soybean, Corn, Pork, Poultry, Forestry, Dairy, Rice and Cotton, the Missouri Farm Innovation Award, the Missouri Agriculture Environmental Steward Award, Missouri Ag Education Leader Award and the Missouri Food Animal Veterinarian Award at the 2014 Missouri' Governor's Conference on Agriculture closing banquet.

Source: Missouri Cattlemen's Association