American Association of Bovine Practitioners – September 11-13, 2025

Event

The American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP) held its 58th annual conference September 11-13 in Omaha, Nebraska.

Program

The conference drew 1,074 attendees. Natasha Nicholes, founder of We Sow We Grow, an urban agriculture initiative in Chicago, gave the keynote address, "Bridging Fields: Aligning the Values of Urban Agriculture and Bovine Practice." Nebraska governor and special guest, Dr. Jim Pillen, addressed attendees. Continuing education included sessions on beef cattle, dairy cattle, clinical skills, mental health, and practice management; student sessions; and sessions from the American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners. Also on offer was a trade show, a 5K Stampede Fun Run, and the Amstutz Scholarship live and silent auctions. Student members who received $343,000 total in scholarships this year from the AABP were recognized at the conference.

Awards

Boehringer Ingelheim Bovine Practitioner of the Year

Dr. Mark Thomas (Cornell '97), Torréon, Mexico. Dr. Thomas is a partner at Dairy Health Management Services, working with dairies in North America, China, Russia, and Mexico. He previously practiced at Countryside Veterinary Clinic in Lowville, New York. A diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP) in dairy practice, Dr. Thomas is a past president of the AABP.

AABP Award of Excellence

Dr. Renée Dewell (Colorado State '96), Nevada, Iowa. Dr. Dewell served as a lead public health veterinarian at Iowa State University's Center for Food Security and Public Health prior to retirement. She previously worked at the Great Plains Veterinary Educational Center in Clay Center, Nebraska. Known for her expertise in cattle welfare, Dr. Dewell serves as a resource for information on transboundary animal diseases and zoonotic diseases and for local, state, and federal agencies to prepare for animal emergencies.

Merck Mentor of the Year

Dr. Hunter Lang received this award posthumously (see obituary). A 1981 veterinary graduate of Michigan State University, Dr. Lang practiced in Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin, from 1982 until retirement in 2022. He was the AABP delegate to the AVMA House of Delegates from 2021-24 and was a past AABP District 5 director. Dr. Lang was known for his passion for assisting veterinary students.

Zoetis Distinguished Service Award

Dr. Pat Gorden (Iowa State '93), Ames, Iowa. A past president of the AABP, Dr. Gorden is a professor and director of Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine's Food Supply Veterinary Medicine section. He also serves as director of operations for the university's Veterinary Field Services Unit. A diplomate of the ABVP in dairy practice and the American College of Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology, Dr. Gorden is a joint representative of the AABP and AVMA to the National Conference on Interstate Milk Shipments.

Dr. James A. Jarrett Award for Young Leaders

Dr. Michelle Schack (California-Davis '15), Phoenix. Dr. Schack serves as a consulting veterinarian with Dairy Veterinary Services in Chandler, Arizona. She is also a co-founder of DairyKind, a platform that trains and monitors animal well-being practices on dairy farms. Dr. Schack is active on social media, providing education on and advocating for livestock production to consumers and the dairy industry.

Officials

Drs. Callie Willingham, Prosper, Texas, president; Mark Hilton, West Lafayette, Indiana, president-elect; Elizabeth Kohtz, Twin Falls, Idaho, vice president; Brian Reed, Lititz, Pennsylvania, treasurer; Richard Wallace, McFarland, Wisconsin, parliamentarian; and Dave Sjeklocha, Topeka, Kansas, immediate past president