National Dairy Herd Information Association (DHIA) honored Richard “Dick” Sechrist, Mt. Vernon, Ohio, with its Outstanding Service Award on March 10, in conjunction with the association’s annual meeting held in Columbus, Ohio.
Sechrist served as the association’s first executive secretary, from 1975-1987. For three years, this was a part-time position he carried out while also serving as the Ohio Ag Services Inc. general manager.
When Sechrist joined National DHIA in 1975, the association included 42 state dairy record collection entities, representing 55,000 dairy farm owners with more than 3 million dairy cows. About 2,200 testing supervisors collected data that were processed by one of nine dairy records computer centers located across the country. At that time, there was a strong need to develop DHIA managers’ business management competency. To address this need, National DHIA held numerous management seminars to teach state association managers and board members how to better operate their businesses.
Under Sechrist’s direction, National DHIA created creating Quality Certification Services Inc. (QCS) and DHIA Services. He also spent considerable time with dairy and livestock farmers in Washington, D.C. They testified before Congress seeking help in improving livestock agriculture research funding.
n 1969, Sechrist helped organize Ohio Ag Services Inc., considered a leader in the dairy records industry. Early offerings by Ohio Ag Services Inc. included mastitis screening, feed testing, ration evaluation, relief milking program and calf identification service. This dairy records entity organized the first full-scale milk meter repair and calibration center.
Prior to leading Ohio Ag Services Inc., Sechrist served as an Ohio State University dairy Extension specialist and Central Breeding Association technician and field supervisor. From 1953-59, he operated Eaglebrook Farm, Garrettsville, Ohio, his home Guernsey farm. He earned his bachelor’s degrees from Hiram College and The Ohio State University, and master’s degree from the University of Nebraska.
National DHIA, a trade association for the dairy records industry, serves the best interests of its members and the dairy industry by maintaining the integrity of dairy records and advancing dairy information systems.
Source : National DHIA
