Source: Dan Thomson, 785-532-4254, dthomson@vet.k-state.edu
Photo available. Contact media@k-state.edu or 785-532-2535.

Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2010

NESS COUNTY NATIVE RECEIVES BEEF CATTLE VETERINARIAN OF THE YEAR AWARD

MANHATTAN -- Randall Norton is the 2010 recipient of the Beef Cattle Veterinarian of the Year award from the Beef Cattle Institute at Kansas State University's College of Veterinary Medicine.

The honor was presented at the 2010 American Association of Bovine Practitioners meeting, Aug. 18-21, at Albuquerque, N.M. Nearly 200 K-State veterinary alumni and students attended.

"It is an honor to see someone of such work ethic and integrity receive an award from our university. Dr. Randy Norton is an example for all beef cattle veterinarians to follow," said Dan Thomson, director of the Beef Cattle Institute. "He and his family mean a lot to our program and our students."

Norton is a native of Ness County, where he was raised on the family farm. He attended Fort Hays State University before transferring to K-State to complete his pre-veterinary course work. He graduated from the K-State College of Veterinary Medicine in 1989. He then practiced in Albion, Neb., for a year before returning to the family farm. He opened a mobile veterinary practice while farming with his father.

Norton married his vet school classmate, Judy Harper, in 1992. They opened Walnut Fork Veterinary Service in 1995 in Utica. Norton continues to farm, run a beef cowherd and practice veterinary medicine.

As a K-State alum, Norton has given back to his alma mater. He has served on the interview committee for potential veterinary students at the College of Veterinary Medicine. He has provided many mentorship experiences in his practice to first- and second-year K-State veterinary students, and he remains engaged with the college's faculty through teaching students or working on cases he sees in the field, Thomson said.