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KIRKSVILLE, MISSOURI -- Press Release from University of Missouri Extension

Paul Wilson of Shelbyville, MO has been selected as the 2010 Northeast Missouri Livestock Person of the Year.  He will be inducted into the Missouri Livestock Symposium’s Hall of Fame at the 2010 Missouri Livestock Symposium scheduled for December 3 and 4, 2010 in Kirksville, MO.

Paul Wilson has been an active livestock producer and advocate for livestock producers and livestock production in general.  According to Bruce Lane, vice-chair of the Missouri Livestock Symposium committee, “Paul’s dedication and service to the community, region and state represent exactly what the honor of Livestock Person of the Year is all about.”

As an innovative and creative diversified livestock producer, Paul continues to be active in livestock production.  He was born in Shelby County, Missouri in 1937, attended a one-room school, and graduated from Shelbyville High School before attending and graduating from Northeast Missouri State University, which is now Truman State University.  He taught school in Meadville, Shelbyville and Troy, Missouri where he had a positive impact on his students.  In 1964, Paul, his wife Louise and children Diana and Rob moved back to a 300 acre farm owned by his parents. There they lived in one house with four generations of his family until the new farm home was built for his parents.  At the time, the farm consisted of a few cattle on feed and two milk cows. The farming and livestock operation has since grown and Paul and his brother Jim presently own 1,100 acres and rent four additional farms for a total of over 2,000 acres. The cattle operation includes an automatic system and several silos that utilize high moisture corn and other commodities to finish over 1,000 head of cattle in the past, and has in the last few years fed 500 head. The Wilson sons (Robert, Mike and Mark) were all involved with livestock production and FFA.

Over the years, Paul Wilson has received numerous awards including the Honorary Agriculture Alumni Award from the University of Missouri, University of Missouri Extension Distinguished Leadership Honor Roll, the Shelbina Chamber of Commerce Farmers Day Award, and the Shelby County Extension and Grange Community Award recognizing him for his outstanding leadership and service.

In terms of service specific to the livestock industry, Paul served as treasurer on the first Board of Directors of the Missouri Beef Industry Council.  He has been involved with Farm Bureau for over 30 years where he served on numerous committees, was on the Board of Directors for Area 3, served as vice-president of the Farm Bureau Board and was a national delegate for Missouri.  Interestingly, Paul has worked on agricultural trade with Japan and on farm issues related to bankruptcy during the 1980’s. He has hosted several statewide beef cattle tours and worked on clean water and pollution issues through his efforts with the Conservation Commission.

Paul currently serves as Mayor of Shelbyville and is a valued member of the University of Missouri’s Greenley Research Center Advisory Committee.  He has served on the MFA Oil Board of Directors, is a Freeman 4-H Club Community Leader and a board member of the Lutheran Church.

Paul Wilson will be honored at the Missouri Livestock Symposium Friday evening, December 3.  His hand painted oil portrait will be unveiled and he will be welcomed into the Northeast Missouri Livestock Producers Hall of Fame.

Additional information about the Livestock Person of the Year Award or the Missouri Livestock Symposium can be found on our Website at http://www.missourilivestock.com/ or call Bruce Lane (660-665-9866) or Garry Mathes (660-341-6625) or, email lanen@missouri.edu.