Class of 2014

Dr. Louis Harrod was a practicing veterinarian for 34 years from 1944 until 1978. His specialty was large animals and they made up about 75% of his business. Dr. Harrod was seen as the primary resource for large animal health treatment and disease prevention in eastern Allen County. It is believed that he played an important role in advancing livestock production standards in Allen County through his incomparable commitment to his farmer clientele and the health and longevity of their herds. Dr. Harrod’s dedication to his profession and clients inspired him to put in an average 70 hour work week – always available for emergencies. He also had a reputation for keeping to a schedule. If Dr. Harrod told a farmer he would be at the farm at a certain time, you could set your watch by him. It was his philosophy that other people’s time was a valuable as his own and they should not be kept waiting for the vet.

During the final years of his career, Dr. Harrod worked for the US Department of Agriculture as a federal meat inspector in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. He was responsible for inspecting live animals prior to slaughter, and evaluated slaughtered carcasses to make sure they met USDA requirements. Dr. Harrod’s service record also includes 8 years as a school board member for Allen East and Auglaize Township Local (Harrod) and two years in the US Air Force.

Ray Whetstone was a fourth generation farmer whose career spanned 51 years by the time he retired in 1986. He was the first in Allen County to receive the FFA American Farmer Degree. Ray has been a lifetime member and leader in the Lima Farmers Club. His dedication to that organization is grounded in supporting its purpose of educating farmers. Mr. Whetstone is widely recognized as an innovator, forward-thinker, life-long learner, meticulous to detail, and a researcher. His 400 acre grain operation featured ten different soil types, providing him with an ideal landscape for field tests on fertilizer, chemicals, seed hybrids, crop rotations and tillage. Those who partnered with him in crop research included OSU Extension, The Ohio State University, Allen Soil and Water Conservation District, Sohigro/Sohio Chemical, and the National Agriculture Chemicals Association. Through published results and field days, he was also active in sharing the results with other farmers to help improve crop production methods in Allen County.

Mr. Whetstone also assisted in organizing tours for farmers to explore the agriculture industry in other parts of the US and the world. Such efforts included a Europe Common Market Tour (1970), a cattle buy trip to the Sand Hills of Nebraska, and Top Farmers of America Tours in the 1960s where he was host to Costa Rica, Spain and Morocco trips.