Past Certified Angus Beef ® brand president recognized for beef leadershipM. James Riemann, Ph.D., past president of the Certified Angus Beef ® brand, was inducted into the Meat Industry Hall of Fame for his worldwide leadership that also includes meat science research at Cargill Meat Solutions and the Kansas Department of Agriculture. The Meat Industry Hall of Fame honors leaders and legends in the meat community whose visions, skills and dedication guided the industry to lead North American food production from farms and ranches to the world’s tables.

“Jim has brought professionalism, servant leadership and integrity to the meat industry, and guided it to embrace opportunities and harness real-world issues,” says John F. Stika, president of the beef brand. “His leadership has made it possible for cattlemen, meat companies and their customers to advance their focus on bringing high-quality beef to the table and greater value to their businesses.”

From 1999 to 2006 as the beef brand’s president, Riemann’s servant leadership reached every area of the company and helped restaurants and grocery stores worldwide become destinations for great-tasting beef. He began the Certified Angus Beef ® brand’s Natural product line, advanced supplies from ranchers in Canada, extended access to prime-quality product, led international partners through market closure to U.S. beef in 2003 and further developed customer services globally.

Prior to joining the brand’s staff, he led meat science research and teaching at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, and then became director of beef research and development at Cargill. Though he retired in 2006, Riemann returned to the agricultural community as the assistant secretary of agriculture for the state of Kansas. Most recently, he worked with a farm equipment company in South Australia, allowing him and his wife, Nancy, to visit with farmers across the U.S.

The induction ceremony was held in Georgia in February. Friends, family and industry leaders welcomed the Class of 2018 honorees and celebrated the evening with a Certified Angus Beef ® brand Prime steak dinner.

Riemann’s fellow inductees are:

  • Rod Bowling, ag marketing specialist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and owner of AgriFood Solutions International
  • Neil Genshaft, CEO, Fresh Mark
  • Ronald Miniat, chairman of the board for Miniat Holdings (deceased)
  • Elsa Murano, director or Borlaug Institute and past president of Texas A&M University
  • Jimmy Wise, retired meats judging program coordinator for the American Meat Science Association and marketing specialist for the Agricultural Marketing Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture

The class joins the hall of legends, which also includes Louis M. “Mick” Colvin, the Certified Angus Beef ® brand’s executive director for its first 22 years. Colvin was inducted into the Meat Industry Hall of Fame in the inaugural Class of 2009.

Three Leaders of the beef industry