The Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame has honored veterinarian and entrepreneur Robert Hummel with its 2020 Industry Leadership Award. He graduated from Ohio State University in 1961 and worked as an veterinarian for the American Cyanamid Company until he bought a small distribution company in 1967 that became Great Plains Chemical.
Today, Hummel is most known for leading and competing to develop what we refer to as the OTC (over-the-counter) marketplace. The original Great Plains Chemical began private labeling under the Lextron, Inc., brand in the 1970s. Animal health pros older than 40 years of age likely know Hummel as synonymous with Lextron. After the death of Walco’s Willard Wall, who founded Walco International that later transitioned to Animal Health International Inc., Lextron acquired the business in 2011.
Looking back at the ensuing years of competing with one another, Wall said he should have hired Hummel.
Source: Drovers, March 2020. Link.
Also see: Don’t stop being a pioneer, Vet Advantage Livestock, Winter 2013. Link to AHD Library .pdf
Also see: Animal Health International, History video. Link.
INSIGHTS: Hummel and Wall both developed a direct to animal owner channel before the expansion of Rx products. In 2020, we’re adjusting to direct to animal owner alternate channels in much the same way but on a much larger point of sale scale. In many ways, history is repeating itself this time at the speed of the internet.