W. O. Payne, Danville, has been elected to the prestigious University of Kentucky College of Agriculture's Animal Sciences Hall of Fame.

"Persons selected for the Animal Sciences Hall of Fame have made life-long contributions to the industry of Animal Sciences," said Guy Kiracofe, chairman of the Animal Sciences Department at UK.

A graduate of Clemson University, Payne established Knoblick Farm in Lincoln County in 1948, where he raised registered Holsteins.

Payne's contributions to the dairy industry are immense, including serving as national director and member of the executive committee of the Holstein Friesian Association of America for eight years, serving as director of the Kentucky Holstein Cattle Club and one of the incorporating directors, and serving in all official capacities of that club. He also edited the Kentucky Holstein News for 15 years.

Payne also served on the organizing committee for the Kentucky National Show and Sales and served as the chairman of the Kentucky National Holstein Committee for the sale and show. He has judged registered Holstein shows at state fairs in the U.S. and in Brazil and Mexico. He also has sold frozen embryos to The Netherlands, France and Slovakia and has supplied bulls from his herd to several artificial breeding units.

In addition to his dairy farm, Payne established a beef herd in 1950 and maintains a commercial cow-calf operation.

"Mr. Payne has been an ardent supporter of the UK Animal Sciences Department, cooperating with the dairy staff on research projects with his herd and has given in-kind and financial support to the animal sciences and 4-H dairy judging teams and contests," Kiracofe said.

Payne has been recognized for his achievements many times before. He received the Barker National Endowment for Soil and Water award in 1992, received the local and state conservation award sponsored by Goodyear, and his operation was designated the Kentucky Outstanding Dairy Farm by the Commissioner of Agriculture. His herd also received a number of Progressive Breeder awards from the Holstein Friesian Association of America.

Payne and his wife, Virginia Caldwell, have three children and eight grandchildren.