2024 Speakers

Mr. Glen Sellers is currently a clinical lecturer of anesthesia and practice management in the Departments of Clinical Sciences and Academic Affairs at Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine. Glen Sellers completed undergraduate studies in Animal Sciences at Auburn University in 1998. Between 1998 and 2006, he gained valuable experience in pharmacology and anesthesia as a technician in the J.T. Vaughan Large Animal Teaching Hospital providing care for both equine and food animals. While working as a technician, he earned his Masters of Science degree in Bio- Medical Sciences from Auburn University in 2006. In 2007, he accepted a clinical lecturer position in Anesthesia in the Department of Clinical Sciences. In the spring of 2009 he also earned a Master’s of Business Administration in hospital management from Auburn University. Between 2005 and 2016, he supervised staff in anesthesia, sterile process and surgery room operations of the Vaughan Large Animal Teaching Hospital. In 2016, his clinical lecturer position expanded to include practice management. He currently provides clinical service in anesthesia to the J.T. Vaughan Large Animal Teaching Hospital and teaches the clinical practice management rotations and business courses at the College of Veterinary Medicine. Research interests include veterinary clinical anesthesia, pharmacokinetics of anesthetic drugs and pain management in large animal species. Currently, Mr. Sellers focused interest in veterinary practice management and business fundamentals in veterinary medicine.

Meg Harrington BS, CVT is a Certified Veterinary Technologist that specializes in livestock consulting and production animal care for Nashville Animal Hospital located in Nashville, Arkansas. Meg will sit for her Production Animal Internal Medicine board exam with the Academy of Internal Medicine for Veterinary Technicians in June of 2023. Growing up on a cow/calf operation in southern Indiana she has always had a passion for the cattle industry. She graduated from Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine with a degree in Veterinary Technology in 2010. While at Purdue her focus was on Herd Health & Production Medicine. Her previous experience includes working for the Purdue University Animal Science Beef Research Center and as a Veterinary Technologist in mixed animal practice. In 2013, Meg relocated to Arkansas, became a Veterinary Technology Program Director, and built curriculum for a two-year college seeking AVMA accreditation. Within one year Meg was hired at Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health where she spent 8 years educating producers and veterinary professionals about cattle health, collecting diagnostic samples, participating in research projects, and consulting with herd veterinarians on unique medicine cases alongside her technical services veterinarian.

Dr. Kim Mullenix is an Associate Professor and Beef Extension specialist at Auburn University. She completed her B.S. in 2008 and M.S. in 2010 from Auburn University in Animal Sciences, and a Ph.D. in Forage Agronomy from the University of Florida in 2013. Dr. Mullenix has developed innovative curriculum, programming, and decision tools related to beef nutritional management for use by Extension agents and producers in Alabama and across the Southeast. She has authored or co-authored 25 peer-reviewed journal articles, over 85 Extension and popular press articles, delivered over 110 in-state workshops on forage management and beef nutrition, developed an online beef cattle educational short course and iBook for beginning farmers, and been the invited speaker at 15 regional, national, and international events. She has developed a highly visible research and Extension program related to extending the grazing season and improving forage quality in beef management systems in the Southeast region of the US. In 2020, the American Society of Animal Science awarded her the Outstanding Young Animal Scientist Award – Education.

Dr. Waters received her DVM from Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2018. She completed a one-year rotating large animal internship at Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2019, and a Theriogenology residency at Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2022. She completed a Master’s of Science in 2023 at Auburn University. She is a Diplomate of the American College of Theriogenologists. Her clinical interests include reproductive management of farm animal and companion animals as well as overall herd management.

Dr. Jessica Rush received her DVM from Auburn University, College of Veterinary Medicine in 2010. Following graduation, Dr. Rush accepted a position in a rural mixed animal practice in Ashland, AL. After 5 years in private practice, she returned to Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine as a Theriogenology resident in 2015. Following completion of the residency program and achieving board certification by the American College of Theriogenology in 2018, Dr. Rush accepted a position as Assistant Clinical Professor at Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine of Food Animal Medicine and Surgery. Dr. Rush’s clinical interests include reproductive, medical, and surgical conditions of food animals.

Dr. Scott Squires is currently serving as the USDA APHIS VS Area Veterinarian In Charge (AVIC) for Alabama. Dr. Squires earned his DVM from Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine. He is a Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostician and has held several positions with USDA APHIS and FSIS. He practiced veterinary medicine in a mixed animal practice in Central Arkansas. He owned and operated a beef cow/ calf and stocker operation in Northern Arkansas. He also owned and operated an equine practice. He has been involved in many aspects of animal agriculture throughout his career. He has a wide range of experience with a variety of animal industries including cattle, swine, poultry and aquaculture. Over the past 15 years, while with APHIS VS, he has been heavily involved in animal movement(both interstate and international), disease surveillance, animal identification /traceability, food safety and bio-security.

Dr. Tony Frazier was appointed State Veterinarian on July 1, 2001. Dr. Frazier is a 1988 graduate of the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine. After graduation, he worked in a mixed animal practice in Cullman, Alabama. In 1990, he returned to his hometown of Brewton, AL and opened a private practice. In 1995, Dr. Frazier accepted a position with the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries as a Veterinary Medical Officer. Dr. Frazier is a member of the Alabama Veterinary Medical Association, the Southern Animal Health Association, and the United States Animal Health Association. Dr. Frazier serves as an advisor to the Board of Directors of the Alabama Poultry and Egg Association, Alabama Cattlemen’s Association, Alabama Beef Cattle Improvement Association, and the Beef Committee of the Alabama Farmers Federation. Currently, Dr. Frazier serves as the President-Elect of the National Assembly of State Animal Health Officials, as President of the Southern Animal Health Association, and President of the USAHerds user group. Within the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, Dr. Frazier is responsible for the Animal Health Section, Meat Inspection Section, Diagnostic Laboratories, and Poultry Programs. Dr. Frazier has served as PTO President for W.S. Neal Elementary School, Brewton, AL and is a member of the Cornerstone Community Church which is also located in Brewton. Dr. Frazier has been married to wife, Patty, for thirty-one years, and they have three children; Nathan, Madeline, and Samuel.

Dr. Edmondson is a native of Elmore County where she grew up on a commercial cattle farm. She received a BS in microbiology from Auburn University in 1997 and DVM from Auburn University in 2001. She worked in a mixed animal practice in rural Alabama for 2 years before returning to Auburn University to complete a residency in food animal theriogenology. Dr. Edmondson completed her residency and MS in biomedical sciences from Auburn University in 2006 and became a Diplomate of the American College of Theriogenologists in 2005. She joined the faculty at Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 2006 and was promoted to professor in 2018. In September 2018, Dr. Edmondson left Auburn University to join the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries as an Associate State Veterinarian. Dr. Edmondson and her husband, Jason, a beef nutrition specialist, have two children, Wyatt and Laken. They have a farm where they raise Angus and SimAngus cattle, horses, and a few chickens.

Jeff grew up in southern Indiana which is in the fescue belt. He received a B.S. from Purdue University and completed his graduate studies at the University of Missouri. Dr. Lehmkuhler began his career at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2001 as an Assistant Professor in extension and research. He then accepted an Extension specialist position at the University of Kentucky in 2008 and was promoted to Full Extension Professor in 2021. Jeff has researched pasture finishing, grazing systems, dairy beef production as well as a variety of other production system research. Currently, he and his colleagues are investigating bioactive compounds in feeds. He has been involved in a variety of Extension education programs. Jeff has developed a variety of extension programs and authored numerous beef industry materials. Jeff has been recognized for his efforts being awarded the Southern Section American Society of Animal Sciences Extension award in 2016, Garry D. Lacefield Alfalfa Public Service award in 2018, UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment Mack Whiteker Excellence in Extension award in 2021 and the American Society of Animal Sciences Extension award at the national level in 2023. Dr. Lehmkuhler has worked internationally giving presentations in Canada, Brazil, China, Belarus and Ukraine.

Dr. Rankins and his family reside in not too far from Auburn, Alabama on their family farm. An Illinois native, he came to Auburn University 1989 and worked with livestock producers of Alabama for 25 years with his expertise in nutrition in beef cattle through research, teaching and extension. Rankins retired in April of 2013 after his 25 year tenure with Auburn University.

Dr. Thomas Beacorn is the Area Veterinarian For Georgia Veterinary Services in the Animal And Plant Health Inspection Service of the United States Department Of Agriculture.

Dr. Hennebelle received her Bachelor of Animal Science Degree at Berry College, her DVM from the University of Georgia, and a Master of Preventive Veterinary Medicine (MPVM) from the University of California Davis. She was appointed as Georgia’s State Veterinarian in July 2021. Dr. Hennebelle oversees the Animal Health Division of the Georgia Department of Agriculture while managing staff veterinarians the state’s Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) program, and animal disease investigations as they arise.

Dr. Andy Bennett is a Florida native and has dedicated his clinical practice to livestock including beef cattle, dairy cattle, and horses. He graduated from the University of Florida CVM in 2000. In addition to starting an ambulatory practice, Dr. Bennett spent several years working as a Technical Veterinarian for several manufacturers which allowed him to evaluate different management and health risks of livestock. He completed the Dairy Production Medicine Certificate Program from Pennsylvania State University in 2018. He returned to practice in 2020 with a focus on beef cattle production, serving large herds in south central Florida before joining the faculty at Auburn as an Assistant Clinical Professor with the Farm Animal Service and the Program Veterinarian for the College of Agriculture.

Elle Terhaar grew up in the mountains of Colorado. She spent much of her teenage years and college summers working with a mobile large animal practitioner. She attended Dordt College in Northwest Iowa, and since graduating has been with ReproScan Technologies. Her role has expanded from sales and marketing to CEO. Highlights of her role at ReproScan include teaching in-depth bovine and small ruminant reproductive ultrasound training courses and partnering with mixed animal clinics to add value through implementing ultrasound technology. She currently lives in Winterset, Iowa and together with her husband and in-laws have Thunderhead Charolais which offers private treaty Charolais bulls.

Dr. Stockler received her DVM from Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2011. She completed a one-year rotating internship at MSU-CVM where she participated in both clinical and ambulatory duties. Dr. Stockler worked on a large dairy in California and participated in a cow-cooling researching project with UC Davis, before returning to the southeast. She completed a 3-year internal medicine residency in 2019 and is currently an Assistant Clinical Professor within the Food Animal Hospital.

The focus of my programs is beef cattle nutrition and management. My goal is to teach 1) producers to understand the changing needs of their herd through the different stages of production 2) maximize their cheapest source of nutrients, forages, and 3) develop an economical supplementation strategy when needed. My effort is to help producers improve production and efficiency in their herd, but also to explore other opportunities in the beef cattle industry such as preconditioning/backgrounding, stockering, and retained ownership.

Dr. Steve Roney earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Auburn University School of Veterinary Medicine in 1981 and a Master’s of Avian Medicine Residency from the University of Georgia in 1987. During Dr. Roney’s 40 years in poultry medicine, he has worked in technical services with both vaccine and pharmaceutical allied companies around the world. He has also worked more than nine years as a production veterinarian with two different broiler integrators where he was in charge of all aspects of poultry health programs for the companies. Dr. Roney is the former national Senior Coordinator of the USDA’s National Poultry Improvement Plan in Conyers, Georgia, a cooperative Industry-State-Federal Program devoted to elimination and control of specific diseases of poultry breeders as well as administration of the Notifiable Avian Influenza program. He recently retired from full time, but remains part-time, as a Clinical Associate Professor of Avian Medicine at the Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center with the University of Georgia, College of Veterinary Medicine, where he previously served as graduate coordinator and director of the PDRC diagnostic laboratory. Dr. Roney has authored or co-authored twelve scientific articles and has given more than 150 scientific presentations at professional meetings throughout the world. He is Board Certified by the American College of Poultry Veterinarians. Dr. Roney currently has a private consulting business providing poultry health services to the US and international poultry industries. He also serves in global veterinary missions with projects in India, Africa, Cambodia and Peru. He and his wife Melissa, of 45 years, have one adult daughter and two grandsons, 16 and 9 years old.

Dr. Brigetta Hughes received her DVM from the University of Tennessee and Masters in Avian Medicine from PDRC at the University of Georgia. She has 15 years of commercial poultry field experience in addition to private practice and teaching experience. The past 9 years she has busy in diagnostic lab work and has been the director of the Mitchem Sparks Diagnostic Lab in Boaz, AL since 2020.

Jenny Nicholds is a clinical associate professor of avian medicine in the Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center in the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Georgia. Her interests include poultry parasites and metabolic disease. Before coming to Athens, Nicholds worked as the Poultry Extension Veterinarian at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, Canada. She has won the American Association of Avian Pathologist’s award for best field case/diagnostic report 2 years in a row, 2017 and 2018. Nicholds earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan, and her Master’s of Avian Medicine at UGA. She earned her bachelor’s in agriculture from the University of Alberta, Canada. Nicholds was born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. She and her husband enjoy restoring vintage airstream travel trailers, and she is a former triathlete in the process of picking up the sport again.

Dr. Heather Walz received her Bachelor of Science from the University of Kansas in 1996 and her DVM from Kansas State University in 2000. After veterinary training, she remained at Kansas State for a residency in anatomic pathology. She is board certified in anatomic pathology by the American College of Veterinary Pathologists. While a graduate student at Auburn University, Department of Pathobiology, Dr. Walz was also a clinical microbiology resident. The focus of her PhD research at Auburn University, College of Veterinary Medicine was bovine viral diarrhea virus infections at the maternal fetal interface. Dr. Walz has been a veterinary anatomic pathologist with the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries at Thompson Bishop Sparks State Diagnostic Laboratory in Auburn since 2012, and she became the director of the Alabama Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory System in 2018.

Dr. Jenna Bayne is a food animal clinician at Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine. She is a graduate of the University of Saskatchewan (2010), received a PhD from Auburn University in Biomedical Sciences, and is boarded in large animal internal medicine. She has worked in both private mixed large animal practice as well as served on faculty at both Iowa State University and Auburn University. Clinical interests are all things livestock.

Dr. Sam Christenberry graduated from the College of Veterinary Medicine at Auburn in 1985. After graduation he worked in a mixed animal practice in South Alabama for six years. He then moved on to work with USDA, FSIS for four years in meat and poultry inspection. Dr. Christenberry furthered his education by receiving his Master of Avian Medicine from the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia. Dr. Christenberry worked as a production veterinarian for Perdue Farms for ten years in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and South Alabama. He also served as Director at the Alabama State Veterinary Diagnostic Lab in Hancville, AL for five years as well as the Technical Services Veterinarian for Phibro Animal health for 12 years. Dr. Christenberry is currently the director of the Alabama State Veterinary Diagnostic Lab in Elba, Alabama.

Dr. Campbell has a B.S. in Poultry Science, M.S. and Ph.D. in Adult Education at Auburn University with a 100% extension role and over 22 years of service at Auburn University. His father grew 9-pound broilers for Wayne Farms in North Alabama for almost 24 years. Dr. Campbell has hosted over 116 poultry ventilation, housing and construction seminars at Auburn University, conducted over 423 presentations, co-authored The Poultry House Ventilation Guidelines and Poultry House Construction Books, written 68 poultry newsletters, written 179 magazine articles, designed and built 22 hands-on training modules, and designed 3 poultry research buildings at the Auburn Miller Poultry Farm. Website is poultryhouse.com and smartphone app is Poultry Toolkit. Dr. Campbell spends the majority his time troubleshooting housing and management issues with new and retrofit design houses, ventilation, heating, plumbing, and electrical systems in the U.S. poultry industry and well beyond. He has one daughter (23), two boys (17 & 15), and one patient wife that he has known since the 5th grade.

Bio Coming Soon

Dr. Elena Behnke serves as Senior Coordinator for the National Poultry Improvement Plan in Conyers, Georgia. A native of Illinois, she received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and she holds a Master’s in Avian Health and Medicine from the University of Melbourne, Australia. A diplomate of the American College of Poultry Veterinarians, she has spent time working as a poultry laboratory clinician, a poultry technical services veterinarian, and a primary breeder veterinarian for both egg-type and meat-type genetics companies within the poultry industry.

Maggie was born and raised in Opp, Alabama, home of the world-famous Rattlesnake Rodeo. She earned both a Bachelor of Science in Poultry Science (2013) and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (2018) degree from Auburn University. She then spent three years working with Elanco as a poultry technical consultant in the Southeastern US. Understanding the importance of both knowledge and experience, she returned to school (and crossed enemy lines) to strengthen her skills as a poultry veterinarian. She completed the MAM (Master of Avian Medicine) residency at the UGA Poultry Diagnostic & Research Center in December 2022. In August 2023, she earned diplomate status in the American College of Poultry Veterinarians. She currently owns AMT Poultry Health Consulting, LLC where she provides veterinary technical support for the commercial poultry industry. While she is no fan of rattlesnakes, she remains proud to call south Alabama home. She and her husband are the proud parents of two little boys and three rescue dogs.

Bio Coming Soon

Joel Cline attended Reinhardt College in his hometown of Waleska, GA prior to transferring to the University of Georgia where he received his bachelor’s degree in Animal Science, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, and Master or Avian Medicine. Dr. Cline worked briefly for Tyson Foods before going to work for the Alabama Department of Agriculture where he served as director of the J. B. Taylor Diagnostic Laboratory in Elba, Alabama for over 16 years. For the last 9 years, Dr. Cline has worked for Wayne Farms and now Wayne-Sanderson farms as a corporate veterinarian. Dr. Cline continues to live in Elba, Alabama with his wife Anne and son Joseph and with his daughter Grace and her family nearby.

As the Beef Cattle Specialist veterinarian on the NCBA Producer Education and National BQA team, Dr. Julia Herman leads education development and veterinary outreach. She focuses on animal behavior and welfare, biosecurity and foreign animal disease preparedness, and producer/employee education to improve food animal production systems and contribute to a safe food supply. She earned her veterinary and master's degree from Colorado State University and is a board certified in veterinary preventive medicine.

Mr. Carter received his Biology degree from Auburn University in 1986 then went on to receive his Master’s degree, Environmental Science, at Jacksonville State University in 1999. Mr. Phillips has been the Apiary Inspector for Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries since 2020. Based in Dothan, AL (Houston county). Duties involve maintaining surveillance of the beekeeping industry for the detection and prevention of honey bee pests and diseases and enforcement of our apiary laws. Assist with the sampling of honey bees throughout the state for the National Honey Bee Survey Apiary Health Assessment Report. Monitor honey bee swarm traps at shipping ports along the Mobile Bay for the detection of Africanized honey bees. Conduct honey bee health assessments for those selling nucleus hives, packaged bees, and queens. Perform varroa mite, Nosema ceranae and tracheal mite testing on honey bees at our state lab.

Dr. Thomas Passler is a Professor in the Department of Clinical Sciences where his responsibilities include the management of hospitalized and out-patient cases, teaching, research, service, and outreach. Dr. Passler was born and raised in Berlin, Germany, and completed his veterinary training at the Free University, Berlin, in 2003. Following two years in private mixed-animal practice, Dr. Passler joined the team of veterinarians in Auburn’s food animal section as a resident of large animal internal medicine. In 2008, he became board-certified as a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and subsequently became a faculty member.