United Animal Health CEO visits Sheridan Rotary

Sheridan Rotarians welcome United Animal Health CEO Dr. Doug Webel. (From left) Connie Pearson, Steve Armfield, Dr. Webel, Fred Sturdevant, Scott McCullough, Clifford Biddle and Dale McCullough. (Photo provided)

Sheridan Rotary members were pleased to welcome Dr. Doug Webel to a recent meeting. Dr. Webel received his Ph.D in Comparative Nutrition from the University of Illinois in 1997, just prior to coming to Sheridan to work for what was then JBS United Feeds.

Dr. Webel grew up on a small farm in Illinois where his family operated a successful hog operation, so animal nutrition was a natural fit for his academic career. He has only ever worked for United Animal Health, beginning in the nutrition research lab 20 years ago and culminating with his current position as company CEO.

Dr. Webel spoke to the local Rotarians about the growth of United Animal Health and plans for future growth. With nearly 100 employees locally and several hundred more outside of Indiana and even a few in foreign countries, United is poised to be successful for many years to come. The company is currently working to diversify its nutritional products, even to the point of looking seriously at aqua-cultural nutrition products. He noted that as strange as it sounds, there is a growing fish farm industry right here in the Midwest, and United aims to be a part of that industry.

Sheridan Rotary has formal meetings with guest speakers on the first and third Tuesdays of each month. The public is always welcome to attend the programs which start at 6:45 p.m. Meetings are held in the Community Room of the Sheridan Public Library. For more information, contact Steve Martin at the library.

Upcoming guest speakers include Jesse Linville on Sept. 18, who will talk about the vocational education program at the Elwood Community School Corporation. On Oct. 2, Catherine Heller of the Northern Hamilton County Chamber of Commerce will speak to the Rotarians. Again, these programs are open to the public and begin at 6:45 p.m.