Former Baseball: Cattlemen honor veterinarian’s dedication – Ken Hensgens Named Cattleman of the Yr

Jessica Goff, Daily Advertiser, Feb. 19, 2014

SCOTT — Dr. John Fontenot’s 23-year career as a livestock veterinarian earned him the honor of being the first recipient of the Lafayette Parish Service Award given by the Lafayette Cattlemen’s Association.

The Opelousas doctor was presented the award Wednesday night during the association’s annual banquet in Scott.

Board members said they chose Fontenot for his dedication to making day-and-night house calls to sick or injured livestock and for providing information to ranchers.

“He’s always willing to get his hands dirty,” Danny Uriegas of the LCA said Thursday night before presenting the award to Fontenot. “He is one of us.”

Fontenot was one of seven siblings who grew up on his family’s farm in Evangeline Parish. He graduated from LSU in 1990 and began practicing veterinary medicine in 1991.

His said his passion for large-animal veterinary science began when he was a child. There are fewer and fewer veterinarians who make house calls, especially for livestock, LCA President Kirk Martin said.

“It takes real dedication,” Martin said. “We created this award to honor the people like him who support this industry.”

Ken Hensgens is this year’s recipient of the Lafayette Parish Cattlemen of the Year Award. Martin said Hensgens was instrumental in supplying feed and fertilizer to local cattlemen for several years.

Athletic Network Footnote:
Ken was a member of the USL Baseball in 1973-76.