Norman ‘Norm’ Hinz Jr.
Glendale - Maricopa County
Inducted in 2024
Norman Hinz has played an essential role in the cattle industry locally and internationally for over 50 years. His work created the Arizona Beef Quality Assistance Program, a model for all cross-border agreements in the United States.
For someone who came into the field of agriculture practically through the back door, Norman Hinz has played an essential role at the local and international levels for over a half-century. He was the driving force behind the development of the first international animal health agreement to facilitate trade in herd health in Arizona and Sonora, Mexico. In addition, he has been a leader in creating the Arizona Beef Quality Assistance program, but she continues to chair and currently chairs the Arizona Cattle Feeders Association.
Norm's story isn't that of a second—or third-generation farmer or rancher. His father was an airman for the Army Air Corps stationed at Thunderbird Field in Glendale. His father came to Arizona from Pennsylvania in the 1930s, and Norman's mother followed in the late 1930s.
As a Phoenix native, it wasn't until Norm completed his tour of active duty with the Air National Guard that he got his start in agriculture. Asked where his agricultural interest came from, he laughingly said, "It was an accident. I started to work with JG Boswell Company, grading Cotton in Litchfield Park.
Herman's Café was a local eatery in Litchfield Park. In those days, Norman and Olen Dryer often ate lunch at the café with the two men who formed a bond, and Dryer told him to come and see him when the cotton season was over. Dryer owned S&D Cattle Company and Northside Hay and said the younger man had a job for him with his company. Hinz went to work for S&D in 1964 and moved over to Northside Hay in 1965. "Same office, same desk, different paycheck," he laughed.
Norm and Pat had been married for six weeks when he went to work at S&D. His first job was weighing grain trucks. He took accounting classes at Agua Fria High School to improve his education. A bright young man, Norman, began to move up the ladder. He started performing a complicated risk management regimen for Pinal Feeding Co. His experience includes everything from buying calves directly from the ranches to helping to expand Pinal Feed Company to its present location and size. For a time, Northside Hay also owned an interest in Sunland Beef Company, a meat packing house in Tolleson. Norman was also involved with that operation.
A long-time Arizona Cattle Feeders Association member for over 20 years, Norm assisted the organization with its major ballot issues, regulatory proposals, marketing issues, and other endeavors.
Between 1990 and 1998, he became a signatory in Arizona and chairman of the Arizona Sonoran Joint Health Committee, working to eradicate tuberculosis and brucellosis in cattle coming into the country from Sonora. At the time, the US government wanted to quarantine cattle coming into the US from Mexico. Instead of going to Washington to petition the government, Hinz suggested going to Mexico and forming an alliance with that country: "I'd be dealing with quite a few of the Mexican ranchers buying their cattle. It would have imposed a hardship and made it almost impossible to import cattle. We went down and started an intensive program with Mexico." With representatives from the USDA and Arizona veterinarians, they could go to Sonoran Statue TB/brucellosis before the state of Texas achieved it. The program became a model for all cross-border agreements with the United States. From 1994 to 2002, he was part of the US-Mexico national working group.
When Dr. Eric, who was visiting Arizona State University, heard of Norman's experience dealing with Mexico, he asked him to instruct his students on international marketing and some of the pitfalls of dealing with customs in the USDA. "We did that twice, I believe."
Norman and Pat at the 2013 Hall of Fame Dinner
1994 was busy for Norm; he became chairman of the Arizona Cattle Feeders Association Quality Assurance Program. "We were concerned with the consumers in the human handling of animals." The program established a protocol for handling the animals, dealing with medication, drought periods, and record-keeping for all treated animals. The new system allows them to assure packers and consumers that there would be no residue of antibiotics or any other medication in the animals that have been treated. He said, "We've started a training program for all the feedlot personnel to qualify them to be beef quality assurance certified and handling animals." He said, "They have to be certified by a vet." Certification includes a one-day yearly seminar that gives an eight-hour upgrade on new technologies, procedures, or antibiotics. "We have professors of different universities come to address them and explain things to them."
That was also the year the Arizona Beef Council asked him to conduct industry information tours for the University of Arizona animal science students and various FAA teachers in student groups.
His hard work in the cattle industry was recognized in 1993 when he was named Arizona Cattlemen of the Year.
In addition to his agriculture endeavors, Hinz has devoted time and resources to raising financial assistance for the Fresh Start Women's Foundation, an organization dedicated to helping women improve their lives.
Norm and Pat Hinz have three children. Donna works for the post office. Dennis runs the company's maintenance department. Jennifer is a real estate agent, and two of their six grandchildren have also worked for the company.
Affiliations
Arizona-Sonoran Joint Animal Health Committee - Original Signatory and Arizona chair, 1992-1998
US-Mexico Bi-National Working Group Arizona - Chair, 1995 -2000
ACFA Beef Quality Assurance - Program Chair
University of Arizona- Animal Science Students and FFA teachers, Students, and Industrial Information Tours
Arizona Beef Council - Director and Chair
Arizona Cattle Feeders Association - President, 2004-2006 and 2012-2013
“No” on Prop 204 Animal Rights Initiative - Financial Chair, 2006
Fresh Start Women’s Foundation Men’s Committee Fundraising Chair
Awards
Arizona Cattlemen of the Year, 1993
