The Hillman family purchased their first bull in 1908. Howard graduated from South Dakota State University and partnered with his father, Clarence, to run Bon-View Farms, Canova, S.D.

Howard served as the American Angus Association Board of Directors president in 2001, and co-chair for the Angus Foundation’s Vision of Value: Campaign for Angus.

He and his wife, JoAnne, attribute all honors to the hard work of their family — daughter Rhonda and her husband, Rob; son Brad and his wife, Carmen; and nine grandchildren.