Johnson, a partner and veterinarian at Carthage Veterinary Services in Carthage, Illinois, received the prestigious award during a virtual presentation at the Leman Swine Conference on September 21.

Created in memory of Allen D. Leman, a University of Minnesota veterinarian renowned for his commitment to understanding swine disease, the award honors individuals who have made a significant impact on swine health research.

Presenting the award, Lucina Galina, DVM, PhD, Zoetis director of pork technical services, said Johnson is an “outstanding ambassador” for the Leman Award because he integrates science into the practice of veterinary medicine.

“Clayton loves getting to the root of problems by stripping away confusing information,” she said. “He’s one of few people who can walk the line between the control environment of laboratory settings, and the practical environment of commercial production.

“In presenting him with this award, we salute Clayton’s record of innovation and his pursuit of solutions that improve swine health around the world.”

Johnson is widely known across the industry for his work developing PRRS and PEDv strategies, as well as for his experience in training and developing veterinarians.

He has also gained a reputation for helping international companies, particularly in China and southeast Asia, to expand and improve their production processes.

Watch the tribute video here.