People
Soybean Industry Names 2003 Young Leaders
Bixby receives Agricultural Activist Award
Auburn Alumnus
Elected to Mississippi Legislature
E.T. York Honored By Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture
International Service in Agronomy Award to Charles Francis
Hornback Announces bid for Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture
On The Move
Soybean Industry Names 2003 Young Leaders
With a passion for farming that extends beyond their own farm gate, Kevin
(Purdue) and Sherry Underwood were selected earlier this month by the
Indiana Soybean Growers Association and DuPont Agricultural Products as
their 2003 Young Leader Award Recipients.
During an interview with ISGA, Underwood noted that he feels strongly about
equality and worldwide market access for U.S. farm producers. “We need to
continue to work with WTO, NAFTA and any additional trade agreements to make
trade fairer for U.S. farmers,” said Underwood. “We also need to open
markets from artificial barriers.”
The Tippecanoe County farmer noted that U.S. producers also need equality
and fairness in market access worldwide. Underwood explained that U.S.
policy needs to be established that does not continue to strengthen the U.S.
dollar in an unstable world economy.
The Underwoods have nine years of farm experience and produce corn and
soybeans on about 1,300 acres of Tippecanoe County soil, near West
Lafayette, Ind. They also raise 3 acres of sweet corn, pumpkins, gourds,
garden mums and asters.
Kevin earned his bachelor’s degree from Purdue University’s School of
Agriculture in 1990. He is very involved with Indiana Farm Bureau Inc. On
the county level, Kevin serves as first vice president and is chairman of
the government affairs, young farmer and membership committees. At the state
level, he is a member of Farm Bureau’s value added and horticulture
committees.
Bixby receives Agricultural Activist Award
Donald Bixby, Michigan
State, was recently awarded the Agricultural Activist Award for 2002 by the
(North and South) Carolina Farm Stewardship Association. Bixby was
recognized for his work with the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy to
conserve and promote a wide range of livestock breeds and genetics in
sustainable agricultural systems. That work has included censuring of breed
populations, providing technical assistance to rare breed stewards across
the country, the establishment of a gene bank, international development,
and policy development with the USDA National Animal Germplasm Program in
Fort Collins, Co. Bixby was Executive Director of the American Livestock
Breeds Conservancy since 1988, but recently assumed the position of Director
of Technical Services.
Auburn Alumnus Elected to Mississippi Legislature
Merle Flowers was
elected on Saturday, March 1 to the Mississippi State Legislature. He joined
Alpha Gamma Rho in the Fall of 1987 and graduated from Auburn in 1991. He
then went on to get his MBA from the University of Mississippi. As an
undergraduate, Flowers was Rush Chairman for Alpha Gamma Rho, and was
elected to vice president of the Auburn Student Body.
Brother Flowers will represent district 19, which includes about 60,000
citizens. While he was campaigning, he received a major endorsement from
Bill Hall, the under secretary of the USDA. He has a great love for
agriculture and will do whatever he can to promote and be a friend to
agriculture.
Thirty-four year old Flowers established a website last year (www.merleflowers.com),
which was filled with information about his candidacy the day his campaign
was annoucned.
Flowers and his wife Stacey have a 3 year old daughter, Sarah Ann, and as of
press date, his wife was expecting their second child, a son, in the next
several weeks.
E.T. York Honored By Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture
E.T. York, a
prominent University of Florida faculty member, has been named to a group of
60 U.S. Citizens who have contributed most to the progress of agriculture in
the Americas over the last 60 years.
He will be highlighted in a commemorative book, “60 at 60, as part of the
60th anniversary of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on
Agriculture.
York also was honored at a formal reception in Washington, DC February 3 in
the Organization of American States Hall of the Americas. IICA was created
in 1942 and represents the agricultural progress and aspirations of 34
countries of the Western Hemisphere.
The “60 at 60” publication identifies the most influential individuals and
institutions in the United States who have played an important role in
promoting rural prosperity in the Americas.
York, chancellor emeritus of Florida’s State University System, has spent a
lifetime strengthening the land-grant university system and its role in
domestic and international agricultural development. He has employed his
talents as a scientist, educator and administrator, and has become a
recognized leader in agriculture. York has served UF as vice president for
agricultural affairs, executive vice president and interim president.
In addition to supporting the mission of land-grant universities, York has
served as an adviser to Presidents Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter and
Reagan. In that capacity, he traveled widely to provide agricultural
assistance in countries throughout Latin America, Asia and Africa. His
analysis of the agricultural development challenges faced by the countries
of Central America and the Caribbean was a precursor to the Caribbean Basin
Initiative. He continues to focus on alleviating world hunger, particularly
on expanding food production to meet rapidly growing needs, making food
safer and more accessible, and increasing production efficiency to lower
food costs. He has received many national and international honors with
seven awards or programs developed in his name.
International Service in Agronomy Award to Charles Francis
Last November, the American Society of Agronomy presented
the International Service in Agronomy Award to Charles (Chuck) Francis, Phi
Chapter, U.C. Davis (1961). Since first working in the Philippines as a
graduate student in 1964-66, Chuck has been involved with research and
education on cropping systems that will benefit small farmers who lack
access to the best land and other resources. After earning a doctoral degree
at Cornell University (1970), he has worked as a plant breeder and
agronomist on maize, sorghum and bean production systems including the
intercropping systems that are so important in the tropics. His emphasis has
been on sustainable agriculture and agroecology
While at the International Center for Tropical Agriculture in Columbia, Dr.
Francis was director of three different programs and conducted research on
maize protein quality, photoperiod sensitivity, and sustainable yields. He
designed studies of intensive maize/bean intercropping systems that use
resources through most of the year. Many trials were with farmers in their
production fields. Later he was Director of the MIAC/Morocco Dryland
Agriculture Program, and then International Program Director at the Rodale
Institute in Pennsylvania. While a Professor of Agronomy for 25 years at the
University of Nebraska, Dr. Francis has worked in Africa and Latin America
on more than fifty assignments as consultant in research and education. He
has written or edited 15 books and over 100 technical publications. He and
his wife, Barbara lived and worked in Columbia for eight years and in Norway
for one year where Dr. Francis helped design a new graduate program in
ecological agriculture for the Nordic Region. He received an honorary doctor
of science degree from Helsinki University in 1999 for innovative programs
in education.
This quote was taken from the award nomination: “As a futurist who takes a
systems view of agriculture, society and our profession, Dr. Francis is
concerned about agriculture’s long-term impact on the environment and
society equity, and its effects on other members of the ecosystem. He
believes that our professional activities are not value-free, and urges
students and colleagues to explore their values and aspirations as they
relate to research and education. He strongly believes in envisioning and
pursuing a desirable future that we can build, rather than accepting one
shaped by trends to which we must adjust. He agrees with biologist Rene du
Bos that ‘Trend is not destiny.’”
Hornback Announces bid for Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture
Barney Hornback, University of Kentucky alumnus has filed with the Secretary
of State as a democratic candidate for Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture.
Hornback is a veteran agricultural leader bringing to the campaign a 40-year
career spanning the last eight Kentucky Commissioners of Agriculture. Under
his guidance as Director of County Fairs & Horse Shows the popular North
American International Livestock Exposition held in Louisville each November
was created in 1974. In addition, Hornback was a developmental force and
served as the first chairman of the Governor’s Sale of Champions for 4-H and
FFA livestock at the Kentucky State Fair. This scholarship has sent hundreds
of Kentucky farm youth to college.
Before retirement with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture in 2000,
Hornback served as Director of Value-Added Development. Hornback worked with
traditional agricultural enterprises to add value to Kentucky products that
have a competitive advantage. Equine, timber, forages, livestock, poultry,
dairy heifers, dairy and meat goats, tobacco, corn, soybean and specialty
crops were top priorities.
Hornback’s vision for the future of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture
is to expand consumer services to focus on food safety, create a new
division for Kentucky equine promotion and development, develop college
scholarship programs for students pursuing careers in agriculture and
promote Kentucky agricultural products in the Commonwealth, United States
and World Market.
LeRoy Luft, Montana State, has agreed to serve as Interim Director of
Extension and Vice Provost for Outreach at Montana State University while
they conduct a search to permanently fill the position.
Vernon
Singleton, Purdue, was named “Outstanding Food Scientist” by Purdue
University this past summer.
Dr. Adam P. Jackanicz, DVM,
Murray State, has accepted a commission as a 1st Lieutenant with the
U.S. Air Force Reserve. He is serving as a public health officer with the
752nd medical squadron, at March Air Reserve Base, CA.
Carl E. Motley, Jr., Texas A & M - Commerce, was married on October
19, 2002.
Robert L. Satori, Wisconsin - Madison, has recently been promoted to
the position of Engineering Manager of the Structural Design and Analysis
Group of Manitowoc, Wisconsin. This group is responsible for the Design and
Finite Element Analysis of the major crane structures including Rotating
Frame, Carody and Boon Sections, as well as the release of the Crane
Capacity Charts. Brother Satori lives in Manitowoc, Wisconsin with his wife,
Teresa and two daughters, Katie (3) and Gracie (1).
Joel Paul Bach, New Mexico State, was formerly employed by TAMU with
Texas Ag. Experiment Station and was also Natl. Director of the Wildlife
Habitat Council in Washington DC. He now manages and administrates all
research and teaching programs on five properties owned and/or managed by
SWTSU having a combined worth between $50-60 million.
Doug Allard, Montana State, has recently opened “Col. Doug Allard
Buffalo Ranch Cafe” in St. Ingantius, Montana.
Eric D. Luce, Southern Illinois University, has moved back to
Illinois to become Plant Manager at Pioneers Supply Management location in
Utica, Il.
Larry D. Naysmith, Missouri, is the Director of Benefits at Arkansas
Children’s Hospital.
Mitchell G. Malone, Illinois State, is currently a National Guard
member of Illinois with 19 year’s of service in the active duty and
reserves. He serves as a Reserve Forces Officer with the Selective Service
System training and recruiting Draft Board members for Northwestern Illinois
and serves at the State Headquarters and as the Administrative Officer, as a
promotable major, a field grade position in the United States Army.
Ronald Mack, Purdue, is starting a new career as owner of RIGHT AT
HOME OF ILLIANA, INC. providing in-home care, homemaking, companionship and
living assistant services to senior citizens and people with disabilities
throughout West Central Indiana and East Central Illinois. More information
is available at www.rightathome.net/illiana.
Michael Tuszynski, Jr., Montana State, married Courtney Kelly in May
of 2001.
J. Paul Konrad, Wyoming, now works for Agriliance as Crop Nutrient
Sr. Marketing Manager for the Central and Southern United States. He and his
family relocated from Kansas City to the Twin City area in November of 2002.
H. Fred Dietrich, III, Florida, received the National Association of
Agricultural Educators Lifetime Achievement Award on December 13 at the NAAE
annual conference in Las Vegas, NV. In addition to education, Dietrich has
also been involved in a family cattle ranch, Dietrich’s Flying D Ranch,
raising Santa Gertrudis Cattle and Cracker Horses and has been an Auctioneer
for 34 years doing many FFA and 4-H Auctions. He has also been active in the
leadership of many organizations.
Cy Monson, Iowa State, started his own business, Diversified
Management Consulting, with two other individuals. They are focusing on
grower consulting in the areas of agronomics, marketing, and financial
analysis.
Melvin C. Hougan, Washington State, moved to Olympia, Washington from
Vancouver November 30. He had lived in Yakima, WA for more than 50 years,
spending 30 of those years as a county extension agent in the Yakima
Extension Office and seven other years in the Lewis and Jefferson County
Offices.
Dr. George E. Berg, Montana State, retired from American Express in
1997 after 21 years of programming. It was not long after that he was hired
by SAS Institute, the world’s largest private software company, to teach
computer software solutions.
D. Keith Gurrola, Cal Poly State, manages the family farm growing
oranges and avocados while he works as a Battalion Chief for the Ventura
County Fire Department.
Russell B. Johnson, North Dakota State, has been a member of the
Fargo Dome Authority since 1997 and currently serve as President. He was
named “sportsman of the year” because of his efforts spearheading a drive to
amend the North Dakota constitution and enshrine the North Dakota hunting
and fishing heritage.
Wilbur C. Mull,
Georgia, owner of Classic GroundCovers wholesale nursery in Athens, was
named the Georgia Green Industry professional of the year. Mull was
presented the Jake Tinga Distinguished Professional of the Year Award at the
group’s annual meeting and trade show in the Classic Center. Mull started
his business in 1963 and celebrates 40 years in the horticulture industry.
Cdr. Trygve A. Holl, Minnesota, is still in his home of 38 years and
is doing well. His son Stephen is also retired from the Navy as a captain
and lives in Reston, Va. His daughter, Shelley, lives in St. Paul near the
AGR campus and teaches art in several art centers.
Matt Beasley, Georgia, was selected by Georgia Trend Magazine as one
of “Forty under forty.” This award identified rising stars in Georgia. Matt
is a 1990 graduate of the University of Georgia. He has been a high school
teacher for 13 years and is mayor of Hartwell, Georgia. Matt is married and
has one daughter.
Gregg Doud, Kansas State, will take over the post of Chief Economist
for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA). In his new capacity,
Doud will focus on economics, trade, industry structure, and a broad array
of live-cattle marketing and international policy issues. He will
communicate with an array of audiences regarding financial conditions,
industry economics and marketing/trade issues and policies for the beef
industry.
Hyde Murray, Maryland, has been named Chair of the Republican Party
of Waupaca County in Waupaca County, Wisconsin. Brother Murray is an
attorney who is also president of Waupaca Area Retired Educators
Association, River Writers and the Ogdensburg Athletic Club, and is active
in the Waupaca Lions Club.
Joe Taets, Iowa State, has been named president of ADM European
Oilseed Processing. Joe has held various trading and management positions in
both the North American and European oilseed groups. He was most recently
Vice President of Soybean Crushing for ADM’s European operations.
E. Glenn Nelson, Nebraska, operates a well drilling, irrigation pivot
and water system business. Brother Nelson works with his son Rick Nelson who
serves as President and sales engineer for their company, Nelso Wells, Inc.
The business was started in Mitchell, Nebraska and was there for four years
before moving to Alliance, Nebraska where they have been for the past 32
years.
Dr. Donald F. Schwartz, North Dakota State, retired from Cornell in
1998, but continues to do research and write, work with graduate students
and chair a faculty senate committee.
Kenneth W. Fryman, Ohio State, retired from the Air Force as a
Colonel. He is now the Administrative Officer for the Southern District of
the Ohio of the US Marshals Service.
Tom D. Leisy, Nebraska, is enjoying retirement in the beautiful
Northwest. He is keeping busy by assisting Oregon State Parks in developing
and presenting interpretive programs. He is also planning a trip to England
the summer of 2003.
Dee W. James, Kansas State, is a financial consultant at A.G.
Edwards.
Chad E. Chase, Kansas State, is a risk management officer at First
National bank in Derby.
Steve Faulks, California State - Fresno, was awarded a gold watch and
certificate for 25 years of service with the California Department of Food
and Agriculture Shipping Point Inspection.
Wayne B. Martenas, Penn State, is Vice President of Engineering for
CNH Global. As VP, he is responsible for engineering of all ag equipment
(except tractors) as well as all ag. E/E and Innovation Competence Centers.
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