People
New RVP Named
Alpha Sigma
Chapter Reaches Out
Scott
Schuman: Setting the Pace in Agriculture Real Estate
Woeste named to
Advisory Panel
Brother Johnson receives CALS highest Honor
On The Move
Cody Lane named as new RVP - South Central
Alpha Gamma Rho
Fraternity is proud to announce that Cody Lane has been named the new
Regional Vice President for the South Central Region. This region includes
the chapters in Arizona, Arkansas, New Mexico and Texas.
He is a member of the Beta Sigma Chapter of Alpha Gamma Rho at Tarleton
State University. Lane graduated from Tarleton in May of 1998 with a
Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Services and Development. In 1998
Lane was recognized for outstanding contributions to student life programs
at Tarleton by being awarded the John Tarleton Spirit Award. He was also
awarded InterFraternity Council Man of the Year in 1997. Before entering
Tarleton in 1995 he earned two Associates of Science degrees from
Weatherford College one in Agribusiness and the other in Farm and Ranch
Management.
Lane also served on the Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity Home Office staff from
June of 1998 to May of 2000 as a chapter consultant. Since leaving the Home
Office staff he has worked for The LANE Company an Animal Health Care Sales
and Marketing Agency representing companies like: ADM Animal Health &
Nutrition Division, CHR Hansen BioSystems, Miller Manufacturing Company and
Straight Arrow Products in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana.
Alpha Sigma Chapter Reaches Out
“The
most important historical event in the life and development of an eager and
ambitious group of 28 active members and 10 alumni members of the Fresno
Colony at Fresno State College happened on March 2. The group was officially
installed as the Alpha Sigma chapter of the national Alpha Gamma Rho
fraternity!” (Dan de Boer, Alpha Sigma 1963)
It has been over 40 years since the Alpha Sigma chapter was voted into
membership at the 37th National Convention in Minneapolis. The paragraph
above was the first paragraph in an article written by Dan de Boer who was
the reporter for the Alpha Sigma chapter. The article appeared in the May
1963 issue of the Sickle and Sheaf. Brother de Boer’s article detailed the
installation of Alpha Sigma as the 39th chapter of Alpha Gamma Rho.
In an effort to reach out to this diverse group of AGR Alumni, Alpha Sigma
had its First Annual AGR Alumni Dinner and Benefit Auction on May 10, 2002
at The Dante Club in Fresno, California. It was an outstanding event for all
who attended. Over 200 alumni, family and friends attended the dinner.
During cocktail hour there was a silent auction. Republican Congressional
Candidate Devin Nunes, an AGR alumnus, spoke of the great things AGR has
done in his life. He also spoke of the importance of political participation
on the part of the agricultural community. With everyone in fine spirits the
live auction ensued. A long list of auction items included model tractors,
containers of Round-up, and several guided hunting trips. The auctioneer,
father to one of the Alpha Sigma members, was a true professional. The last
item up for bid was a basket of twelve long-stem strawberries. That
clamshell of berries fetched $375 dollars. What an event.
It is important that all alumni know Alpha Sigma is alive and strong. The
chapter is in need of alumni support now more than ever. The current members
and alumni board are looking for alumni. If you would like to know more
about the chapter and what is going on please contact the individuals below.
There are several upcoming events including an Alumni Golf Tournament in
April, and the annual Pink Rose Formal. We look forward to hearing from you.
Alumni Board President
Bryan Mello
(559) 816-3889
email bmello@lightspeed.net
or
Alumni Board Vice-President
Austin Downs
(831) 750-7400
email austin.downs@driscolls.com
Scott Schuman: Setting the Pace in Agriculture Real Estate
It was
in the autumn of 1991 that Colorado State University president Albert Yates
presented Scott Shuman (Rho ’89) with the University’s Pacesetter Leadership
Award. More than a decade later, Scott continues to set the pace in his
chosen field of agriculture real estate marketing.
Scott manages the day-to-day operations of the Schrader/Westchester Auction
Company. The firm— billed as the agricultural auction company of America –
is a joint venture involving Westchester Group, Inc of Champaign, Illinois
and the Schrader Auction Company of Columbia City, Indiana. As manager,
Scott has been responsible for marketing well over 100,000 acres in the past
five years! Along the way, he earned the coveted Rose Award for auction
excellence in 1998. In that same year, he accepted the National Auctioneers
Association’s Auction of the Year award on behalf of Schrader/Westerchester.
In July of this year, he accepted the 2002 Auction of the Year Award.
Scott is still leading and he credits his contacts and experience with AGR
for much of his success. “The skills I learned through Alpha Gamma Rho have
helped me tremendously in my career,” he told us. “Just understanding how to
work with others and within a team has been invaluable. And the network of
friends I met at AGR is also important. It’s extensive, too. We market
agriculture property from coast to coast and it’s amazing how many AGR
alumni you meet when you’re out there in the trenches.”
The auction business consumes a great deal of Scott’s time, but he still has
some to give. “I stay in contact with the AGRs I worked with in Washington
DC and we all still spend time speaking at high schools and colleges on the
future of agriculture.
Woeste named to Advisory Panel
John T. Woeste,
dean emeritus for the Florida Cooperative Extension Service and professor
emeritus of the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) at the
University of Florida, has been named to the National Sea Grant Review
Panel.
Woeste, dean and director of the Cooperative Extension Service for
1976-1995, has been active in agriculture, aquaculture and technology
transfer issues throughout his career.
His responsibility on the 15-member review panel will be to advise the
Secretary of Commerce and the head of the National Oceanica and Atmospheric
Administration on the direction, operations and performance of the National
Sea Grant College Program.
Sea Grant is a nationwide network of 30 university-based programs that funds
research and extension efforts to promote the sustainable use and
conservation of marine and costal resources.
Brother Johnson receives CALS highest honor
Brother Larry Johnson,
UW-Madison, dedicated his career as a professional engineer to agriculture
at the local, state, national, and international levels. This year, the
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at the UW-Madison will give
Johnson an Honorary Recognition Award to thank him for his service and
dedication to agriculture.
Larry Johnson is deeply involved in activities in his home town community,
extremely supportive of the biological systems engineering program in the
College, and well recognized for professional accomplishments in state and
national organizations, according to Ron Schuler, chair of the biological
systems engineering department.
Johnson earned undergraduate degrees in agricultural and mechanical
engineering and a masterąs degree in agricultural engineering from the
UW-Madison. He began his career as a professional engineer with the
FordMotor Company’s Tractor Operations in Detroit, Mich., where he also
earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Detroit.
He joined Butler Manufacturing, Jamesway Division, in 1982 as manager of
product development, primarily for farmstead equipment. He was later
promoted to vice-president of engineering when the division became J-STAR
Industries in 1987, and later vice-president of engineering and
manufacturing.
More recently, he was corporate director of engineering and product
development for Weiler & Company, Whitewater, Wis. He is currently
developing his own consulting engineering firm, Johnson & Associates,
specializing in product safety systems and litigation claims management for
the agricultural and outdoor power equipment industries.
As a new member of the American Society for Agricultural Engineers, I found
Larry very approachable. He showed those leadership traits younger members
could use as a model for self-improvement, says Kevin Klubertanz, who later
joined Johnson at J-STAR.
Professional organizations and the UW-Madison have benefited greatly from
the contributions Larry has so willingly provided. He deserves this award.
Levi J. Woods,
Arkansas State, received a job at Arkansas State University as Assistant
Director of Admissions soon after graduating in May 2002. He is responsible
for assisting parents and students in preparation for attending college and
recruitment. He would like to credit AGR for giving him the opportunity to
hold leadership positions which led him to this job.
Richard M. Ellis, Iowa State, and his wife Jo recently received a
“Lifetime Achievement” Award in the Arabian Horse industry from Easter
Crabbit Arabian horse Society. Brother Ellis is the Mayor of the city of
Sedona, Arizona.
Kaleb Varrelmann, Iowa State, is a poultry territory sales
representative. Varrelmann will be responsible for sales in Texas, south
Arkansas, California, and the western U.S. He was previously with Cargill
Animal Nutrition.
Richard Dwyer, Southern Illinois, has been named president of Kent
Feeds. Dwyer joined the company in 1984 and has served in a number of
executive capacities, most recently as vice president of sales and marketing
for the past four years.
Justin Voge, Oklahoma State, is finishing his masters of science at
OSU in Animal Science and was named the Outstanding Master’s Student in the
OSU Department of Animal Science. He is looking forward to starting his
Ph.D. program at Kansas State University and applying for admission to the
veterinary science program for 2004. Justin was married on August 24, 2002.
Larry Poss, Kansas State, moved from Elizabethtown, Pa., to St.
Joseph, Mo., to take a part time position with USDA as a compliance
specialist.
Dan Theno, Wisconsin-Madison, was recently selected as executive
director of the Ohio Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association. The
organization is comprised of 5,000 thoroughbred race horse owners and
trainers in Ohio. Theno remains a proud Badger fan even though he resides in
Grove City, a suburb of Columbus, OH.
Wayne DeBuhr, Wisconsin - Platteville, has been named dairy product
specialist for ABS GLOBAL. DeBuhr will be responsible for developing
marketing materials, helping with representative training and inventory
management and positioning of the dairy products. He was most recently
domestic marketing coordinator.
Thomas Harkenrider, Virginia Tech, has joined ABS GLOBAL as regional
dairy sire analyst. HArkenrider will be responsible for evaluation,
selection and acquisition of dairy sires west of New York and east of the
Mississippi River. He was previously with Genex Co-op.
Dustin Carr, Wyoming, is starting a new career as a financial advisor
at AXA Financial Advisors. His goal is provide a service to the rural areas
in Colorado, Nebraska and Wyoming that may not be available.
Dr. John King, DVM, Minnesota, has left private practice after twelve
years as a veterinarian and owner of a mixed animal practice. He has
accepted the position of executive director of the Minnesota Board of
Veterinary Medicine.
Eddie Paschall, Tennessee- Knoxville, was elected vice chairman of
the Tennessee State Forestry Commission. The purpose of the Commission is to
provide policy guidance to the Tennessee Division of Forestry relative to
forest management policies in Tennessee. Eddie was appointed by Governor Don
Sundquist to serve an eight year term on the Commission. Eddie received his
BS in Forestry from the University of Tennessee in 1970 and is employed by
Pasminco Zinc, Inc. He is a community leader in production agriculture in
Smith County, Tennessee and also serves on the Board of the Smith County
Cattlemans Assn and the Board of the Smith County Farm Bureau. He is a past
member of the Gordonsville, TN City Council and Planning Commission.
Arnold K. Sandager, Minnesota, is recovering well from a complex case
of liver cancer after extensive surgeries and 49 days of hospitalization.
Arnie moved to Dayton, Ohio to marry his high school sweetheart on July 29,
2000. They are still Gopher fan loyalists!
Travis Wright, Tennessee-Knoxville, is currently pursuing a doctorate
in Human Development and Psychology at the Harvard University Graduate
School of Education. In the three years following undergraduate study at the
University of Tennessee, he managed a national program for the Points of
Light Foundation in Washington, DC and taught 6th grade in DC Public
Schools.
James B.
Rooney, Cal Poly State - SLO, has been elected as the County Assessor
for Amador County in California. He is married to Mariya and they have one
son, Seamus.
Chet
Peterson, Kansas State, received Kansas State University’s Ag Alumni
Association Distinguished Alumni Award. Chet is a full time free-lance
writer-photographer covering the entire USA and Canada. His articles have
appeared in 162 different publications in six countries. His photographs
have appeared in 201 different publications with covers on 46 publications
in 11 countries.
Allen Hurley, Kansas
State, was elected vice chairman of the Kansas Agriculture and Rural
Leadership program.
Allen Featherstone, Wisconsin - River Falls, received the American
Agricultural Economics Association Graduate Teaching Award.
Daniel Moser, Kansas State, is an assistant professor in beef cattle
genetics in the K-State Department of Animal Sciences and Industry. He lives
in Westmoreland.
Shawn Etherton, Kansas State, is a seed quality supervisor for
Monsanto in Kihei, Hawaii.
Travis Larson, Kansas State, is a food technologist at Food Brands
Food Service Co. in Hutchinson.
Robert Moore, Kansas State, is vice president of Pied Piper Pet
Wildlife Inc. in Hamilton, Texas.
Ryan Reiff, Kansas State, is an assistant manager at Ada Grain Co. in
Minneapolis. He lives in Abilene.
Daniel Schmidt, Kansas State, is an nutrionist at PerforMix High
Plains LLC in Scott City.
Dr. Patrick J. Silva, New Mexico State, is the Biotechnology
Licensing Officer at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. He
was appointed to this position in August of 2002.
Gary Klug, UW-Platteville and Cody Hiemke, UW-Madison have
recently been elected to the board of directors for the Wisconsin Sheep
Breeders Cooperative. The Cooperative serves its members in aspects of
marketing, promotion, and education of youth, in the sheep industry. Klug
works for the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture as a Supervisor in the
Food Safety Division and Hiemke has recently returned to Madison to do post
graduate work developing a marketing and production plan for sheep
producers. His project is in cooperation with Equity Cooperative, Wisconsin
Sheep Breeders Cooperative and UW-Madison
Dan Newhouse, Washington State, was elected to the Washington State
House of Representatives.
Lt Col Raymond E. Crawford, Nebraska, turned 83 on December 2nd,
2002. He was a B-24 Pilot in World War II in the Southwest Pacific, 43rd
Bomb Group of 5th Air Force.
Dr. Donald L. Plucknett, Nebraska, has been busy this past year,
reviewing agricultural development projects of Sasakawa Global 2000, a
project involving an unusual group of leading partners - former president
Jimmy Carter, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Dr. Norman Borlaug and Yohei
Saskawa, President of the Nippon Foundation. In four trips to Africa this
year, Brother Plucknett reviewed efforts in Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique,
Uganda, Nigeria and Ethiopia.
Brian Frieden, Illinois State was awarded the Secretary of
Agriculture Award for Superior Service in 2001.
Sean Kouplen,
Oklahoma State, was named citizen of the year in Bixby, Oklahoma. He is on
the executive council for the OSU National Alumni Board and is the Chairman
for the Bixby Chamber of Commerce.
Brett Ordung - Missouri, was recently elected as
president for Missouri Student Association at the University of Missouri -
Columbia.
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