Ken Root Returns to Farm Broadcast Radio

    Ken Root, Oklahoma State, has returned to farm broadcast radio. On January 17 Root joined the WHO Radio Farm Broadcast team in Des Moines, Iowa. Ken is a part of the "Big Show" which airs on the Iowa Farm Radio Network from 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. The Iowa Farm Radio Network includes stations in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Fort Dodge, and Burlington.
   Ken first worked for seven years in radio and television broadcasting in Kansas; he left in 1987 to work with American Cyanamid Company in New Jersey. He established the National Agri-Chemical Retailers Association (NARA) while working for American Cyanamid. In 1989 NARA moved to Washington, D.C., and Ken served as Executive Director for five years. In 1992 he started Root Environmental Services. In 1994 Root became the original host of AgriTalk, the first interactive talk radio show for agriculture and rural America. Ken previously served as the Executive Director of the National Association of Farm Broadcasters in Kansas City.
   Ken became a member of the Pi Chapter at OSU in 1968. He Currently serves as Editor for the SICKLE & SHEAF, is a Brother of the Century and has been very active as an alumni member of Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity.

Stan Cave is the New Chief of Staff in Kentucky

    Stan Cave, Kentucky, has been announced as the new Chief of Staff for the state of Kentucky under Governor Ernie Fletcher. Cave is a Lawyer in Lexington with an honorable record of leadership and public service in his community and the Republican Party.
   Stan is a former Minority Floor Leader in the Kentucky House of Representatives and served in the General Assembly from 1993 to 2000. Stan became a member of the Omicron Chapter at the University of Kentucky in 1982.

Bill Manwarren Named Volunteer of the Year

    Bill Manwarren, Minnesota, has earned the University of Minnesota Alumni Association's Volunteer of the Year award. This is the 22nd year that the association has bestowed such an award; Bill was honored in September at the university's Volunteer Awards. Bill is consulting with Agriliance after working in the Agriliance Crop Protection Supply Department for 30 plus years. He is a 1969 graduate of the University of Minnesota with a B.S. in Agriculture Education.
    Bill became a member of Lambda Chapter in 1966. Two of Bill's three sons are Lambda AGRs and Cindy, his wife, was the Lambda AGR Alumni Board secretary for 15 years. Bill was program chairman for the 2002 National AGR Convention held in Minnesota.

David Culbertson Appointed President of the
National Pork Board

    David Culbertson, Illinois, was been appointed President of the National Pork Board. At the National Pork Forum David and the persons of other leadership positions were nominated by Pork Act Delegates and appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. Also appointed to the board, as Vice President, was Danita Rodibaugh, the wife of Dave Rodibaugh who became a member of the Delta Chapter in 1970 at Purdue University.
    The board collects the National Pork Checkoff funds and utilizes those dollars to implement programs of promotion, research and consumer information designed to enhance the marketing of U.S. pork and pork products, according to the National Pork Board web site.
   David and his wife, Cheryl, have a 1,450 sow farrow-to-finish operation that markets 32,000 hogs annually. He is also the president and owner of Geneseo Pork Inc. David is also a member of the board's Swine Health committee, past member of the Producer Education Committee, past chair of two of the board's committees. David also served as a member of the executive board of the Illinois Pork Producer Association. He serves on the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine Advisory Committee on Swine Health.     David became a member of the Alpha Chapter in 1966 at the University of Illinois.

Lawrie Kull Honored by University of Wisconsin

    The University of Wisconsin College of Agriculture and Life Sciences honored Lawrie Kull, Wisconsin-Madison, with an Honorary Recognition award during a banquet in Madison. Kull was one of seven recipients.
    Lawrie is the director of member relations for Land O'Lakes. Kull was recognized for his work building bridges between dairy producers and the cooperatives they own, between Wisconsin agribusinesses and the University of Wisconsin- Madison and between current and future dairy cooperative leaders. Lawrie became a member of the Iota Chapter in 1962 at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Fred Ferrell Appointed Missouri Director of Agriculture

    Fred Ferrell, Missouri, was appointed the Director of Agriculture for the state of Missouri January 6th. As director, Ferrell manages the department six divisions and represents the state's agriculture industry. Fred and his son, Britton, farm 3,500 acres of corn, wheat, and soybeans and manage a registered Chianina/Angus cow/calf herd.
    Fred founded Mid-Valley Irrigation, Inc. and helped introduce center pivot irrigation of Southeast Missouri. The company began with three employees and one center pivot sale and has grown to 30 employees who design and service a four-state area. Fred became a member of the Theta Chapter in 1961 at the University of Missouri. He and his wife, Marilyn, have lived in Charleston since 1964. They have two children and five grandchildren.

Marcos Fernandez is Named Associate Dean

    J. Marcos Fernandez, Louisiana State, has been named the associate dean for undergraduate education in Pennsylvania State's College of Agricultural Sciences, effective March 1. Marcos was the associate dean for student services in the College of Agriculture at Louisiana State University. Marcos will coordinate student recruitment and retention programs; lead curricular revitalization efforts and enhance globalization of teaching and learning activities; and administers and expands the college's scholarship programs.
    Marcos earned a bachelor's degree in agricultural science form Illinois State University and earned a master's and doctoral degree in animal science from the University of Tennessee and North Carolina State University respectively. Marcos became a member of the Alpha Epsilon Chapter in 2003 at Louisiana State University.

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