Lee Allenstein, Iowa State, will have the dairy teaching herd at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Veterinary School named after him. The herd is currently being used for 28 different courses at the school.

    Allenstein was one of the developers of the veterinary school and taught there for eight years. He was also a regular columnist in Hoard’s Dairyman for 30 years and the veterinarian at the World Dairy Expo for 25 years. Allenstein has received many honors, including the American Association of Bovine Practitioners Practitioner of the Year in 1982. Lee became a member of the Eta Chapter at Iowa State University in 1946.

Donald Blankenship, Middle Tennessee State, received the Tennessee Young Farmers Environmental Stewardship State Award. Donald became a member of the Beta Theta Chapter at Middle Tennessee State University in 1994.

Louis Buck and Kenneth Givens, Tennessee-Knoxville, joined in effort among other Tennessee agriculture industry leaders to kick-off Tennessee’s Premises Identification System and the National Animal Identification System during the Tennessee Junior Livestock Expo.

    Louis became a member of the Alpha Kappa Chapter at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville in 1978; Ken became a member in 2003. Louis is the State Executive Director for the Farm Service Agency in Tennessee. Ken is the Tennessee Commissioner of Agriculture.

Chalmers Carr, Clemson, was named one of the 2005 Lancaster/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmers of the Year. Eight farmers and ranchers were selected by sponsoring organizations in their respective states including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia for their achievements and contributions to agriculture. They will also be honored as finalists for the Southeastern Farmer of the Year Award. Chalmers, along with the other seven, will receive various cash gifts and prizes from the represented organizations and companies.

    Chalmers resides in Ridge Spring, South Carolina and is married to Lori Anne Carr. They have two children. They currently farm 4,680 acres combined of peaches, watermelons, peppers and eggplants. Chalmers became a member of the Beta Zeta Chapter at Clemson University in 1987. He has served as alumni director and alumni vice president for the chapter.

Mark Case, Southern Illinois, was awarded the Outstanding Earth Science Teacher Non-Traditional Educator on behalf of the North Carolina Geological Survey of the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Division of Land Resources. Mark has been recognized as a non-traditional earth science teacher. He is based at the Woodmen Camp in Randlemen, North Carolina.

    This award is presented each year to an earth science teacher located in North Carolina who teaches in a non-traditional setting. Mark was awarded the honor at the North Carolina Science Teachers Association annual Professional Development Institute in November. Mark became a member of the Beta Alpha Chapter at Southern Illinois University in 1985.

Russell Hardin, Purdue, was recognized at the Boone County Chamber of Commerce awards banquet. He was the awarded the Aaron Stookey Philanthropist of the Year.

    Russell became a member of the Delta Chapter at Purdue University in 1939. He received his bachelors of science degree from Purdue in 1965 and his DVM from Kansas State University. Russell is a member of the Indiana Veterinary Medical Association, Presbyterian Church of Lebanon - past Deacon and Elder. He is a retired veteran, American Legion, Masonic Lodge and Rotary member.

    Hardin has been honored for his many achievements in the past at Purdue University, Kansas State University, his local community, and in the agriculture and veterinary sciences industries. Russell is also one of AGR’s Brothers of the Century.

Dean Hodge, Purdue, has been named a 2005 Fellow of the American Society of Animal Science (ASAS) in the industry category. Hodge received the award in July at the ASAS Awards Ceremony during their annual meetings.

After graduating high school in 1945 he managed the family farm for two years before attending Purdue University. He received a bachelors of science degree in agriculture in 1951 at Purdue, and a master of science degree from Ohio State University in 1952, and his Ph.D. from Purdue in 1962. While on staff at Purdue he had appointments in beef cattle extension and teaching. Dean also served as manager of the university’s beef cattle herds.

    Hodge joined Kern County Land and Cattle Company of Bakersfield, California in 1962 as a research specialist for their cow-calf and feedlot operations. In 1965, he joined Ralston Purina Company in St. Louis, Missouri as Manager and later as Director of its Beef Cattle and Sheep Research and Technical Services Program. Hodge is co-holder of four major feed patents that have significantly impacted the beef cattle industry. Dean became a member of the Delta Chapter at Purdue University in 1948.

Bernie Lester and Mason Smoak, Florida, were honored by the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at the University of Florida. Bernie Lester received a 2005 Award of Distinction. Mason Smoak received a 2005 Horizon Award.

    Bernie Lester retired as the President and COO of Alico, Inc., an Agribusiness Company with operations in Southwest and Central Florida. He is a recipient of the Gamma Sigma Delta Distinguished Service Award, the Florida Association of County Agents Outstanding Agriculturalist Award and the Boy Scouts Distinguished Citizen Award for Southwest Florida. He is also one of AGR’s Brothers of the Century. Bernie became a member of the Alpha Gamma Chapter in 1958.

    Mason Smoak received his bachelors of science degree in Food and Resource Economics in 1997. After graduation, he returned to his family’s third-generation citrus and cattle operation, where he manages the citrus harvesting and hauling operations. Mason became a member of the Alpha Gamma Chapter in 1994.

    Also pictured is Kirby Barrick, Ohio State. Kirby is Dean of the Collegee of Agriculture nad Life Sciences at the University of Florida. Kirby is one of AGR’s Borthers of the Century, past Grand President and Advisor Forum Coordinator.

Eric Metzler, Michigan State, is one of the most recent inductees into Ohio’s Natural Resources Hall of Fame. The honor is the Ohio Department of Natural Resources highest honor; Eric was one of three to receive the award in October. The honor is bestowed on individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the protection and enjoyment of the state’s natural resources.

    Eric Metzler is considered to be one of the nation’s premier butterfly and moth experts. He is a co-founder of the Ohio Lepidopterist Society, the Midwest Biological Diversity Institute and the Ohio long-term Butterfly Monitoring Program. He has authored 38 scientific publications on Lepidoptera, and in 2002, was credited with the discovery of a new species of moth, which exists in only two places in the world. Eric became a member of the Tau Chapter at Michigan State University in 1965.

Samuel Miller, Wisconsin-Madison, has been appointed to the American Banker’s Association (ABA) Agricultural and Rural Bankers Committee. The committee, made up of 15 bankers from across the country, has a long tradition of service to the banking industry, to the development of American agriculture, and the economic growth of rural America. Sam is the vice president of the agribuisness branch for M&I Marshall & Ilsley Bank.

    Miller has 22 years of agricultural banking experience, the past 18 at M&I Bank. Miller holds a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Wisconsin and an MBA from UW-Oshkosh. He’s a board member of the Wisconsin Dairy 2020 Council, School Director for the Wisconsin Bankers Advanced Ag Banking School and Treasurer of Classical School, an elementary charter school in Appleton. Sam became a member of the Iota Chapter at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1981.

Wilbur Mull, Georgia, received the 2005 J.W. Fanning Distinguished Professional Award. The Agricultural Economics Association of Georgia presents this award to an agricultural economist who has demonstrated outstanding achievement and leadership on a community, state, national or international level. The award is the department’s highest honor and is presented to an individual with more than ten years of professional experience.

    Wilbur worked 40 years developing Classic Groundcovers, a wholesale nursery. Wilbur is one of AGR’s Brothers of the Century. He became a member of the Alpha Eta Chapter at the University of Georgia in 1961.

Todd Pritchard, Vermont, is the 2005 recipient of the Joseph E. Carrigan Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching. Pritchard currently teaches courses in food microbiology and food science. He also recently developed two new courses, one is entitled "Beer: Tapping into Food Science at UVM." Todd uses the diverse range of his students’ expertise and majors to educate them in a fun and informative manner.

    Todd also works closely with the Vermont food industry. He received his agricultural biochemistry BS degree in 1985, and his Ph.D. in Animal and Food Sciences in 1998. He is an active member of the Alpha Rho Alumni Association. His past accomplishments include the Outstanding New Achiever award from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at the University of Vermont for his work with the Vermont Foodbank. Todd became a member of the Alpha Rho Chapter at the University of Vermont in 1983.

Michael Revelle, Tennessee - Martin, received the Outstanding Young Alumni Award on behalf of the University of Tennessee – Martin Alumni. This award is given in recognition of outstanding achievement in his or her chosen profession; the recipient must not be more than 39 years of age.

    Revelle is an emergency physician at Jackson-Madison County Hospital, Madison County assistant medical examiner and medical director for Medical Center Emergency Medical Services, Hardeman County Emergency Medical Services, Crockett County First Responder Program and Jackson State Community College Paramedic Program. He is resident delegate to the board of directors, Tennessee Academy of Family Physicians and hosts the weekly "Healthwatch" program on WBBJ-TV. Revelle is a major in the Tennessee Army National Guard, 278th Armored Cavalry Medical Support Squadron. He is a native of Crockett Mills, graduating from UT Martin with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture and a doctor of medicine from UT College of Medicine.

    While in medical school, Michael received the award for Outstanding Student in Family Medicine, was president of the Family Practice Student Association and an Underserved Areas Clinical Scholar. He became a member of the Alpha Upsilon Chapter at Tennessee – Martin in 1990.

Roy Saigo, California – Davis, is one of three Oregon State University alumni who received a 2005 Alumni Fellows Award. The recipients of this award were invited back to campus during homecoming to serve as important role models to the OSU learning experience. While at OSU, Saigo visited with students, faculty, alumni and administrators and gave two presentations.

    Roy received his Ph.D. in botany and plant pathology from Oregon State, and a bachelor’s degree in biological science from the University of California at Davis. President Saigo grew up on a farm in California, and he and his family, along with other Japanese Americans, were detained in a World War II internment camp. Roy became president of St. Cloud State University in 2000 after serving for six years as Chancellor of Auburn University at Montgomery. Prior to Auburn, Saigo served as provost and vice president for Academic and Student Affairs at Southeastern Louisiana University, dean of the College of Natural Sciences at the University of Northern Iowa, and assistant dean of Arts and Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Clair.

    Roy became a member of the Phi Chapter at the University of California – Davis in 1959. He and his wife, Dr. Barbara Saigo, have three grown children and three grandchildren.

Orion Samuelson, Missouri, moderated the telecast of the first national Farm Bill Forum in Nashville in July. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns kicked off a nationwide farm bill listening tour in Tennessee July 7. Orion is a nationally recognized farm broadcaster. He is also one of AGR’s Brothers of the Century. He became a member of the Theta Chapter at the University of Missouri in 1986.

Steven Smith, Cornell, is now the Oneida County Executive Director for the United States Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency in Cobleskill, New York, and Who’s Who Among American Teachers for 2004 and 2005. Steven became a member of the Zeta Chapter at Cornell University in 1995.

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