Colorado State alumnus named Fellow of Wildlife Society

MONTEREY, Calif. -- Oct. 16, 2009 -- Colorado State alumnus Dr. Robert D. Brown, dean of the NC State University College of Natural Resources was recognized as a Fellow of The Wildlife Society (TWS) at the Society's 2009 annual meeting.  The career award recognized Brown’s contributions to science and to The Wildlife Society. 

After receiving a B.S. and Ph.D in animal nutrition, Brown served on the faculty of Texas A&I University in Kingsville and then as a research scientist for the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute at that institution. Brown’s research focused on the development of antler growth in deer as a model for osteoporosis in elderly humans and on comparative wildlife nutrition and physiology. He has published over 120 articles and has edited three books on such species as White-tailed, Axis and Sika deer, Nilgai antelope, Javalina and Bobwhite quail, as well as on higher education and conservation policy.

In addition to his research and classroom teaching, Brown has served as Head of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries at Mississippi State University and the Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences Department at Texas A&M University. There he also served as Director of the Institute of Renewable Natural Resources (IRNR) and Coordinator of the Gulf Coast Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit.  

Brown served The Wildlife Society as Southwest Section Representative, then national Vice President, President-Elect, President and Past President. He chaired numerous TWS committees including a successful $3 million fund-raising campaign. He has also been President of the National Association of University Fisheries and Wildlife Programs, Chair of their Section on Fish and Wildlife and their Board on Natural Resources and Chair of the External Review Panel of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative. He has served on the Board of the Texas Nature Conservancy and in an advisory capacity to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. 

In 2006, Brown was appointed Dean of the College of Natural Resources at North Carolina State University, where he also serves on the Board of the North Carolina Forestry Association, the North Carolina Forestry Council and the Center for Paper Business and Industry Science at Georgia Tech. He was initiated by Rho Chapter in 1966.

information courtesy of NC State.

Kansas State alumnus named VP at Beef Association

DENVER -- Oct. 9, 2009 -- Industry veteran and Kansas State alumnus Todd Johnson has been tapped as the new vice president of Owner-Member Services at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA). Johnson, currently with the Kansas Livestock Association, will join NCBA in January.

NCBA’s producer leaders recently created an organizational strategic plan to better serve members, and NCBA CEO Forrest Roberts subsequently re-aligned staff to better execute the plan, and created the Owner-Member Services department. As its name implies, Owner-Member Services will provide value and services for all types of NCBA’s owner-members, including producer and feeder members, state cattlemen’s affiliates and state beef councils. Johnson will lead the team and will also serve on NCBA’s senior leadership team.

Johnson comes to NCBA with a wealth of experience. In 1995, Johnson joined the staff at NCBA affiliate Kansas Livestock Association (KLA), and until 2004 he coordinated membership recruitment efforts and worked as part of the government relations team. In 2004, Johnson joined the staff of the Kansas Beef Council as executive director. Prior to KLA, he worked at the American Hereford Association as director of youth activities.

Johnson was raised on a commercial cow/calf and backgrounding operation in Central Kansas, and holds a degree in Agricultural Economics and Animal Sciences from Kansas State University. He remains engaged in the family farm with his parents and brother. 

“NCBA always seeks and engages the best talent in the business and Todd is no exception,” said NCBA CEO Forrest Roberts. “His beef industry background and association experience will make a direct and immediate impact on the key leadership role he is taking within his new team. I am confident that he will lead this team to quick and efficient execution of our volunteer leaders’ strategic plan and provide excellent and innovative value to our owner-members.”

Johnson was initiated by Alpha Zeta Chapter in 1990.

information courtesy of National Cattlemen's Beef Association.

North Dakota State Chapter breaks ground for house renovations

Auburn alum campaigns for Alabama Ag Commissioner

JASPER, Ala. -- Oct. 6, 2009 -- Auburn alumnus Dorman Grace has a proven record of success in Alabama agriculture. A third-generation farmer, he’s dedicated to providing a safe, economical and environmentally friendly food supply to consumers. He is now taking his agricultural experience to run for Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture.

"I’m running for Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries because I’m tired of trillion dollar stimulus bills, excessive regulations and high taxes. Government is out of control. We need change now," Grace said on his Web site. "I’m a conservative Republican, not a career politician or government employee. I’ll use my 30 years of experience as a successful agribusinessman and community leader to bring the right kind of change to Alabama."

The Commissioner’s office is responsible for regulating farms and conducting food safety inspections in Alabama. The Commissioner can help create jobs by developing new markets for Alabama farm products. However, the Commissioner’s job is not just limited to agriculture. The Commissioner protects consumers by verifying the accuracy of the produce scale at your local grocery store and the gasoline pumps at your neighborhood gas station. The Commissioner oversees the inspection of pesticides and regulates those who treat homes and businesses for termites. The Commissioner preserves the Alabama way of life by protecting consumers, the environment, wildlife, farms, rural areas and small towns. 

Grace began his career on the family farm in 1978 after earning a degree in agriculture from Auburn University. He and his wife, Susan, are now sole owners of Grace Farms focusing on poultry, cattle and timber. His commitment to agriculture, Alabama and his local community extends beyond the family farm.

With roots in the poultry business, Grace is an advocate for the industry through his involvement in numerous organizations. He is a former Director and past President of the Alabama Poultry & Egg Association. The Grace family was named “Alabama Poultry and Egg Association Farm Family of the Year” in 1990 and 2009. He was a Gold Kist “Top Producer” in 1990-1991.

Grace was honored to serve the State’s farmers and consumers when Governor Bob Riley appointed him to the Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries Board where he has served since 2003. He knows the important role the department plays in food safety, and he’ll make this a top priority as Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries.

Believing farmers are the original environmentalists, Grace incorporates environmental best practices on his own farm leading to multiple conservation awards from the Alabama Wildlife Federation (AWF) and the Alabama Association of Conservation Districts. He was named the AWF’s “Water Conservationist of the Year” in 1999.

Through his leadership in the Alabama 4-H Foundation, Grace was involved in the development of the Environmental Science Education Center completed in 2007. The Center houses the Coosa River Science School program which will prepare Alabama youth and educators in protecting and enhancing the environment. 4-H is the largest out of school youth organization in the U.S. with 58,000 Alabama youth members representing every county in the state.

Farmers are small business owners. As such, Grace understands budgeting. He knows small businesses create most of the jobs in Alabama and in America. He’ll apply business principles to the Department of Agriculture budget. Grace will hold the line on spending, look for areas to cut and help keep taxes down. 

A member of Jasper's First Baptist Church where he previously served as Chairman of the Deacons, Grace has taught seventh grade boys Sunday school for 20 years. He is a graduate of the Leadership Walker County Program. Grace and his wife are the proud parents of two sons – Cade, 21, who is studying horticulture at Auburn University, and Judson, 18, currently a student at Bevill State Community College planning to transfer to Auburn University to pursue an agribusiness degree.

Grace was initiated by Xi in 1976.

information courtesy of DormanGrace.com

Oregon State alumnus named CEO of Agricultural Retailers Association

WASHINGTON D.C. -- Oct. 5, 2009 -- The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA), the voice of the agricultural retail and distribution industry, has named Oregon State alumnus Daren Coppock as the organization’s new President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Coppock is an experienced association leader with deep ties to the agricultural community having been raised on a farm in Oregon and serving as an advocate for production agriculture for the past decade. He joins ARA from the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) where he served as the organization’s CEO since July of 2001.

“Daren’s history of leadership, strong communications skills and previous experience serving as a voice for agriculture on the Hill and with federal agencies, combined with the experience, abilities and commitment of our current ARA staff will make for a very strong team and bright future for our association,” said ARA Chairman Ken Manning, vice president of the Pacific Intermountain region with Wilbur-Ellis Company.

While Coppock served as NAWG’s CEO, the association scored a number of policy achievements including significant progress toward making the introduction of biotech wheat; successfully defending the direct payment in the 2008 Farm Bill negotiations; and advancing discussions to ease rail transportation concerns. He also managed an extensive renovation of the building that the NAWG Foundation owns on Capitol Hill, which houses NAWG and four outside tenants. Prior to joining NAWG, Coppock held key positions with the Oregon Wheat Growers League including executive vice president and member services director. 

“I look forward to joining the team at ARA as we tackle some important agricultural challenges on behalf of agricultural retailers,” said Coppock. “I’m impressed by the leadership of the organization and eager to get out and meet some of the members in the coming months.”

Beginning on Nov. 1, Coppock will begin transitioning from his current position with NAWG to ARA and will be working full time for ARA by Jan. 1, 2010. He is filling the position vacated by ARA’s former President and CEO Jack Eberspacher, who passed away in July after a brief battle with cancer. 

The national search for ARA’s new president and chief executive officer was successfully conducted by Pete Metzger the vice chairman of the global executive search firm CT Partners.

Coppock was initiated by Alpha Beta in 1986.

information courtesy of AgriMarketing.

Florida alumnus to run for Florida Ag Commissioner

BARTOW, Fla. -- Oct. 1, 2009 -- Congressman Adam H. Putnam has represented the people of Florida's 12th District in the U.S. House of Representatives since January 2001, when at the age of 26 he became one of the youngest members of Congress in history. Today, no longer the youngest, he has served in his party's leadership and is a member of the Committee on Financial Services, which oversees all components of the nation’s housing and financial services sectors.

In February of this year, Florida alumnus Putnam declared his candidacy for the office of Commissioner of Agriculture in the 2010 election. While running his campaign for Commissioner of Agriculture, he will complete his fifth term as Congressman of the Twelfth Congressional District.

If elected, Putnam will be a member of the Cabinet that sits on the board of Financial Services Commission, which oversees the Office of Insurance, Banking and Securities. The Cabinet also overseas the Division of Bond Finance, Electrical Power Plant and Transmission Line Siting Board,  the Department of Revenue, Department of Law Enforcement among others.

As Ag Commissioner, Putnam plans to seek to ensure Florida and its bond rating remains in the best shape as citizens seek their way back from a down economy. He will take a leading role to help state banks survive and will encourage energy companies to utilize alternate energy so there won’t be any dependence on foreign sources of energy.

Other duties of Ag Commissioner include coordinating and assisting port security with the Federal Government as well as the USDA, handling consumer complaints for Florida citizens, registering entities that sell business opportunities, managing almost one million acres of state forest, inspecting feed, seed, fertilizer and pesticides among others.

A fifth generation Floridian, Putnam brings to Capitol Hill the common sense values he learned growing up in a farming family. He has led improvements to a wide array of laws affecting Floridians, ranging from agriculture and children to small business and social security. During his time in Congress, Putnam has served as a member of the committees on Agriculture, Budget, Government Reform and the powerful committee on Rules. In 2003, Putnam was selected to lead the subcommittee on Technology, Information Policy, Intergovernmental Relations and Census, making him the youngest subcommittee chairman since World War II. In that post, he worked to reduce the risk of cyberterrorism and was responsible for legislation that strengthened federal computer security.

For the 110th Congress (2007-2008), Putnam's peers selected him to chair the Republican Conference, his party's third highest leadership post. Previously he had served as Chairman of the Republican Policy Committee, another leadership post. He declined to seek reelection to the Conference Chairmanship for the 111th Congress, saying he wanted to focus more closely on issues important to Florida and to have the latitude to forge bipartisan consensus on policy matters where possible. Putnam describes one of his goals as helping to “turn the lights back on in the Idea Factory. We can’t just say ‘no,’ we have to provide constructive ideas to move the nation forward.”

Florida’s 12th District is composed of most of Polk County and portions of Hillsborough and Osceola counties. Positioned along the I-4 Corridor, the district reflects the economic and cultural diversity the Sunshine State. Here are rapidly changing communities near the major metropolitan areas of Tampa and Orlando, as well as cattle ranches, citrus groves and small towns that still evoke Old Florida.

Putnam was born in the heart of the 12th District, in the city of Bartow in 1974. There, he graduated from Bartow High School and went on to the University of Florida, where he graduated with his bachelor’s degree in economics. After graduating from UF he returned to work in his family’s citrus and cattle operation and won election to the Florida House of Representatives, where he served from 1996-2000. Today, Putnam, his wife, Melissa, and their four children reside in Bartow, Fla. He was initiated by Alpha Gamma in 1992.

Tenn-Knoxville alumnus wins prestigious business award

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. – Sept. 30, 2009 – A 35-year Dale Carnegie Training franchise owner who began his career by organizing classes for college students at the University of Tennessee has been awarded the Dorothy Carnegie Award for outstanding contributions to the company.

Tennessee-Knoxville alumnus Glyn Ed Newton, a part-time resident of Lebanon and only the fourth person in the company’s history to win the ward, began his career after graduation. The award is named for the late Dorothy (Mrs. Dale) Carnegie who is credited with taking the company world-wide after her husband began the training in 1912 as a public speaking course for businessmen.

Newton, a native of Lawrence County, Tenn., was attracted to the company after he took the Dale Carnegie course as a high school student in Lawrenceburg, where he won awards in public speaking contests.

“The Dale Carnegie business has provided me with an opportunity to hire and develop people and to achieve measurable results for organizations and individuals. Seeing people develop potential has been a rewarding experience,” Newton said.

Newton is married to the former Lynda Leftwich of Lebanon. They have residences in Lebanon and in Knoxville. He was a member of the Lebanon/Wilson County Chamber of Commerce, and he and his wife are members of Lebanon First Unite Methodist Church.

“It was gratifying to be a part of a business where one can see immediate results from people who are involved in our training,” he said. “Lynda and I were also attracted to the family friendliness of the company.”

His history in sales dates back to the early 1960s. While an agriculture major at UT, he began selling Bibles and dictionaries for the Southwestern Company in Nashville to pay his college tuition and expenses. It was through this experience that his potential in business became apparent.

“Some of my ag experience at UT was great business training, but spending four summers working with Southwestern opened my eyes to other possibilities, and I began to shift my focus to entrepreneurship,” he said.

He began his Carnegie career in Knoxville, subsequently moving to Montgomery, Ala., to buy the South Alabama Carnegie franchise in 1975. He expanded his operations to include franchises in parts of Florida, Mississippi, Georgia, Virginia, Kentucky and Middle and East Tennessee.

In addition to his Carnegie, he served on the board of directors for the Mobile, Ala. Chamber of Commerce, was regional vice president for AGR and served on the boards of several companies.

For nearly 40 years, he has been a part of Lebanon business community where his company office was once located and where he owns business property.

Newton was initiated by Alpha Kappa in 1964.

information courtesy of The Lebanon Democrat.

New Hampshire alumnus turns to milking his own profits

MILFORD, N.H. -- Sept. 21, 2009 -- One of the few dairy farms left in the Nashua area has taken to selling its most recognizable product directly to consumers. New Hampshire alumnus Walker Fitch's farm in Milford is now selling "raw milk" – that is, milk that hasn't been heated to kill bacteria, in the process known as pasteurization – at its farm stand. It also is selling beef from its own cows.

The current state of the milk market, which has seen prices plummet to the point that New England states are looking at ways to support their dairy farms, prompted the fifth-generation farm to branch out.

"They're paying us 50 percent less for our milk" than a few years ago, Fitch's father, David, said. "We're eliminating the middleman. We need to make a living."

Jugs of the milk are available only at Fitch's Corner Farm Stand, at the corner of North River Road and Lyndeborough Center Road, north of the Souhegan River in west Milford.

To sell the milk in other places would require a whole new set of licenses from the state Department of Agriculture, the Fitches said.

"It would be nice if we could supply all of the local vendors, but that is for the future," said Walker Fitch. "We are trying to see if there's a market out there for it."

The topic of raw milk is controversial.

The federal Food and Drug Administration frowns on unpasteurized dairy products because the heating process in pasteurization kills bacteria that can be dangerous. Its Web site says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found "more than 800 people in the United States have gotten sick from drinking raw milk or eating cheese made from raw milk" in the last decade.

Advocates of raw milk, however, say that pasteurization also removes some of the healthy bacteria and much of the taste, and that the benefits of properly handled raw milk outweigh the risks.

A national push, called Campaign for Real Milk, has been trying to get states to loosen regulation and make it easier for farms to sell raw milk.

In New Hampshire, this debate led to a clash between state law, which says stores can sell raw milk, and food protection rules, which say that only farms can sell it. The state law eventually overrode the rules, so in theory, raw milk can be sold almost anywhere.

Currently, the state's Food Protection Section lists nine places that hold milk sanitation licenses to sell more than five gallons of raw milk a day, either from cows or goats, or other unpasteurized dairy products such as cheese.

Many other places in the state sell raw dairy products, however, including very small operations with a few animals to large dairies that sell only a small amount, often limited to friends. One Web site lists 30 places that sell raw milk or dairy products in New Hampshire.

In a way, the new Fitch business is a return to the family past. Fitch's great uncle, John, "used to have a milk route, delivered milk with a horse and wagon back in the '30s," he said.

The Fitches are milking about 100 cows and are one of few dairy farms left in the region.

The flavor of raw milk is a little different from the pasteurized variety and it takes a little getting used to.

"But once you use it, you don't want to go back," David Fitch said.

Since the milk isn't homogenized, the cream separates from the milk in the bottle, providing some real coffee creamer

The farm is also selling beef from its own cows.

"When we decided to get into it, we found a butcher who is approved" by the United States Department of Agriculture, Walker Fitch said. "People are getting concerned about what is in their food, growth hormones and antibiotics. We don't have any of that. It's amazing how times have changed – it's like going back (in time). My grandfather talked about when everybody had their own cows and chickens and gardens," he said.

These days, few people have cows, but many now have gardens and a small flock of chickens is getting more popular.

"What it comes down to," Walker Fitch said, "is people are sick of what's in the stores. They come here to get fresh produce."

Walker was initiated by Omega in 1993.

information courtesy of Nashua Telegraph

Colorado State alum joins online auction company

MANHATTAN, Kan. -- Sept. 18, 2009 – Purple Wave Auction, an online auction firm, announced Colorado State alumnus Wayne Graffis joined the company’s business development department and will focus on Purple Wave’s expansion in the agriculture equipment market.

“Due to our continued success with our no reserve, online auction model, we are pleased to be able to bring quality people on to the team,” said Purple Wave CEO Jerrod Westfahl (Kansas State, ’93), “Graffis brings exceptional professional experience to the table that is consistent with Purple Wave’s commitment to growing customer base.”

With over 25 years of experience in agricultural finance, Graffis owned and managed Capital Resources Funding Group, Inc. providing services to commercial banks in 10 states as well as work with Farm Credit and commercial banking.  Graffis earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Colorado State in Vocational Agricultural Education and was initiated by Rho Chapter in 1974.

In spring 2009, Purple Wave Auction began concentrating on vehicles, heavy, construction and agriculture equipment online auctions.  Compared to the last year, Purple Wave’s 2009 sales volume in the agricultural, construction and heavy equipment asset categories has more than doubled that of the prior year.

“We have been very fortunate with the growth we’ve seen over the past several months,” said Westfahl.  “With Graffis on our team, we hope to continue Purple Wave’s success in bringing value to our customers.”

Other AGR alumni at Purple Wave include company founder Aaron McKee (Kansas State, ’91), Director of Equipment Auction Division Doug Regehr (Kansas State, ’93) and Operations Manager Michael Braun (Kansas State, ’93).

Prevent flu outbreak by adapting healthy tips 

As the weather cools, coughs and colds tend to fill the air and flu season typically begins. However, with recent outbreaks of the H1N1 virus, flu season seems to be getting an early start this year.

At least one, possibly two, members of Arkansas’ Alpha Iota Chapter have been affected by the virus, according to The Loop, an e-newsletter sent by Larry Ropp, the chapter’s adviser.

Although the chapter is taking cautionary action, AGR believes that by knowing about flu treatment and prevention options, all chapters can be better prepared to face the flu season.

AGR encourages chapters to adapt the specific needs and tips below for effective ways to prevent and treat the H1N1 virus pandemic.

Prevention:

• Get season flu shot at nearby flu clinics or with a hometown doctor.
• Get H1N1 shot when available.
• Wash hands frequently before and after eating, after using the restroom and after coughing or sneezing.
• Use antibacterial gel often.
• Cough/sneeze into a tissue and dispose of tissue. If tissue is not available, cough/sneeze into elbow.
• Frequently clean living quarters, especially common surfaces with antimicrobial products per directions concentrating on phones, door handles, remote controls and computers/work stations.

If ill with flu-like symptoms:

• Contact Noble Ruler, Housemother and Chapter Adviser.
• Contact the Office of Greek Affairs.
• Leave campus and go home to recover if possible.
• Identify area of chapter house where member can reside with little contact with others.
• Provide meal delivery to the member so they are not eating in common areas with healthy members.
• Designate a “sick” bathroom for only members that are ill to utilize. Clean this area regularly.
• Treat symptoms accordingly.
• Rest.
• Designate “flu buddies” for sick members to check-in with every few hours and to bring meals, medicine and other supplies to ill members.
• Those with symptoms should limit interactions with others (except to seek medical care) for at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever.
• Do not attend class. Contact faculty members.
• Do not attend work. Contact supervisor.
• Do not require members to come to chapter meetings or other events when ill.
• Contact a medical provider if you experience any of the following symptoms: rapid breathing, shortness of breath, severe or persistent fever, severe or persistent vomiting or diarrhea and sudden dizziness or faintness.

Food Service & Preparation:

• Deliver all meals to rooms of members that are ill.
• Encourage members to wash hands or utilize hand sanitizer before and after meals.
• When serving meals family style, members should use their own clean utensil to dish food.
• Waiters/kitchen stewards should be educated on food preparation guidelines.
• Suggested foods to stock: soup, broth, Jell-O, oatmeal, tea, crackers, popsicles, turkey sandwiches.

Household Cleaning/Laundry/Waste Disposal:

• Throw away tissues and other disposable items used by sick people. Wash hands after disposing items.
• Clean common areas utilizing hot, soapy water and household disinfectant per directions.
• Encourage members to clean personal spaces often with the same techniques, especially phones, remote controls and computers.
• Linens, eating utensils and dishes belonging to those who are sick do not need to be cleaned separately, but should not be shared.
• Wash linens using household laundry soap and tumble dry on a hot setting.
• Clean hands after handling dirty laundry.
• Share prevention information with chapter members.

Flu Facts and Information:

Center for Disease Control

World Health Organization

AGR Brother of The Century, Nobel Prize winner dies

DALLAS  -- Sept. 14, 2009 -- Agricultural scientist Norman Borlaug, the father of the "green revolution" who won the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in combating world hunger and saving hundreds of millions of lives, died Saturday in Texas. He was 95.

Borlaug died just before 11 p.m. Saturday at his home in Dallas from complications of cancer. Borlaug was a distinguished professor at the Texas A&M University in College Station. He was also a 1994 Minnesota honorary initiate and Brother of the Century.

The Nobel committee honored Borlaug in 1970 for his contributions to high-yield crop varieties and bringing other agricultural innovations to the developing world. Many experts credit the green revolution with averting global famine during the second half of the 20th century and saving perhaps 1 billion lives.

Thanks to the green revolution, world food production more than doubled between 1960 and 1990. In Pakistan and India, two of the nations that benefited most from the new crop varieties, grain yields more than quadrupled over the period.

Equal parts scientist and humanitarian, the Iowa-born Borlaug realized improved crop varieties were just part of the answer, and pressed governments for farmer-friendly economic policies and improved infrastructure to make markets accessible. A 2006 book about Borlaug is titled "The Man Who Fed the World."

"He has probably done more and is known by fewer people than anybody that has done that much," said Dr. Ed Runge, retired head of Texas A&M University's Department of Soil and Crop Sciences and a close friend who persuaded Borlaug teach at the school. "He made the world a better place — a much better place. He had people helping him, but he was the driving force."

Borlaug began the work that led to his Nobel in Mexico at the end of World War II. There he used innovative breeding techniques to produce disease-resistant varieties of wheat that produced much more grain than traditional strains. He and others later took those varieties and similarly improved strains of rice and corn to Asia, the Middle East, South America and Africa.

"More than any other single person of his age, he has helped to provide bread for a hungry world," Nobel Peace Prize committee chairman Aase Lionaes said in presenting the award to Borlaug. "We have made this choice in the hope that providing bread will also give the world peace."

During the 1950s and 1960s, public health improvements fueled a population boom in underdeveloped nations, leading to concerns that agricultural systems could not keep up with growing food demand. Borlaug's work often is credited with expanding agriculture at just the moment such an increase in production was most needed.

"We got this thing going quite rapidly," Borlaug told The Associated Press in a 2000 interview. "It came as a surprise that something from a Third World country like Mexico could have such an impact."

His successes in the 1960s came just as books like "The Population Bomb" were warning readers that mass starvation was inevitable.

"Three or four decades ago, when we were trying to move technology into India, Pakistan and China, they said nothing could be done to save these people, that the population had to die off," he said in 2004.

Borlaug often said wheat was only a vehicle for his real interest, which was to improve people's lives.

"We must recognize the fact that adequate food is only the first requisite for life," he said in his Nobel acceptance speech. "For a decent and humane life we must also provide an opportunity for good education, remunerative employment, comfortable housing, good clothing and effective and compassionate medical care."

In Mexico, Borlaug was known both for his skill in breeding plants and for his eagerness to labor in the fields himself, rather than to let assistants do all the hard work.

He remained active well into his 90s, campaigning for the use of biotechnology to fight hunger and working on a project to fight poverty and starvation in Africa by teaching new drought-resistant farming methods.

"We still have a large number of miserable, hungry people and this contributes to world instability," Borlaug said in May 2006 at an Asian Development Bank forum in the Philippines. "Human misery is explosive, and you better not forget that."

Norman Ernest Borlaug was born March 25, 1914, on a farm near Cresco, Iowa, and educated through the eighth grade in a one-room schoolhouse.

"I was born out of the soil of Howard County," he said. "It was that black soil of the Great Depression that led me to a career in agriculture."

He left home during the Great Depression to study forestry at the University of Minnesota. While there he earned himself a place in the university's wrestling hall of fame and met his future wife, whom he married in 1937. Margaret Borlaug died in 2007 at the age of 95.

After a brief stint with the U.S. Forest Service, Norman Borlaug returned to the University of Minnesota for a doctoral degree in plant pathology. He then worked as a microbiologist for DuPont, but soon left for a job with the Rockefeller Foundation. Between 1944 and 1960, Borlaug dedicated himself to increasing Mexico's wheat production.

In 1963, Borlaug was named head of the newly formed International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, where he trained thousands of young scientists.

Borlaug retired as head of the center in 1979 and turned to university teaching, first at Cornell University and then at Texas A&M, which presented him with an honorary doctorate in December 2007.

"You really felt really very privileged to be with him, and it wasn't that he was so overpowering, but he was always on, intellectually always engaged," said Dr. Ed Price, director of A&M's Norman Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture. "He was always onto the issues and wanting to engage and wanting your opinions and thoughts."

In 1986, Borlaug established the Des Moines, Iowa-based World Food Prize, a $250,000 award given each year to a person whose work improves the world's food supply. He also helped found and served as president of the Sasakawa Africa Foundation, an organization funded by Japanese billionaire Ryoichi Sasakawa to introduce the green revolution to sub-Saharan Africa.

In July 2007, Borlaug received the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor given by Congress.

Plans for a memorial service to be held at Texas A&M were pending.

information courtesy of Associated Press.

AGR launches newly designed Web site

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Sept. 1, 2009 -- It is with great pleasure that Alpha Gamma Rho announces the launch of the new and improved AGR national Web site and social networking platform developed in partnership with Celect.org (formally Chapter Communications). This new system will allow AGR to integrate and network nearly all of the organization’s online activity.  Most importantly, it will provide online business tools to streamline communication and use the Internet to recruit, connect and reconnect with all Alpha Gamma Rho members and potential members nationwide.

Please login to view the private “members only” section of the site. In the private section, visitors can view private pages, update personal profiles and create/join AGR socially networked online communities called “groups”. The “groups” feature allows visitors to share photos, files, calendar events and blogs with other AGRs nationwide.

Over the next few days there are bound to be a few hitches as Alpha Gamma Rho puts the final touches on the Web site. AGR appreciate any feedback and hopes visitors enjoy discovering the Web site’s unique communication features.

Purdue alumnus selected to serve on Indiana Ag Board

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- Aug. 31, 2009 -- Lt. Governor Becky Skillman, Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development, announced a transition in leadership at the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA). Purdue alumnus Joe Kelsay, a sixth generation dairy and crop farmer, has been selected to serve as the next Indiana Agriculture Director. Later this fall, Kelsay will succeed Anne Hazlett who will then serve as Chief Counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry under ranking member U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss.

“Anne’s passion for agriculture helped the State Department of Agriculture surge forward, strengthen partnerships, and set the course for the future,” said Lt. Governor Skillman. “Talent like that doesn’t go unnoticed. Fortunately, in her new position, she will continue to work everyday to allow agriculture to flourish in Indiana and across the country.”

A 1999 graduate of Purdue University in agricultural economics, Kelsay farms full-time with his father and brother in rural Johnson County. In addition to milk production, Joe and his wife Amy operate a farm tour business, Kelsay Farm Tours LLC, which teaches thousands of children and families each year about life on the farm. Beyond his experience in production and business development, Kelsay has held a wide variety of leadership positions in the agriculture industry. He was the Indiana FFA State Vice President from 1995 to 1996. He currently serves as Chairman of the State Young Farmer Committee in Indiana Farm Bureau and is president of the Indiana Professional Dairy Producers. Further, he is a member of the Purdue University Dean of Agriculture’s Advisory Council as well as the ISDA Agriculture Advisory Board.

In his role as the Indiana Agriculture Director, Kelsay will lead the state’s efforts to promote and strengthen the agriculture industry. “I cannot think of a person more suited for this critical leadership role than Joe Kelsay,” Skillman said. “With his zeal for agriculture, proven leadership abilities, and entrepreneurial spirit, Joe will be a tremendous asset for all facets of Indiana agriculture. I am very much looking forward to working with him as we continue to grow the agriculture sector to an even greater piece of our state’s economic revitalization.”

Kelsay will assume his responsibilities in early November upon completion of the 2009 harvest. He was initiated by Delta in 1996.

information courtesy of IN.gov

Chapter succeeds through advocating diversity

Wisconsin is known for one thing besides the Packers, Badgers and beer-dairy. As our vehicle tags indicate, Wisconsin is "America's Dairyland." (Contrary to some commercials and with all due respect to the Golden State, happy cows do not come from California.) I am not a native Wisconsinite, but since moving here last year, I am fully embracing the culture that Wisconsin has to offer. Milk tastes better in Wisconsin and I have developed a newfound love of cheese curds and frozen custard!

Alpha Gamma Rho's Brand Value 8 states that, as an organization, we shall "reflect, value and advocate diversity in our membership and professional lives." Iota Chapter at UW-Madison is an excellent example of how AGR can, and should, adapt to an ever-evolving agriculture. Iota member are not only proud of their recent recognition with the Maynard Coe Chapter Efficiency Award or that they consume the largest volume of milk per capita of any AGR chapter, but Iota is also proud that it has evolved by advocating diversity in its membership.

A chapter consisting predominantly of dairy science majors since being chartered in 1915, Iota has seen recent success in actively recruiting students pursuing degrees that stretch beyond production agriculture to those with degree paths such as Biochemistry and Microbiology. The membership demographic has recently shifted to a majority of nondairy science majors. Many reasons exist for this shift. Not the least of these reasons is that UW-Madison, like many campuses, is increasingly becoming more competitive to gain admission and the demographic of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences has shifted towards a female majority. The same percentage of "farm boys", who may not have put forth the best academic effort in high school, are simply not being admitted so there is a smaller pool of "farm boys" to recruit from (although none of our chapters really seem to exhaust all the prospective members who meet our qualifications). There are other reasons and benefits for this evolution.

Besides the natural benefit of diversity being that undergraduates have the ability to learn more from one another, other benefits that Iota has realized include an expanded representation across campus and a higher overall GPA. For example, Brother Paul Pamula is studying Microbiology and plans to attend dental school while Brother Ryan Adams, who grew up on a farm, chose to pursue a degree in Biochemistry and plans to attend physical therapy school. In order for these men to gain admission into their respective specialty schools, they must have an excellent GPA in addition to active involvement in extracurricular activities. Besides other contributions these brothers make within the chapter, Adams maintains a 3.41 cumulative GPA while Pamula maintains a 3.98, directly benefiting the chapter by contributing to a higher overall chapter GPA.

Iota has also embraced diversity amongst its advisers, thus advocating diversity in its professional lives. On a campus and in a state known for the dairy business/science, none of Iota's co-advisers are involved in the dairy business: one studies swine nutrition with an emphasis on mineral nutrition while the other is involved with the sports turf industry. Brother Tom Crenshaw, a Co-Adviser to Iota for 12 years, is Professor in the Department of Animal Sciences and Director of the UW Swine Research and Teaching Center at UW-Madison. He was an undergraduate at Alpha Upsilon Chapter at the Tennessee-Martin where he received a B.S. degree in Animal Science in 1974. As a December 2000 Mississippi State graduate with a B.S. degree in Landscape Contacting/Management, I worked in the landscape industry for four years before taking a sales job selling products used in the sports turf industry. I'm not exactly what you would think of as a typical adviser for Iota, but I have been embraced because of the different perspective I can offer. Admittedly, I know very little about production agriculture, but I give the guys credit. They are genuinely appreciative of the diverse perspectives that Crenshaw and I give them: one from a more agricultural research/academic viewpoint and the other which is more from the business world.

There are many ways we can embrace diversity within our organization and Iota Chapter is experiencing many benefits that are a byproduct of diversity within an organization. Diversity not only makes Alpha Gamma Rho stronger on the campus of UW-Madison, but it will also make us a stronger nationally (and hopefully internationally very soon).

written by Brad Garrison, Co-Adviser for UW-Madison' Iota Chapter. Garrison was initiated by Beta Tau in 1997.

Cornell alum to serve on Wisconsin State Board of Ag

FOND DU LAC, Wis. -- Aug. 18, 2009 -- Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin member John Koepke, Cornell alumnus, has been appointed by Governor Jim Doyle to serve on the Wisconsin State Board on Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. The Board on Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection is a nine-member board that serves as a policy-making body for the Agency. Koepke’s appointment is effective immediately and will continue through May 1, 2015.

In making the appointment, Governor Doyle stated, “I am pleased to appoint John Koepke to the Board on Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. His background as a successful dairy farmer and active member of Wisconsin’s agricultural community will be incredibly valuable to the board.”

PDPW’s executive director Shelly Mayer applauds Governor Doyle’s selection, noting, “It’s great to have an active dairy producer like John serving our state in this capacity—and I’m pleased that John is willing to serve and help to position Wisconsin as a world leader in agriculture, food safety and consumer protection. With dairy representing more than $20 billion of the state economy, it is absolutely critical that dairy has a voice on this rule-making board.

“John is a young, enthusiastic leader who is a critical thinker and understands dairying. He will make educated, well-thought-out decisions that consider what is best for dairy producers and Wisconsin. He’s a bright, thoughtful individual.”

Koepke and his wife, Kim, are active PDPW members. Koepke operates Koepke Farms Inc. in partnership with his dad Jim and uncles Alan and David. Koepke Farms milks 330 Holstein cows and has 970 acres dedicated to corn, soybeans and hay.

Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin is a dairy-producer founded organization that provides educational programs and services to fellow dairy producers. PDPW’s mission is “to share ideas, solutions, resources, and experiences that help dairy producers succeed.”

Koepke was initiated by Zeta Chapter in 1992.