Extension Category
Dr. Steven Washburn North Carolina State University
Dr. Steven Washburn, from a small farm in West Virginia earned degrees from West Virginia University (BS, 1971; PhD, 1985) and UW - Madison (MS, 1973). Steve joined ASAS in 1972 and started his career with extension in WI and WV. Since 1986 he has been an extension specialist at NC State University. Steve led early studies on the EZ-Breed CIDR, now widely used to synchronize estrus and ovulation in cattle. Steve's leadership of multidisciplinary teams helped establish a pasture-based research dairy at CEFS leading to funding for multiple projects on research questions relevant to pasture-based systems and projects related to conservation, sustainable agriculture, and local foods. The CEFS team received the USDA Secretary's Honor Award in 2012. Total grant support for Steve's programs exceeds $5,000,000 which has supported 376 extension and research publications and electronic products in various forms. Publications have been cited over 1,750 times, reflecting the quality and impact of his work. He has been a mentor to many graduate students, undergraduate researchers, international interns, and dairy challenge students. Steve has received several awards including the DeLaval Dairy Extension Award in 2016, the AFGC Grasslander Award in 2017, and Fellow awards in both ASAS and ADSA in 2017. Steve and Connie have two adult children, Wendy and Andy.
Research Category
Dr. George C. Fahey University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign
Dr. George C. Fahey, Jr. is Professor Emeritus of Animal Sciences and Kraft Foods Endowed Professor Emeritus of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. An overarching theme of his research is gastrointestinal tract health and the role of macronutrients in the digestive physiology, microbial ecology, and health of the gut. Fahey's early contributions were in the area of ruminant nutrition but since the late 1980's, his species emphasis has been companion animals. As a result of his research, new dietary formulations and feeding strategies have been implemented by health care professionals and pet food manufacturers for animals at various physiological states and for those experiencing health problems. Most importantly, 95 postdoctoral research associates, master's degree candidates, and doctoral degree candidates successfully completed their programs under his direction and are now serving with distinction in academia, government, and private industry.
Research Category
Dr. Peter J. Hansen University of Florida
Dr. Hansen has conducted basic and applied research to formulate new concepts regarding the nature of the interaction between the maternal system and developing embryo that have resulted in technologies to improve fertility of the female. Dr. Hansen developed a solution to the problem of infertility induced by heat stress through the use of embryo transfer. Research on the role of colony stimulating factor 2 (CSF2) as a maternal molecule that regulates embryonic development (termed embryokines) has revealed how molecules produced by the reproductive tract can regulate embryonic development to increase embryo competence to establish pregnancy and alter postnatal phenotype of the resultant o spring. His genetic research has identified new genes that confer thermotolerance to dairy cattle and has contributed to industry wide-efforts to improve the reliability of estimates of breeding value for reproductive traits.
Research Category
Dr. Michael D. MacNeil Delta G
Dr. Michael MacNeil has been active in animal breeding and genetics research for almost 40 years. He grew up in Ithaca, NY, and received the BS degree from Cornell University, MS degree at Montana State University and PhD degree from South Dakota State University. Dr. MacNeil's accomplishments as research scientist in beef cattle genetics have come from appointments at two USDA-ARS stations: 1980-1988 at US Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, NE, and 1988-2011 at Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Research Laboratory, Miles City, MT. He continues a very active research career today as an independent consultant (Delta G). In addition, Dr. MacNeil has developed a strong presence in graduate education. During his research career, Dr. MacNeil has focused on genetic inputs and production system approaches to increase the efficiency and probability of beef production, producing to date more than 300 scientific and technical publications. Mike and wife Betty live in Miles City, MT.
Research Category
Dr. Gary L. Williams Texas A&M University
Dr. Gary L. Williams is a Regents Fellow, Texas A&M AgriLife Research Faculty Fellow, and Professor, Texas A&M AgriLife Research-Beeville and Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University-College Station. Williams is nationally and internationally recognized for his research with beef cattle, including the neuroendocrinology and physiology of suckling mediated anovulation, the role of dietary fat intake/metabolism in regulating postpartum ovarian physiology, the nutritional programming of puberty, and the development of Bee Synch for synchronization of ovulation of Bos indicus-influenced cattle. His laboratory is the recognized authority in the eld of neuroendocrine signaling pathways that control the nutritional programming of puberty in the beef heifer. Dr. Williams' research has also made notable contributions to our understanding of seasonal reproduction in the mare and methodologies for its control. He has successfully mentored 43 M.S., Ph.D. and postdoctoral trainees.
Teaching Category
Dr. Doug F. Parrett University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign
For over 35 years, Dr. Doug Parrett has sustained teaching excellence at the University of Illinois. He has received 20 awards for his teaching excellence, including the prestigious ASAS Purina Mills Award for Teaching and the Luckman Award for Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching at the University of Illinois, the top campus teaching award. He has had impact on over 7,000 students and thousands of industry stakeholders. Four themes stand out in Dr. Parrett's contributions to outstanding achievements in education: 1) enthusiasm for transferring knowledge and information to people; 2) exceptional written and oral communication skills; 3) superior subject matter knowledge and the willingness to keep abreast of new facts, research and technology; and 4) exceptional credibility and contact with the livestock industry in Illinois and the U.S. His enthusiasm for teaching is still impactful in the freshman ‘Introduction to Animal Sciences’ course that he leads.
Teaching Category
Dr. Tom J. Baas Iowa State University
Dr. Tom J. Baas is Professor of Animal Science at Iowa State University (ISU) with a joint appointment in extension, research, and teaching. He has a B.S. in Animal Science, M.S. in Animal Breeding, and PhD in Animal Breeding with a minor in Statistics, all from ISU. His emphasis in both undergraduate and graduate teaching is to motivate students to understand concepts and principles, and apply them to real-world situations. His philosophy is to teach fundamental concepts, promote critical thinking, and help students develop decision-making and problem-solving skills. He describes the importance of the pork industry in the US and the world and emphasizes its role in the eld of agriculture. Tom grew up on a pig farm in northern Iowa and has been part of the pork industry his entire life. He and his wife, Cindy, are very active in church and community activities, and can be found at most Cyclone athletic events. They have three children and four very special grandchildren.