Alumni News—Spring 2015

Berger Wins National Conservation Award

Steve Berger (’86 agricultural business), of Wellman, Iowa, was awarded the 2015 National Conservation Legacy Award by the American Soybean Association. Prior to his recognition as the national winner, Berger was named the Midwest Regional winner.

Scout Pro Named Rural Entrepreneur of the Year

In 2011, Michael Koenig (’12 ag and life sciences education), Holden Nyhus (’13 ag and life sciences education) and Stuart McCulloh (’13 ag and life sciences education) created Scout Pro as a class project in a CALS agricultural entrepreneurship course. In January, the group was named Entrepreneur of the Year by the Rural Entrepreneurship Initiative, a joint program of the American Farm Bureau Federation and Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business.

Northey Honored by National Clean Water Organization

Bill Northey (’81 ag business), Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, was honored by the National Association of Clean Water Agencies for excellence in public service. Northey is the first state Secretary of Agriculture to receive the award.

Thomsen Receives Inaugural Emerging Iowa Leader Award

Jacob Thomsen (’06 agronomy), of Kalona, Iowa, received the inaugural Emerging Iowa Leader Award from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Thomsen was selected for taking on significant leadership roles in the college’s young alumni program, Curtiss League, an initiative providing recruitment, advocacy and recognition opportunities for alumni age 40 and younger.

Cals Alumni Honored

Iowa State Alumni Association Awards

Distinguished Alumni Award
Ted Crosbie (‘73 ag education, MS ‘76 plant breeding and cytogenetics, PhD ‘78), Earlham, Iowa

Honorary Alumni Award
Martha Robes, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands

ISU Foundation Award

Order of the Knoll Faculty and Staff Award
Maynard Hogberg (’66 agricultural and life sciences education, ’72 MS animal science, ’76 PhD animal science)

Crosbie Speaks at Hertz Lecture

Ted Crosbie, retired vice president of Monsanto Co., presented the 2015 Carl and Marjory Hertz Lecture on Emerging Issues in Agriculture April 1 at Iowa State University. Crosbie’s (‘73 ag education, MS ‘76 plant breeding and cytogenetics, PhD ‘78) presentation “Applying an Iowa State Education to Life: A Tribute to My Teachers” is available online at www.stories.cals.iastate.edu.