2012 Award Winners

Distinguished Service Award
Douglas Hixon, University of Wyoming

Dr. Doug Hixon grew up in Iroquois County, Illinois He first enrolled in college at Illinois State and then transferred to the University of Illinois where he began his journey in the Land Grant System. He competed BS, MS and PhD degrees in Animal Science at the University of Illinois. In 1982 he headed West to accept a beef cattle extension position at the University of Wyoming. He has been successful in implementing new beef programs in Wyoming in his role as beef extension specialist. An example of his foresight and leadership was the development of the Wyoming Beef Cattle Improvement Association (WBCIA) that continues with a bull test and sale and feedlot and carcass evaluation program. He was an early leader in Integrated Ranch Management (IRM) both locally and nationally. He was named Department Head of Animal Science in 2001 where he oversees an integrated program in teaching, research and extension. His body of work represents the Land Grant System philosophy: Service to People.

Distinguished Teacher Award
James Berardinelli, Montana State University

Dr. James Berardinelli became a faculty member in the Department of Animal and Range Sciences at Montana State University in 1981 and developed several courses, including: physiology of reproduction, assisted reproductive technologies in domestic animals, endocrine physiology, biotechnology in animal science, advanced physiology of reproduction, and topics in endocrinology. He has delivered lectures and laboratory exercises to over 3,500 undergraduate students. He has served as advisor for the Save Our Barn Agricultural Club, the local Academic Quadrathlon, and the Block and Bridle Club. He is the academic advisor to approximately 54 undergraduates and has served as a member of the departmental undergraduate curriculum committee. He has mentored 22 outstanding students in the past 14 years; 7 of which appear as co-authors on scientific publications. Dr. Berardinelli’s research is in reproductive physiology and endocrinology. He has been married to Lucretia for 33 years and they have two sons: Kaine and Seth.

Extension Award
Rachel Endecott, Montana State University

Dr. Rachel Endecott grew up on a family cow-calf operation near Ennis, MT. She received her bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from Montana State University in 2001 and her master’s and doctor- ate degrees in range nutrition at New Mexico State University in 2003 and 2006. She has been the MSU Extension Beef Cattle Specialist, located off-campus at the Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Research Laboratory, since November 2006. Dr. Endecott conducts producer-focused, science-based beef cattle programming throughout Montana and the region, and she provides science- based training to county agents throughout Montana on a variety of topics to ensure new research information flows from research institutions to producers in a user-friendly manner.

Young Scientist Award
Shanna Ivey, New Mexico State University

Dr. Shanna Ivey is an associate professor in the Department of Animal and Range Sciences at New Mexico State University. Her faculty appointment is split between teaching and research responsibilities in rumen microbiology and animal nutrition. Dr. Ivey has published 11 refereed journal articles, 28 proceeding papers and 30 abstracts. Also, the NMSU Vice President for Research requested that Dr. Ivey represent the University in a multi-agency research initiative evaluating algae as sources of biofuels. Dr. Ivey’s role was to develop research to investigate animal use of the by-product. She is also co-principal investigator on a grant to investigate the use of algal by-product from aviation fuel which totals $102,000. Dr. Ivey is currently on the editorial board for the Journal of Animal Science as well as the Graduate Student Competition Committee for the Western Section. Dr. Ivey teaches four courses in the Department. Shanna and her husband Clay are the proud parents of beautiful baby girl, Reina.

Graduate Student Competition

First Place: M.K. Beckman, New Mexico State University

Digestibility of algal biofuel co-product in a forage diet. M.K. Beckman, L.N. Tracey, N. Miller, K. Norman, K. Marchetti, E.J. Scholljegerdes, S.A. Soto-Navarro, C.L. Loest, and S.L. Lodge-Ivey.

Second Place: K.E. Quinn, New Mexico State University

Fetal and maternal induction of angiogenic factors during early pregnancy. K.E. Quinn, J.D. Lindsey, S.M. Stanbrough, A.K. Ashley, and R.L. Ashley.

Third Place Tie: L.E. Camacho, North Dakota State University and C.A. Roberts, South Dakota State University

Maternal diet restriction in beef cows alters fetal cardiovascular hemodynamics and fetal and placental development during early pregnancy. L.E. Camacho, C.O. Lemley, K.C. Swanson, and K.A. Vonnahme.

Institutional Award

The institutional award for the highest average score with 2 or more contestants was presented to the New Mexico State University by Connie Larson from Zinpro Corporation. WSASAS expresses its gratitude to Zinpro and Connie Larson for their continued support of the Graduate Student Competition and the Institutional Award.

Applied Animal Science Awards

1st Place: $500.00

Metabolizable protein supply alters pregnancy and subsequent retention rate during heifer development while grazing dormant winter forage

         J. T. Mulliniks†, D. E. Hawkins§, K. K. Kane†, S. H. Cox†, L. A. Torell†, E. J.         Scholljegerdes†, and M. K. Petersen¶

         †New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, 88003; §West Texas A&M             University, Canyon, TX, 79016; ¶USDA-ARS Fort Keogh Livestock and       Range         Research Laboratory, Miles City, MT 59301

2nd Place: $300

Effects of post-AI nutrition on growth performance and fertility of yearling beef heifers

         R. P. Arias1, P. J. Gunn2, R. P. Lemenager2, and S. L. Lake1

         1Animal Science Department, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY;   2Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN

3rd Place: $200

Heifers with low antral follicle counts have low birth weights and produce progeny with low birth weights

         A. F. Summers1, R. A. Cushman2, and A. S. Cupp1

         1University of Nebraska- Lincoln, Lincoln, NE; 2USDA-ARS U.S. Meat Animal        Research Center, Clay Center, NE