Sponsored by F. B. Morrison Fund

Larry V. Cundiff
Larry V. Cundiff, USDA-ARS, MARC, Clay Center, NE Bio: Larry Cundiff was raised on a livestock and grain farm in central Kansas. He and his wife, Laura, have one son and two daughters. He received a BS degree in animal science at Kansas State University, and MS and PhD degrees at Oklahoma State University. Cundiff has had a distinguished career with the Agricultural Research Service, USDA. He has led the cattle Germplasm Evaluation Program at the US Meat Animal Research Center to characterize 37 breeds for production traits. His research on effects of heterosis and breed complementarity has led to increased use of crossbreeding systems and development of composite breeds. His research and leadership have had major impacts on the beef cattle industry for the last 40 years.

Sponsored by American Feed Industry Association

Brian J. Kerr
Brian J. Kerr was raised on a cash grain/swine farm in west-central Illinois. He received his BS, MS, and PhD from the University of Illinois. Kerr was swine service and formulations manager at Supersweet Feeds from 1987 to 1990, research director for Nutri-Quest from 1990 to 2000, and has been the research leader/lead scientist at the ARS since 2001. Kerr is a reviewer for several scientific journals and is a committee member for revising the Nutrient Requirements of Swine. Kerr has authored or coauthored numerous scientific publications and national and international presentations. Brian has advised 2 MS students and has served on MS and PhD committees. Brian and Elizabeth have 3 children, Rebecca, Sarah, and Nicole.

Sponsored by American Feed Industry Association

Arthur L. Goetsch
Art Goetsch received a PhD from New Mexico State University in 1982. After postdoctoral work at Oklahoma State University, he served on the University of Arkansas faculty from 1984-1995. From 1995-1997, he was a research animal scientist with USDA-ARS, moving in 1998 to his present position of research leader at the American Institute for Goat Research of Langston University. Goetsch has published approximately 225 peer-reviewed papers and numerous book chapters and proceedings papers. His research has addressed intake, digestion, metabolism, and performance by ruminants consuming forage-based diets, with a current focus on factors affecting nutrient requirements and efficiency of utilization by goats in various production settings.

Sponsored by ABS Global, Inc.

Michael D. MacNeil
Michael D. MacNeil received his PhD from South Dakota State University and is a research geneticist at USDA-ARS, LARRL, Miles City, Montana. He is team leader for interdisciplinary research on reducing the cost of beef production. His personal research focuses on basic and applied animal breeding and genetics and is a major component of national cattle evaluation systems. He has published 286 articles resulting in international recognition, wide collaborations, and application of his results by scientists, producers, and breed associations. He received the BIF Continuing Service Award, WSASAS Distinguished Service Award, and Federal Laboratory Consortium Mid-Continent Regional Award for Notable Technological Development.

Sponsored by DSM Nutritional Products, Inc.

Michael E. Spurlock
Michael Spurlock earned BS (1981), MS (1987), and PhD degrees (1989) from the University of Missouri, joined Purdue University in 1995, and relocated to Iowa State University in 2005. His research has contributed substantially to our understanding of how tissue-specific changes in nutrient utilization coincide with altered growth potential in adipose and muscle tissue during an innate immune challenge. He has published 52 refereed manuscripts and 60 abstracts and has 3 patents. He has twice received the National Pork Producers’ Council Innovative Basic Research Award, a Research Award from Purdue University, and the Bailey Award from Iowa State University. Spurlock is currently president of the Midwest Section of ASAS.

Sponsored by Pfizer Animal Health

Dorian J. Garrick
Dorian Garrick has held the Lush Chair in Animal Breeding and Genetics at Iowa State University since 2007 after five years at Colorado State University and 15 years at Massey University in New Zealand. He has a First Class Honors degree from Massey and PhD from Cornell. Garrick has been integrally involved in the development and implementation of a variety of genetic improvement programs in livestock and plants on five of the seven continents. He is the executive director of the US National Beef Cattle Evaluation Consortium. His recent work focuses on the theory and application of genomics in animal improvement. He enjoys working with enthusiastic producer and industry groups that seek to include animal breeding approaches in the attainment of their business goals.

Sponsored by Merial Limited

Monty Kerley
Monty S. Kerley is a professor of animal science at the University of Missouri and has established national and international recognition for his program in ruminant nutrition. Kerley’s research program has focused on understanding how to enhance microbial efficiency and more accurately predict microbial efficiency in beef cattle. Most recently, Kerley’s research has addressed ways to select for feed efficiency as well as lower feed costs of beef cattle diets. During the past 10 years, Kerley has published 38 refereed journal articles and has received more than $5 million in research funding.

Sponsored by American Society of Animal Science Foundation

Dale Redmer
Dale Redmer grew up in Pennsylvania. He graduated from the University of Wyoming and earned advanced degrees from the University of Missouri. After pre- and postdoctoral work at the US Meat Animal Research Center and the University of Alabama, he joined the faculty at NDSU in 1985. He was promoted to professor in 1994 and has done much research in the area of reproduction and angiogenesis. He has more than $3 million in grants from agencies including USDA and NIH. He has 186 refereed articles and nearly 300 research abstracts. He has mentored 25 graduate students and 7 postdoctoral fellows. Dale has been on two sabbatical experiences at Cambridge University and the Rowett Institute. Dale is married to Laquita and has two children, Corrie and Cody.

Sponsored by Center for Regulatory Services, Inc.

Eduardo Casas
Dr. Eduardo Casas is a Research Leader at USDA/ARS/National Animal Disease Center. He received his Ph.D. degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and is recognized internationally for his research into identification of genetic markers for economically important traits in diverse breeds of cattle. He provided the first publicly accessible evaluation of genetic markers for meat tenderness in Bos indicus cattle, and translated his findings to producers worldwide with high visibility in Latin American and South American countries, providing counsel on the implementation of animal biotechnology programs to improve production efficiency of beef cattle. He served ASAS as an Editorial Board member and currently is an Associate Editor.

Sponsored by The Iams Company

Ryan M. Yamka
Ryan Yamka is a highly productive scientist who has been actively engaged in companion animal nutrition research for more than 12 years. Yamka has 20 published manuscripts, 47 abstracts, 2 book chapters, and 5 patents granted with 30+ patents pending. Yamka actively volunteers in the community for the United Way where he serves on numerous committees. Ryan and his wife, Tara, have three children ages 5, 2, and 1.

Sponsored by Land O'Lakes, Purina Mills LLC

William R. Lamberson
William Lamberson received a BS and PhD from the University of Nebraska and MS from Oregon State University. He is currently a professor at the University of Missouri where his research program focuses on the genetics of reproduction. Lamberson teaches courses in introductory animal science, applied livestock genetics, and applied statistics. He has received the MU inaugural Outstanding Contributions Award for directors of graduate studies, MU Gold Chalk Award for graduate teaching, the CAFNR Outstanding Teacher Award, and is a CAFNR teaching scholar and teaching fellow. He has authored more than 70 journal publications and coauthored a textbook that facilitates a problems-based approach to teaching applied statistics in animal sciences.

Sponsored by American Society of Animal Science Foundation

Kimberly Vonnahme
Kimberly Vonnahme grew up near Breda, Iowa, and attended Iowa State University. She graduated in 1996 and then completed her MS degree at Oklahoma State University. She completed her PhD in 2003 at the University of Wyoming with Stephen Ford. Kim moved to North Dakota State University to work as a research associate and accepted an assistant professor position in the Department of Animal and Range Sciences in 2004. Vonnahme has taught Physiology of Reproduction, Reproductive Management, and Research in Reproduction. She has advised 12 graduate students. She has 56 journal articles, 137 abstracts, 1 book chapter, and more than $1.6 million in funded research. Kim is married to Michael Kangas, and they have a daughter, Katie.

Anna Johnson
Anna Johnson began her professional career in a new position at National Pork Board as the director of animal welfare. Since joining Iowa State University, Johnson has built a state-of-the-art swine intensive laboratory with her colleagues. She has been author/coauthor on 33 peer-reviewed journal articles and three peer-reviewed book chapters. She has given 219 lectures/training workshops and has authored/coauthored 143 fact sheets, training modules, conference proceedings, newsletters, media articles, and videos. She is respected for her knowledge/team approach as indicated by 126 collaborations and 12 state and national committees. She has worked with FASS to complete swine training modules and helped revise the swine chapter of the Ag Guide.

Sponsored by Zinpro Performance Minerals

Donald L. Thompson Jr.
Donald L. Thompson, Jr. studied at Rutgers University, Colorado State University, and Johns Hopkins University. He was hired as an Assistant Professor of Animal Science at Louisiana State University in 1980. His research program has focused on basic and applied aspects of equine reproductive physiology and endocrinology. Don has earned numerous research and teaching awards. He served on the Board of Directors of the Equine Science Society, and was Secretary-Treasurer, vice-president, and president from 1995 to 1999. Don served on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Animal Science, as Associate Editor of the Animal Growth, Physiology, and Reproduction section of the journal, and Division Editor for that section through August, 2010.

Sponsored by Pfizer Animal Health

Richard J. Rasby
Rick Rasby was raised on a diversified livestock/crops farm in Nebraska. Rasby received a BS from Nebraska and MS and PhD from Oklahoma State. He led Nebraska’s Integrated Resource Management Program. Rasby has been on the 4-State Beef Conference planning committee for 24 years. He has made invited presentations nationally and internationally. Rasby led development of Nebraska’s beef website and led the national team of beef specialists to develop the eXtension Beef website. His most notable awards are Excellence in Team Programming, Distinguished Educational Service Award, Award for Excellence in Extension from National Association of State University and Land-Grant Colleges, and the Burgher Beef Award. Rasby has authored or coauthored numerous publications and developed a number of web-based learning modules. He has served as the advisor of 8 MS students. Rick and Tammy have 2 children, Nicholas and Andra.

Sponsored by American Society of Animal Science

Keith S. Lusby
Keith Lusby was born and raised in Southwest Arkansas. He received his BS and MS degrees in animal science from Kansas State University in 1970 and 1971, and his PhD in animal nutrition from Oklahoma State University in 1974. After 19 years in extension, research, and teaching at Oklahoma State University, he became head of the Department of Animal Science at the University of Arkansas in 1995. He held this position until his retirement in February 2011. During his tenure as department head, the Department of Animal Science at the University of Arkansas has become a nationally recognized program. Honors include election as president of the American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists in 2000, the American Society of Animal Science Pfizer Extension Award in 1993, the Distinguished Service Award from the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association in 1992, and the USDA Superior Service Award in 1990. In 2007, he was named a Graduate of Distinction by the Department of Animal Science at Oklahoma State University. Lusby and his wife Rosemary reside in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Jeffrey D. Armstrong
Jeffrey Armstrong has provided visionary leadership to the animal science community. Armstrong’s work has been characterized by distinguished research, academic and administrative contributions to the field of animal agriculture and beyond. Evidence of his work can be found in classrooms, fundamental changes to federal policy and funding, changing perspectives on animal welfare, and countless individuals who have benefited from his leadership at the institutions he has served. In the process, he has made prodigious contributions to mission of enhancing economic development and quality of life. Most recently, he was named president of California Polytechnic State University. Jeff and his wife, Sharon, are the parents of Jessica and Zack.

Gerald C. Weigel
Gerald C. Weigel served ASAS as Chair of the Foundation, Chair of the Investment Committee, and Board Committees (2005-2011). Gerald led the Investment Committee to change investment companies and investment portfolio, the increase in number of Appreciation Clubs, the marketing of Centennial merchandise, and the established the Next Century Fund. Gerald contributed significantly to the financial soundness of ASAS. Graduating from the University of Nebraska in Animal Science, his expertise is in animal and clinical nutrition, feed ingredient application, grain and oilseed processing, fermentation, and plant biotechnology. He has lectured in almost every country in the world. He is a member of 18+ agriculture and numerous civic organizations.

Gary Anderson
Gary B. Anderson earned his BS in dairy science with highest honors from Michigan State University and PhD in vertebrate physiology from Cornell University. He joined the Animal Science faculty at the University of California, Davis and conducted research on embryo development, manipulation, and transfer. He published more than 165 papers and trained 18 PhD and 40 MS students. Awards include the Young Investigator Award, WSASAS, ASAS Animal Physiology and Endocrinology Award, and ADSA Physiology Research Award. He received the UC Davis Prize for teaching and research, his campus’ highest award, and his college’s Award of Distinction. In 2007 he retired as Distinguished Professor, the University of California’s highest professorial rank.

Ronald E. Allen
Ronald E. Allen is the expert on satellite cell regulation, as recognized by delivery of the 2010 Alexander Mauro Lecture at the FASEB Summer Research Conference. Allen participated on the first ASAS Growth and Development program committee and on the first USDANRI Animal Growth and Development review committee. Allen has authored numerous, highly visible scientific articles. His awards include Outstanding Young Animal Scientist (Western Section, 1987), ASAS Animal Growth and Development Award (2000) and the University of Arizona, College of Agriculture Research Faculty of the Year (2004). Ronald Allen is the Roy R. and Phyllis Ede Hislop and William J. and Rosina Ede Endowed Chair and Head of the Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Arizona.

David L. Thomas
Dave Thomas earned a BS degree at the University of Wisconsin and graduate degrees from Oklahoma State University. He has served the sheep industry during a 34-year research, teaching and extension career at Oregon State, Illinois and Wisconsin. His research contributions include establishing the mode of inheritance of Spider Syndrome, comparing hair and prolific wool breeds, and establishing a research program in dairy sheep production. He has worked closely with the American Sheep Industry Association, National Sheep Improvement Program, and Dairy Sheep Association of North America. He has participated in international projects in Kenya, Indonesia and Kazakhstan. He has over 510 career publications. He and his wife, Lynda, have 3 children and 5 grandchildren. br /> Laurie M. Lawrence
Laurie Lawrence is one of the premier equine nutritionists in the United States. A native of New York, she received her BS from Cornell and her MS and PhD from Colorado State. She currently leads an equine nutrition research program at the University of Kentucky. Lawrence has made many contributions to equine nutrition during her career. She has studied the equine athlete, the brood mare, and the growing horse. Her active basic and applied research programs have resulted in over 200 scientific publications. She served on the Board of Directors of ASAS and was President of the Equine Nutrition and Physiology Society. She recently chaired the NRC committee that revised “Nutrient Requirements of Horses”.

William W. Thatcher
William W. Thatcher, of the Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, has made major contributions to animal science and the cattle industry through his work to develop novel approaches for regulating reproductive function and for his efforts in translating this research into practical, on-farm methods for improving reproductive performance. He has produced breakthrough discoveries in methods for reproductive management of cattle. His greatest accomplishment has been development and application of timed artificial insemination technologies that are now being adopted by cattle producers throughout the world. Thatcher’s current research activities are leading to nutraceutical approaches to further improve fertility of cattle.

Gary J. Hausman
For over 30 years, Gary Hausman has added to our understanding of embryonic and postnatal preadipocyte/adipocyte development. His accomplishments include whole animal, cell culture, biochemical, immunological, and molecular research platforms. Hausman has authored or co-authored 196 scientific articles in refereed journals (receiving >4300 citations; h-index = 33) 11 book chapters, 21 reviews and has given 23 invited presentations at national/international meetings. Dr. Hausman was the recipient of the Outstanding Young Animal Scientist of the ASAS-Southern Section and the 1993 ASAS Animal Growth and Development Research Award.

Paul G. Harms
Paul Harms is an outstanding educator, mentor, researcher, leader and colleague with a record of distinguished service to ASAS (2011 Southern Section-ASAS Distinguished Service Award). Since 1974 Paul has served as Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Professor, Physiology Section Leader and Professor Emeritus at Texas A&M University. He served the Southern Section of ASAS as Secretary- Treasurer and President. Paul has taught over 2000 students via 3 undergraduate and 2 graduate courses. Paul has mentored over 200 graduate students who continue to impact animal agriculture. By his modest approach to service as an excellent researcher and outstanding educator, Paul inspires colleagues and students.

Sponsored by American Society of Animal Science Foundation

Bud G. Harmon

George C. Fahey Jr.
George Fahey Jr. was born in 1949 in Weston, West Virginia, and was raised on a farm that produced beef cattle, sheep, and forage crops. He received a Bachelor’s degree in biology, a Master’s degree in agricultural biochemistry, and a Doctorate in animal nutrition, all from West Virginia University, Morgantown. He joined the faculty at the University of Illinois in 1976 and currently is professor emeritus of animal sciences and nutritional sciences and Kraft Foods endowed professor emeritus of nutrition. His area of research is comparative nutrition, and the primary disciplines studied are carbohydrate nutrition (including work on dietary fibers, novel polysaccharides, oligosaccharides, starch, and resistant starch) and protein nutrition (to include work on amino acid bioavailability and indices of protein quality). 1976 to 1990, beef cattle and sheep were the focus of his work and forage and agricultural byproduct utilization was the discipline studied. In 1990, he assumed leadership of the companion animal nutrition program in the Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Illinois and made the dog and the cat the focal points of his research activities. Fahey has authored or coauthored many books, book chapters, and refereed journal articles along with numerous abstracts, monographs, and popular press articles. Seventy-one students have completed either MS or PhD degrees under his direction, and he has mentored 17 postdoctoral research associates.

Chris Calkins
Chris Calkins is a professor and endowed chair and Nebraska Beef Industry Professor of Animal Science. In his career he has advanced the understanding of how meat composition and biochemistry affect the quality of fresh meat for retail and for value-added processing. He is a past president and fellow of the American Meat Science Association and a teaching fellow of the National Association of Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture. In 2004, Calkins’ muscle profiling research team was awarded the World Prize for Meat Science and Technology, the only time the prize has ever been awarded in the United States. Calkins has authored more than 90 research articles, 9 book chapters, and 220 abstracts in meat science.

2011 Omega Protein Innovation Research Award

Sponsored by Omega Protein Inc.

Jian Ping Wang
Jian Ping Wang is a Chinese PhD student studying animal nutrition and feed technology at Dankook University. She lives with the philosophy, “Since life is short, the better way will be to cherish every day and make full use of what you are endowed.” Since March 2008, she has published 12 papers as first author in the following journals: Journal of Animal Science (4), Poultry Science (1), Livestock Science (4), British Poultry Science (1), Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition (1), and so on. She also received several awards such as “Award of Best Excellent Presentation,” “Best Master Degree Graduate Paper,” and “1st in the Alltech Young Scientist Award.”.

2011 Wilson G. Pond International Travel Awards
Rodrigo Manjarin, Michigan State University
Erika Downey, Iowa State University
Dustin Boler, University of Illinois
Christina E. Phillips, University of Minnesota
Blaire Aldridge, Purdue University

2011 H. Allen Tucker Appreciation Club Graduate Student Travel Scholarship
Maria Procopio, University of Connecticut

2011 Fontenot Graduate Student Travel Scholarships
Andrea Loyd, Texas A&M University
Jean-Loup Rault, USDA-ARS, West Lafayette, IN

2011 Zimbelman/Hafs Public Policy Internship Award
Benjamin Williamson, University of Arkansas