American Feed Industry Association Award in Nonruminant Nutrition Research

Sponsored by: American Feed Industry Association

Joel M. DeRouchey, Kansas State University

Dr. Joel DeRouchey grew up on a purebred swine and cattle farm in Pukwana, S.D. He graduated with a B.S. from South Dakota State University and received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Kansas State University, then joining the faculty in 2001. His leadership is central to the workings of a progressive swine nutrition research team that has made Kansas State University the “go to” place in applied swine nutrition research. As a result, Joel has co-authored 287 refereed journal articles, 540 abstracts, 792 extension publications, and 12 book chapters. He has maintained a long running record of sustained funding from allied industries and the National Pork Board generating over $21 million in grants and gifts. Joel is dedicated to training the next generation of swine nutritionists and has served as chair or committee member of 100 M.S. or Ph.D. students. His contributions to the field of applied swine nutrition research have saved pork producers millions of dollars over his career.

American Feed Industry Association Award in Ruminant Nutrition Research

Sponsored by: American Feed Industry Association

Todd R. Callaway, University of Georgia

Dr. Todd Callaway is a ruminal and gastrointestinal microbiologist and has studied the microbial ecology of food safety extensively. He has authored or co-authored more than 250 peer-reviewed journal articles, 40 book chapters, 50 conference proceedings, 25 magazine and technical publications, more than 200 abstracts, and edited 2 books along with more than 200 scientific presentations around the world. Todd has researched how ruminal bacteria become resistant to the ionophore monensin which has been critical to understanding how the microbial ecosystem within the gastrointestinal tract of cattle can be changed. His research has also elucidated methods to reduce E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella shedding in cattle. His research pioneered new techniques to determine how diet impacts the microbial population of the gut and in turn endproducts that affect the nutritional status of the ruminant animal.

Animal Growth and Development Award

Sponsored by: DSM Nutritional Products, Inc.

Joshua T. Selsby, Iowa State University

Dr. Joshua T. Selsby is a Professor of Muscle Physiology at Iowa State University. After receiving a M.S. from The Ohio State University and Ph.D. from the University of Florida, Dr. Selsby completed postdoctoral training at the University of Pennsylvania focused on muscle disease in humans and murine models. His current research program continues to elucidate causes of muscle dysfunction in obesity and muscular dystrophy, as well as mechanisms of muscle injury and decreased growth efficiency during heat stress. Dr. Selsby has become an established expert whose programmatic efforts are gaining notoriety for excellence in research, as evidenced by numerous presentations at conferences, universities, and Extension events, funding support as PI exceeding $5 million in the last decade from USDA, NIH, and research advocacy foundations, and service to USDA as a panel member and manager. In the last 10 years, he has authored or co-authored 50 refereed journal articles and 90 abstracts focused on heat stress and muscle disease.

Animal Industry Innovation Award

Sponsored by: Zoetis, Inc.

Gregg K. Rentfrow, University of Kentucky

Dr. Gregg Rentfrow is Extension Professor of Meat Science at the University of Kentucky. He earned his B.S. and M.S. from the University of Illinois and Ph.D. from the University of Missouri. He has more than 35 years’ experience in the meat industry. Dr. Rentfrow’s multidisciplinary program is critical to enhancing the economic competitiveness of animal and meat industries in the US, and he has conducted extension activities pertinent to livestock industry in 42 states in the US. His YouTube videos on carcass fabrication are very popular and have been viewed over 2 million times. Dr. Rentfrow has received the American Meat Science Association Distinguished Extension Award (2020), ASAS Southern Section Extension Award (2019), M.D. Whiteker Award for Excellence in Extension, Kentucky Association of State Extension Professionals (2017), ASAS Midwest Section Outstanding Young Extension Specialist Award, (2014), and Outstanding Service to Kentucky’s Beef Industry Award (2011).

Animal Management Award

Sponsored by: United Animal Health

George A. Perry, Texas A&M University

Dr. George A. Perry received his B.S. from Texas A&M University, and his M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Missouri. Dr. Perry has built a highly productive program in reproductive management. His activities over the past decade have focused on reproduction management in beef cattle, with many projects conducted on producers’ operations. Additionally, many of Dr. Perry’s research findings have been adopted into producers’ management decisions. He has served as the chair of the Bovine Reproductive Task Force. His accomplishments in reproductive management and his expertise in reproductive management are not only recognized in the U.S. but throughout the world. His program has received more than $5.5 million in support. Dr. Perry has published 106 peer-review manuscripts, 14 book chapters, 213 abstracts, 115 non-refereed scientific publications and proceedings, 21 extension articles and videos, and numerous popular press articles. George and his wife, Brandi, have two children.

Animal Physiology and Endocrinology Award

Sponsored by: James W. Lauderdale Appreciation Club

Russel V. Anthony, Colorado State University

Dr. Russel V. Anthony is the Hill Professor of Animal Biotechnology in the Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine at Colorado State University. His research focuses on the establishment of pregnancy, development of the placenta, and placental function in normal and compromised pregnancies in cattle, pigs, horses and sheep. He implemented in vivo placenta-specific RNA interference (RNAi) methods, pioneered by his laboratory in sheep, to investigate the relative importance of specific genes expressed by the ruminant placenta. He has combined in vivo RNAi with the ability to place indwelling catheters on both the maternal and fetal sides of the placenta in sheep, to allow assessment of nutrient/hormone/waste uptake, transfer and utilization, under steady-state non-stressed, non-anesthetized conditions (2022, J. Anim. Sci. 100:1-14). He has served on many USDA and NIH grant review panels and is a stellar leader, collaborator, mentor and teacher in physiology & endocrinology.

Armstrong Leadership Award

Sponsored by: Armstrong Leadership Fund

M. Kimberly Mullenix, Auburn University

Dr. Kim Mullenix is an Extension Specialist and Associate Professor in the Department of Animal Sciences at Auburn University. Kim received her B.S. in Animal Sciences in 2008 and M.S. in Ruminant Nutrition in 2010, both from Auburn University. She received her Ph.D. in Agronomy in 2013 from the University of Florida. The focus of her Extension and research programs is the development of systems management recommendations for cattle producers through the use of improved forage management and supplementation strategies. Dr. Mullenix has developed innovative curriculum, programming, and decision tools related to forage management for use across the Southeast. She has authored or co-authored 38 manuscripts, over 125 Extension and popular press articles, delivered over 150 in-state workshops, and developed an online beef cattle short course and iBook. She serves as a board member for the American Forage and Grassland Council and is the 2023-2024 President for ASAS Southern Section.

ASAS Fellow: Administration Category

Sponsored by: American Society of Animal Science

Joseph P. Cassady, South Dakota State University

Dr. Joseph P. Cassady is the South Dakota Corn Endowed Dean of the SDSU College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences. He was SDSU Animal Science Department Head from 2013 until being appointed Dean in 2022, and concurrently Interim Dairy and Food Science Department Head from 2020 to 2022. He spent 12 years on the North Carolina State University faculty. Dr. Cassady has maintained a key focus on increasing research productivity and doubled graduate student enrollment in the Dept. of Animal Science. He provides oversight of operations and budgets for six livestock units, a meat teaching/research laboratory, a feed mill and nutrition, physiology and genetics research laboratories. He also provided strategic direction for the SDSU Rodeo Team, and livestock, meats, & wool judging teams. Dr. Cassady’s leadership and rapport with stakeholders helped raise over $14 million, to complete both a $7.4 million Swine Education and Research Facility and $6 million Cow-Calf Education and Research Facility.

Sponsored by: American Society of Animal Science

Glenn C. Duff, New Mexico State University

Dr. Glenn C. Duff received his B.S. from Northwest Missouri State University, M.S. from the University of Arkansas, and Ph.D. from New Mexico State University (NMSU). He has a long and distinguished career as a scientist, teacher, and administrator at NMSU, the University of Arizona, and Montana State University. Glenn has taught applied nutrition, statistics, and beef and dairy production and management courses. He has published 91 peer-reviewed articles and numerous published papers and abstracts, and he has been director or co-director of grants valued at $10.2 million. Glenn’s extensive service to the Western Section of ASAS includes terms as President and Section Director. At the national level of ASAS, he recently served as President-Elect, President, and Past-President. Glenn is active in his community through leadership of the Rotary Club and other organizations. Glenn and Donna Knudson have a farm south of Clayton. Their son, Tim, resides in Santa Fe, NM.

ASAS Fellow: Extension Category

Sponsored by: American Society of Animal Science

Robert C. Thaler, South Dakota State University

Dr. Bob Thaler has served the South Dakota State University Department of Animal Science since 1988, spending the majority of his career as SDSU Extension Swine Specialist. He has provided additional leadership in roles such as Head and Interim Department Head, and SDSU Extension Agricultural and Natural Resources Program Leader, but always returns to his passion for serving local, regional, national, and international pig farmers through his Extension Swine Specialist role. Dr. Thaler’s leadership, national, and international reputation helped secure funding from a diverse, multi-state group of swine industry leaders to build the SDSU Swine Education and Research Facility. The list of Extension programs Dr. Thaler has led is long and covers nearly every pig industry topic. He can effectively conduct an on-site audit of a swine barn, work with 4-H youth, visit with a registered dietitian about pork production, or present current research to the leading producers in the world.

ASAS Fellow: Research Category

Sponsored by: American Society of Animal Science

Tim A. McAllister, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Dr. Tim A. McAllister and his team have made a significant contribution to beef cattle microbiology, nutrition, food safety and sustainability in North America and beyond. He is one of few scientists to have published scientific manuscripts on all life forms, including livestock, plants, viruses, bacteria, protozoa, fungi and even prions. His work has spanned a range of scientific disciplines from applied on-farm studies to basic studies on genomics, microbiomes and mechanistic aspects of antibiotic resistance. He has authored over 900 peer-reviewed papers with a cumulative H index of 111. Dr. McAllister has been an engaged member of the American Society of Animal Science for over 20 years, serving as an Associate Editor and publishing 145 manuscripts in American Society of Animal Science journals. Many of the graduate students and postdoctoral fellows from his laboratory now hold faculty or research scientist positions in national and international universities, governments and industry.

Sponsored by: American Society of Animal Science

Geoffrey E. Dahl, University of Florida

Dr. Geoffrey E. Dahl is the Harriet B. Weeks Professor in the Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Florida. Dr. Dahl conducts applied and basic research with direct impact on animal production and health. His program focuses on understanding the physiological impact of management interventions, particularly heat stress abatement and photoperiod manipulation, at various stages of the lactation cycle, and using that knowledge to optimize cow health and performance. Fundamental aspects of Geoff’s work have led to application in sheep, goats and pigs. His career provides an excellent example of how animal science research can be performed to develop an understanding of biological processes that deepens our knowledge of animal function while leading to practical advances that improve the efficiency of production.

Sponsored by: American Society of Animal Science

Luis O. Tedeschi, Texas A&M University

Dr. Luis O. Tedeschi has gained international recognition for his growth and bioenergetic research and decision-support system in ruminants to help stakeholders achieve profitable animal production. Since the 1990s, Tedeschi has published 282 peer-reviewed manuscripts, 76 editor-reviewed manuscripts, 42 books or book chapters, and more than 289 abstracts, totaling more than 732 scientific publications on the impact of the composition of growth of growing cattle. He postulated that an animal’s body gain composition to its energy deposition efficiency in beef cattle’s tissues rather than the traditional dietary components approach. His forward-thinking approach to partitioning energy in growing cattle led him to develop the fundamentals and calculation logic behind a computer model used to determine the necessary days on feed to achieve the maximum profit for group-fed animals. Tedeschi has received numerous praises from feedlot-related enterprises for his computer models and books.

Sponsored by: American Society of Animal Science

Olayiwola (Layi) Adeola, Purdue University

Dr. Olayiwola (Layi) Adeola received the Bachelor of Agriculture degree in Animal Science from University of Ife, Nigeria in 1982, and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from University of Guelph in 1986 and 1989, respectively. He is a professor at Purdue University and has authored 305 refereed papers and 290 other publications. He served as Section Editor, Journal of Animal Science (2001-2006; 2016-2019); Associate Editor, Canadian Journal of Animal Sciences (2009-2012), on the NRC Committee that wrote the Nutrient Requirements of Swine (11th ed.), and currently a Section Editor for Poultry Science. He received the American Feed Industry Association Poultry Nutrition Research Award, 2005; the Maple Leaf Duck Research Award, 2007; the AFIA Nonruminant Nutrition Research Award, 2007; the Evonik Poultry Research Award, 2010; the National Broiler Chicken Council Research Award, 2012; and the Gary L. Cromwell Award for Research in Minerals, 2022. Layi and his wife, Mope, have one son and 2 grandkids.

ASAS Fellow: Teaching Category

Sponsored by: American Society of Animal Science

Kristen A. Johnson, Washington State University

Dr. Kristen A. Johnson, Professor in the Department of Animal Sciences has had a sustained impact on the field of animal science for the past 32 years through her commitment to teaching and advising efforts to enhance student learning. Dr. Johnson teaches lower and upper division undergraduate and graduate classes and is a longtime advisor to student organizations. Graduates offer during exit interviews that experiences they had with Dr. Johnson their first semester at WSU caused them to recognize and value their role in the educational process. Upper division students characterize Dr. Johnson as fair, approachable and demanding of understanding beyond memorization. Dr. Johnson has served WSU as Associate Dean of the Graduate School (2002-2004) and interim Chair of the Department of Animal Science (2017-2020) where she prioritized teaching. Dr. Johnson provides important senior leadership within the department and maintains a successful research program in ruminant nutrition.

Sponsored by: American Society of Animal Science

Jodi A. Sterle, Iowa State University

Dr. Jodi A. Sterle holds the Harman Endowed Professorship in Undergraduate Teaching and Learning in the Department of Animal Science at Iowa State University. Known to be tough but fair, Dr. Sterle simply loves to teach! From introductory courses to rigorous discipline-based courses such as reproductive physiology, and from contemporary issues courses to a course on the art and history of livestock, Dr. Sterle has impacted thousands of students in a variety of subjects. Believing that much of a student’s education occurs outside of the classroom, Dr. Sterle advises several student clubs and has led eight international travel courses, including the United Kingdom, South Korea, France/Italy and Portugal. No matter the enrollment, she takes the time to make every student feel connected. To date, Sterle has taught 13,048 students in 120 course offerings throughout her career.

ASAS Young Scholar Award

Sponsored by: American Society of Animal Science

Emilie C. Baker, West Texas A&M University

Dr. Emilie C. Baker is Assistant Professor at West Texas A&M University, with a doctorate from Texas A&M University in December 2022. She published 4 peer-reviewed manuscripts on epigenetic alteration of bovine DNA in response to stress and has a fifth manuscript in review. She was an awarded teaching assistant in Animal Breeding. As a graduate student, she was the instructor of record for a section of Animal Breeding for a semester in 2022 and handled all aspects of the course for 40 students. Her teaching goals include the training of graduate students in animal genetics and education of undergraduates as future industry participants in animal breeding and genetics. Skills in genetics and bioinformatics and her livestock background (cattle and horses) position her to be a leader in beef cattle improvement research. Her research goals include investigation of the rumen microbiome of feedlot cattle and single cell gene expression at the bovine maternal-fetal placental interface.

Sponsored by: American Society of Animal Science

Thaís Correia Costa, Federal University of Viçosa–Brazil

Dr. Thaís Correia Costa graduated in Animal Science in 2015 and received her Ph.D. in Animal Science in 2022 from the Federal University of Viçosa–Brazil. Her research is focused on the understanding of maternal nutrition manipulation on the development and composition of the skeletal muscle of the offspring. During her career, she acquired different backgrounds from other institutions in the US such as University of Tennessee (2015-2016) and Washington State University (2020-2021). Currently, she is a postdoctoral fellow of the Roullier Innovation Award (CMI Timac Agro) at the Department of Animal Science at Federal University of Lavras, Brazil.

Sponsored by: American Society of Animal Science

Colby A. Redifer, University of Missouri

Colby A. Redifer is a Ph.D. candidate in Ruminant Nutritional Physiology at the University of Missouri under the guidance of Dr. Allison Meyer. Originally from Blacksburg, Virginia, his fascination with pregnant ruminants began while raising and exhibiting seedstock cattle, sheep, and goats with his family. He attended Texas Tech University for his B.S. in Animal Science and completed a M.S. in Animal Science at Iowa State University. Colby’s M.S. research focused on peripartum supplementation of methionine hydroxy analog on beef cow-calf performance. While at Mizzou, his research has focused on developmental programming, specifically the impacts of late gestational nutrient restriction on prenatal and postnatal offspring nutrient utilization in beef cattle. Colby hopes to obtain an academic position where he can continue to study the effects of nutritional and environmental factors on the partitioning of nutrients between the dam and offspring during gestation and lactation.

Sponsored by: American Society of Animal Science

S. Maggie Justice, Auburn University

Dr. S. Maggie Justice is a recent doctoral graduate from Auburn University in the area of Ruminant Nutrition and Beef Management Systems. She completed a B.S. and M.S. from Clemson University in Animal and Veterinary Sciences before pursuing and completing her Ph.D. at Auburn. During her time at Auburn, Maggie was involved in a multi-site research project evaluating extended effects of weaning and background beef calves on growth performance and health through the feedyard phase. Maggie participated and supported numerous Extension programs while at Auburn and is currently an Assistant Professor and Beef Extension Specialist with the University of Arkansas.

Sponsored by: American Society of Animal Science (ASAS)

Debbie, West Virginia Univesity

Godstime Taiwo is a Ph.D. student of Animal and Food Science at West Virginia University. He received his M.Sc. degrees in Animal Nutrition at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel, and his B.sc. degree in Animal Nutrition and Biotechnology from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria. Taiwo's Ph.D. research is focused on the physiological basis of feed efficiency and how nutritional interventions impact the gastrointestinal microbiome, metabolome, and immune competence of ruminants to improve the efficiency of ruminant production systems. Godstime has published 12 research publications and 15 research abstracts as an author or co-author.

Bouffault International Animal Agriculture Award

Sponsored by: Center for Regulatory Services, Inc.

Michael D. MacNeil, Delta G

Dr. Michael D. MacNeil received a B.S. from Cornell (1974), M.S. from Montana State (1978), and Ph.D. from South Dakota State (1982). From 1980-2011 he worked for USDA-ARS, first at U.S. Meat Animal Research Center and beginning in 1989 at Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Research Laboratory. In 2012, he founded Delta G to work with breed associations, private industry and government research organizations in the USA and abroad. He is (co)author of 181 scientific articles, 51 resulting from international collaborations. He has given more than 100 invited presentations in the USA and 8 foreign countries. Dr. MacNeil’s work has been recognized with awards from the Beef Improvement Federation, the American Society of Animal Science and South Dakota State University. He is an honorary member of the South African Society of Animal Science since 2012, served as editor-in-chief of the South African Journal of Animal Science from 2019 to 2022, and received its President’s Award in 2022.

Corbin Award in Companion Animal Biology

Sponsored by: Jim Corbin Award Fund

Erin B. Perry, Southern Illinois University

Dr. Erin B. Perry received her Ph.D. in animal nutrition from the University of Missouri–Columbia in 2011. Erin joined the faculty of the Department of Animal Science at Southern Illinois University in 2012. Erin teaches courses and conducts research in both Companion Animal and Equine Sciences. Erin has authored 26 articles, one book chapter, 48 abstracts, and delivered 48 professional presentations. Erin has served on 18 Graduate Committees and directed 14 Graduate Students (11 Graduates and 3 current) in her program. In addition, Erin has served as K9 Handler in the Missouri Task Force 1 since 2003 and as an Instructor and Evaluator for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) since 2016. Erin’s Companion Animal Research efforts have focused on Working and Service Canines with emphasis on Stress Management and Decontamination Procedures. Erin’s efforts are highly recognized throughout the Working Dog Community and have resulted in numerous invited lectures on K9 Decontamination.

Distinguished Teacher Award

Sponsored by: Purina Animal Nutrition. LLC/Land O'Lakes, Inc

Carolyn E. Huntington, Auburn University

In serving as Undergraduate Program Officer and the instructor of record for multiple foundational courses within the Animal Sciences curriculum at Mississippi State and Auburn Universities, Dr. Huntington has established an inspirational legacy of teaching and advising excellence that has significantly enhanced the undergraduate experience across multiple institutions and impacted the professional development of her peers in transformative ways. Dr. Huntington’s pedagogy is innovative and serves to significantly enhance the undergraduate educational experience. She serves as a highly effective peer mentor fostering the adoption of state-of-the-art pedagogies within the classrooms of her colleagues. Having previously received 12 University and National teaching or advising awards recognizing her impact and excellence, Dr. Huntington is a fitting addition to the distinguished Animal Sciences faculty who have been honored as American Society of Animal Science Distinguished Teachers.

Early Career Achievement Award

Sponsored by: American Society of Animal Science Foundation

Jay S. Johnson, USDA ARS

Dr. Jay S. Johnson grew up in southern Illinois and completed his B.S. and M.S. degrees at the University of Missouri in 2009 and 2011, respectively, Ph.D. at Iowa State University in 2014, and postdoc at Purdue University. In 2015, he became a Research Scientist with the USDA-ARS Livestock Behavior Research Unit and in 2022 became the Research Leader. Dr. Johnson’s research uses a multidisciplinary approach to mitigate the effects of stress on livestock health, performance, and welfare. In the past 8 years, Jay has been awarded 24 grants totaling >$9.1 million from USDA-NIFA, NIH, and industry. Dr. Johnson has authored 3 book chapters, 4 invited reviews, 70 refereed articles, 100 abstracts, given 36 invited presentations, and has trained 10 graduate students and 2 postdocs. Jay resides in West Lafayette, IN with his wife Theresa, sons Dominic and Luke, and daughter Ava.

Equine Science Award

Sponsored by: Zinpro Corporation

Sarah H. White-Springer, Texas A&M

Dr. Sarah H. White-Springer is an Associate Professor of Equine Physiology at Texas A&M University. After receiving her Ph.D. from the University of Florida, she completed postdoctoral training at the University of Kentucky studying muscle disease in humans and murine models. Her current research program centers on modulation of skeletal muscle metabolism in health, disease, and performance. Dr. White-Springer is a rising star in the field of mitochondrial biology whose programmatic efforts are highly regarded for excellence in research, as evidenced by invited national and international presentations, recruitment of horse industry collaborators, and funding support of over $3 million. She has authored or co-authored 29 journal articles and 60 scientific abstracts, mentored 9 M.S. and 2 Ph.D. students as chair of committee, and has served as the primary instructor for 8 courses. Dr. White-Springer is also an accomplished horsewoman most recently earning multiple titles at the 2022 Arabian Sport Horse National Championships.

Extension Award

Sponsored by: Zoetis, Inc.

Jeffrey W. Lehmkuhler, University of Kentucky

Dr. Jeffrey W. Lehmkuhler was raised in southern Indiana. He attended Purdue University and obtained his M.S. in silvopastoral systems and Ph.D. in beef cattle nutrition from the University of Missouri. Jeff continued his career at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2001 and was hired by the University of Kentucky in 2008 where he now holds the title of Extension Professor. His internationally recognized programming has spanned five countries and covered a diverse range of ruminant production from dairy steers to yaks. Jeff’s external funding exceeds $6M dollars and he authored more than 125 newsletter and popular press articles, 66 abstracts and journal articles, and 46 proceedings and extension publications. A key to his success has been forging relations with colleagues to work as a team. Jeff received the Agri-Communicator award in 2004, Southern Region ASAS Extension award in 2016 and M.D. Whiteker Excellence in Extension award in 2021. Jeff and his wife, Gwen, have three children.

Gary L. Cromwell Award for Minerals Nutrition

Sponsored by: Gary L. Cromwell Appreciation Club

Jason C. Woodworth, Kansas State University

Dr. Jason Woodworth has established himself as an innovative leader in the livestock industry. After completing his Ph.D. in Animal Science at Kansas State University, Dr. Woodworth joined the Lonza Group Ltd. in 2002 as a regional technical sales and service manager and quickly rose to be in charge of the North American specialty feed products portfolio. In 2008, he was promoted to global product manager. In 2013, Dr. Woodworth joined the faculty at Kansas State University. Upon transitioning to academia, he quickly showed his business and research acumen with industry partners in swine nutrition. He leads a research directive examining the role of minerals on animal growth and health. Dr. Woodworth is recognized as a level-headed, thoughtful leader that seeks and achieves cooperative solutions with producers and industry partners. Dr. Woodworth has published 47 peer reviewed journal papers, 86 abstracts, and 98 extension and proceedings papers directly related to mineral research.

H. Allen Tucker Appreciation Club Graduate Student Travel Scholarship

Sponsored by: H. Allen Tucker Appreciation Club: Graduate Student Travel to Annual Meeting

Godstime A. Taiwo, West Virginia Univesity

Godstime Taiwo is a Ph.D. student of Animal and Food Science at West Virginia University. He received his M.Sc. degrees in Animal Nutrition at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel, and his B.sc. degree in Animal Nutrition and Biotechnology from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria. Taiwo's Ph.D. research is focused on the physiological basis of feed efficiency and how nutritional interventions impact the gastrointestinal microbiome, metabolome, and immune competence of ruminants to improve the efficiency of ruminant production systems. Godstime has published 12 research publications and 15 research abstracts as an author or co-author.

Innovation in Animal Breeding and Genetics Award

Sponsored by: American Society of Animal Science

Juan P. Steibel, Iowa State University

Following a successful career as Professor of Animal Science and Fisheries & Wildlife at Michigan State University, Dr. Juan P. Steibel currently is the J.L. Lush Endowed Chair of Animal Breeding and Genetics at Iowa State University. His academic background include a B.S. in agronomy and an M.S. in Biometry from Argentina, and a Ph.D. in Animal Science from Michigan State University. Juan investigates development, adaptation, and application of statistical and computational methods to advance animal production and breeding by integrating multi-omics data streams. His current and past research spans expression QTL mapping, genotype imputation, genome-wide association analyses, and high-throughput behavioral phenotyping and its use to estimate social interaction effects in group-housed pigs. His work is methodologically innovative and driven by the needs of the livestock genetics and production industries. Juan and his wife Harlem live in Ames, Iowa, and have an adult daughter, Maria Eva.

Joseph P. Fontenot Travel Scholarship Award

Sponsored by: Joseph P. Fontenot Appreciation Club

Dallas R. Soffa, Texas A&M University

Dallas Soffa is a first-year doctoral student in the Department of Animal Science at Texas A&M University. Dallas earned her B.S. and M.S. degrees in Animal Sciences from North Carolina State University in 2019 and Virginia Tech in 2022, respectively. Dallas is a research assistant in Dr. Rebecca Poole's lab, with her dissertation research focus on hormonal associations with reproductive microbiomes in cattle. Dallas has worked with beef and dairy cattle and swine, providing expanded knowledge on multiple livestock species. Dallas was recently elected as the 2023-2024 Graduate Student Director for the ASAS Southern Section. Dallas has published three papers as first-author and co-author in peer-reviewed journals.

Sponsored by: Joseph P. Fontenot Appreciation Club

Elizabeth A. Dressler, Kansas State University

Elizabeth A. Dressler was raised on a small commercial cow-calf operation in Berryton, KS. She was heavily involved in county 4-H growing up including the beef cattle project. Elizabeth has completed both her bachelor's and master’s degrees at Kansas State University. During her time at Kansas State University, Elizabeth has been involved in a large number of clubs and organizations, serving in multiple leadership roles. She is currently the President of the Animal Science Graduate Student Association. Her research as an M.S. student was largely centered on beef industry sustainability working with a GreenFeed system to quantify greenhouse gas emissions from grazing beef cattle. Elizabeth is currently working on her Ph.D. at Kansas State University and is projected to graduate in Summer 2025. She will continue to assist with the ongoing GreenFeed projects at Kansas State and will lead a fiber quality genetic evaluation project in Cashmere goats during her program.

Meats Research Award

Sponsored by: Elanco Animal Health

Anna C. Dilger, University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign

Dr. Anna C. Dilger is a Professor in Animal Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Since her initial appointment in 2010, Dr. Dilger’s research has focused on prenatal and postnatal factors that alter muscle development and growth and their impact on meat yield and quality. She has published nearly 100 peer-reviewed journal articles and her work has been cited over 2,000 times. Dr. Dilger has garnered over $5.8 million in total research support as principal and co-principal investigator and given more than 20 invited research presentations at regional, national, and international venues. Anna is also an engaging and enthusiastic teacher who motivates her students using student-centered activities and innovative assignments, and she excels in her commitment to translating science for the public.

Morrison Award

Sponsored by: F.B. Morrison Fund

Peter J. Hansen, University of Florida

Dr. Peter J. Hansen has conducted basic and applied research to formulate new concepts regarding the nature of the interaction between the maternal system and developing embryo. The new understanding generated by his work has been used to develop innovative approaches to improving female fertility and increase resistance of animals to heat stress. His work, detailed in over 330 peer-reviewed publications, has resulted in use of embryo transfer to alleviate maternal infertility caused by heat stress. He has characterized genes that confer thermotolerance in dairy cattle and developed cattle that are genetically resistant to heat stress. His research has pointed the way for development of methods to alter postnatal phenotype through modification of preimplantation development. Studies on colony stimulating factor 2 and the methyl donor choline have revealed how molecules in the reproductive tract can regulate embryonic development to modify postnatal phenotype of the resultant offspring.

President's International Award

Sponsored by: James Sartin Appreciation Club

Hugo Mario Arelovich, Departamento de Agronomía-UNS

Hugo received a diploma of Ingeniero Agrónomo from Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS) in Argentina, and his MSc and PhD degrees from Oklahoma State University. As a Full Professor at UNS, he was teaching and advising students from graduate and undergraduate programs. Distinguished by UNS as a “Profesor Extraordinario Consulto”, still stays active. His research focused on ruminant nutrition, being a coauthor of 55 refereed papers, 4 book chapters, more than 100 abstracts and 14 extension papers. As a visiting scholar he was at institutions of Canada, US, Brazil and Uruguay. As a member of ASAS and President of the Argentinian Association of Animal Production (AAPA) he promoted AAPA-ASAS joint meetings which took place at Argentina. He also served to ASAS as a committee member and Session Chair, refereeing articles for ASAS journals, and sustaining the link ASAS-AAPA. Hugo is a proud father of two children, Ariel and Debora.

Wettemann Graduate Scholar in Physiology Award

Sponsored by: Robert Wettemann Appreciation Club

Ronald J. Trotta, University of Kentucky

Ronald J. Trotta is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Animal and Food Sciences at the University of Kentucky. He previously completed his B.S. in Animal Science at the University of Kentucky in 2017 and worked as an undergraduate research assistant. At North Dakota State University, he completed his M.S. in Nutritional Physiology under Dr. Kendall Swanson in 2019. Ronald is now working with Dr. David Harmon at UK and Dr. James Klotz at the USDA-ARS Forage & Animal Production Research Unit. His current research is focused on identifying cellular and molecular mechanisms of serotonin-mediated vasoconstriction and vasodilation in cattle. Ronald has been co-investigator on 7 research grants and has published 18 peer-reviewed journal articles, 7 conference proceedings, and 15 abstracts.

Wilson G. Pond International Travel Award

Sponsored by: Wilson G. Pond Appreciation Club

Abbigail R. Hines, Auburn University

Abbigail R. Hines is Ph.D. student in ruminant nutrition at Auburn University. She received her B.S. degree in Animal Science and Veterinary Technology in 2019 and her M.S. in Animal Science in 2021, both from Tarleton State University. Abbigail's master's research, under the direction of Dr. Brandon Smith, focused on plant nutrient cycling from manure from steers fed titrated levels of dried distillers grains. At Auburn, Abbigail has continued her work with Dr. Smith, now working toward establishing a baseline for digestibility and forage physiological parameters in common bermudagrass cultivars. Following completion of her doctoral degree, Abbigail plans to join the beef nutrition industry in a technical support specialist role.

Sponsored by: Wilson G. Pond Appreciation Club

Jessica P. Acosta Medellin, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Jessica P. Acosta Medellin is a Ph.D. student in the Hans H. Stein Monogastric Nutrition Laboratory at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She is a native of Colombia and received her B.S. degree in Animal Science from Universidad Nacional de Colombia after completing an internship in Dr. Stein’s Laboratory at the University of Illinois. During her internship, she conducted research to determine the nutritional value of a new source of corn protein. After obtaining her bachelor’s degree, she enrolled in the master’s program in Nutritional Sciences at the University of Illinois where she conducted research to determine effects of an exogenous xylanase on reproductive performance and digestibility of energy and total dietary fiber in sows. She defended her master’s thesis in 2022 and is now working towards her Ph.D. degree in Dr. Stein Laboratory. Her current research focus is on testing the hypothesis that exogenous carbohydrases increase the utilization of dietary fiber in weanling pigs. Jessica has published three peer-reviewed manuscripts and three abstracts.