The Giving Herd - ASAS Foundation Newsletter - June 2025
ASAS Foundation Newsletter - The Philanthropic Branch of ASAS
The Giving Herd "Inspire · Ignite · Invest"
In This Edition:
- Philanthropy in Action
Meet the 2025 Innovations in Animal Breeding and Genetics Award recipient, John B. Cole, Ph.D. - A Member's Story - "ASAS meetings were a time to reconnect, explore, and remember we’re part of something bigger." - Dennis Lamm, Ph.D.
- New in 2025 - "Legacy Scholarships"
- Inspire ● Ignite ● Invest - A message from Glenn Duff, Ph.D.
- Thank You ASAS Foundation Partners!
Inspire · Ignite · Invest - Philanthropy in Action!
"I am very honored to be selected as the recipient of the Innovations in Animal Breeding and Genetics Award. I couldn't have done this work without the love and support of my wife, Misty, and sons, Ellery and Henry. Science is a team effort and this award highlights the essential contributions made by my colleagues, students, postdoctoral scientists, and collaborators around the world. My PhD advisor, Dr. Donald E. Franke, Professor Emeritus at Louisiana State University, received the 2002 Rockefeller Prentice Memorial Award in Animal Breeding and Genetics (the former Innovations in Animal Breeding and Genetics Award), and I’m humbled to follow in his footsteps and those of the other recipients of this award. I will use the remainder of my career to support the next generation of scientists and work towards a sustainable dairy industry that meets the needs of cows, farmers, and consumers." John B. Cole, Ph.D. | Chief Research and Development Officer | Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding
Congratulations, Dr. Cole, on being selected as the 2025 Innovations in Animal Breeding and Genetics Award recipient, supported by ASAS Foundation's Innovations in Animal Breeding and Genetics Award Fund.
To learn how you can support this award and other Foundation initiatives, visit online here.
DONATE
A Member's Story - "ASAS meetings were a time to reconnect, explore, and remember we’re part of something bigger."
Some of my earliest memories are of the rhythmic sound of milking machines, the scent of fresh hay, and the quiet companionship of Holstein cows before dawn. Raised on my family’s dairy farm outside Reading, PA, work started early, values ran deep, and every day revolved around caring for animals. That farm was my first classroom, where I learned responsibility, resilience, and the quiet satisfaction of hard work. I didn’t know it then, but those early lessons would shape my life and lead me to a journey in animal science.
Resilience runs in my family. My mother grew up in Nebraska’s Sandhills and became a teacher in one-room schoolhouses after her family lost their ranch. My father, Warren, spoke Pennsylvania Dutch as a child, served in WWII, and took night classes while building our farm with help from Extension.
By high school, I knew I wanted a life close to the land. At Delaware Valley College, my advisor, Dr. Tibor Pelle, encouraged me to attend graduate school and said if I got into Iowa State, I had to go. I did, and he was right!
At ISU, I met mentors who changed my life, Drs. Pete Hoffman and John Pollak. It was in Ames that I also met Jean. She walked into a bar the night before our department picnic, and on a whim, I asked her to go. We’ve now been together for 54 years.
Left: Dennis Lamm, 1972
Above, left to right: Pete Hoffman, Ph.D., John Pollak, Ph.D., John Ward, Ph.D., Terry Klopfenstein, Ph.D.
Earning my Ph.D. at the University of Nebraska (1976) under Drs. John Ward and Terry Klopfenstein developed my scientific thinking and writing skills. My career took me to Virginia Tech, where I gained friendships and mentorship from Drs. Milton Wise and Joe Fontenot. In fact, Joe and his wife, Eula, served as godparents to our son, Kevan.
Above, left to right: Joseph Fontenot, Ph.D., Milton Wise, Ph.D., Bernard Jones, Ph.D., David Ames, Ph.D.
Later, I attended Colorado State University where I served as an Extension Beef Specialist under the guidance of Drs. Bernard Jones and David Ames. My greatest joy came from mentoring graduate students; I always hoped they’d surpass me, and many have.
Jean and I raised our children, Kevan and Dana, to appreciate the value of agriculture, and they're passing that passion onto our five grandkids. Watching our grandkids help with chores at the ranch reminds me how these traditions take root.
ABOVE: Jeana and Dennis Lamm and the Lamm Family
Joining ASAS, at the encouragement of Dr. Hoffman, was a decision I’ve never regretted, and it has been my professional home for over 40 years. The meetings were always a highlight - a time to reconnect, explore, and remember we’re part of something bigger.
To me, animal science has always been a calling. We all have a role to play in shaping the future of animal science. Supporting the ASAS Foundation is important because I have been where they’re going. Hopefully, you’ll join me in lifting up the students, because their journey is just beginning, and they deserve to start strong.
Dennis Lamm, Ph.D.
P.S.- I'd love to hear from and connect with my many ASAS friends! Please don’t hesitate to send me a note at dennis.lamm@colostate.edu.
To read Dennis' full story, visit HERE.
✤ Legacy Scholarships!
Legacy Scholarships are an investment in graduate students in animal science. These awards provide the critical financial support students need to attend ASAS meetings, where they present groundbreaking research, connect with respected leaders, and take meaningful steps toward their future careers.
For many, this experience would be out of reach without the support of these scholarships, made possible through ASAS Foundation's Legacy Fund.
Your contributions help ensure that financial barriers never limit a student’s ability to participate, grow, and shine on one of the most important stages of their academic journey.
When you give to the Legacy Fund, you’re not just supporting a student - you’re shaping the future of our profession. Each scholarship fuels the development of emerging leaders, researchers, and educators who will advance the field of animal science. These students bring new energy, bold ideas, and a deep commitment to discovery, echoing the same passion that has built our community over generations. Together, we can pass the torch and strengthen the legacy of ASAS - one scholarship, one student, one future at a time!
For more information, including scholarship guidelines, visit online here.
Inspire · Ignite · Invest - Enriching Animal Science
(Glenn Duff, Ph.D.)
“It’s exciting to see how every gift, of any amount, helps move animal science forward. Thank you for being part of this growing legacy!” Glenn Duff, Ph.D. | ASAS Foundation Chair | Professor | Department of Animal and Range Sciences | New Mexico State University
For the ASAS Foundation, every gift is more than a donation; it's a spark of inspiration. A spark that inspires innovation in research, ignites opportunities for students, and honors the mentors and leaders who’ve shaped animal science for generations.
Whether you’ve been part of our journey for years or are just learning about the Foundation, one thing is always true - you are part of fueling the future!
From scholarships that send students to present their first research, to legacy gifts that honor mentors and friends, the Foundation is a living tribute to the strength of our animal science community.
We’re building a future rooted in gratitude, driven by science, and inspired by every member of the ASAS family.
Want to learn more, get involved, or leave your mark? Visit us online at ASAS Foundation and let’s grow this legacy together.
Thank you!
Thank you to our ASAS Foundation Giving Partners!
To our incredible Foundation Partners - Thank You! Your support is more than generous; it’s transformative. Because of you, students are stepping onto national stages, groundbreaking research is being shared, and the future of animal science is being shaped with hope and purpose. You are a vital part of every success story we celebrate.
We invite you to see the impact of your generosity in action by exploring the ASAS Foundation 2025 Impact Report. It’s filled with the voices, achievements, and dreams you’ve helped make possible. Thank you for standing with us, believing in our mission, and fueling a legacy that will inspire for generations to come.
