The Giving Herd - ASAS Foundation Newsletter - October 2025

The Giving Herd "Inspire · Ignite · Invest"
In This October Edition:

• Philanthropy in Action - Your Dollars Making A Difference
  
  • Joseph P. Fontenot Scholarship Award - Arnaldo Limede
  • Gary Cromwell Mineral Award - Marie-Pierre Létourneau-Montminy, Ph.D.
• ASAS Member's Journey - "ASAS is woven into every part of my journey and is my professional family" - Kendall Karr, Ph.D.
• 2026 ASAS Foundation Internship and Scholarships - Apply Now
  • D.C. Animal Agriculture Policy Internship (Summer 2026)
  • Swine Nutrition Heritage Fund - Travel Award
  • Dr. Gary Allee Travel Award 
• Additional Scholarships - Applications Opening Soon!
  • Legacy Scholarships (NEW!)
  • Joseph P. Fontenot Travel Scholarship
  • Wilson G. Pond International Travel Scholarship
  • H. Allen Tucker Graduate Student Travel Scholarship
• Thank You ASAS Foundation Giving Partners
• A Message from ASAS Foundation Chair - James Reecy, Ph.D.

Inspire · Ignite · Invest - Philanthropy in Action
Your Dollars Making a Difference

"Receiving the Joseph P. Fontenot Travel Scholarship Award is a great honor and a testament to the dedication of both myself and our research group. This scholarship made it possible for me to attend the ASAS Annual Meeting in Hollywood, Florida -an essential opportunity to share our findings and engage with fellow researchers and colleagues, further advancing knowledge in animal science. I am sincerely grateful to the selection committee and all ASAS Foundation partners for their support and recognition." Arnaldo Limede | Ph.D. Student | School of Animal Sciences | Virginia Tech | Fall 2028


"I’ve been working on minerals since my undergraduate studies, and I’m just as passionate about them today. Receiving the Gary L. Cromwell Award for Mineral Nutrition is both an honor and a great source of motivation for the future. Although minerals have been studied for centuries, there is still so much to learn. I’m particularly interested in the many interactions minerals can have with other dietary components, such as phytate. I also find cross-species comparisons especially fascinating, as they can provide deeper insights into mineral metabolism." Marie-Pierre Létourneau-Montminy, Ph.D. | Professor | Department of Animal Sciences | Laval University

Stepping into Legacy - A Member's Journey:
Meet Kendall Karr and his family

(Left: Kendall and Trish Karr)
“Although my engagement with ASAS has changed throughout the years, it has woven itself into every part of my journey and is my professional family.”
— Dr. Kendall Karr

Dr. Kendall Karr - A renowned scientist, teacher, mentor, and visionary leader  
"Growing up in Lubbock, Texas, was an experience shaped by both place and timing. Our family moved there from Missouri in May of 1970, right as a tornado came through and tore part of the city apart - quite an introduction to a new hometown! That move, and my father Mel, who devoted his life to animal science, set the stage for my own path. My dad studied at the University of Missouri, earned his Ph.D. at the University of Illinois, and later taught and conducted research at the University of Kentucky. His influence made animal science part of my life from the very beginning.
 (Left: Rodney Preston, Ph.D.)
The turning point came as a teenager, riding with Dad to his feedyard accounts. Seeing the industry firsthand sparked a passion that never faded. Mentors like Dr. Rod Preston and Dr. Spencer Swingle deepened that spark and shaped the course of my career. Both of them gave me guidance and perspective that shaped the way I approached my work.

That passion also carried into my own family. My wife, Trish, and I raised three daughters, all now married. Our oldest two each have a son and daughter, and our youngest, a military veterinarian, is expecting her first child this November. Watching her follow her own path in animal health is one of my proudest joys.     
                  
(Above, Left: Kendall and his daughters. Above, right: Kendall, Trish and their family)

Professionally, some of my most rewarding years were at Cactus Feeders, directing the 12,000-head research facility. But the greatest honor was being named a Legend of Feedlot Nutrition by the Plains Nutrition Council - an award my father also received, making us the only father-son pair to share it. Standing in his footsteps remains one of the most meaningful moments of my life. While my dad and I share a deep love for the cattle industry, our passion also reached into the equine world. Together, we owned and trained running Quarter Horses, savoring the thrill of the track and celebrating major wins in Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico.
 (Right, left to right: Mel Karr, Ph.D., Kendall Karr, Ph.D.)

Although my engagement with ASAS has changed throughout the years, it has always been my professional family. Annual Meetings weren’t just professional development; they determined our family vacations and became summer adventures. From giving an invited talk on Zilpatrol research to friendships that have lasted a lifetime, ASAS has woven itself into every part of my journey.

That’s why I believe so deeply in supporting the ASAS Foundation. Together, we’re not just funding programs, we’re investing in students, fueling discovery, and shaping the future of animal science. I invite you to join me in investing in that future, so the next generation, including our children and grandchildren, can have the same opportunities that shaped us."

Kendall Karr, Ph.D.

 (Right, left to right: Drs. Spencer Swingle, Danny Fox, Steve Armbruster)

"Dr. Karr's contributions to the cattle feeding industry are indelible. Kendall is renowned as a scientist, teacher, mentor, and visionary leader, and is greatly respected for his integrity and candor." Steve Armbruster, Ph.D., colleague and friend.

Side note and fun fact: Each animal scientists mentioned in Kendall's story, Drs. Preston, Swingle, Karr, Armbruster, and Fox have been both ASAS members and recognized by the Plains Nutrition Council as a Legend of Feedlot Nutrition.

If you have been inspired by Kendall's story, become an ASAS Foundation Partner and join the Karrs in making a difference.

To learn more about supporting animal scientists through all stages of their careers through the ASAS Foundation, visit online here.

2026 Summer Internship and Scholarships -
Apply Now!

Open Now for Applications:

• D.C. Animal Agriculture Policy Internship (Summer 2026)
• Swine Nutrition Heritage Fund - Travel Scholarship
• Dr. Gary Allee Appreciation Club - Travel Award
  

D.C. Animal Agriculture Policy Internship (Summer 2026)
This internship offers undergraduates and graduate students experience in legislative, regulatory, or administrative science policy activities in Washington, D.C., related to animal science or the production of animal-sourced foods. 

The internship is 60-90 days during the academic summer session in 2026.

For more information and application guidelines, visit D.C. Animal Agriculture Policy Internship Guidelines.  Deadline to Apply: October 31, 2025 

Swine Nutrition Heritage Fund - Travel Scholarship
This scholarship provides financial assistance for a graduate student focusing on swine nutrition to be used towards travel expenses to the 2026 ASAS Midwest or Annual Meeting. 

This fund offers graduate students the opportunity to gain valuable learning experiences, expand their professional network, and establish lasting relationships with colleagues and friends in the field.

For more information and application guidelines, visit Swine Nutrition Heritage Fund Guidelines. Deadline to Apply: November 10, 2025. Apply online here.

Dr. Gary Allee Appreciation Club - Travel Award
This award provides financial assistance for a graduate student member of ASAS, focusing on nonruminant nutrition, to assist with travel expenses to the 2026 Midwest Meeting.

For more information and application guidelines, visit Dr. Gary Allee Appreciation Club - Travel Award Guidelines. Deadline to Apply: November 10, 2025. Apply online here.  

Discover how your charitable contributions can empower animal scientists by funding travel scholarships, critical internships, and other key initiatives. Visit us online HERE.

 DONATE

COMING SOON - Student Travel Scholarship Applications
(Awarded at Annual Meeting)

• Legacy Scholarships - ALL NEW!
• Joseph P. Fontenot Travel Scholarship
• H. Allen Tucker Graduate Student Travel Scholarship
• Wilson G. Pond International Travel Scholarship

Legacy Scholarships 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.

These scholarships fuel the development of emerging leaders, researchers, and educators who will advance the field of animal science. Together, we pass the torch and strengthen the legacy of ASAS - one scholarship, one student, one future at a time!

Applicants must be an ASAS member for at least 12 months, a current graduate student member of ASAS and submit an abstract for oral presentation at an ASAS meeting.
Legacy Scholarships - Applications accepted starting November 3, 2025. For complete guidelines, visit online here. 

The Joseph P. Fontenot Travel Scholarship provides financial assistance for a graduate student member of ASAS to be used towards travel expenses to the ASAS Southern Section Meeting or the ASAS-CSAS Joint Annual Meeting.

Applicants must submit an abstract for oral presentation at the ASAS Southern Section Meeting or ASAS Annual Meeting.

Joseph P. Fontenot Travel Scholarship - Applications accepted starting November 3, 2025. For complete guidelines, visit Fontenot Scholarship Guidelines.

The H. Allen Tucker Graduate Student Travel Scholarship provides financial assistance to a graduate student member of ASAS to be used towards travel expenses to the ASAS Annual Meeting or the Biennial Biology of Lactation Workshop. 

Applicants must submit an abstract for oral presentation related to research in physiology, endocrinology, growth, or developmental biology for the Annual Meeting.

H. Allen Tucker Graduate Student Travel Scholarship - Applications accepted starting November 3, 2025. For complete guidelines, visit Tucker Scholarship Guidelines.

The Wilson G. Pond International Travel Scholarship provides financial assistance to a student, post-doctoral fellow, or within ten years of their PhD graduation date, and member of ASAS for at least 12 months, to be used towards travel expenses to attend an international meeting or training in an international venue. 

This scholarship is intended to aid in the professional development and success of young animal scientists in an international venue and to cover international travel within the given calendar year. 

Wilson G. Pond International Travel Scholarship - Applications accepted starting November 3, 2025. For complete guidelines, visit Pond Scholarship Guidelines.

 James M. Reecy, Ph.D.

“As chair of the ASAS Foundation Advisory Committee, it’s incredible to see how individual generosity grows into collective strength. Each contribution fuels momentum, reminding us that we’re building something larger than ourselves. With the Inspire · Ignite · Invest campaign, we’re not only funding programs, we’re investing in our members, our students, and in the future of animal science.” James M. Reecy, Ph.D. | ASAS Foundation Chair | Professor | Department of Animal and Range Sciences | Iowa 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.

Thank you!

The future of animal science is being shaped every day through student presentations, breakthrough research, and global collaboration. And behind each of those moments stands a community of generous partners like you.

Your support does more than fund programs, it fuels opportunity, ignites innovation, and opens doors for the next generation of scientists. Because of you, stories are unfolding that might never have been told.

To our 2024 and 2025 ASAS Foundation Partners: thank you for believing in the impact we create together.

We invite you to explore the ASAS Foundation 2025 Impact Report, where you’ll hear directly from students, researchers, and members whose lives have been touched by your generosity. Every story is a reminder of the legacy you're helping build.

Thank you for partnering with us and moving animal science forward, together.