The Giving Herd - ASAS Foundation Newsletter - March 2026

The Giving Herd "Inspire · Ignite · Invest"
In This March Edition

• Is your school or alma mater the BEST SCHOOL for Animal Science?
  • Bragging rights are on the line as the 2026 Foundation Folly kicks off NEXT MONDAY - friendly competition, big impact, and serious school pride ahead.
    
• Philanthropy in Action - Graduate Student Travel Scholarship Award
  • Yesid Garavito-Duarte, 2026 recipient of the Dr. Gary Allee Graduate Student Travel Award
• Member Spotlight: Deb Hamernik, Ph.D.
  

  • An ASAS member since 1981, ASAS President, 2016-2017, and ASAS Fellow, 2022

• With Gratitude
  • A message from Jim Reecy, Ph.D., ASAS Foundation Advisory Committee Chair

🏀 Foundation Folly Begins NEXT MONDAY!
2026 Is an ALL-NEW Game!

The ASAS Foundation Folly is completely reimagined for 2026! This year features a no-rounds format, two winning categories, and more ways than ever for your school to score big!

Will your school be one of the TWO CHAMPIONS? 

Watch both challenge videos above from Dr. Sunday Peters, Berry College, reigning 2025 Foundation Folly champions, and Dr. Mike Looper, University of Arkansas, 2026 Foundation Folly contender! Both challenge YOU to jump into the Foundation Folly and compete to prove which school is the BEST SCHOOL for animal science!

🏀 Two champions will rise in 2026. Two titles. Two amazing prizes. One unforgettable showdown. Will your school claim the glory? 🏀

March 23rd - April 5th

Every contribution fuels the ASAS Foundation’s Student and Young Animal Scientists Opportunities Fund, powering travel, research, and leadership development for the next generation.

Watch your email and social media for how to enter and cheer on your favorite school(s) beginning next Monday, March 23!

Get your team ready - the court is calling!

Philanthropy in Action!
Dr. Gary Allee Graduate Student Travel Scholarship Award

(Left: Yesid Garavito-Duarte)

"I am honored to receive the Dr. Gary Allee Graduate Student Travel Scholarship Award, which provides a valuable opportunity to present my research and connect with fellow scientists at the ASAS meeting. This support plays an important role in my professional growth and training as a Ph.D. student. 

I am deeply thankful to the ASAS Foundation for their commitment to supporting graduate student development in animal science.”  Yesid Garavito-Duarte | Ph.D. Candidate, Animal Science | North Carolina State University | 2026

Congratulations to Yesid, recipient of the 2026 Dr. Gary Allee Graduate Student Travel Scholarship, made possible through ASAS Foundation’s Gary L. Allee Appreciation Club.

Investing in our Members!
Support like this scholarship reflects the strength of the ASAS community and our shared commitment to investing in the next generation of animal scientists.

Learn more and get involved in creating additional opportunities for students like Yesid online at ASAS Foundation.

DONATE

Meet ASAS Member, Deb Hamernik, Ph.D. -
"A love for animals shaped just about every step of my life.” 

(Left: Deb Hamernik, Ph.D., ASAS President 2016-2017)
"Growing up on a small farm outside Columbus, NE, animals were simply part of everyday life. Horses quickly became my favorite, and I spent more than 10 years riding and showing them through 4-H. My mother also insisted on a second 4-H club where we learned baking, knitting, and even something called 'groom your room.' Those skills were useful, but being outside with the horses was always much more appealing. 

Neither my parents nor grandparents attended college, so heading to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) felt like stepping into completely new territory. At the time, becoming a veterinarian seemed like the obvious path for someone who loved animals and the outdoors, so animal science became my undergraduate major.

Everything changed during my senior year at UNL when a reproductive physiology class taught by Dr. Jim Kinder sparked my interest in research. Helping graduate students collect blood samples from cattle offered a glimpse into research life, and his encouragement to consider graduate school turned out to be one of the best decisions I ever made.
          
(Above left: Jerry Reeves and Deb Hamernik; Above right: Terry Nett and Deb Hamernik)

Several academic mentors shaped my journey. At Washington State University, Jerry Reeves taught me the value of teamwork and Jim Males modeled thoughtful leadership. Later, Terry Nett, my Ph.D. advisor at Colorado State University, helped build the scientific foundation for my career.

Throughout my education, ASAS became part of my professional life. As an undergraduate, I joined one of the first Quadrathlon teams and as a graduate student, I presented my research at ASAS meetings. My favorite memory was helping host the 75th anniversary ASAS meeting in Pullman, WA, in 1983. Graduate students served wine at the reception, ran lights and slides for speakers, and helped wherever needed. It was exhausting and fun, and a great way to meet scientists from across the country!

My career included faculty roles at UNL and the University of Arizona, as well as leadership roles at UNL and the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, where much of my work helped animal scientists secure funding for high-priority research. Through the ASAS Public Policy Committee, organizing Snack and Fact sessions for Congressional staff also helped communicate the importance of animal science research and science-based policies that support agriculture and human nutrition.
    
(Above left, left to right: Deb Hamernik, ASAS President 2016-2017; Andrea Cupp, SSR President 2019-2020; Kris Johnson, ASAS President 2024-2025; and Margaret Benson, ASAS President 2011-2012. Above middle, left to right: ASAS Presidents, Irv Omtvedt, 1984-1985; Ronnie Green, 2010-2011; Deb Hamernik, 2016-2017; Terry Klopfenstein, 1998-1999; and Don Beermann,1999-2000. Above right, left to right: ASAS Presidents, Deb Hamernik, 2016-2017; Mike Looper, 2015-2016, and Debra Aaron, 2014-2015) 

Looking back, ASAS has always felt like my community of colleagues and friends. Looking forward, I am committed to supporting the next generation of animal scientists, which is why we initiated the Jerry J. Reeves Appreciation Club. This fund provides travel scholarships so students can attend ASAS meetings and present their research, experiences that can shape a career just as they did for me.
 (Left: Deb Hamernik, Ph.D.)

Thank you - ASAS Foundation Giving Partners!