The Giving Herd - ASAS Foundation Newsletter - April 2026

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

• Philanthropy in Action!
  Luana Alvares, 2026 recipient of the all-new Legacy Scholarship
  Geoffrey Dahl, Ph.D., 2026 recipient of the Bouffault International Agriculture Award
• ASAS Member Story - James Reecy, Ph.D., ASAS member since 1990
  “From the farm to research labs and classrooms around the world, animal science has been the adventure of a lifetime.”
• 2026 ASAS Foundation Folly Champions!
  🏆 NC State: Top Fundraiser - BEST SCHOOL for ANIMAL SCIENCE!
  🏆 Berry College: Brilliance Points Champion - MOST SCHOOL SPIRIT!
• With Gratitude - Thank you to our ASAS Foundation Partners!

Philanthropy in Action!

 (Left: Luana Alvares) 
"Receiving the 2026 ASAS Foundation Legacy Scholarship – Travel Award is incredibly meaningful to me as a graduate student working in animal breeding and genetics. This support makes it possible for me to attend the ASAS Annual Meeting, share my research, and engage with scientists and industry leaders who are advancing animal sciences. 

Opportunities like this play an important role in helping early-career researchers grow and contribute to the future of animal science." Luana Alvares | Ph.D. Student, Animal Sciences | Colorado State University | Anticipated Graduation: Fall 2028

Congratulations to Luana, the first recipient of the all-new 2026 Legacy Scholarship
which supports student travel to an ASAS meeting, made possible through ASAS Foundation’s Legacy Fund.

 (Left: Geoffrey Dahl, Ph.D.)
"I’m humbled to receive the Bouffault International Agriculture Award. I am being recognized for the work of many others to improve the access of vulnerable groups - including pregnant women and young children - to nutrient rich animal source foods.  The impact of the work of my collaborators in many low- and middle-income countries will be realized in the years ahead by the gains made by those countries in the capacity to improve the productivity of their livestock systems.” Geoffrey E. Dahl, Ph.D. | Harriet B. Weeks Professor | Department of Animal Sciences | University of Florida

Congratulations to Dr. Dahl, recipient of the 2026 Bouffault International Agriculture Award,
made possible through ASAS Foundation’s Jean Claude Bouffault International Award Fund.

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

Learn more about and get involved in creating additional opportunities for our members like Luana and Dr. Dahl, online at ASAS Foundation.

🏀 CONGRATS TO THE 2026 ASAS FOUNDATION FOLLY CHAMPIONS!

What a finish to the 2026 ASAS Foundation Folly!

After two weeks of competition, cheering sections, bracket-busting fun, and some serious school spirit, we are excited to congratulate our two champions:

🏆 North Carolina State University: Top Fundraising Champion - BEST SCHOOL FOR ANIMAL SCIENCE!

🏆 Berry College: Brilliance Points Champion - MOST SCHOOL SPIRIT!

This year’s competition brought out incredible energy from all 15 participating schools, and while only two schools could cut down the nets, everyone involved played a part in something much bigger.

Together, we raised more than $10,000 for ASAS Foundation's Students and Young Animal Scientists Opportunities Fund, helping support scholarships, travel awards, leadership development, and experiences for future animal scientists.

Thank you to everyone who came out to play this year, including alumni, faculty, students, and friends who filled the stands with support. In the end, we are all winners when it comes to supporting the future of animal science!

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Meet ASAS Member, James Reecy, Ph.D.
"From the farm to research labs and classrooms around the world, animal science has been the adventure of a lifetime.”

(Left: James Reecy, South Dakota State Fair, 1981)
"Long days, early mornings, and sunsets over the family farm are some of my earliest memories. Growing up in Dell Rapids, SD, my family owned a feed and seed store and lived on the same farm where my dad had grown up. Surrounded by cattle, open fields, and all the work that comes with rural life, agriculture was simply part of everyday life. 

Between 4-H and FFA, there was always something to do and plenty of ways to get my hands dirty. Showing beef cattle, working with dairy calves, and spending time around livestock taught me responsibility, hard work, and a love for agriculture that started at a young age.

Originally, my plan was simple: go to college, come home, and raise cattle. Everything changed once I was introduced to research at South Dakota State University (SDSU). Research completely took over my career in the best possible way.

College was also where I met my wife, Tracy. We met in “the Barn” during freshman orientation, and the rest is history. We have two amazing sons, Nick and Marcus. Neither one followed me into agriculture, but it has been rewarding to watch them find their own passions and build lives they love.
     
 (Above, left: Tracy and James Reecy. Above, right: Marcus, Tracy, James, and Nick Reecy)

My connection with ASAS began when I presented research at a Midwest ASAS meeting in Des Moines in 1990 while finishing my bachelor’s degree at SDSU. A master’s degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a Ph.D. from Purdue University followed.

Since then, ASAS has been such an important part of my career. Some of my favorite memories involve not just the meetings themselves, but the friendships and adventures that came with them. One of the best trips was heading to the national meeting in Laramie with a group of students packed into a 16-passenger van. We drove through Yellowstone National Park, slept in the park parking lot, and woke up surrounded by buffalo and elk. Somehow, we even ran into some of our professors at Old Faithful. That trip had a lot of miles, very little sleep, and a lot of laughs that still make me laugh today.

Throughout my career, remarkable mentors helped shape that journey, including Robbi Pritchard, Jim Williams, Alan Grant, Chris Bidwell, Sue Lamont, Max Rothschild, and Chris Tuggle. Their encouragement opened doors to opportunities I never could have imagined.
   
(Above, left: James with his parents, high school graduation, 1990. Above, right: James, Purdue graduation)

Looking back, my ASAS story is really about the research I have been fortunate to be part of, the places I have been, the friendships made, and the memories that have stayed with me years later. From helping discover the mutation responsible for dwarfism in American Angus cattle, to traveling the world and collaborating with scientists on every continent except Antarctica, to working alongside so many incredible students, post-docs, staff members, and visiting scholars, it has truly been an unforgettable adventure. As proud as I am of the discoveries, nothing compares to seeing former students and colleagues build careers, make their own contributions, and continue moving animal science forward.

  
(Above, left: James in college research lab. Above, right: James during a research visit in Pakistan)

To me, ASAS is really about people. It is about helping each other, supporting the next generation, and working together to help feed the world.

That is why supporting the ASAS Foundation matters so much to me. Every gift helps students and young scientists gain opportunities they might not otherwise have through scholarships, leadership experiences, research, and travel. Please join me in supporting the Foundation and helping the next generation of animal scientists find their own path.

James M. Reecy, Ph.D. | ASAS member since 1990 | ASAS Foundation Chair | ASAS Board Member (2025-2028) | ASAS Fellow, 2021 | Professor | Department of Animal Sciences | Iowa State University

If James' story has inspired you, become an ASAS Foundation Partner and take pride in knowing you're making a difference in the lives of current and future animal scientists! Learn more  ONLINE HERE. To make a gift of securities, through a donor-advised fund or IRA distribution (RMD-eligible), or other giving options, please contact Amy Brainard, ASAS Chief Development Officer, at amyb@asas.org or (317)729-7600.

Thank you - ASAS Foundation Giving Partners!