Coulter earns top dairy award
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Kevin Coulter family of Washington County has won the 2008 Kentucky Dairy Quality Award and Eddie Gibson of Boone County is the Kentucky Dairy Production Award winner. They were among those honored during the annual Dairy Recognition Dinner Aug. 15 at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville.
The Kentucky Dairy Quality Award is judged on industry quality standards and farm inspections. The Coulter farm received a monetary award and a farm gate sign. Other finalists were James Roell of Fleming County and Milton and Jason Jones of Taylor County.

Eddie Gibson took top prize in the Kentucky Dairy Production Award-All Herds competition with a rolling herd average of more than 26,000 pounds. He also won the Proficient Dairy Producer Award, which considers many factors as recorded by the Dairy Herd Improvement Assoc.

Top Herd Production-Mixed Herd was won by the University of Kentucky (UK) Coldstream Dairy, managed by Joey Clark.
District winners for the production award were Pennyrile Dairy, Christian County; Robey Dairy, Logan County: Crist Dairy, Barren County; Rocky Run Farm, Green County; Roger Corbin, Taylor County; Guffey Farms, Clinton County; Nathan Horst, Lincoln County, UK Coldstream Farm, Fayette County; Rouse Farms, Mason County; Eddie Klingenfus, Shelby County; Jeff O’Daniel and sons, Marion County, and Longview Farms, Grayson County. These were sponsored by the Kentucky Dairy Development Council and Kentucky Farm Bureau.

A first-time award, the Kentucky Quality Milk Hauler Award, was given to Jimmy Myers of Lebanon Junction. He was nominated by Brother Bartholomew Pollard of Gethsemani Farms. Nominees were evaluated on activities that have contributed to the quality of their work and a positive image that they portray for the dairy industry.
The outstanding Kentucky exhibitor at the Kentucky State Fair was Louis Trauth Dairy of Newport. The outstanding overall exhibitor was Purity Dairy of Nashville. The award for high percentage of gold entries went to Bluegrass Dairy and Foods of Glasgow and Springfield.

The Dairy Promotion Award went to Bill Vaughn, a retired dairy industry representative from Louisville. The Culinary Sweepstakes Award winner was Chris Diener and family, with Rodem, Inc.

Bone receives UT alumni award

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — His contributions to the state and national agricultural industry have garnered Stratton Bone (D-Lebanon), state representative and chair of the Tennessee House Agriculture Committee, the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Tennessee Department of Animal Science Block and Bridle Club.
The award recognizes Bone for many contributions, including his leadership in working with Gov. Phil Bredesen and Agriculture Commissioner Ken Givens in establishing the Tennessee Agriculture Enhancement Program (TAEP), which supports agriculture in Tennessee by providing cost share funds to producers for long-term investments in their livestock and farming operations.

Bone was also behind the creation and ongoing coordination of Ag Day on the Hill, an annual event to celebrate and showcase for the state legislature the activities of producers and the $2 billion Tennessee agriculture industry.

As a member of the 100-105th Tennessee general assemblies, representing Cannon, Trousdale and part of Wilson counties, Bone is a member of the House Finance, Ways and Means Committee and the Joint Pensions and Insurance Selection committees.
Before serving in the House, Bone, a retired farmer, was a Wilson County commissioner from 1969-78 and was again elected to serve 1982-96. A 1961 graduate of UT with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, he was active in the school’s Block and Bridle Club, Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity and the Livestock Judging Team.

New face for Corn Growers

CHESTERFIELD, Mo. — The National Corn Growers Assoc. has announced the addition of Robyn Stevens as manager of research and business development. In this role, she will serve as the lead staff person for NCGA’s Research and Business Development Action Team and also work on biotechnology issues and economic analysis.

Stevens will report to Nathan Fields, formerly the association’s director for research and business development, who has been promoted to director of biotechnology and economic analysis.
Prior to joining NCGA, Stevens worked as a research associate at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis.

She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in crop science with an emphasis in molecular genetics, as well as a master’s degree in agricultural economics, from the University of Illinois.

In his new role, Fields, who has been with NCGA since October 2004, will become the staff lead for the organization’s Biotechnology Working Group and Mycotoxin Committee. He replaces Paul Bertels, who was called to active duty in the U.S. Army Reserve and is expected to return to NCGA when his tour of duty is completed.

Schutz is ’08 Sharvelle winner

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service dairy specialist Mike Schutz was named the 2008 Sharvelle Award winner at the annual Purdue Extension awards banquet Sept. 16.

Schutz’s vision helped in creating the Indiana Professional Dairy Producers Assoc., which gives dairy producers a voice in legislative and regulatory matters. Along with serving the industry and its organizations, Schutz plays a leadership role in Purdue’s Department of Animal Sciences. He was appointed extension coordinator for the department in 2004.

A native of Minnesota, he earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science and a master’s degree in animal breeding and genetics from the University of Minnesota. He received his doctorate in animal breeding and genetics from Iowa State University.
Schutz has held the titles of assistant professor, Indiana extension dairy specialist, associate professor and extension coordinator, all in the Purdue Department of Animal Sciences. He has been a co-author on several peer-reviewed publications related to the dairy industry.

 The Sharvelle Award is given each year in memory of Eric G. Sharvelle, a Purdue professor of botany and plant pathology from 1946-75. Derek and Sybil Sharvelle of Battle Ground, Ind., established the award in 1985.