ASA opens CEO search following Censky’s departure

ST. LOUIS, Mo. — With this month’s swearing-in of Steve Censky as deputy secretary of the USDA, the American Soybean Assoc. (ASA) has officially opened the search for its next CEO, ASA President Ron Moore said.

ASA has retained Hedlin Ag Enterprises to receive resumes from interested candidates and lead the ASA Search Committee through the search and interview process. Those interested in the position can view a description and submit materials at https://soygrowers.com/career-opportunities

Censky departed the ASA after 23 years, 21 of which he spent as head of the organization. Moore said that while bittersweet, the process of carrying the industry forward must continue without interruption.

“We can’t thank Steve enough for the legacy he leaves here at ASA. We are a more effective and representative advocate for soybean farmers because of him,” he said.

BOAH names Hash and Campbell to leadership roles

INDIANAPOLS, Ind. — Indiana State Veterinarian Dr. Bret D. Marsh announced the appointment of Patrick Hash to the position of director of the Dairy Division and Nathan Campbell to the position of deputy director of the Dairy Division. Hash and Campbell assumed their new roles on Oct. 1.

Hash first joined the Dairy Division in 2012, and left in 2014 to work for the Michigan Department of Agriculture as the pasteurization specialist. He returned to Indiana earlier this year and served as the deputy director of the Dairy Division.

Campbell first joined the Dairy Division in 2008, and left in 2011 to work for Dean Foods as a quality assurance manager. He returned to BOAH in 2012 and served recently as the chief milk rating officer.

These appointments come with the Sept. 29 retirement of Doug Metcalf, who served as Dairy Division director for the last five years, following 12 years as the agency’s chief of staff.

Pohlman named president of Patterson Animal Health

GREELEY, Colo. — Patterson Cos. announced that Kevin Pohlman has been named president of Patterson Animal Health. He replaces John Adent, who left the company in July to pursue other leadership opportunities.

Animal Health International was acquired by Patterson Co. in 2015. With Patterson Veterinary Supply, the two entities are combining as one business unit, Patterson Animal Health.

Patterson Animal Health is one of the largest animal health products distribution businesses in the world, supplying pharmaceuticals, consumables, equipment, technologies and practice management and operations management tools to veterinarians, livestock producers and farm store/retail operations across North America and the United Kingdom.

Pohlman joined the organization in August 2001 and was most recently vice president of Sales and Marketing. Prior to that he was president of Corporate Sales and Marketing for Animal Health International. Pohlman began his career with Pohlman Bros. Supply, a family-owned dealer and distributor of dairy equipment, animal health supplies and food plant supplies in Ohio.

NCGA welcomes McKay as manager of market development

CHESTERFIELD, Mo. — The National Corn Growers Assoc. (NCGA) welcomes Sarah McKay, who joined the organization as manager of market development in the St. Louis office.

McKay brings an excellent combination of experience in public policy and food industry supply chain management to the team. In this new position, she will provide key support to NCGA's animal agriculture, industrial use and new use efforts as a direct report to the director of market development.

She most recently worked as a part of the procurement/supply chain team supporting dairy operations at General Mills. Previously, she interned with both Sen. Mark Warner and former Rep. Eric Cantor. She earned a master's degree in agricultural and applied economic management from Virginia Tech and bachelor's degrees in both animal and poultry sciences, and agricultural applied economics with an emphasis in international trade and development from the same institution.

Shute wins for her work supporting young farmers

HUDSON, N.Y. — Lindsey Lusher Shute, the co-founder and executive director of the National Young Farmers Coalition (NYFC), has been named one of EatingWell magazine’s top 10 2017 American Food Heroes for her work supporting young farmers. The magazine announced its inaugural list in its September/October edition.

Receiving the award with Shute were the following food leaders: José Andrés, chef and owner, ThinkFood Group; Lee DeHaan, lead scientist, Kernza Domestication Program, The Land Institute; Tim Joseph, founding farmer & CEO, Maple Hill Creamery; Bob Moore, founder, president & CEO, Bob’s Red Mill; Denise Morrison, president & CEO, Campbell Soup Co.; Ron Shaich, CEO, Panera Bread; Bren Smith, executive director of GreenWave and owner of Thimble Island Ocean Farm; Betti Wiggins, Office of Nutrition Services, Houston Independent School District; and Margo Wootan, director of Nutrition Policy, Center for Science in the Public Interest.

An Ohio native, Shute first developed her love of farming on her grandfather’s land in the rolling hills of Appalachia. Shute and her husband now own Hearty Roots Farm, a 900-member CSA in the Hudson Valley of New York. As executive director of the NYFC, she has grown the organization from a few volunteer farmers to a nationwide network with 36 chapters in 26 states and a grassroots base of more than 120,000 supporters.

Shute has edited and authored ten reports for NYFC, including the soon-to-be-released 2017 National Young Farmers Survey, which outlines the challenges being faced by young farmers and a strategy to help them succeed.

Holcomb makes appointments to Indiana boards, commissions

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Gov. Eric J. Holcomb announced new appointments and reappointments to various state boards and commissions, including the following:

Environmental Rules Board: Reappointments include Beverly Gard (Greenfield), former state senator, who will continue to serve as the board chair; Bill Etzler (LaOtto), director of business development for Engineering Resources, Inc., who will continue to serve as vice chair; Dr. Joanne Alexandrovich (Evansville), environmental scientist with Air Quality Services; Gail Boydston (Indianapolis), manager with Eli Lilly & Co. in environmental services and community outreach; Calvin Davidson (Plainfield), general manager of Ray’s Trash Service; Chris Horn (Lynnville), electrician with Alcoa, Inc. and president of USW Local 104; Dr. Ted Niemiec (East Chicago), medical director at ArcelorMittal Indiana Harbor; and Ken Rulon (Arcadia), member of Rulon Enterprises LLC. Their terms will expire on Sept. 30, 2021.

Holcomb also made three new appointments to this board, through June 30, 2021: Angelique Collier (Indianapolis), director of environmental policy with AES US Services, LLC; R.T. Green (Indianapolis), founding partner of Blackburn & Green; and Karen L. Valiquett (Indianapolis), project manager with Core Planning Strategies.

Indiana Horse Racing Commission: Holcomb made two reappointments of Dr. Philip Borst (Indianapolis), owner and operator of Shelby Street Animal Clinic and former president of the Indianapolis City-County Council, who will continue to serve as the chair; and William McCarty (Bloomington), attorney, former chair of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission and former state senator. Their terms will expire Sept. 30, 2021.

Interstate Oil & Gas Compact Commission: The Governor made one new appointment, Russell L. Retherford (Evansville), director of the division of oil and gas for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

Port of Indiana Commission: Holcomb made two new appointments to the Port of Indiana Commission, of Michael G. Browning  (Indianapolis), chair of the board of Browning Investments LLC, and Monica Newhouse-Rodriguez (Carmel), managing principal of Newhouse and Associates LLC. Their terms expire Sept. 30, 2021.

Central Life Sciences adds two to sales team

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — Central Life Sciences announced the hiring of two additions to the Specialty Agriculture sales team for its Agricultural Products division. Dannis Warf has been hired as a regional sales manager and Tanner Shelley joins as a sales development manager, expanding the team responsible for sales of the Bug Free Grains lineup of stored product solutions.

Warf brings nearly 30 years of industry sales experience to his role as regional sales manager for the territory comprised of Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Michigan. He spent more than 15 years with Ecolab Pest Elimination and most recently served as commercial and residential sales director for Royal Pest Solutions and Fumigation in New Castle, Del.

Shelley was named sales development manager for the team’s East Coast territory, where he will support National Sales Manager Richard Alford. He joins Central Life Sciences from his position as an agricultural equipment territorial sales representative for Vantage South in Dothan, Ala. Shelley received his bachelor’s degree in finance with a minor in agricultural economics from Auburn University.

NFU president joins advisory board of New Energy America

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a move to further National Farmers Union’s (NFU) commitment to promoting American grown, renewable energy sources, NFU President Roger Johnson joined the advisory board of New Energy America, a new organization created to promote clean energy jobs in rural America.

Johnson and NFU will support New Energy America’s engagement with communities and lawmakers in rural America to demonstrate how policies that support the deployment of clean energy create jobs. While the fossil fuel industry enjoys support from the politicians elected in these states, the data is clear that policies that support reducing emissions are creating good jobs in rural America.

As part of its launch, New Energy America released the first Fifty State Clean Energy Jobs Report, which contains a detailed analysis of clean energy jobs in each of the states. The report shows that clean energy jobs outpace fossil energy jobs in 41 states. The report, and more information about New Energy America, can be found at www.newenergyamerica.org

Brookside Agra hires Doerschuck as compliance manager

O'FALLON, Ill. — Brookside Agra has hired Mary Doerschuck of Okawville, Ill., as product registration and compliance manager. In this role, she will coordinate product registrations, trademarks and renewals, as well as handle Brookside's tonnage reports, export documentation and accounts payable and receivable. She will also provide sales, customer service and administrative support.

Doerschuck comes to Brookside Agra with more than 10 years of combined customer service and account management experience, with a focus on contract administration, global trade compliance and export regulatory compliance. She studied business administration/management at McKendree University in Lebanon, Ill., and business administration/HR management at Baker College in Flint, Mich.

Brookside Agra is a global fifth-generation, family-owned business that manufactures and distributes a variety of research-proven, all-natural products for specialty feeds; animal health and production; agriculture and the environment; and commercial, industrial and household use. Brookside also offers agronomy and risk management services through its Cardinal Agriculture Services division.

Provost joins Farm Foundation staff for policy, programs

OAK BROOK, Ill. — Farm Foundation President Constance Cullman announced that Megan Provost joined the Farm Foundation as vice president of Policy and Programs effective Oct. 2.

Farm Foundation is an agricultural policy institute cultivating dynamic nonpartisan collaboration to meet society's needs for food, fiber, feed and energy. Since 1933, it has connected leaders in farming, business, academia, organizations and government through proactive, rigorous debate and objective issue analysis.

Provost served previously as U.S. Government Affairs manager for Dow AgroSciences, an Agricultural Division of DowDuPont, working with state and federal legislators, regulators and food chain allies. Prior to joining Dow, she served as a legislative assistant for former Sen. Richard Lugar, as special assistant to the administrator at USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service and worked as an economist at the American Farm Bureau Federation.

Provost is a graduate of Oklahoma State University, earning a bachelor of science degree in agribusiness and a master's in agricultural economics. She holds a juris doctor degree from George Washington University Law School and is a member of the Indiana bar.

Torres joins Hallmarq Imaging as vice president of operations

ACTON, Mass. — Hallmarq Veterinary Imaging announces that Michael Torres has joined the company as vice president of operations for North America. Most recently, he spent more than 17 years with Planmeca USA, Inc. near Chicago, where he had been North American operations manager for the past four years.

In his new role, Torres will lead the installation, service and support activities for the Hallmarq’s PetVet and standing equine MRI business operations in North America. In addition, he will oversee operational budgets and manage the North American operations team. He will also be responsible for safety, quality and regulatory compliance for Hallmarq’s imaging products and support services for equine and small animal veterinary practices in the U.S. and Canada.

Torres has extensive experience in the medical equipment and imaging field, managing large technical support, customer service and safety and compliance departments. He holds a bachelor of arts degree in business and Spanish from Northern Illinois University and is completing his Executive MBA from the Jack Welch Management Institute at Strayer University. He holds numerous professional certificates in areas of business management, operations and digital imaging.

Ice Miller’s Glick receives 2017 Emerging Voice award

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Ice Miller LLP congratulates Katie Glick, agribusiness strategy manager in its Food and Agribusiness Group, on her recent receipt of Purdue University’s College of Liberal Arts 2017 Emerging Voice Award. Since 2008, the Emerging Voice Award has recognized young alumni who have excelled in their careers and proven to be productive, engaged members of society.

Glick, a 2008 graduate of Purdue, worked on former Gov. Mitch Daniels’ reelection campaign in 2008 as a deputy finance director, then as a project coordinator in the mayor’s office at the city of Indianapolis. In 2009, she returned to the Indiana Republican Party as the finance director for the Governor’s Aiming Higher PAC. She then joined the Indiana Soybean Alliance, Indiana Corn Marketing Council and Indiana Corn Growers Assoc. as the public affairs and industry relations director.

Glick is actively involved with her national fraternity, Alpha Chi Omega. She is a graduate and former board member of the Richard G. Lugar Excellence in Public Service Series and is involved with the Policy Circle. She is a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and the Women’s Giving Circle of Bartholomew County, among other local and national organizations.

Katie served as the young farmer chair for the Marion County Farm Bureau in Indianapolis and was a volunteer for Ag in the Classroom. She is a 10-year 4-H member and continues to support the Indiana 4-H Foundation.

Quarles named secretary-treasurer of national organization

NEW ORLEANS, La. — Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles was elected secretary-treasurer of the National Assoc. of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) at its annual meeting.

“As Congress works on a new farm bill, NASDA will be heavily involved in that process, so it’s important for Kentucky to have a seat at the table. I’m pleased to be in a position to make sure that Kentucky’s interests are represented during farm bill talks and on other issues of importance to American agriculture,” Quarles said.

He is the first Kentucky agriculture commissioner to hold office in NASDA since Billy Ray Smith, who served as president of the national organization in 2001-02. Quarles was elected Kentucky’s agriculture commissioner in November 2015 and assumed office the following January. At 33, he is the youngest statewide elected official in the United States.

His family has lived and farmed in central Kentucky for more than 200 years. He served as a state representative for five years prior to his election as ag commissioner. NASDA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit association that represents the elected and appointed commissioners, secretaries, and directors of the departments of agriculture in all 50 states and four U.S. territories.

Dietz picked president of Organic Trade Assoc. Board

BALTIMORE, Md. — Kim Dietz of The J.M. Smucker Co. was tapped as the president of the Organic Trade Assoc. (OTA) board of directors by fellow board members. First appointed as an OTA director in 2014 for a three-year term, she was elected by the membership this summer for another three-year term.

Dietz had served as vice president of the board since 2016. She is senior manager for Environmental, Natural and Organic Policy at The J.M. Smucker Co. She also is currently enrolled in Michigan State University working towards her master’s degree in Global Food Law.

Dietz succeeds Melissa Hughes of Organic Valley, who served as president since 2014.

Other officers announced at the OTA’s annual members meeting include Marci Zaroff of Under the Canopy/MetaWear as secretary, and Rick Collins of Clif Bar and Co. as treasurer. A record 37 percent of OTA member companies voted, also seating two new board members: Britt Lundgren, director of Organic and Sustainable Agriculture at Stonyfield Farm, and Mark Squire, owner of two Good Earth Natural Food stores. In addition, the board named Bob Kaake of Annie’s, Inc. and Mike Menes of True Organic Products to fill two appointed seats.

Completing the board are Perry Clutts of Pleasantview Farm, who was named once again to fill the farmer seat; Doug Crabtree of Vilicus Farms; David Lively of Organically Grown Co.; Kelly Shea of DanoneWave; and Leslie Zuck of Pennsylvania Certified Organic. Ryan Benn of Alive Publishing Group, Inc. holds a board seat chosen by the Canada OTA.

Retiring from the Board were Melody Meyer of UNFI, Tony Bedard of Frontier Natural Products Co-op, Sarah Bird of Bhakti Chai and Jesse Laflamme of Pete and Gerry’s Organics.

Crop Pro adds recognized data scientist to management

JOHNSTON, Iowa — Crop Pro Insurance, a new managing general agent (MGA) specializing in crop insurance, has expanded its experienced leadership team with the addition of Brian Donaghy as its director of Data Science.

Donaghy brings more than 20 years of experience in venture capital and data technology creation to Crop Pro, including leadership roles at Broadhorn Capital, Appcore, Smart Online, Growth Ventures Group and Computility. He also raises organic, grass-fed beef cattle.

Donaghy was named CEO of the Year by the Technology Assoc. of Iowa for his visionary work at Appcore. He led the company to exponential growth and an acquisition by IBM. Prior to Appcore, he served for 10 years as partner and CTO of Growth Ventures Group, Inc. architecting and delivering business process technology products and companies.

Saini inducted into AFIA Liquid Feed Hall of Fame

ARLINGTON, Va. — The American Feed Industry Assoc. (AFIA) is pleased to announce Joe Saini as its 2017 Liquid Feed Hall of Fame inductee. The AFIA Liquid Feed Committee presented the award – the highest award offered within the liquid feed industry – to Saini during a luncheon at AFIA's Liquid Feed Symposium in Louisville, Ky.

Saini, one of the liquid feed industry's early pioneers, has had a long and diverse career. He serves as a consultant to Quality Liquid Feeds, a liquid feed products manufacturer in Dodgeville, Wis., which he co-founded in 1981. He served as vice president of operations and procurement for the organization from 1981 until his retirement in 2010. Prior to that, he served as regional manager for National Molasses from 1977-80 and as director of operations for Illinois Liquid Feed from 1972-77.

Saini grew up on a sugarcane farm in Ralhan, Punjab, India. He received a master's degree in agriculture from Punjab Agriculture University in Ludhiana and emigrated to the United States in 1971. With a group of friends, he also co-founded the Saini School in Ambala, India, which provides education for 700 children living in poverty each year. Saini lives in Peru, Ill., with his wife, Neelam.

NFU honors Champions of Agriculture with Golden Triangle

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Farmers Union (NFU) proudly recognized 33 outstanding U.S. senators and representatives who have demonstrated leadership and support at the federal policymaking level for family farmers, ranchers and their rural communities.

The Golden Triangle Award, the family farm organization’s highest legislative honor, was presented to recipients at an awards reception during NFU’s Fall Legislative Fly-In. First presented in 1988, it symbolizes the core principles of the NFU: education, cooperation, and legislation.

This year’s Golden Triangle honorees were selected for their leadership and dedication to improving the livelihoods of family farmers and ranchers. The recipients in the Farm World region are: Sens. Sherrod Brown (Ohio), Dick Durbin (Illinois) and Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow (Michigan); and Reps. Cheri Bustos (Illinois), Marcy Kaptur (Ohio) and Dave Loebsack (Iowa).

Ohio Hereford Futurity Highlight of Hereford Weekend

PLEASANT CITY, Ohio — On Sept. 30 Rick VanFleet and his family hosted a Hereford Field day at their family farm in Pleasant City. This was the start of the Hereford weekend cosponsored by the Buckeye Hereford Assoc. (BHA) and the Switzerland of Ohio Polled Hereford Assoc.

On Oct. 1 Hereford breeders from across Ohio gathered at the Guernsey Co. Fairgrounds in Old Washington. The BHA hosted the annual event, which showcases Ohio-bred seedstock. Judge Scott Brown of Quaker City evaluated 55 head of the finest Hereford stock from across the state.

2017 Ohio Hereford Futurity Champions are:

•Grand Champion Bull (pictured): UHF 10Y Home Boy U26D ET, a December 2016 bull sired by NJW 73S W18 Hometown 10Y ET, bred by Creek Bottom Farm, Navarre, Ohio, and owned by Ralph E. Ullman & Son, Graysville

•Reserve Champion Bull: NS HF Director 611, December 2016 bull sired by R Leader 6964, bred and owned by Bryce and Cole Hines, Bidwell

•Grand Champion Female: NS 4R Rachael 512, a September 2015 heifer sired by MSU TCF Revolution 4R, bred by Allie Steiner, Mason, and owned by Bryce and Cole Hines, Bidwell

•Reserve Champion Female: DDF Dixie, a May 2016 heifer sired by NJW 73S M326 Trust 100W ET, bred and owned by Diamond D Herefords, Kimbolton

•Grand Champion Cow/Calf Pair: Creek 4R Libby 201Z, sired by MSU TCF Revolution 4R, with an April heifer calf by NJW 73S W18 Hometown 10Y ET. Pair bred and owned by Creek Bottom Farm, Navarre

•Reserve Champion Cow/Calf Pair: HH Jamie 491, sired by NJW 98S R117 Ribeye 88X ET with a March heifer calf by PKWMS Jamie Jo Outback 7491. Cow bred by Emily Beanblossom, Bradford, and owned by Kyndall Williams, Mt. Gilead

•Grand Champion Prospect Steer: Harmony Hill Blaze, an April steer sired by GRF World Wide 3024, bred and owned by Harmony Hill Herefords, Newcomerstown

•Reserve Champion Prospect Steer: Creek Rambo, a January steer sired by NJW 73S W18 Hometown 10Y ET, bred and owned by Creek Bottom Farm, Navarre

•Champion Expo Class : LBK W89 Trixie 9A, an April 2013 cow sired by Glenview 5052 Choice Domino W89ET, bred by Brian and Lisa Keets, Berlin Heights, and owned by Olivia Shaulis, Ravenna

•Champion Junior & Senior Get of Sire: Harmony Hill Herefords, Newcomerstown, with groups sired by GRF World Wide 3024 ET

•Best six head, Premier Breeder & Premier Exhibitor: Creek Bottom Farm, The Johnson Family, Navarre

Central Life Sciences welcomes new employee to Starbar

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — Central Life Sciences welcomes Kyle Vincent to the sales team for its Farm & Ranch division. He will be joining the organization as a sales development manager. In this role, he will be responsible for product sales to distributors and dealer stores across the country.

Prior to joining Central Life Sciences, Vincent held a key accounts manager position at AniMart, where he monitored the sales of animal health products to key dairy, beef and dealer accounts throughout the northeastern United States. Currently enrolled at Ashford University, he is working toward earning his bachelor’s degree in business leadership, focused on strengthening the skills of managerial positions in business.

Organic Farmers Assoc. announces policy leadership

KUTZTOWN, Pa. — The Organic Farmers Assoc. (OFA), a national membership organization for certified organic farmers, sponsored by Rodale Institute, has announced a new policy director and elected the first Policy Committee.

This new leadership will facilitate OFA’s policy platform created by certified organic farmer-members. Mark Rokala will serve as policy director and lead policy work, under the direction of the newly elected Policy Committee and coordinating closely with OFA Director Kate Mendenhall and Steering Committee Chair Jim Riddle.

Rokala will be leading work on the farm bill, helping identify OFA farmer-members' policy priorities, connecting members with Congressional leaders and ensuring that federal policies help support thriving independent organic farmers. He has more than 28 years of experience in agriculture policy, with 23 of those working on state and federal agricultural policy. He worked for seven years as a congressional staffer on Capitol Hill and 16 years as a lobbyist in D.C. focusing on agricultural and food policy.

The Policy Committee is made up of 12 voting certified organic farmers and six advisory organizational members. Committee members are regionally diverse and reflect the national diversity of organic farms. It includes from this region North Central Region farmer representative (voting) Francis Thicke of Radiance Dairy Fairfield, Iowa, and non-voting, Matthew Miller of the Iowa Organic Assoc., Ames; Midwest Region farmer representative (voting) Michael Adsit of Plymouth Orchards, Plymouth, Mich.; and Southern Region farmer representative (voting) Laura Freeman, Mt. Folly Farm, Winchester, Ky.

Sparks joins Ceres Solutions Cooperative leadership

CRAWFORDSVILLE Ind. — In late September, an invitation was extended to David Sparks to join the Ceres Solutions Cooperative board of directors in a non-voting, advisory leadership role. He has accepted the position and has begun providing expert counsel to the large Crawfordsville-based agribusiness.

Sparks is well known in regional financial circles and the agribusiness sector for his decades of industry experience. Prior to accepting the role of advisory director, he served as Eastern Region president for the Agribusiness Banking Group of CoBank.

Sparks began his tenure at CoBank in 1996. Today, he contributes his talents to a number of agribusiness and industry boards, and also commits time and resources to a variety of Christian-based volunteer organizations in the Louisville area.

Michigan duck wins nationwide Miss Flock-Tober pageant

BELLEVUE, Mich. — Purina Poultry is excited to announce the Grand Prize winner in the second-annual Miss Flock-Tober pageant Mindie Dittemore of Bellevue is the proud flock raiser of Miss Flock-Tober, a duck named Baby Girl. She is the first duck to ever win a Purina Flock-Tober contest.

Baby Girl captured the title after competing with more than 1,000 poultry across the country as part of annual Purina Flock-Tober festivities. As the reigning queen of Flock-Tober, Dittemore and Baby Girl will receive a year's supply of poultry feed.

AAEA’s Lusk named winner of Borlaug CAST award

DES MOINES, Iowa — AAEA Past President Jayson Lusk is this year’s recipient of the Borlaug CAST Communication Award, presented at the World Food Prize Symposium on Oct. 18.

CAST (The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology) presents the award annually for “outstanding achievement by a scientist, engineer, technologist or other professional working in the agricultural, environmental or food sectors for contributing to the advancement of science in the public policy arena.”

It is named after Norman Borlaug, the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize winner, for his contributions to the safety and advancement of the global food supply.

Lusk, who was also named an AAEA Fellow in 2015, has published multiple books and nearly 200 articles in peer-reviewed journals. He uses multiple media to communicate information on food and agricultural economics, and is used frequently as a trusted source by journalists across the country. He was recently named head of the Department of Agricultural Economics at Purdue University.

“It is incredibly humbling to receive an award named after Norman Borlaug, a man whose work, quite literally, saved millions of lives,” Lusk said. “Now more than ever, it is important for the public and policymakers to have science and evidence-based information about food and agriculture. If we want to solve some of society’s most pressing problems in food and agriculture, we will need innovation and science, and it is important that the public understands the consequences of policies and consumption choices.”

Brown joins Rural Media Group as chief operating officer

NASHVILLE, TENN. — Rural Media Group announced the appointment of Alexander “Sandy” Brown as chief operating officer, effective immediately. He is an accomplished executive with a proven track record leading sports media and entertainment companies bringing more than 25 years of executive management experience to the company.

As group president and COO, Brown will lead the company’s operating businesses worldwide focusing on the RMG brand family, which includes RFD-TV, The Cowboy Channel and Rural Radio Channel 147 on SiriusXM.

He earned a B.A. from Washington and Lee University in Virginia. He is a past board member of the Cable and Satellite Broadcasters of Asia, the Economic Development Board of Singapore, the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Singapore and the Sentosa Development Corporation of Singapore.