Montana State University’s College of Agriculture is seeking nominations for the Outstanding Agricultural Leader award, which will be presented during the annual Celebrate Agriculture Weekend Nov. 12-13 at MSU.
The award recognizes individuals, families or businesses that have gone above and beyond for the Montana agricultural industry in the realms of public service, advocacy, production or business. Awardees will be honored during the Celebrate Ag breakfast event on Nov. 13 ahead of the Bobcat football game against the University of Idaho Vandals.
“We are so excited to be hosting our Celebrate Ag weekend in person again after a virtual event in 2020,” said MSU Vice President of Agriculture and College of Agriculture Dean Sreekala Bajwa. “It will be such a joy to see and honor our stakeholders, supporters and alumni, and presenting the Outstanding Agricultural Leader award is a large part of that.”
The selection committee for the Outstanding Agricultural Leader award comprises past chairpersons of the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station Advisory Council, the College of Agriculture’s Academic Advisory Committee and the college’s development board, as well as a current faculty member and a member of the College of Agriculture Student Advisory Council.
The Outstanding Agriculture Leader was not awarded in 2020, when Celebrate Ag Weekend took place virtually. The last awardee was Buzz Mattelin in 2019. A third-generation barley, durum wheat and sugar beet grower from northeast Montana, Mattelin was nominated by a number of individual colleagues as well as the American Malting Barley Association and National Barley Improvement Committee. MSU’s newest barley variety, released in 2019, is named “Buzz” in his honor.
To be considered for the award, nominees must be well respected in their agricultural community with accomplishments that have wide impact; be an industry leader or an upcoming active innovative producer; and be actively involved in the agriculture industry.
Active MSU or government employees are only eligible for the award’s “Friend of the COA/MAES” category. Retired university or government employees will be considered if they have been retired for at least two years and have shown service above and beyond their job description. Nominees who are not selected will be reconsidered in future years, but application forms should be updated.
The deadline for nominations is Monday, Aug. 30, and supporting letters of recommendation are highly encouraged. Nominators can fill out an online nomination form at https://ag.montana.edu/celebrateag/aggie_nomination.html. Hard copies of the form can be requested by calling the College of Agriculture dean’s office at 406-994-3681.
The Celebrate Agriculture Weekend is an annual event to honor Montana’s agricultural legacy and current and future agricultural leaders, producers and students. Further details for the event will be posted to the Celebrate Agriculture website this summer.
Check out this list of the past Outstanding Agricultural Leaders! Certainly a who’s who of Montana agriculture but there are still several names that need to be added.
2019
Buzz Mattelin, Culbertson
2018
Ron Ueland, Butte (awarded posthumously)
2017
David Oien, Ulm
2016
Jim Hagenbarth, Dillon
2015
Max & Kirsti Cederberg, Turner
Lola Raska, Belt
2014
Don Burnham, Helena
Sky Anderson & Monica Switzer, Shields Valley
2013
Bing Von Bergen, Moccasin
Tom & Mary Kay Milesnick, Belgrade
Friend of College/Station: Senator Max Baucus
2012
Dale Schuler, Carter
Larry and Madge Pilster, Alzada
2011
Diana Alkire, Bozeman
Dan Lake, Ronan
Richard Owen, Geraldine
2010
Dan Kidd, Big Sandy
Janice Mattson, Chester
2009
John Swanz, Judith Gap
John Youngberg, Belgrade
2008
Taylor Brown, Huntley
Les Graham, Bozeman
2007
John Paugh, Belgrade
2006
Gary Broyles, Rapelje
Lochiel Edwards, Big Sandy
Tom Jurenka, Hysham
2005
Jon and Sharla Tester, Big Sandy
Tom and Carol Peterson, Wilsall
Jake Cummins, Bozeman
2004
Bob Hanson, White Sulphur Springs
Donald Fast, Glasgow
Chuck McGlothlin, Park City
Gene Surber, Bozeman
2003
Robert, Ann and Earl Boettcher, Big Sandy
Harlin and Jodi Steiger, Forsyth
2002
Kevin Halverson, Big Timber
David L. McClure, Lewistown
Public service to ag: Greg Bennett, Ronan
Public service to ag: Senator Conrad Burns
2001
Vern and Naomi Pluhar, Cohagen
Greg Gould, Aimee Hachigian-Gould & sons Brandon and Andrew, Ulm
2000
Don and Bernadine Lake, Ronan
Ralph Peck, Helena
Ole Ueland, Silver Bow and Deer Lodge counties
1999
Lynn Cornwell, Glasgow
Don Herzog, Rapelje
Bob Bellows, Miles City
Magnus Aasheim, Antelope
1998
Bob Thoft, Stevensville
Don Steinbeisser, Sidney
Bill Jones, Choteau
Kathleen Hanson, Melville
1997
Marie Hovland, Great Falls
Glenn and Mary Ann Moore, Billings
Mark and Nancy Peterson, Havre
John and Florence Young, Decker
1996
Bill and Charlotte Mathers, Miles City
Terry Murphy, Cardwell
Mack and Dorothea Quinn, Big Sandy
1995
Larry and Molly Descheemaeker, Lewistown
Dean and Hope Folkvord, Three Forks
Bob and Kathy Lee, Judith Gap
John “Bud” and Joanne Leuthold, Billings
Chuck and Stephanie Merja, Sun River
Rick and Mary Sampsen, Dagmar
