South Dakota State University professor Erin Cortus was named the 2010 Dr. Sherwood and Elizabeth Berg Award winner. Cortus is an assistant professor in SDSU’s Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering and joined SDSU in June 2008. She has participated in successful grant applications totaling more than $790,000, including one proposal where she was the principal investigator. She works as a contributor to the National Air Emissions Monitoring Study, and she has mentored nine undergraduate students and continues to serve the South Dakota Cooperative Extension Service as a specialist in the area of air quality and waste management.

"Bucky has a true passion for the dairy industry and is committed to the production of quality milk." — Anne Saeman, NMC executive director Lester "Bucky" Jones Member of the National Mastitis Council ( to learn more about NMC) Age: 70, but feel 45 Location: Massey, Maryland My dairy’s history: My grandfather started the dairy in 1932 and my father took over the business in 1936. I started managing the dairy in 1962. My wife, Diane, and I have six children. My three sons and one daughter-in-law currently manage the 1300-cow dairy farm, and I have an expanding dairy equipment business.

to jump to the article. Summary: This online exclusive article accompanied the print article, "Making Millionaire Model dairy producers" featured in the January 1st issue of Progressive Dairyman. The web article provided information on how producers involved in the Millionaire Model Dairy Farm project were able to be successful. The author, Larry Tranel, explained the farms had several production practices in common: labor efficiency, cost-effective parlors and facilities, management intensive grazing, cross-breeding, semi-seasonal calving and dairy TRANS financial analysis. Because this article was so popular, we asked Tranel a follow-up question: Q: Besides every dairyman wanting to be a millionaire, why do you think dairy producers were reading this article? A: Dairy producers, like most of us, are no doubt inspired by other people’s success. Many people inside and outside of agriculture feel there is no money in dairy farming, and many dairy producers confirm their thoughts and feelings. Young people think that getting started is just too difficult and often don’t have a long-term vision for what they want financially.