Ralph Bruno Fresno, California Dairy Production Specialist Pfizer Animal Health

Ximena del Campo Lancaster, Pennsylvania Dairy Educator Penn State Extension

At the annual American Forage and Grassland Council meeting, held Jan. 6-8 in Covington, Kentucky, Progressive Forage Grower Editor Lynn Olsen received the Merit Award. The award recognizes individuals who have made contributions to the forage or grassland industry in research, teaching, extension, production or industrial development.

Holstein Canada’s Young Adult Advisory Committee chose six winners from 31 applicants for the 2012 Education Awards. Each award winner will receive a $750 cheque. “Getting 31 applications from such highly deserving students is wonderful. We get to learn about keen young adults who are involved in the industry but it is difficult to narrow it down to select the six winners for the whole country,” comments Janet Walker, Young Adult Program coordinator.

Katie Holzhause Paris, Kentucky Extension Associate University of Kentucky Department of Animal and Food Sciences

Kayla Dolan Belleville, Wisconsin Marketing and Sales Coordinator CRV

EPA chief Lisa Jackson has announced that she will leave her cabinet position after President Obama's State of the Union address, planned for late January. An Associated Press article summarized Jackson's three-plus years in the role: "Jackson, the agency's first black administrator, constantly found herself caught between administration pledges to solve controversial environmental problems and steady resistance from Republicans and industrial groups who complained that the agency's rules destroyed jobs and made it harder for American companies to compete internationally."

Alan Clark Verona, Wisconsin Executive Director Wisconsin Livestock Identification Consortium

Heather Weeks Carlisle, Pennsylvania Extension Educator – Dairy Profitability Penn State Extension