October 9, 2024
College of Agriculture presents awards to alumni and faculty
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The three award winners with Ernie Minton, Eldon Gideon dean of the College of Agriculture. |
Each year, the Kansas State University College of Agriculture recognizes exceptional alumni and faculty who have demonstrated commitment, leadership and distinction to themselves, their profession, the College of Agriculture and Kansas State University. During the Celebrate Ag Weekend activities, this year's winners were recognized on Friday, Sept. 27.
This year's 2024 Distinguished Alumnus Award winner is Robert Vander Zanden. Vander Zanden first set foot on the K-State campus in fall 1968.
Through his relationship with Bill Hoover, the grain science and industry department chair, Vander Zanden began to understand how important it is to have a positive relationship with others and the potential impact that mentorship can have on people's lives. Under Hoover's guidance, Vander Zanden began to dedicate his life to fulfilling his professional career and sharing his knowledge and skills with others to mentor them to their success.
Over his lifetime, Vander Zanden has made many incredible contributions to advance the world's food industry. Still, his most important has been his ability to impact other people's lives by continuing the K-State legacy of mentorship. The impact of his mentorship has touched countless students, professionals, friends and random acquaintances. His dedication to mentoring and helping others find success when they did not know how distinguishes Vander Zanden from his peers and makes him worthy of being a Distinguished K-State Ag Alumnus Award recipient.
He has built a highly accomplished career in the food industry and has contributed to the growth and success of several significant food companies. His contributions have intense significance to the diverse population with whom he has interacted over the past quarter century. In his 30-year career, Vander Zanden has worked for ITT Continental Baking Company as a product development scientist; with Ralston Purina's Protein Technology Division as manager of dietary foods research and development; with Keebler as group director, Product and Process Development; with Grupo Gamesa, a Frito-Lay Company, as vice president, technology; and with Nabisco as vice president of research and development for their International Division. With the acquisition of Nabisco by Kraft Foods, he became the vice president of research and development for Kraft's Latin American Division.
Vander Zanden retired from Kraft Foods in 2004. He currently holds the title of adjunct professor and lecturer in the department of food science and human nutrition at Clemson University, where he is also a member of their Industry Advisory Board.
This year's Outstanding Young Alumnus Award winner is Garrett Lister. He graduated with his bachelor's in agricultural economics in 2012, followed by a master's in agricultural economics in 2014, both from Kansas State University.
Lister generously gives his time to his local community. He is an elder in his local church and was an advisor to the K-State chapter of Alpha Gamma Rho. He can also be seen at local events, such as the Riley County Fair, representing the National Cattleman's Beef Association or other groups.
Lister is always willing to come to campus as a guest speaker. He has visited several classes on multiple occasions over the years. He is always happy to contribute to research projects where his knowledge of futures and cattle markets is helpful.
He is the lead cattle risk management professional for Innovative Livestock Services, a major cattle feeding group in Kansas. He is well-respected around the industry as an expert in managing price risk associated with cattle feeding.
Jason Bergtold, professor of agricultural economics, is the recipient of this year's David Mugler Outstanding Teaching Award.
Bergtold received his bachelor's degree in economics from Colorado State University in 1999, his master's in agricultural and applied economics from Virginia Tech University in 2001 and completed his doctorate in economics from Virginia Tech University in 2004.
In 1999, the Kansas State University College of Agriculture Alumni board of directors established an annual award, the David Mugler Teaching Award, to recognize Mugler's many years of dedicated service to students in the College of Agriculture.
Bergtold's contributions reach across the community, state and nation through his impactful research and outreach in the fields of conservation economics, land use and community resilience. At the community level, his research directly addresses the pressing challenges agricultural producers face, particularly in Kansas. Bergtold's work on conservation practices such as no-tillage, cover crops and grassland preservation provides actionable insights that help local farmers improve their sustainability and resilience. His research on the impacts of natural disasters, such as wildfires, on agriculture has also been vital in helping communities prepare for and recover from these events.
Nationally, Bergtold's research has extended to examining the impacts of climate change and policy on land use and agricultural practices across the U.S. His leadership as the inaugural editor of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association's Applied Economics Teaching Resources journal has provided a critical platform for sharing innovative teaching practices and research findings, significantly enhancing the quality of agricultural economics education nationwide.
Within the university, Bergtold served as a faculty senator, where his work on the faculty affairs committee helped shape policies that support faculty development and improve the overall academic environment. His efforts in this role have had a lasting impact on the university, promoting a culture of excellence and continuous improvement.
In the agricultural economics department, Bergtold has been a key contributor to curriculum development, particularly in the creation of AGEC 501: Data Analysis and Optimization. Recognizing the growing need for quantitative skills in agricultural economics, Bergtold spearheaded the development of this course, which has become a cornerstone of the department's curriculum. His commitment to enhancing the educational experience is further demonstrated by his involvement in the College of Agriculture's Academic Standards Committee, where he played a crucial role in supporting student retention and success.
Read more information on the winners, the awards or see photos from the event.