MSU Seeks Nominations For Ag Leaders
The College of Agriculture at Montana State University is seeking nominations for its Outstanding Agricultural Leader award, which will be presented during the annual Celebrate Agriculture Weekend Nov. 3-4 at MSU. The deadline to submit nominations is Aug. 30. 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. 4 ahead of the Bobcat football agriculture appreciation game against the Northern Arizona University Lumberjacks.
Nominations can be submitted online at ag.montana. edu/celebrateag/aggie_nomination. html. A list of past recipients can be found at ag.montana.edu/celebrateag/ outstandingaggie.html. Jay Bodner of Helena received the award in 2022.
“Celebrate Agriculture Weekend is always a highlight of our fall semester, and the opportunity to recognize the many people who help our agricultural industry thrive is something we look forward to all year,” said MSU Vice President for Agriculture and Dean Sreekala Bajwa. “Collaboration and connection are what make our work so gratifying, and welcoming our friends and colleagues to Bozeman is always a welcome opportunity to deepen those connections.”
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 development board; a current faculty member; and a member of the College of Agriculture Student Advisory Council.
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 emerging and 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.
Hard copies of the nomination form can be requested by calling the College of Agriculture dean’s office at 406994-3681.
Celebrate Agriculture Weekend is an annual event to honor Montana’s agricultural legacy and current and future agricultural leaders, producers and students. For more information about Celebrate Agriculture and a full agenda, visit ag.montana. edu/celebrateag/.
