Annual Report: 2019-2020
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Academic Year 2019-2020 Excellence Alumni Excellence 3 Faculty Excellence 6 Development Grants/Giving 7 Student Excellence Student Achievements 8 Graduate Research 10 2019-2020 Award Winners 11 Excellence/Outreach/Community Breathitt Veterinary Center 12 Wm. Bill Cherry Expo Center 13 Events and Activities Back to School Picnic 14 Racer Roundup 14 Alumni Picnic 14 Fall on the Farm 15 Agriculture Appreciation Events 16 Excellence in Agriculture Picnic 16 Soybean Promotion Day 17 Career Fair 17 Agriculture Awards Banquet 17 FFA Field Day 17 Racer Academy 18 International Involvement 19 Recruitment/Retention Special Events 20 HSOA Total Enrollment History 21 Degrees Conferred 21 Freshman Enrollment & Retention 22 2 Outstanding Alumnus The 2019 Outstanding Agriculture Alumnus award was presented to Rep. Richard Heath during the 2019 Agriculture Alumni Association’s Dean’s Circle Luncheon held in conjunction with MSU Homecoming activities. Representative Richard Heath was born and raised in Graves County, Kentucky and graduated from Cuba High School in 1973. He was active in FFA, serving as Chapter President in 1973. In 1976, Heath was awarded the American Farmer Degree, the highest honor awarded to FFA members who have demonstrated the highest level of commitment to FFA and made significant accomplishments in their supervised agricultural experience. After graduation from high school, he continued his education at Murray State University, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture education in 1984 and a Master of Science degree in agriculture in 1989. After beginning his career in ag retail, Mr. Heath became a small business owner, owning and operating Heath Building Materials. He has been a long serving member of the Murray State Agriculture Alumni Association and regularly attends the alumni gathering. He is also a member of the Mayfield-Graves County Chamber of Commerce, the Association of General Contractors, the Home Builders Association, and the National Rifle Association. Representative Heath represents the 2nd House District in the Kentucky General Assembly, which is comprised of Graves County and a portion of McCracken County in far Western Kentucky. He is currently serving his fourth term in the House of Representatives and was first elected in 2013. Heath is chair of the House Agriculture Committee, which deals with all agricultural and livestock related matters. Through this position, he has earned a reputation for being a vocal advocate for local farmers and producers. In addition to serving as chair of the House Agriculture Committee, Heath also serves on the Small Business and Information Technology Committee and the State Government Committee. Heath is active in several caucuses, including the Western Kentucky Caucus, The Tennessee Valley Caucus, and the Kentucky Sportsmen’s Caucus. Representative Heath has earned several awards as a result of his legislative accomplishments. In 2017, Heath was honored as a “Friend of Poultry” by the Kentucky Poultry Federation. The Kentucky Family Foundation also named Heath a Champion of Faith, Family, and Freedom. The Kentucky Home Bakers and Institute of Justice have recognized Heath for his efforts to pass legislation allowing home bakers to sell products to customers straight out of their kitchens, free from regulatory restraints. Additionally, Heath was named Legislator of the Year by Mothers Against Drunk Driving for his work to pass a law that requires ignition interlocks for DUI offenders after the first offense. Heath is married to Ruth Heath, and they have three children and seven grandchildren. They are active members of Trace Creek Baptist Church. Representative Heath has continuously given back to the agriculture industry and to Murray State Agriculture. This award celebrates his accomplishments and honors him for all his hard work. 3 . Outstanding Alumnus The 2019 Outstanding Agriculture Alumnus award was presented to Rep. Steven Rudy during the 2019 Agriculture Alumni Association’s Dean’s Circle Luncheon held in conjunction with MSU Homecoming activities. Representative Rudy is a 1996 graduate of Ballard Memorial High School, where he was the FFA Chapter President his junior and senior years. He also served as Purchase Region FFA Secretary and Purchase Region State Vice President, was selected as the State Star in Agribusiness, and worked at FFA Leadership Camp for three summers in a row. Prior to attending MSU, Mr. Rudy received his Associates in Science at Paducah Community College in 1998. He attended Murray State from 1998 -2000, and graduated in May 2000 with a degree in Agricultural Education. While at MSU, Rudy completed his student teaching assignment at Carlisle County High School under the direction of Dr. Tony Brannon and Dr. Jay Morgan. In addition, he was a member of the MSU Collegiate FFA and was on the MSU Soil Judging Team. Following his tenure at MSU, Mr. Rudy taught agriculture education and served as an FFA advisor for three years. During that time, he set his goals high and successfully trained a state champion Chapter Meeting team. In 2003, Rudy returned to the family business, Rudy’s Farm Center, where he continues to serve local and regional agriculture. He was elected to the Kentucky General Assembly, serving Kentucky’s first district (Ballard, Carlisle, Fulton, Hickman, and McCracken Counties) in 2004. He currently serves as chair of the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee, which plays an instrumental role in the creation of the state budget as well as state and local tax policy. He is also a member of the House Agriculture Committee and the Capital Projects and Bond Oversight Committee, as well as the Western Kentucky Caucus, Pro-Life Caucus, and the Kentucky Sportsmen’s Caucus. Representative Heath and his wife Jessica attend Heartland Church in Paducah, Kentucky. They have a 9 year old daughter, Madelyn Sue. Representative Heath has dedicated much time and effort in building up agriculture for the Commonwealth. This award recognizes and honors his hard work and dedication to Murray State and the agriculture community. 4 Outstanding Young Alumnus The 2019 Outstanding Young Agriculture Alumnus award was presented to Mr. Curtis Dame during the 2019 Agriculture Alumni Association’s Dean’s Circle Luncheon held in conjunction with MSU Homecoming activities. The Outstanding Young Alumnus Award is given each year to a Murray State Agriculture alumnus who has excelled in their career and graduated a minimum of 10 year prior to the time of selection. Curtis is a native of McLean County, Kentucky and is a 2007 graduate of McLean County High School, where he also served as FFA Chapter President. He attended Murray State and received his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture degree in Agricultural Systems Technology in December 2010. During his tenure as a student, Curtis served as Collegiate FFA President from 2008-2010 and as SGA Senator for the Hutson School of Agriculture. He was also active in the Agronomy Club, and Ag Engineering Technology Club. He was a member of the Collegiate Soil Judging Team, served as Alpha Gamma Rho Vice Noble Ruler, and was Chair of the Agriculture Leadership Council. Curtis went on to receive his Master of Science in Agriculture degree in 2012. During this time he served as a Graduate Assistant, Collegiate FFA Student Advisor, and expanded his horizons by specializing in Ag Policy, Business Management, and emergency preparedness. He was selected as the Hutson School of Agriculture Outstanding Graduate Student in 2012. Curtis is currently employed as an Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources in Hopkins County, Kentucky. He is professionally engaged with the Kentucky Association of County Agriculture Agents as the State 2nd Vice President, and joins agents from other program areas in efforts related to marketing and professional development for the Epsilon Sigma Phi Extension Professional Fraternity. He is the national Association of County Agriculture Agents Communication Award regional winner. In addition, he is a graduate of the Kentucky Farm Bureau LEAD program and serves as a regional advisor for the Governor’s Office of Agriculture Policy. Throughout his career, Curtis has continued his dedication to Murray State Agriculture, serving as Past-President of the Hutson School of Agriculture Alumni Association and is a past alumni board member of the Alpha Gamma Rho-Alpha Omega Alumni Corporation. He also serves as President of the Hopkins County Farm Bureau Federation, Chair-Elect of the Hopkins County Regional Chamber of Commerce, which compli- ments appointment to the Madisonville-Hopkins County Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors in promoting agriculture regionally. Curtis is also still actively involved with his family farm in Rumsey, Kentucky, which has aided in his efforts to promote an annual community garden in cooperation with Independence Bank of Hopkins County, which serves the betterment of local food banks in Hopkins County. Recently, he and his coworkers secured $250,000 of state and county grant funds to aid in the construction of a new Farmer’s Market for Hopkins County. Curtis is married to his wife, Amanda, who is the County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences in McLean County and the newly elected president of the McLean County Chamber of Commerce. His latest effort to serve has found him as a candidate for County Judge Executive in McLean County. Curtis has shown exemplary characteristics of hard work, determination, ingenuity, productivity, and 5 vision that has led to him being named the 2019 Outstanding Young Agriculture Alumnus. Dr. Iin Handayani was recognized as the MSU Distinguished Mentor for the second time (2011 & 2020) during the 2020 Faculty Awards Program. Ms. Barbie Papajeski was the recipient of the 2020 Hutson School of Agriculture Board of Regents Teaching Excellence Award, presented during the MSU Faculty Awards Program. Dr. Jeffrey Young was selected as the 2020 Hutson School of Agriculture Outstanding Collegiate Researcher. Hutson School of Agriculture were recognized for their Years of Service at the 2020 MSU Faculty Awards Program: Dr.