by Lana Koepke Johnson | Agronomy and Horticulture
Over 150 students, faculty, staff, emeriti, alumni, industry leaders and guests celebrated and honored the achievements of students, faculty and staff, past and present, at the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture Spring Banquet on April 15 in the Nebraska East Union.
The evening began with a social hour, followed by a buffet meal and program. Master of Ceremony Luka Milosevic, agronomy doctoral student and Agronomy and Horticulture Graduate Student Association president, welcomed everyone to the banquet and thanked the sponsors, including Ward Laboratories, Nebraska Corn Board, Nebraska Agri-business Association and Nebraska Statewide Arboretum. Department Head Martha Mamo gave the opening remarks.
Mamo presented the Martin A. Massengale Outstanding Senior Award to Daniel Frey. The award honors Massengale, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Chancellor from 1981–1991, president emeritus of the University of Nebraska, founding director of the Center for Grassland Studies and Foundation Distinguished Professor.
Frey is an agronomy major involved in the Agronomy Club. He has been a club officer for two years and recently facilitated the Agronomy Club’s Experience Agronomy Day. He has competed on the Crop Judging Team for three years. Frey also works in the East Campus research greenhouses which brings him into contact with many research projects within the department. He will graduate December 2024 and plans to work as a crop consultant or ag advisor for a crop consulting company or cooperative in southeast Nebraska. He will also help on and expand his family's farm.
A representative from each student club, organization and competition team gave a brief overview of their group, introduced the officers and advisers, talked about their group’s achievements and activities during the year and presented awards.
Logan Nelson, senior agronomy major, introduced the Crops Judging Team. Camila Rodrigues, agronomy master’s student, presented the Weed Science Team. Mason Rutgers, senior plant and landscape systems major, and Charlotte Brockman, senior agronomy major, introduced the Soil Judging Team.
Each president introduced their club or organization. Zach Nienhueser, a junior plant and landscape system major, introduced the Agronomy Club. Elaina Madison, a senior plant and landscape system major, introduced the Horticulture Club. Scout Allen, a junior plant and landscape management major, introduced the Turf Club.
Nienhueser presented two awards for the Agronomy Club. Easton Weber, freshman agribusiness major, received the UNL Agronomy Club Outstanding Underclassmen award and Nolan Weber, senior agronomy major received the American Society of Agronomy Outstanding Senior award.
Madison also introduced the university’s Alpha Gamma Chapter of Pi Alpha Xi, the national honor society for horticulture. On behalf of the chapter, Madison awarded Kim Todd with the President’s Citation in recognition of outstanding service in the field of horticulture. Todd is a professor of agronomy and horticulture, extension horticulture specialist, licensed landscape architect and host of Backyard Farmer.
Luqi Li, club co-adviser and lecturer in agronomy and horticulture, presented the Pi Alpha Xi Alpha Gamma Scholarship to Madison who served as the chapter president this academic year.
Abby Stalder, a junior grassland systems major, introduced the Range Management Club. The club honored two members with awards at the School of Natural Resources Spring Banquet held April 6. The Trail Blazer Award was presented to Josie Ivy, a junior fisheries and wildlife major. This award honors a first-year member who has demonstrated dedication to the club with their level of engagement toward all activities. The Trail Boss Award went to Caitlin Copenhaver, a senior fisheries and wildlife major. This award is given to an individual who has significantly contributed to the club throughout their membership by staying actively engaged, motivating others and working hard to prepare for competitions.
Ana Clara Gomes, agronomy master’s student, introduced the Agronomy and Horticulture Graduate Student Association.
Milosevic recognized Alyssa Hall, agronomy doctoral student, as this year’s AHGSA Outstanding Student Member for her support and engagement in the association and its activities. She is studying integrated crop and livestock systems and is looking to see what the effects are of adding grazing livestock into our cropping systems.
Milosevic presented Tamara Sukhova, office associate for agronomy and horticulture, with the AHGSA Staff Appreciation Award for her continued support of all graduate students. He also recognized Guillermo Balboa, research assistant professor of agronomy and horticulture, with the AHGSA Faculty Appreciation Award for his involvement and contributions to the association.
David P. McGill and Theodore Alexander Kiesselbach were honored and recognized as the 2023 Agronomy and Horticulture Lifetime Achievement Awardees. Their bios were read by Allen and Hall.
Don Lee, agronomy and horticulture professor, presented the award to seven members of the McGill family and shared memories of McGill and his teaching. David Holding, associate department head and professor of agronomy and horticulture, shared memories of Kiesselbach.
Milosevic thanked the donors, faculty and staff for their assistance and the Horticulture Club for the beautiful table centerpieces. A special thanks went to the Spring Banquet Committee, including Hall, Allen, Madison, Nienhueser and Sheridan Wilson, a junior grassland systems major.
The banquet ended with the announcement of the winners of the silent auction to raise money for the clubs and organizations.
More photos at go.unl.edu/banquet2024.
