Agribusiness News & Awards
Commencement 2008
Honors graduates, from left, Laura Carpenter, Misti Clark, Lindsay Copenhaver, Edison Froelich, Lindsay Irion Brent Koonce and Donna Moll sing the Alma Mater at the conclusion of Commencement ceremonies May 10.
One of our outstanding graduates, Laura Sossamon, delivered the Commencement 2008 address. Sossamon, of Ozark, is an agribusiness major in the pre-law program with a Spanish minor. She is a Bumpers College First Ranked Senior Scholar, signifying her achievement of a 4.0 grade point average during four years as a Bumpers College student at the University of Arkansas, and a John W. White Outstanding Student. Read more.
Agricultural Business Club Awards Banquet - April 24
Agribusiness Club Awards Banquet group photo
See more photos
AEAB Graduate Students Association sponsored a lecture April 24 by bio-renewables expert Chad Hart
 The AEAB Graduate Students Association sponsored a lecture April 24 by Chad Hart, an agricultural economist with the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD) and head of CARD’s biorenewables policy division. He presented CARD projections for the future of biorenewable fuels production and the utilization of crops for that production and the impact of biorenewable fuels expansion on the traditional uses of agricultural crop production. Hart, right, is pictured with Graduate Students Association president Corey Fortin. More information about the speaker can be found at http://www.fapri.iastate.edu/staff/profile.aspx?id=28.
Honors Day Banquet Thursday, April 17, 2008
Dean Greg Weidemann presented awards recognizing accomplishments of students and faculty of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences at the University of Arkansas during an Honors Day Banquet Thursday, April 17, in the Arkansas Union's Alltel Ballroom.
 Laura Sossamon of Ozark received the John W. White Outstanding Student Award and is a Bumpers College First Ranked Senior Scholar, signifying her achievement of a 4.0 grade point average during four years as a Bumpers College student at the University of Arkansas. An agricultural business major in the pre-law program with a Spanish minor, she is one of 17 students nationally selected for the USDA 2008 Agricultural Outlook Forum.
 Megan Norton of Lincoln received the Senior Scholar Award, which signifies a 4.0 grade point average with some credit hours from other colleges. A poultry science major with a minor in agricultural business, she was on the UA Poultry Judging Team, is a Poultry Science Club member and has been a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowl for Kid's Sake and a Lincoln Lake clean-up project.
 Megan Cunningham of Carl Junction, Mo., an agricultural business major with minors in global studies and communications, received the Spitze Public Policy Legislative Internship Award and will be a summer intern for U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln. She has already served an internship in the Scottish Parliament through the Bumpers College global studies program. She is a member of the Dean's Advisory Board and the UA and College Ambassadors.
Navinderpal Singh (second from left) of India, Outstanding M.S. Student in Agribusiness and Agricultural Economics
Read news release
Matt Munoz, former M.S. student, receives cross country honor
Arkansas cross country runners Tyler Hill and Matt Munoz, who completed his M.S. in Agricultural Economics in December 2007, were named to the 2007 US Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Team
SAEA - 2008 Annual Meeting in Dallas, TX
H.L. Goodwin did a fantastic job in coordinating and managing an excellent meeting in Dallas. Dr. Goodwin received an award from Bill Herndon, new SAEA President (left), for his contribution to the SAEA leadership.
Andrew McKenzie (far left), was
the winner of the Outstanding Teaching of a Course in “less than 10 years” category. The course he received the award for is Advanced Price Risk. Posted Mar 2008
Ashley Jones and Misti Clark in 2008 Agribusiness Quiz Bowl
 The Agribusiness Quiz Bowl team took a trip to Dallas, Texas February 3rd and 4th. The team included Ashley Jones, junior Agribusiness major, and Misti Clark, senior Agribusiness major. The girls were split up into teams with students from different schools. Ashley's team won 4th place, winning a
total of 5 rounds and losing only to the first and second place teams. The team will travel again this summer for the American Agricultural Economics Association meeting accompanied by Breana Watkins, sophomore Agribusiness major, to compete against teams all over the United States and some parts of Canada. This meeting will be held July 27th-July 29th in Orlando, Florida. Posted Feb 2008
Laura Sossamon Selected for USDA 'Future of Agriculture' Forum
Laura Sossamon, a senior agribusiness major with a pre-law concentration in Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences at the University of Arkansas, was selected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as one of 17 students to discuss the future of agriculture at USDA's 2008 Agricultural Outlook Forum. The conference, "Energizing Rural America in the Marketplace," will be held Feb. 21 and 22 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel in Arlington, Va. Read full article. Posted Feb 2008
FarmHouse Team Wins First Ag Olympics
Members of the winning team were Nathan Brown, Chris Scarborough, Grant Hunt, Steven Hutter, TJ Haynes, Ryan Siebenmorgen and Kris Bunnell. Read full article. Posted Feb 2008
Student-Faculty Team Continues Belize Project
Associate professors Nilda Burgos, CSES, and Jennie Popp, AEAB, are faculty sponsors for the St. Matthew's Sustainable Farm Project to help students and volunteers at a rural school raise vegetables and other food products for use at the school. Read full article. Posted Feb 2008
Undergraduate Laura Sossamon awarded State Undergraduate Research Fellowship
The SURF awards are available to any undergraduate student with a 3.5 grade-point average who is planning a research or artistic project for the coming year. To be considered for the fellowship, a student must be nominated by a faculty mentor. Laura's faculty mentor is Dr. Eric Wailes. Read full article. Posted Jan 2008
Andrew Armstrong completed a 2007 Science Policy Internship for C-FARE in Washington, DC
 Andrew Armstrong recently completed his 2007 Science Policy Internship
with The Council on Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics (C-FARE) in Washington, DC. Andrew is an Agricultural Economics Master of Science student
who plans to graduate in December 2007.
During his internship Andrew participated in a shadow program with agricultural economists in
Washington, DC from the government sector, and private industry. He also helped C-FARE collect
information for an important database identifying where agricultural economists from across the country
receive federal grant funding. Read entire article. Posted Jan 2008
Dr. Jennie Popp inducted into the University of Arkansas Teaching Academy
The University of Arkansas Teaching Academy inducted six new members and awarded the third annual John and Lois Imhoff Award for Outstanding Teaching and Student Mentorship at its annual banquet Thursday, Nov. 8. Posted November 2007
Dr. Bruce Ahrendsen was elected to the Board of the International Network for the MBA in AgriBusiness and Commerce
 The International Network for the MBA in AgriBusiness and Commerce is affiliated with the Association for European Life Sciences Universities. The board members are responsible for starting, assisting, and accrediting MBA programs of AgriBusiness and Commerce in Europe. Current programs are located in Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, and the Ukraine, and programs are under consideration for Croatia and Serbia. Board members are from the Netherlands, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, the United States, and the countries with current programs. The University of Arkansas is the only American university. Posted November 2007
Graduate
Student Association formed
The graduate students have formed a Graduate Student Association through student government which will make them eligible for funding, and other campus wide events. Officer elections were recently held and MS students Kanika Calvin and Arby Abdula were elected as Vice President and Secretary/Treasurer, respectively. Dr. Bruce Ahrendsen is serving as their advisor. Congratulations Kanika and Arby!
Posted October 2007
Graduate students placed second in case study competition at AAEA conference
Faculty advisor Dr. Mike Popp with Arby Abdula, Caroline Boen and Corey Fortin at the annual AAEA conference in Portland, Oregon.
At the annual American Agricultural Economics Association conference held July 29 - July 31 in Portland, Oregon, three graduate students, Arby Abdula, Caroline Boen and Corey Fortin, competed with 10 other teams from the U.S. and Canada in the case study competition.
The case study presented the challenges of a family-owned fruit and vegetable producer/processor in the Willamette Valley in Oregon. The challenge they faced was how to sustain growth at the needed pace and keep up with market opportunities without being stopped by their ever tightening constraints. The students received the case 2 weeks prior to the Conference, and came up with a strategy for the company to pursue and made several recomendations for their future growth.
They placed 2nd after the University of Alberta. The University of Florida came in 3rd. The students said it was a great experience, because they worked as a team throughout the whole process, and learned how to prepare a comprehensive case analysis.
They want to say thanks to the whole department for their support - especially their advisors, Dr. Mike Thomsen and Dr. Mike Popp.
Posted August 2007
Belize team to receive Faculty-Student Collaboration Award
Posted August 2007
Three in AEAB leave for Belize
Three students from the University of Arkansas have been awarded $1,000 travel-abroad grants from the Phi Kappa Phi honor society. They were among 50 winners nationally. Two of those students are rising juniors Misti D. Clark and Laura R. Sossamon. They, along with faculty sponsor Dr. Jennie Popp, will travel in May for a summer service program in Belize. Posted June 2007
Read Letters from Belize - Progress report from Dr. Jennie Popp, AEAB, to Dean Greg Weidemann
ABC Holds Annual Awards Dinner
The Agribusiness Club held their annual awards dinner for the 2006-2007 school year on April 26, 2007. The event recognizes outstanding student achievements and faculty contributions. See this year's photos.
Congratulations to Corey Fortin! He has been elected as the new graduate student representative. Since he is studying in Belgium until mid July, Juan Monge has agreed to continue fulfilling that role.
Posted June 2007
MS students Arby Abdula and Allan Bacho attended the Fulbright Leadership seminar in North Miami Beach, FL in April 2007.
The Spitze Public Policy Legislative Intern Scholarship provides for a summer internship in the Washington office of an Arkansas senator or congressman. This year's recipient is Grant Hunt, son of Kirk and Lori Hunt of Brinkley. He is an agricultural business major and plans to attend law school. He has been president of FarmHouse Fraternity and the AgriBusiness Club and was scribe in Alpha Zeta. Posted April 2007
John Christopher "Chris" Looney, the son of Dr. Charles Looney of Camden and Cathryn Looney of Monroe, La., received the John W. White Outstanding Student Award. An agricultural business major, he was the U of A mascots, Big Red and Ribby, in 2005-2006. He plans to pursue graduate studies in agricultural economics. Posted April 2007
 Janie Hipp, Former Agribusiness Faculty, is the New NPL for Risk Management Education, Farm Management, and Trade Adjustment Assistance
Janie Simms Hipp is the new CSREES national program leader (NPL) for Risk Management Education, Farm Management, and Trade Adjustment Assistance programs in the Economics and Community Systems http://www.csrees.usda.gov/about/offices/ecs.html unit. Hipp holds the Juris Doctor degree from Oklahoma City University and received specialization in agricultural law from the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville School of Law. She served within the National Center for Agricultural Law Research and Information for many years and recently was on faculty with the University of Arkansas, Division of Agriculture, with the Cooperative Extension Service and the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Department. She has more than 20 years experience in agricultural law in not only the academic realm, but also in private commercial litigation practice and public agency representation at the state level. She has authored numerous publications on agricultural and environmental issues, food safety, sustainable agriculture, marketing, property issues and estate planning and succession. Hipp's predecessor, Mark Bailey, retired in January 2007. If you are interested in contacting Janie, below is her contact information:
Janie Hipp
Title: National Program Leader
Unit: Economic and Community Systems
Location: 4443 Waterfront Center
Full Address and Directions
Phone: (202) 720 - 3605
Fax: (202) 690 - 3162
Email: jhipp@csrees.usda.gov
Related Programs: Farm Financial Management
Related Funding Opportunities: Risk Management Education, ARPA
Posted April 2007
The Arkansas Department of Higher Education has awarded Student
Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) grants to Agribusiness majors Misti
Clark and Carmen Albright. The results of their research will be eligible for publication
in Discovery, The Undergraduate Student Journal of Bumpers College.
Clark will use her grant of $3,900 to help fund a survey of Arkansas farmers about
their attitudes and other agricultural issues. Albright will use her grant of $2,650
for research on women in agriculture. Her SURF grant is for a more in-depth
qualitative analysis that includes focus groups with women around the state to
learn about their roles in agriculture, how and why they are changing, and exploring
the challenges they face. Posted April 2007
On March 31, 2007 our very own Sherea Dillon, Agribusiness graduate student and Luti Salisbury's
Graduate
Assistant, was elected Graduate Vice-President for Region III for MANRRS (Minority's in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences).
This is a very important position in that Sherea will play an
important role in the development and implementation of programs
involving MANRRS Chapters in over 9 different states. Sherea has
been a member of MANRRS for over 5 years. Her hard work and
dedication has defnitely paid off by being elected to this position.
Congratulations Sherea!!!!! Posted March 2007
Two AEAB students win in GSD Oral, Poster Competition - Juan Monge, MS and Carmen Albright, undergraduate. Posted Feb 2007
The University of Arkansas chapter of Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS) presented a panel discussion, "Is Racism in You? A Look into Stereotypical Behavior," on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2007.
The event was in observance of February as Black History month. More events are planned throughout the month, and an updated schedule is available at the UA Multicultural Center Web site at http://www.uark.edu/rd_vcsa/samc/575.htm. Posted Feb 2007
Congratulations are due to Carmen Albright, Misti Clark and Ashley Jones, all who played very well at the Quizbowl competition held at the 2007 SAEA meetings in Mobile, Alabama.
The champs (Carmen and Alicia Taylor from the University of Florida) played a final round against the legends (Dr. Damona Doye - current SAEA pres; Dr. HL Goodwin--incoming SAEA
pres; and Dr. Steve Turner, standing in for Dr. Kim Jensen, previous SAEA pres). At the end of the round the score was tied! A playoff round was called.
The legends beat the champs in the end. But an excellent game was
played by all. For the second year in a row, the championship team at the SAEA
meetings (where teams consist of students from multiple universities) included a student from the University of Arkansas. This year that stutdent was agribusiness undergraduate Carmen Albright. Find out more about quizbowl.
MANRRS Co-Sponsors Dr. Handy Williamson as MLK Speaker
MLK speaker, Dr. Handy Williamson was co-sponsored by Bumpers College and the Arkansas chapter of Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences, said MANRRS president Jeremiah Wilson, Agribusiness graduate student.
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