2004 ISEF Fellowship Recipients
Amy Konschuh
Amy Konschuh grew up on a mixed farm in rural Saskatchewan that includes a herd of 250 pure bred Polled Herefords. She played an active role in the farm and was involved in the local 4-H Beef Club. Her rural background and 4-H experiences encouraged her to learn more about beef production and sparked her genuine interest in beef cattle. She is currently a 4th year Co-op student majoring in Animal Science in the College of Agriculture at the University of Saskatchewan and will graduate with her Bachelor of Science in Agriculture degree in April 2004. She plans to dedicate her life to bovine medicine and practice as a large animal veterinarian.
Katheryn Adams
Katheryn Adams of Rosedale, Victoria, Australia comes from an extensive agricultural background, having grown up in the family dairy and beef operation. Currently a student at the University of Sydney Faculty of Veterinary Science, Adams has also focused on her work on the Vets@WorkTM Committee, which promotes the faculty to the public. She has gained valuable experience working on properties owned by the Australian Agricultural Company, the second largest cattle organization in Australia. While at the Congress, she hopes to develop a network of similar young and aspiring students from vast backgrounds who may become future colleagues.
Laneha Beard
Cheyenne Wells, Colorado, is the home of Oklahoma State University student Laneha Beard. The winner of numerous awards and scholarships, Laneha began her career in agriculture with a 4-H sheep project. First focusing on a major in Animal Science with an emphasis on International Markets, Laneha took a short respite from school to return to her native Colorado and serve as the state FFA reporter. Upon her return to OSU, she added Spanish and Agricultural Economics and plans to attend graduate school at the School of International Studies at OSU.
Mitch Bowling
Mitch Bowling is a senior Animal Science major at Texas A&M University where he is also a Cadet Lieutenant Colonel in the school’s famed Corp of Cadets. While exhibiting his leadership skills in the Corp, Mitch was elected to the coveted Ross Volunteer Company, an elite group of 72 junior and 72 senior cadets who serve as the Texas Governor’s Honor Guard. He served as an intern for two summers in the former Future Beef Operations, as well as was on the staff of the Texas A&M Rosenthal Meat Science & Technology Center.
Matthew Brandt
Fults, Illinois, native Matthew Brandt is currently pursuing his Master’s degree at the University of Missouri – Columbia. Named to the dean’s list multiple times, Matthew has received numerous accolades, including the Outstanding Youth Leadership award from the Southern Illinois Cattlemen’s Association. He also operated his own 800-acre grain farm with 60 head of registered Angus and Hereford cattle, and developed a custom hay business, baling 3,000 custom round bales, 5,000 custom square bales from 300 acres of hay outside that operation. He believes that attending the Livestock Congress is essential to achieving his goals.
Andrea Brocklebank
Andrea Brocklebank of High River, Alberta, Canada, represents the University of Saskatchewan. Currently pursing her Master’s at that institution, Andrea was raised on a ranch and has combined her interests in the beef industry with agricultural economics to develop her thesis project, examining the opportunities and constraints for improved supply chain coordination and the creation of branded programs in the beef industry. She served as an intern with Western Feedlots, Ltd., and as the reporter for the inaugural International Beef Industry Congress during the 2002 Calgary Stampede.
Brandon Carlson
Brandon Carlson of Byers, Colorado is currently pursing his Master’s degree at Colorado State University. The winner of numerous scholarships and awards, Brandon first chose to delay his education in order to pursue the development of his registered Charlois herd, but with some convincing by his family, he first entered junior college and then continued to CSU. He has been provided with internships at the former Alta Genetics, now Genex, and the Mountain City Meat Company, where he was responsible for the shipping and receiving department, which involved management of the company’s HACCP program. His focus now centers on food safety at the Center for Red Meat at CSU.
Bridget Cummins
Bridget Cummins of County Waterford, Ireland, attends the University of Dublin, where she is a senior Animal Science student. Recognized for her academic achievements, Bridget has gained entry to several prestigious programs in Ireland, including serving for six weeks at the Beef Research Centre where she aided researchers in study of out-wintering pads, an innovative, cost effective solution to over-wintering beef cattle. She also spent three months at Purdue University where she gained valuable insight into the U.S. beef industry. She believes international communication is the key to producing beef that is no longer viewed as a commodity, but as a quality product that meets the criteria of a particular market.
Amanda Daggs
Ewing, Missouri, native Amanda Daggs represents the University of Missouri – Columbia, where she is a senior Animal Science major and was a founding member and president of the Mizzou Collegiate Cattlewomen association. Gaining international experience by studying in Brazil, Amanda has also focused on completing several internships to further open her eyes to the diversified face of agriculture. She has interned with the Missouri Beef Industry Council, as well as the Rural Policy Research Institute and has served as a legislative aid to state Senator John Cauthorn.
Canadian Hannah
Canadian Hannah Davis of Edmonton, Alberta, is currently a senior at the University of Alberta with plans to continue her studies in veterinary medicine at the University of Saskatchewan. She has worked with Alberta Agricultural Food and Rural Development as a summer media release coordinator, where she was able to interact with rural families and government officials. She was selected to attend the International Beef Industry Congress in July 2002 in Calgary. The winner of numerous awards and scholarships, Hannah is looking forward to gaining additional experience during the ILC.
Alecsandro Dos Santos
Alecsandro Dos Santos is currently seeking his Master’s at Mississippi State University after having received a bachelor’s degree in veterinary medicine from the University of Marilia in Sao Paulo, Brazil and a master’s in animal nutrition in a joint program of the University of Baja California, Mexico and the University of California at Davis. His family’s farm has been a breeding station since 1996, focusing mainly on embryo transfer and artificial insemination on dairy and beef cows. He taught at the School Agronomic of Paraguacu Paulista in the area of physiology reproduction working with local dairy farmers.
Kristen Holmgren
Kristen Holmgren of Kinistino, Saskatchewan, Canada, is a senior animal science student at the University of Saskatchewan. The winner of numerous scholarships and awards, she was recognized as the top student entering the fourth year of animal science by the Canadian Society of Animal Science and U of S. She was raised on a 1,200-acre mixed operation of grain and commercial cattle production, working the land that her ancestors originally homesteaded. She has interned at the Kinistino Co-Op Agro Center for the past two summers, where she ran the equine section. Following the advent of the BSE crisis in Canada, she became even more determined to stay on the farm and continue to produce quality stock.
Kristina Holt
Kristina Holt is a senior veterinary science major at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. A native of Thedford, Kristina plans to pursue her degree in veterinary medicine. Raised on her parent’s ranch, she has also volunteered at mixed animal veterinary clinics in the area. She worked in the school’s animal science laboratory testing feedlot steers for E.Coli and Salmonella, and has also gained experience working for a bovine embryo technologist. She is the winner of the Butler Veterinary Clinic and Grand Trax Scholarship, as well as the Chancellor’s Award.
Diana Huerta
Diana Huerta of Maracaibo, Zulia, Venezuela, is a senior at Universidad Del Zulia where she is completing her undergraduate degree in chemical engineering. She spent three months working as an intern in different analytical techniques of meats and fruits for the Food Laboratory at the Agricultural Research Institute of Zulia State University. Her meat science thesis research helped characterize the sensory attributes of Venezuelan beef and determine the sensory perception of American beef among Venezuelan customers. She plans to pursue a Master’s of Science degree at Texas A&M University.
Tanner Macado
Colorado State University’s Tanner Macado is pursuing his Master’s in meat science. A native of Montana, Tanner completed a work-study in the Department of Pathology where is assisted in research on retro viruses in sheep and performed general laboratory maintenance. He has also been involved in meat, livestock and meat animal judging programs, which sparked his interests about the production of red meat sources. He is currently the meats judging coach at CSU and believes by attending the Livestock Congress he will broaden his understanding of the global concept and direction the industry is moving.
Ryan Murphy
Ryan Murphy is a fourth year student at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, in the college of agriculture, majoring in animal science. He is an active member of the Agriculture Student’s Association. Born and raised on their family run purebred Charolais and Angus cattle ranch, he has always been deeply involved in 4-H and beef production. Ryan has served as an Alberta 4-H ambassador for two years, is a past-president of the Canadian Charolais Youth Association, and is as an organizing director for the upcoming 2004 CCYA show and conference in Cold Lake, Alberta.
Ryan Nieman
Ryan Nieman is a senior majoring in Animal and Veterinary Science at the University of Wyoming. A native of Hulett, Wyo., he took advantage of his family’s background in the beef industry, and along with 4-H and FFA involvement, developed an interest in raising and breeding cattle. Ryan took advantage of opportunities to become a member of the meats and livestock judging teams, and has secured a position at the Beef Unit of the school’s farm, where he works not only in production, but in field research. He recently purchased 25 head of registered and commercial Angus cows in his first steps to develop a diverse operation.
Adam Orr
Adam Orr, Cumming, Georgia, is currently pursing a Master’s in Animal Nutrition at Mississippi State University. The winner of numerous scholarships and awards, he is currently developing his thesis on Apparent Nutrient Digestibility and has conducted several other research projects while at MSU. While considering the potential of pursuing a PhD, Adam is working toward a career in cooperative extension or as a farm consultant in a private or government agency. He recently concluded teaching laboratory instruction and has supervised two other graduate students in that area.
Daniel Picado Jimenez
Daniel Picado Jimenez of Euatuso, Alajuela, Costa Rica, is senior agronomy engineering major at Earth University. He will complete a third year internship at an organic dairy farm in Wisconsin and will participate in all aspects of the farm operation. He received the Earth University Foundation Scholarship and was selected to participate in the first International Congress “Solutions for Sustainable Development in Latin America.”
Kelly Robertson
Laramie, Wyoming’s Kelly Robertson is a graduate student at the University of Wyoming, having recently received her B.S. in Business Administration with a minor in Agriculture Business. Born and raised on a local ranch, she began to realize the importance of the beef industry and the impact agriculture has in the United States and abroad. She participated in a study abroad program in France in summer 2003 where she studied the French agriculture industry and visited various farms throughout France and Belgium. She believes opening communication links between leaders, educators and producers will ultimately increase the supporting factors that contribute to a sustainable agriculture industry.
Narendra Siew
Narendra Siew of Trinidad and Tobago is currently pursuing his Master’s in Tropical Animal Science and Production at the University of the West Indies. The winner of several scholarships and awards, Narendra was the winner of the Pro Vice Chancellor Prize recognizing the best performance in agriculture. He was also awarded the Frederick Hardy Prize for best performance in Crop Science. Recognizing the limitations of land resources in the Caribbean community, Narendra’s goal is to work with the region to develop strategies and implement programs and systems that will benefit the Caribbean community by increasing livestock production and productivity.
Jordan Spatz
Jordan Spatz is a senior Animal Science major at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. A native of Brainard, Neb., he was raised on a livestock and crop production farm where he continues to work and incorporate his knowledge of animal science into the cattle and sheep herds. He has interned in the field of finance in the area of asset management/remarketing. He is also a teaching assistant in genetics where he teaches undergraduates students in the laboratory. He believes his experience at the Congress is very important in understanding on a larger scale the issues facing animal agriculture.
Nicholas Urbanek
Nicholas Urbanek of Glenshaw, Penn., is a senior at Penn State University majoring in Animal Science. He gained experience working on a progressive dairy farm where he was responsible for milking 100 head of Holstein cows, as well as feeding and caring for calves. He has been the student assistant at Penn State Haller Farm, which is the beef and forage research farm. It was also an intern at the Waltham Center for Pet Nutrition in England where he conducted research on gastrointestinal health and bacteria. An aspiring food animal veterinarian, Nicholas has earned numerous awards and scholarships.
Alberto Orlando Vasquez
Alberto Orlando Vasquez is a senior at Earth University in Costa Rica and hails from Santa Cruz de la Sierra Boliva. He was involved in a number of projects in swine farming and was able to attend Earth University on a scholarship awarded by the Spain Association for International Cooperation. He is described by professors as self-motivated, honorable and one of their most hard working students.
Derek Westman
Derek Westman of Vermillion, Alberta, Canada, is a senior at the University of Alberta majoring in Agriculture Business Management. Raised on the family farm, Derek learned the value and meaning of work, as the family raised grass steers and also operated a diverse grain farm. He is a member of the University of Alberta’s Judging Club, Agriculture Club and 4-H alumni program, as well as is involved in competitive curling and hockey.