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Department Dominates Alumni Awards
Joel McKie, a 4th year agribusiness major from Abbeville, Georgia, spent 10 weeks during the summer of 2004 as an intern for the public policy team of the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) in Washington, D.C. His duties involved political and economic research, attending meetings on public policy issues, and engaging in various activities to help him further understand the scope of AFBA's advocacy and influence. Joel's time in Washington was a "truly eye-opening, positive experience" which further convinced him that a career in agricultural policy development and advocacy would be an exciting and fulfilling occupation. He commented on the "intense partisan nature of Washington and that this is further exacerbated by an election year." While in Washington, Joel made friends with people from throughout the United States and was able to build good relationships with the people he worked with at AFBF. In his leisure time, Joel visited the White House, the new WWII Memorial, the American History Museum, and the Natural History Museum. He also visited local hangouts including Georgetown, Adam's Morgan, and Chinatown. One weekend, he went with some friends to Annapolis and Baltimore and watched the Braves defeat the Orioles. Joel states, "I would highly recommend that all CAES students explore ways to gain valuable professional experience out of the State of Georgia during their undergraduate experience. Living and working outside our comfort zone and a different culture provide great opportunities for personal growth." Joel is the recipient of the CAES Alumni Association's 2004 Rising Star Award which recognizes a member of the junior class who has excelled in leadership and scholarship activities. He has earned an extraordinary 4.0 GPA and has exhibited leadership qualities on a national and local level. Joel served as the 2002 - 2003 National Future Farmers of American (FFA) Southern Region Vice President. He was elected to that position after serving as the 2000 - 2001 Georgia FFA President. Before serving as an officer in FFA, Joel received the American FFA Degree, the organization's highest level of accomplishment. He also served as his freshman class president, SGA Parliamentarian, and Ambassador Parliamentarian at ABAC. Joel is currently serving as vice-president of the Agricultural and Environmental Economics Club and as a CAES Ambassador. He is a member of Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity, Alpha Zeta Honor Society, National FFA Alumni Association, and the Georgia Young Farmers Association. Joel's parents, Eddie and Kay McKie, have a farm in Abbeville, Georgia, where Joel grew up with his brother, Philip, who is a first year agriculture teacher. His father worked as an FFA advisor and is currently involved in promoting agricultural education on the state level. In his leisure time, Joel enjoys hunting, spending time with family and friends, being actively involved in church activities, watching college football, golfing, fishing, hunting, and staying informed about happenings on the political scene. After completing his undergraduate degree, he plans to attend law school and pursue a career in agricultural policy development and advocacy.
John C. McKissick
Professor
John C. McKissick was presented the Outstanding Faculty Award by
the CAES Alumni Association at the annual banquet on September 17, 2004.
Dr. McKissick is the departments's Extension Coordinator and Extension
Economist – Livestock. He is also the Director of the Center for
Agribusiness and Economic Development and oversees the formation and
implementation of economic development and marketing programs for Georgia's
farmers and agribusinesses. He serves as a technical advisor to the
Rural Development Council and the Governor's Land Based Economic Assessment
Committee.
Dr. Stephen (Steve) Brannen was inducted into the Georgia Agricultural Hall of Fame at the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) Alumni Association's annual banquet on September 17, 2004. Dr. Brannen provided exemplary leadership to Agricultural Economics at the University of Georgia and the agricultural and agribusiness sectors of Georgia in a professional career that began in 1950 and spanned four decades. From 1961 through 1987, he served as Chairman of the Division of Agricultural Economics, which was composed of five departments. Dr. Brannen provided the leadership that developed these distinguished programs. Under his leadership, enrollment in Agricultural Economics grew from 54 to 238 undergraduate students and from 0 to 57 graduate students. He was an excellent teacher, as evidenced by his selection for the Ag Alumni Outstanding Teacher Award in 1967. Dr. Brannen was instrumental in developing the Ph.D. program in Agricultural Economics in the 1970s. His accomplishments in developing and leading the Agricultural Economics programs at the University of Georgia and his service to the state are outstanding. Dr. Brannen
received a B.S.A. in 1950 and an M.S. in 1952 in Agricultural Economics,
both from the University of Georgia. He was an Oscar Johnston Foundation
Fellow in Agricultural Economics at North Carolina State University
where he received his Ph.D. in 1966.
Jennifer A Pedrotty
Jennifer Pedrotty was recognized with the Young Alumni Achievement Award by the CAES Alumni Association at the annual banquet on September 17, 2004. Jennifer began working with the John Deere Company in Atlanta as an intern and was asked to join the company on a full-time basis after graduation. After several promotions, Jennifer attained her current position as Division Manager of Ag Advertising and Communications for the John Deere Credit Corporation. She plans, designs, coordinates, and implements all advertising, promotional, and marketing communications campaigns necessary for the successful marketing of new or existing finance products within the Ag Installment and Leasing Division of John Deere Credit. In addition, she analyzes customer requirements in order to position John Deere Credit products properly within the marketplace. In 2002, she was awarded the John Deere Ag Management Solutions Outstanding Service and Contributions Award, and in 2004, she was awarded the National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) Award for Best of Region 2 for Unique Print Advertising. Jennifer
has been "happily" employed by John Deere since her college
graduation in December of 1997. She has held several different positions
with growing responsibilities in both the ag equipment division and
the credit lending division. These experiences would not have been possible
had she not taken the time to explore internship possibilities and been
willing to relocate to different areas of the U.S. Jennifer states,
"... relocation is becoming an important part of one's career as
many organizations have grown nationally or even internationally. As
promotions arise, often they require a move providing the opportunity
for more challenging work responsibilities and the chance to see and
experience different regions of the US and even the world." Candice Clark
Candice Clark, a fourth year agribusiness major from Rochell, Georgia, spent nine weeks of the summer of 2004 interning in Washington, D.C. through the Georgia 4-H Washington Internship program. She spent one month working in the lobbying firm, Cornerstone Government Affairs, and the second month in the office of Congressman Jack Kingston working with former student, Emily Howard. While interning at the lobbying firm, Candice did research on subjects that ranged from hospital billing and collection practices to marketing to the federal government. She attended Senate and House hearings and briefings and was able to meet many of the agricultural clients of Cornerstone Government Affairs at receptions and various other functions. Her tasks in the office of Congressman Kingston were quite similar. She communicated Representative Kingston's stand on issues to his constituents by letter or phone, and also researched topics that included recent developments in the shrimp industry and anti-dumping regulations and the decline in the amphibian population. Candice used her leisure time in Washington to see several of the museums and monuments, and she attended service at the National Cathedral one Sunday. She traveled to Annapolis, Maryland to see the Naval Academy and then to Baltimore to see the Braves play the Orioles. Also, she and some friends drove to New York City to see the Yankees play baseball and enjoyed the Amish countryside in Pennsylvania. She also attended a Congressional baseball game in which the Republican members of the House played the Democratic members of the House. At a briefing on Ag Trade Policy, Candice met Ambassador Allen Johnson. On another occasion, she met Dick Morris, a key policy advisor during the Clinton Administration. Candice saw the Speaker of the House, Dennis Hassert and was awestruck "to pass by such an influential member of Congress." Prior to enrolling at the University of Georgia, Candice attended Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) and graduated with high honors in the fall of 2003. She was very active in various campus activities, including ABAC Ambassadors, Inter-Activities Council and she served as the ABAC Student Government Association President. She has been at UGA since spring of 2004 and was on the President's List for spring semester. She is a member of Collegiate 4-H, Ag Hill Council, Sigma Alpha, vice president of the Agricultural and Environmental Economics Club, serves as a CAES Ambassador and enjoys attending Wesley. For the three summers prior to 2004, Candice served as a counselor at Rock Eagle 4-H Center where she enjoyed interacting with thousands of kids from all across the state. In the summer of 2003, she served as a leadership counselor at Rock Eagle. Spending the summer in Washington was the opportunity of a lifetime
for Candice. Having grown up on a family farm in rural South Georgia
in a household whose livelihood depended on successful cotton and peanut
crops, she has always had a strong desire to work with the agricultural
sector in some way. Her experiences in Washington have influenced Candice
in deciding to take a "behind the scenes approach" in working
on agricultural policy to ensure the security of American agriculture.
After college graduation, Candice hopes to attend law school and either
work with agricultural policy or become a professor for a college or
university. Ross Yasin
Ross Yasin, a fifth year agribusiness and finance major from Perry,
Georgia, interned in the office of Representative Jack Kingston in Washington,
D.C. for two and one half months of the summer of 2004. Ross's duties
included attending agricultural hearings and briefings and meeting with
agricultural related constituents, lobbyists and businessmen. He spent
a good portion of his leisure time visiting well-known D.C. landmarks,
including the Washington Monument, White House, Capitol, Library of
Congress, Smithsonian, Pentagon, Botanical Gardens, Jefferson Memorial,
Arlington Cemetery, Lincoln Memorial, and World War II Memorial. He
also visited Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, took in a His experience in Washington, D.C. was "incredible" for Ross. He had never known before how government policy worked "behind the scenes." Though he found the process interesting and developed a new appreciation for the dedication of those involved, Ross does not expect to pursue a political career. Ross has served as president of the Agricultural and Environmental
Economics Club, president of the UGA Civitan Club, treasurer of FFA,
Sargent at Arms of the Block and Bridle Club, and member of the UGA
Meats Evaluation Team. He is currently an Ag Hill Representative and
a member of AGHON. In his leisure time, Ross enjoys spending time outdoors
hunting, fishing, camping, and kayaking. He also enjoys reading, all
sports, music and attending concerts, and just being in his hometown
of Perry, Georgia.
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Dr.
Marionette Holmes was recognized with the Young Alumni Achievement Award
by the CAES Alumni Association at the annual banquet on September 17,
2004. Marionette is a Research Economist at the Harvard AIDS Institute
working with a team of Harvard affiliated multi-disciplinary researchers,
officials in the Bostwana Ministry of Health, and medical staff of Botswana
hospitals to identify the best delivery approaches of anti-retroviral
treatment to HIV infected individuals in Botswana. Leading the world
in HIV/AIDS cases, an estimated 37.4% of the reproductive-aged adult
population of Botswana are infected with the disease. In 2002, the government
of Botswana launched a national program at four initial sites in efforts
to distribute highly active anti-retroviral treatment through the public
health sector at no to low costs to patients. The government now faces
important decisions regarding the more efficient use of available resources
in scaling up the program to a national level. 
