Summer 2003

Carol Spruill Won Nesbitt-Flatt Outstanding Senior Award

Carol Spruill, an Agricultural Economics major from Hochston, Georgia, is the recipient of the CAES 2003 Nesbitt-Flatt Outstanding Senior Award for excellence in scholarship, leadership and service. Carol has truly been remarkable both inside and outside the classroom. She has maintained a perfect 4.0 grade-point average while juggling numerous extracurricular activities at the University. She served as president for the Sigma Alpha sorority and as president for the Agricultural and Environmental Economics Club. Carol was recently selected for Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges and Blue Key National Honor Society. She represented South Campus as a finalist on the University's Homecoming Court. As national FFA Vice President, Carol traveled to 38 states and several foreign countries to speak at conferences and train leaders.

Outstanding Agricultural Economist Awards – Now Accepting Nominations

The Agricultural Economics Association of Georgia (AEAG) will be presenting yearly awards to agricultural economists who have demonstrated outstanding achievement and leadership on a community, state, national, or international level. Candidacy is limited to agricultural economists operating in Georgia and/or graduates of a degree program offered by the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics at the University of Georgia.

There will be two awards which will be based on the number of years of experience. The "Distinguished Young Professional Award" will be presented to those with ten years or less of professional experience. The "Distinguished Professional Award" will be presented to those with more than ten years of professional experience.

Nominations for the awards may come from anyone. Alumni, Agricultural Economics Association of Georgia (AEAG) members, faculty, students and agricultural and applied economists in the state are encouraged to nominate someone for the award. Also, agricultural economists may feel free to nominate themselves.

The deadline for award nominations is September 1st each year. AEAG Board members will select award recipients. Both awards will be presented at the luncheon following the annual J. W. Fanning Lecture. Send nominations to the Agricultural Economics Association of Georgia, 301 Conner Hall, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-7509. For more information call (706) 542-2481.

Conner Connects Celebration

The Conner Connects: Past, Present, and Future celebration was held at Flinchum's Phoenix on April 17, 2003. Over one hundred students, parents, alumni, faculty, staff, and supporters affiliated with agricultural and environmental economics joined in the celebration. The Conner Connects' name is derived from Conner Hall which is the place where many people have been connected to their agricultural and environmental careers. It is currently home for three undergraduate majors – agricultural economics, agribusiness, and environmental economics and management. Thus, Conner Connects is an appropriate title for a banquet honoring the past, present, and future interest in agricultural and environmental economics.

The celebration provides an opportunity for students, parents, faculty, staff members and friends to socialize,enjoy a delicious meal, reflect on major accomplishments for the year, and honor outstanding students, faculty and staff. Special appreciation is extended to Brandon Henry, Robbs Hunt, Ross Yasin, Becky Carson, Casey Spinks, and Corrie King, the 2002-2003 officers of the Agricultural and Environmental Economics Club, who provided excellent leadership for the club's activities and the 2nd annual celebration. Special thanks are offered to the individuals, organizations, and companies whose sponsorship of the banquet was crucial for its success. This year's banquet sponsors were as follows: Jerre Thorne - Gresco; Wen Williams - retired associate dean of CAES Academic Affairs; Pitman Forest Products; Godfrey's Warehouse; UGA Agronomy Club; Jake Jones - alumnus; W. P. Smith - Agricultural Economics Association of Georgia, member of Board of Directors; UGA Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics; Home Depot; and Southeastern Chapter of National AgriMarketing Association.

 

Contributions for Enrichment of Programs

Alumni, friends, and faculty: Please provide financial support to enrich the department's educational programs. The Agricultural and Applied Economics Improvement Fund supports many events that promote learning in economics and the intellectual exchange of ideas. Additional support is needed for the Improvement Fund, as well as endowments for scholarships, leadership awards, and a distinguished professorship. For information, please see Development Opportunities.

2003 Rod Ziemer Lecture

Dr. Ronald D. Lacewell was the guest speaker for the 2003 Rod Ziemer Lecture on April 22, 2003. His is a professor in Resource Economics in the Department of Agricultural Economics at Texas A&M University. Dr. Lacewell's research centers on the areas of irrigation, integrated pest management, farming systems, water quality and new crops. In addition, he serves as the administrative link between several initiatives at the state and federal level, working with universities and other partner states in drafting proposals, briefing interest groups and policy makers, and in tracking project progress. Natural resources represent the major emphasis of his activities.

In his lecture, "Resource Economics: Blessing or Curse?," Dr. Lacewell provided an overview of major controversial natural resource issues in agricultural economics. He described instances in which agricultural economists took courageous stands against special interests and the political battles that ensued. Dr. Lacewell has himself been involved in numerous controversial natural resource issues, often showing that someone's "pet" project is not economical. By measuring the economic benefits and costs of proposed government policies, agricultural economists perform a critical role in identifying what is best for society in general even though it often goes against special interests. Dr. Lacewell advised those working in natural resource economics to provide sound economic analyses, maintain integrity and speak out for what is right.

Enhancing Cultural Awareness

Jack Houston, Agricultural and Applied Economics Department and Julia Marlow, College of Family and Consumer Sciences used funds from International Development Education Awards (IDEAS) and other sources for a study tour in Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico. The goals were enhancement of cultural awareness of students and public service faculty to help them assist the growing Latino population in Georgia and to increase the number of students participating in study abroad programs in Mexico. Over forty students participated in the study tour and lived with families in Xalapa. Participants report that the experience did indeed increase their cultural awareness of Latinos. The IDEAS grant also enabled Drs. Houston and Marlow to further enhance their linkages with the University of Veracruz in Xalapa, Mexico.

Faculty Awards

John Bergstrom Wins Research Award: Gamma Sigma Delta honored Professor John Bergstrom with its 2003 Senior Faculty Award for his many contributions related to the assessment of natural resource and agricultural values and the application of those values to resource and agricultural policy and management. He has published over 100 referred publications and received $2.5 million in research contracts and grants. Dr. Bergstrom is a consultant for federal, state and local government agencies, non-profit organizations and private firms.

Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Awards: The Agricultural and Environmental Economics Club presented Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Awards to Jeff Dorfman and Bill Given at the Conner Connects Celebration in April, 2003. Dr. Dorfman teaches Applied Microeconomic Principles and Economics of Agricultural Processing and Marketing. Dr. Given teaches Farm Management.

Bill Givan Recognized for Teaching Excellence: The UGA Chapter of Future Farmers of America (FFA) presented Dr. Givan the Outstanding Faculty Member Award at its spring banquet in April 2003. As a result of taking his farm management class (AAEC 3010), the agricultural education students began to understand the relevance and importance of economics to agriculture.

Outstanding Graduate Teachers: The Department's Graduate Student Association selected Jim Epperson and Michael Wetzstein to receive the Outstanding Graduate Teacher Awards. Dr. Epperson teaches the graduate course Agribusiness Management. Dr. Wetzstein teaches the graduate courses Microeconomics: Theory with Applications and Production Economics: Theory with Applications.

Staff Awards

Staff Recognition by Undergraduate Students: The undergraduate students of the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics recognized Jo Anne Norris for her exemplary support with the Outstanding Staff Award. Jo Anne has been with the department fourteen years and has received numerous awards in the past for her exceptional contributions to the department.

Staff Recognition by Graduate Students: The Graduate Student Association recognized Jo Anne Norris for her outstanding support. Jo Anne works closely with students from the time they begin thinking about the graduate program until they finish all of their degree requirements. The graduate students truly appreciate her efforts.

Student Awards

Outstanding Senior Award: Carol Spruill, an Agricultural Economics major from Hochston, Georgia, was recognized at the Conner Connects banquet as the Outstanding Senior in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics. As a scholar and leader, Carol has set a new standard of overall achievement.

Graduate Student Recognition: The 2003 award winners are as follows.

Laxmi Paudel received the Outstanding Ph.D. Student Award. She has co-authored a number of publications, selected papers and posters. She has twice been recognized as co-author of the winning graduate student paper in the department.

Mawar Tresna received the Claudia DePalma Davis Outstanding M.S. Student Award. Her thesis research dealt with international agricultural trade.

Laxmi Paudel and Murali Adhikari received the Rod Ziemer Outstanding Ph.D. Paper Award for "International Price and Exchange Rate Elasticities for U.S. Soybeans."

AGHON Initiates: Two Agribusiness majors were spring 2003 initiates into AGHON – Ken Eason, a junior from Claxton, Georgia and Cam Kirbo, a senior from Albany, Georgia. AGHON, the honorary society founded at UGA in 1920, promotes leadership and spirit in South Campus students.

Departmental Scholarship Recipients:

Co-Bank	Brandon Henry
Firor	Bruce McPherson, Allyson Barnes
Georgia Farm Credit	Orion Starve, Adrian Tippens, Emily Kubula, Marilyn Howard Sarah McCall
Proctor	Cameron Tribble

College Scholarship Recipients:   

Summer Internships Selected

Congressional Internships: Students from the Agricultural and Applied Economics Department were awarded three of the College's six congressional internships in Washington, D.C. for summer 2003.

Jere Tuttle Thorne, Agricultural Economics major, was selected for the 2003 Zell Miller Agricultural Internship.

James Cameron (Cam) Tribble, Environmental Economics and Management major, was selected for the 2003 Jim Marshall Agricultural Internship.

Caley Elizabeth White, Agricultural Economics major, was selected for the 2003 Max Burns Agricultural Internship.

Brussels Internship: Brandon Henry, Agribusiness major, was selected to serve as an intern in the Georgia Department of Agriculture's International Trade Office in Brussels, Belgium for the summer of 2003. The focus of the internship is to help market goods to European consumers and facilitate trade.

What Career Have You Chosen?

Your career choice would be of interest to current and prospective students. Please tell us about it by answering a short survey. The survey for the alumni directory can be downloaded from the web . You may request a survey by calling 706-542-2481 or email aaecon@agecon.uga.edu. Thank you for your participation!

Alumni News

Wilbur Mull Receives Award: Wilbur Mull, a 1963 B.S.A. and 1965 M.S. Agricultural Economics graduate, was presented the Jake Tinga Distinguished Professional of the Year Award at the Georgia Green Industry conference held in Athens recently. Mull is owner of Classic Groundcovers, Inc. wholesale nursery in Athens and has received numerous awards and honors for his accomplishments. He started his business in 1963 and celebrates 40 years in the horticulture industry.

New Book Announcement: Dr. Paul Wojtkowski, a 1984 M.S. Agricultural Economics graduate, had a new book published by The Haworth Press, Inc. Landscape Agroecology is a comprehensive look at the cutting-edge topic of the ecology of human-managed landscapes. It is the first book to address landscape agroecology incorporating ideas from agroecology, forestry, agronomy, agroforestry, landscape ecology, and environmental science. The book will be available in the fall of 2003 (ISBN: 1-56022-253-0).

Jim Collins Heads Georgia Cattlemen's Association: Jim Collins, former Bulloch County Extension Agent, is the new Executive Vice President for the Georgia Cattlemen's Association. Jim has a bachelor's degree in agricultural business and economics and a master's degree in business administration from Auburn University. He has extensive experience in working as a county extension agent, as well as working with the Georgia Beef Challenge, the HERD program and other activities in the Georgia Cattlemen's Association.

Personnel Changes

Jack Houston has received UGA Board of Regents approval to be promoted from associate professor to professor effective July 1, 2003. Congratulations, Professor Houston!

Steve Turner has received UGA Board of Regents approval to be promoted from associate professor to professor effective July 1, 2003. Congratulations, Professor Turner!

Rusty Brooks has received UGA Board of Regents approval to be promoted from associate professor to professor effective July 1, 2003. Congratulations, Professor Brooks!