10/25/99

Contacts:
Mike Telford, Alumni Relations, (515) 294-3303
Ed Adcock, Agriculture Information, (515) 294-2314

ISU ALUMS HONORED FOR AGRICULTURAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS

AMES -- The Iowa State University Agriculture Alumni Society will honor four of its own at a homecoming event Oct. 30.

Duane Acker, Reg Clause, David Hettinga and Harold Hodson Jr. and will be recognized for their achievements in agriculture and agribusiness. The award ceremony will begin at approximately 10:30 a.m. in the Ag Alumni Society tent located in the southwest corner of the parking lot across from South Fourth Street, and west of Jack Trice Stadium.

Acker of Atlantic will receive the Meritorious Service Award. He earned bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees in animal science from Iowa State. He worked in the Reagan and Bush administrations, heading food and agriculture programs before serving as assistant secretary of agriculture for science and education. He taught at Iowa State and other universities and served as president of Kansas State University. Acker farms and is involved in a cooperative egg venture.

Clause of Jefferson will receive the Production Agriculture Award. He is owner-manager of Clause Farms, a row-crop and cattle-feeding operation near Grand Junction. He earned his bachelor's degree from Iowa State in animal science. Clause consults for food, banking and manufacturing companies and was a candidate for Iowa secretary of agriculture in 1998.

Hettinga of Minneapolis will receive the Professional Agribusiness Award. He earned a doctorate from Iowa State in food microbiology. He has been vice president and chief technical officer at Land O 'Lakes Inc. since 1990. He is chairman of the board of the U.S. National Committee of the International Dairy Foundation.

Hodson of Ames will receive the Innovators in Agriculture Award. He earned bachelor's and doctorate degrees from Iowa State in animal science. Hodson is founder, president and executive director of Swine Genetic International, a supplier of swine semen and artificial insemination supplies. He also is co-owner of Rouse & Hodson Durocs. He previously was a swine specialist with ISU Extension and taught animal science at Southern Illinois University.

The Ag Alumni Society celebration is free, but registration is required. Register by calling 515-294-7677 or by e-mailing: agalumni@iastate.edu

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