February 23, 2004

C-FAR Elects 2004 Leadership at Annual Meeting

SPRINGFIELD--The Illinois Council on Food and Agricultural Research (C-FAR) met for its annual meeting on February 17 at the Northfield Inn, Suites & Conference Center in Springfield. The C-FAR membership elected three individuals to serve on the seven-person board of directors. They include Larry Fischer (Quincy), Alan Puzey (Fairmount), and Stephen Scates (Shawneetown). Special recognition was given to retiring director Carol Keiser for her service on the board of directors and contributions to C-FAR since its founding in 1993.

A meeting highlight was the presentation of C-FAR's 2004 Donald A. Holt Achievement Award. Illinois Department of Agriculture Director Charles "Chuck" Hartke joined Dr. Donald Holt, a longtime advocate for practical and sound food and agricultural research, in presenting this award to the farmdoc research team. The team was recognized for their outstanding and innovative team research and outreach in developing Web-based resources and decision tools to assist agricultural decision-makers. A wealth of information and decision-support tools organized around the agricultural topics of finance, law and taxation, farm management, marketing and outlook, and agricultural policy are now available on the project's website located at www.farmdoc.uiuc.edu.

"The farmdoc team's work will continue to generate a high return on the public investment in C-FAR research, thereby meeting the expectations and fulfilling the vision of C-FAR's founders and current member organizations," said Holt.

The C-FAR working groups met to elect chairs and vice chairs to serve in 2004. The new working group leadership includes

Expanding Agricultural Markets:
Dan Kelley (Normal), chair and Heather Hampton Knodle (Fillmore), vice chair

Rural Economic Development:
Kae Hankes (Galesburg), chair and Carl Neubauer (Downs), vice chair

Agricultural Production Systems:
Molly Ann Godar (Rochester), chair and Anne Builta Crider (Arrowsmith), vice chair

Human Nutrition and Food Safety:
Jeanne Harland (LaFayette), chair and Jim Fraley (Bloomington), vice chair

Natural Resources:
Byford Wood (Breese), chair and Dale Crawford (Sullivan), vice chair

Meeting attendees also heard summary presentations given by research leaders of the five C-FAR strategic research initiatives (SRIs) which ended in June 2003. These five-year, targeted initiatives focused on food safety, information systems and technology, rural community development, swine odor and waste management, and water quality.

"Yet again, more than 150 C-FAR members attended our annual meeting. This is a clear testimonial of the importance the leadership of our food, agricultural and related sectors place on a viable food and agricultural research program in Illinois," said Alan Puzey, C-FAR chairman.

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