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 C-FAR
Celebrates its 15th Anniversary
The Illinois Council on Food and Agricultural Research
proudly celebrates its 15th anniversary during 2008. "We
are honored to commemorate C-FAR's 15th anniversary with
each of our partners who have remained steadfast in their
dedication to C-FAR and its mission," said Alan Puzey,
C-FAR chairman. "This anniversary affords the distinct
opportunity for all of our partners to reflect on the profound
impact our cumulative efforts have had on research that
is meaningful and important to Illinois."
As C-FAR marks its 15th anniversary, it salutes its many
partners and members - the State of Illinois; some 60 statewide
food and agricultural professional organizations; 40 state,
university and other research-related entities; and a myriad
of individuals who personally pledge their support. C-FAR
members annually volunteer thousands of hours identifying
the highest-priority research needs of the state. "C-FAR,
and Illinois, is very fortunate to have such a dedicated
cadre of professionals engaged in our state's publicly-funded
research programs," shares C-FAR Membership Chair Jim
Charlesworth. "The result has undeniably elevated Illinois'
food and agricultural sectors and we proudly celebrate our
15th anniversary with deep appreciation to everyone engaged
in our high public calling."
Dr. Donald Holt, former director of the Illinois Agricultural
Experiment Station and nationally respected public research
leaders, says "In over 45 years at two major research
institutions, I never saw a program have such a transforming,
positive effect on research productivity, program relevance,
stakeholder participation, and practical agricultural technology
that C-FAR has had. The C-FAR legislation triggered the
most important change in the institutional structure of
Illinois agriculture since the federal Hatch Act of 1887,
which created the state agricultural experiment stations."
C-FAR Monthly Update
Executive Administrator Kraig Wagenecht provides an
update on C-FAR monthly highlights and activities:
2008 C-FAR Annual Meeting
C-FAR held its 2008 Annual Meeting of the Membership
and meetings of its working groups on Tuesday, February 12th
in Springfield. The business portion of the meeting included
the election of three directors to the 2008 Board of Directors:
Chuck Cawley (Rochelle), Wally Furrow (El Paso), and Steve
Scates (Shawneetown). They join Jim Charlesworth (Bloomington),
Jerry Hicks (Springfield), Nels Kasey (Paris), and Karen Little
(Pleasant Plains). Alan Puzey (Fairmount) continues on the
board serving as past chairman. Board officers will be elected
and committee leadership considered at the next meeting of
the board (to be held on February 27).
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| 2008 Board of Directors: (Front
from left) Chuck Cawley, Wally Furrow, Karen Little
and Jim Charlesworth. (Back from left) Alan Puzey (ex-officio),
Nels Kasey, Steve Scates, and Jerry Hicks. |
During the meeting, retiring Board members Alan Puzey and
Larry Fischer were recognized for their exemplary service
to C-FAR. Fischer is a founding member of C-FAR and was
recognized for his vision and leadership during the organization's
establishment in the early 1990s through today. Puzey has
served as C-FAR Chairman for the past five years and will
continue on the board in an ex-officio capacity as past-chairman.
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Retiring Chairman Alan Puzey was recognized for his
service to C-FAR.
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Larry Fischer, retiring Board Director,
was also recognized at the meeting. |
During the meetings of the working groups, members reviewed
final reports for research projects that matured in FY07,
reviewed the FY08 research portfolio, received an update
on the FY09 External Competitive Grants Program, and discussed
proposed details of a potential FY09 Strategic Research
Initiative Program. Due to the limited number of FY09 External
Program full proposals submitted to the Rural Economic Development
research focus area, this working group focused on the review
and prioritization of these proposals for funding.
Another highlight of the day included a presentation on
the Institute for Genomic Biology located at the University
of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Harris Lewin, director
of the Institute, provided an overview of the state-of-the-art
research facility and its importance to biological and genomics
research. The Institute was established in 2003 to advance
life science research and stimulate bio-economic development
in the state of Illinois.
FOR 2008 ANNUAL MEETING
HIGHLIGHTS, CLICK HERE!
Long-standing C-FAR Members Recognized
A special luncheon was held during the C-FAR Annual Meeting
to celebrate C-FAR's 15th anniversary and to recognize long-standing
members of C-FAR. Time-honored Organizational, Affiliate,
and Individual members were recognized for their steadfast
commitment to and support of C-FAR and its mission. The following
photos are of those members able to attend the annual meeting
to receive their recognition certificates.
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Ten-year Charter Member: Rod Stoll
(left) of Farm Credit Services of Illinois and Terry
Hinds (right) of 1st Farm Credit Services. |
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Charter Affiliate Members: (from
left) Mari Loehrlein of WIU Dept of Ag; Herb Whiteley
of U of I College of Vet Medicine; Robert Easter of
UIUC College of ACES; John Russin of SIUC College of
Ag Sciences; and Robert Rhykerd of ISU Dept of Ag. |
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Ten- to Thirteen-year Affiliate Members:
(from left) Bruce Branham of UIUC Dept of NRES; Peter
Goldsmith of UIUC Dept of ACE; Sandra Streed of National
Center for Food Safety and Technology; and Eric Watson
of Illinois Finance Authority. |
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Charter Individual Members: (from
left) Benjamin Jones, Jack Erisman, and Dale Hedrick. |
Illinois Center for Soy Foods Receives C-FAR
Achievement Award
The 2008 Donald A. Holt Achievement Award was presented
to the Illinois
Center for Soy Foods during a special ceremony at the
C-FAR Annual Meeting. C-FAR annually recognizes a C-FAR-funded
research team for outstanding and innovative team research
and outreach. The Illinois Center for Soy Foods is located
on the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign campus.
The center's team of 15 faculty and academic professionals
is led by Keith Cadwallader, Barbara Klein, Pradeep Khanna,
and Karl Weingartner. Following the presentation, oatmeal
raisin and double chocolate soy cookies were available for
all meeting attendees to taste! For more information, click
here.
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Illinois Center for Soy Foods research team
(from left):
Keith Cadwallader, Pradeep Khanna, Barbara Klein
and Karl Weingartner.
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Returns for Illinois - A Special Series on
C-FAR Research
This new publication highlights high-impact returns
resulting from C-FAR research. The primary focus is to share
how a particular research initiative has produced significant
and highly beneficial impacts for Illinois and its citizens...often
also reaching beyond state boundaries.
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