|
|
|
> MSU News
Outstanding Ag Leaders to be honored during Ag Appreciation Weekend
November 13, 2009 -- MSU News Service
 |
John Swanz of Judith Gap has been named one of the 2009 Outstanding Ag Leaders by the College of Agriculture at Montana State University. (MSU Photo by Kelly Gorham)
|  |
| John Youngberg of Belgrade has been named one of the 2009 Outstanding Ag Leaders by the College of Agriculture at Montana State University. (Photo courtesy of Montana Farm Bureau Federation) | |
John Swanz of Judith Gap and John Youngberg of Belgrade have been named Outstanding Ag Leaders for 2009 by the College of Agriculture at Montana State University. They will be honored Nov. 13 during the Celebrating Agriculture: Friends, Donors & Outstanding Ag Leaders Recognition Social at the Best Western GranTree Inn at 5:30 p.m. The public is invited to attend. (See Ag Days schedule below.)
The Outstanding Ag Leader Award is a statewide award given to individuals or couples who are well-respected in the agricultural community, with accomplishments that impact many; have a lifetime of achievement in agriculture; are industry leaders or upcoming innovative producers; and are actively involved in the agricultural community in Montana. A selection committee comprised of three agriculture representatives, one College of Agriculture faculty member and one student, reviews the applications each year, said Jeff Jacobsen, dean of the College of Agriculture. This award has been presented by the College of Agriculture since 1999.
Jacobsen noted that again, many highly qualified individuals were nominated for this year's award.
"Montana truly is a very special place as exemplified by its people and specifically the entire pool of nominees," Jacobsen said.
"John Swanz and John Youngberg are most deserving of this recognition in 2009. We will call this the 'John Award' year," Jacobsen continued. "Each in their own unique way represent leadership, citizenship, hard work, commitment to their beliefs and action and certainly have Montana agriculture at their core. I am delighted to be honoring them for who and what they have contributed, knowing full well that they will continue to contribute. Please congratulate them when you cross paths."
John Swanz grew up on a ranch in Utica, Mont. In 1969 he graduated from MSU with a degree in ag business. In 1970 John and his wife, Linda, purchased the family ranch east of Judith Gap on Big Careless Creek where they currently reside.
Linda grew up on a ranch south of Moore that has been in her family for 126 years. The Swanzs purchased the family ranch and operated both ranches as Careless Creek Land and Livestock. The ranches have now been leased to their children and their spouses and operate under the name of S&G Livestock.
Swanz was the president of the Montana Stockgrowers Association from 2002-2004 and has held several offices with the 2,000-member organization which represents the interests of the livestock industry. He currently serves on the board of the Montana Stockgrowers Research, Education and Endowment Foundation committee. He has served on several committees and been a board member of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association.
Swanz is a past president of the Wheatland County Stockgrower's Association and was awarded Outstanding Cattleman of Wheatland County by that group. He currently serves on the board of directors of the First Bank of Montana in Lewistown and Westfeeds. He had been a member of the Judith Gap School Board, served as a volunteer 4-H leader and was given the State Friend of Extension Award for Public Service by the MSU Extension Working Group.
Giving back to the livestock industry is important to Swanz. As members of MSU's College of Agriculture's Rancher's Circle, Swanz and his wife have helped fund MSU's Animal Bioscience teaching facility that is scheduled to open June 2010.
Linda is an officer of the Montana CattleWomen and represents them on the Montana Beef Council. The Swanzs have two children, Lisa (husband, Jamie) and Jason (wife, Jody) and four grandchildren.
John Youngberg grew up in the agriculture community of Clyde Park. He and his family moved to the Gallatin Valley in 1975 and have called it their home since. He has been a vital part of the Belgrade community for 34 years and has received the highest Jaycee award--the JCI Senatorship--for his volunteer work. He was recently presented with the Belgrade Chamber of Commerce "Spirit of Community Award".
Youngberg has worked for the Montana Farm Bureau Federation since 1992 and has served in several capacities in his tenure, including membership field staff, director of membership, director of member services and currently as vice president of governmental affairs, where he serves as a lobbyist. As an agriculture advocate he has worked diligently for improved funding for MSU and the Montana Agriculture Experiment Station.
As chairman of the Montana Board of Research and Commercialization Technology, Youngberg is instrumental in awarding $3.5 million annually for research projects in Montana. He has served on the statewide TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Loads) advisory committee since its inception. He has helped craft legislation to protect senior water rights and worked on stream access issues, and advocated for private property rights.
Youngberg is the ex-officio chair for the Montana Agriculture Coalition, a group that helps agriculture organizations stay current and united on agricultural issues when the Legislature is in session. He is the first vice president of the Western Environmental Trade Association and volunteers for the Gallatin Valley Ag Committee. He has served on the Belgrade City Council and the Belgrade City-County Planning Board for 19 years.
With his wife Debe, he has three children, Stacey, Korin and Joe. Debe is the executive director of the Belgrade Chamber of Commerce.
MSU College of Agriculture Ag Appreciation Weekend 2009 Schedule of Events
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Ag Days (contact agdays@montana.edu)
11:00 am - 3:00 pm ~ Montana's Rural Economy: The Future of Agriculture and Rural Healthcare Conference
Procrastinator Theater, MSU Strand Union Building
($25 registration required includes lunch; call 994-3511)
3:30 - 5:00 pm ~ M.L. Wilson Lecture and Reception
Procrastinator Theater, MSU Strand Union Building
(Free, tickets not required; call 994-3511)
Friday, November 13, 2009
Ag Days
5:30 -8:00 pm ~ Celebrating Agriculture: Friends, Donors & Outstanding Ag Leaders Recognition Social (Program at 6:15 pm)
Best Western GranTree Inn
(Free, tickets not required; Hors d'oeuvres provided, Cash bar)
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Ag Days
10:00 am ~ Ag Appreciation Weekend Tailgate Party
North of Bobcat Stadium
(Free, tickets not required)
12:05 pm ~ Bobcat Football vs. Sacramento State
Bobcat Stadium
(Tickets required - Call 994-CATS)
For more information, contact Robin or Lisa at 994-3681.
Hi-Resolution Images or PDFs Available:
| [View or Download] | 1. | John Swanz of Judith Gap has been named one of the 2009 Outstanding Ag Leaders by the College of Agriculture at Montana State University. (MSU Photo by Kelly Gorham) | | [View or Download] | 2. | John Youngberg of Belgrade has been named one of the 2009 Outstanding Ag Leaders by the College of Agriculture at Montana State University. (Photo courtesy of Montana Farm Bureau Federation) |
|
|
|
Email this article
