CAFES faculty claim national professional awards

South Dakota State University has outstanding students and faculty members that go above and beyond in their respective fields within the agricultural industry to make a difference. This year three College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences faculty members were recognized by the American Society of Animal Science at the annual meeting in July 2023 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. 

Bob Thaler 

American Society of Animal Science Fellow – Extension

Bob Thaler was inducted as a 2023 American Society of Animal Science Fellow in the Extension category for his dedication and commitment to the swine industry.

Thaler has served the South Dakota State University Department of Animal Science since 1988 as the SDSU Extension swine specialist. In 1996, he started teaching and conducting applied research focused on his Extension component. Throughout the years, Thaler has held various leadership roles at SDSU, including serving as the head of the Department of Animal Science both on a permanent and interim basis, and as the SDSU Extension Agricultural and Natural Resources Program leader.

Thaler’s passion lies in serving local, regional, national and international pig farmers through his SDSU Extension swine specialist role. Thaler helped secure funding from swine industry leadership and allied industry partners to build the SDSU Swine Education and Research Facility and other swine industry-related research projects through his leadership.

“This award is just one recognition of Dr. Thaler’s accomplishments for over 30 years of dedicated service to SDSU, the swine industry, and the American Society of Animal Science,” said Joseph Cassady, South Dakota Corn Endowed Dean of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences.

The American Society of Animal Science Fellow Award in Extension is awarded to individuals who have rendered distinguished service to the animal industry and the American Society of Animal Science and had continuous membership in the society for a minimum of 25 years.

“It is extremely humbling because Extension is a team effort,” Thaler said. “I have been blessed to have been able to work with exceptional people. When I started at SDSU, I got to work with legends like Drs. John Thomson and Gene Murra, great county agents including Steve Sutera and Jim Krantz and throughout my career with Dr. Steve Pohl and Drs. Mike Brumm and Don Levis from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. As my career winds down, I still get to work with great people like Dr. John McMaine, Anthony Bly, Sara Bauder and Dr. Russ Daly. I have had tremendous support throughout the years from the South Dakota Pork Producers Council and allied industry partners. The success of our SDSU Extension program is really due to all these people working together for the common good of helping pork producers.”
 

Joseph Cassady

American Society of Animal Science Fellow – Administration

With 30 years of involvement in the American Society of Animal Science, Joseph Cassady was recently inducted as a 2023 Administrative Fellow.

Before his time at SDSU, he spent 12 years on the North Carolina State University faculty. He served as the head of the SDSU Department of Animal Science from 2013 until his appointment as South Dakota Corn Endowed Dean of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences in 2022. During his time as the head of the Department of Animal Science, he also concurrently served as the interim head of the Department of Dairy and Food Science from 2020 to 2022. In 2019 he was presented with the Harold and Barbara Bailey Award for Excellence in Academic Department Leadership, the highest honor awarded by SDSU for departmental leadership.

“Dr. Cassady has had a tremendous impact on the department and college, as well as the livestock industries across the state and nation, said Rosie Nold, professor and assistant head of the Department of Animal Science. “He is respected by faculty, staff, students and stakeholders as he continually works to provide and improve on a ‘culture of excellence’ in the university and the livestock industries. He deserves this honor from the American Society of Animal Science.”

The American Society of Animal Science Fellow Award in Administration is awarded to individuals who have rendered distinguished service to the animal industry and the American Society of Animal Science and had continuous membership in the society for a minimum of 25 years.

Cassady has been a member of the American Society of Animal Science since he was a graduate student. He served on the ASAS board of directors from 2015 to 2018, was a member of the ASAS Midwest Section Animal Breeding and Genetics Committee and served on the editorial board for the Journal of Animal Science from 2003 to 2006.

“Dr. Joe Cassady was well respected during his time on faculty at North Carolina State University, and he voluntarily took on leadership roles despite his heavy teaching and research appointment,” said North Carolina State University Alumni Distinguished Professor and Director of Undergraduate Programs for Transfer Students Jeannette Moore. “Dr. Cassady recognized the importance of mentoring graduate students and new faculty and helped them develop as professionals. It is apparent that he continued to be an outstanding leader when he left to become department head and later dean at South Dakota State University.”

“I am extremely humbled and appreciative of Dr. Jennette Moore and Dr. Rosie Nold for compiling my nomination package,” Cassady said.
 

Jameson R. Brennan

Western Section American Society of Animal Science Young Scientist

Jameson R. Brennan was recently awarded the Young Scientist Award from the Western Section of Animal Science through the American Society of Animal Science. Based at the West River Research and Extension center in Rapid City, Brennan has been an assistant professor in animal science at SDSU since 2021.

Brennan’s research focuses on the intersection of rangeland and grazing management, data analytics and precision technology. His research concentrates on grazing beef systems on western rangelands.

He earned his bachelor’s degree at Colorado State University in wildlife biology and, in 2014, was hired by SDSU as a research project manager, which helped him work toward obtaining his doctorate in range science.

Through his current role, he has been a strong leader in precision range and grazing livestock management. In the short time he has served as an assistant professor, Brennan has worked hard developing and applying precision technology to collect, curate and analyze unprecedented research data from range beef cattle systems. He feels the ASAS has been a tremendous help with this project. He has used his connections within ASAS to work and collaborate with ASAS Western Section members to create these tools to better study precision livestock data more efficiently.

“Dr. Brennan is an outstanding researcher who is quickly gaining the attention of many for his innovative work,” said Kristi Cammack, assistant dean of West River operations and director of SDSU West River Research and Extension. “I nominated Dr. Brennan for this award because of his highly successful research program and his dedication to range livestock producers. Dr. Brennan ensures that his research will ultimately positively impact the livestock and land they rely on.”

To be selected for this award, the nominee must be a member of the Western Section of ASAS and may not be more than 40 years of age when nominated, should be actively engaged in basic or applied research in any of the various areas of animal agriculture, and the research activities of the nominee are evaluated on the contributions to greater efficiency or quality of livestock production or utilization.

“It is a tremendous honor to be recognized by your colleagues for your work,” Brennan said.