Lincoln, Neb. —Chris Calkins, professor of animal science at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, has received the R.C. Suiter Distinguished Service Award from ASTM International, formerly known as the American Society of Testing and Materials. He is the second recipient of the award in the past 20 years.
ASTM develops standards that are often used by the government to satisfy regulations, including the marketing standards that the USDA uses to guarantee tender beef.
Calkins received the award for his long history of service to ASTM Committee F10 on Livestock, Meat, and Poultry Evaluation Systems. Calkins has been a member of the committee since its founding in 2001 and hosted one of the committee’s first meetings in the Nebraska East Student Union. Over the years, he has served in various committee executive offices and on all subcommittees. He has shared advice and opinions that were instrumental in establishing ASTM guidelines for the livestock, meat and poultry industry and helped shape the committee.
“Influential individuals like Chris made our F10 Committee legitimate,” said Bryice Wilke, chairman of the F10 committee and an agricultural marketer with the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration of the USDA. “His drive and abilities have truly been an asset to our committee."