Awards banquet highlights CASNR Week activities

April 13, 2016

Lincoln, Neb. — The 16th annual CASNR Week awards banquet, which took place April 10 at the Nebraska Union, honored students, faculty, staff and alumni in UNL's College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. 

According to CASNR Week Program Council Advisor Karen Jackson, the event was planned, organized and executed by CASNR students.

"Without the efforts of student volunteers and committee chairs, the event would not be possible," she said.

Those honored at the banquet included:

• Larry Barksdale: Outstanding teacher
• Jessica Bartak: Outstanding undergraduate teaching assistant
• Bryce Dibbern: Outstanding student leadership award
• Ben Halvorson: Outstanding student organization officer
• Joe Luck: Superior academic advisor
• Kate Likens: Outstanding student organization member
• Sherri Pitchie: Outstanding staff member
• Agronomy Club: Outstanding organization
• Camp Kesem: Outstanding student organization for philanthropy and service

In addition to the awards given to current students, faculty and staff, the CASNR Alumni Association presented four awards. 

• Ann Bruntz received the Service Award. Bruntz served as the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources senior development director with the University of Nebraska until her recent retirement. Bruntz was honored for her tireless efforts to create and maintain lasting, personal and sincere relationships with donors that define CASNR.  
• Martin Massengale received the Legacy Award. Massengale serves as president emeritus, director of the Center for Grassland Studies and Foundation Distinguished Professor at the University of Nebraska. Massengale joined the University of Nebraska as vice chancellor for agriculture and natural resources in 1976. In addition to noteworthy administrative positions, Massengale has also served on many advisory and working committees for the university, the state and national organizations.
• Ben Steffen received the Achievement Award. Steffen and his wife, Paula Sue, operate a diversified dairy and crop production farm in southeast Nebraska. Together they have hosted numerous field day demonstrations for Nebraska Extension, the LEAD Alumni AgVenture Tour and Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program students at their farm. Steffen is a longtime member of the University of Nebraska President’s Advisory Committee and served on President Bounds’ Chancellor Search Advisory Committee.
• The UNL Agronomy Club received the Engagement of Emeriti Faculty Award. The club has begun hosting an honorary emeriti banquet to say thank you to past professors, and Agronomy Club advisors.

The banquet kicked off a week of events organized to celebrate CASNR, which began as Agriculture and Natural Resources Week in 2000.

A blood drive with the Nebraska Community Blood Bank, free lunch at the Nebraska East Union and a Community Night were other featured events. Community Night was a free event for Lincoln residents featuring educational displays, live animals, games and food.

CASNR Week will conclude with the 58th annual UNL Rodeo April 15-16 at the Lancaster Event Center. Earlier in the week, Gov. Pete Ricketts, joined by members of the UNL Rodeo Team, proclaimed April 10-16 as "Rodeo Week" in Nebraska. 

Rodeo tickets start at $10 and are available at http://lancastereventcenter.com. General admission tickets are also available at all Fort Western Stores. Students can purchase tickets for $5 at the door.