CORVALLIS, Ore. - Farmers, ranchers, educators, research scientists and an award-winning author are among the 38 men and women honored Oct. 17 as 2007 Diamond Pioneers by the Oregon State University College of Agricultural Sciences.

They were added to the college’s Diamond Pioneer Agricultural Achievement Registry during a luncheon hosted by Dean Thayne Dutson in the CH2M Hill Alumni Center on the OSU campus.

The registry began 24 years ago, when the college observed its 75th anniversary, as a way to recognize those 74 and older for their achievements in agriculture and related fields and in their communities.

Diamond Pioneers are nominated by agricultural organizations, OSU departments and others.

The author awardee is William Kittredge, an Oregon native who was raised on a ranch in Warner Valley. Among his works is the award-winning book “Hole in the Sky.” He lives in Missoula, Mont., where he taught at the University of Montana. He had a Stegner Fellowship at Stanford, two writing fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, and two Pacific Northwest Bookseller's Awards for Excellence. He was co-producer of the movie “A River Runs Through It.”

Others to be honored as 2007 Diamond Pioneers are listed, by city:

Corvallis: Thomas Allen, Jr., OSU horticulturist and artist; Larry Boersma, OSU soil scientist; Kenton Chambers, OSU plant taxonomist; Robert L. Stebbins, OSU tree fruit specialist; Benno Warkentin, OSU soil scientist; J. Lowell Young, USDA soil chemist Tom Zinn, OSU Extension Service.

Echo: Don Bennett and Doug Bennett, ranchers

Grants Pass: Henry Turk, gladiola bulb producer

Hillsboro: John Leffel, agriculturist

Independence: W. L. Andersen, OSU Extension Service, pilot

Joseph: Doug and Janie Tippett, ranchers

Junction City: Cleve and Ellie Dumdi, sheep producer, OSU Extension

Klamath Falls: Frank King and Eddie Meeker, cattlemen

LaGrande: Arleigh Isley, OSU Extension, judge

Lakeview: Louise Grothe, and Neil (C.J.) Taylor, livestock producers

Medford: Don Denman, attorney, conservationist

Merlin: Everett Seagoe, veteran 4-H leader

Monmouth: James D. Wilson, OSU administrator and livestock producer

Ontario: Tom Uriu, onion producer

Philomath: Thomas Bedell, OSU rangeland management specialist; Gene Newcomb, OSU nematologist

Prineville: William and Donna McCormack, ranchers

Redmond: Robert Huckfeldt, veterinarian

Shedd: Betty Jo Smith, agriculturist

Sublimity: Lawrence Fisher, grass seed producer

Wasco: Art and Marjorie Van Gilder, conservation farmers, horse breeders

Out-of-state honorees include, by city:

Connell, Wash.: Bill Bennett, livestock producer

Vancouver, Wash.: Fred Hagelstein, retired OSU Extension administrator

Cottonwood, Calif.: Ellington Peek, livestock marketer

Source: 

Loretta Austin,
541-737-5813

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