• Faculty Coordinator of the Virginia Tech Beef Center
• Academic Advisor in the Central Advising Office
• Directs the annual student-managed Hokie Harvest Sale of university beef cattle and horses
• Teaches Livestock Management, Livestock Merchandising, Livestock Evaluation and Selection, Beef Production, and assists with Principles of Meat Science
• Coordinates and coaches the Virginia Tech Intercollegiate Livestock Judging Team
• Chair of Departmental Undergraduate Scholarship Committee

Teaching:

The educational goals of my teaching program are:

1. to provide a diversified group of students with a broad understanding of meat animal production and management systems;
2. to offer students practical experiences and problem-solving examples in production agriculture where practical application is vital for survival;
3. to develop a student's capacity to use production records to evaluate livestock and make decisions that support profitable animal husbandry;
4. to act as an effective advisor to students in Animal and Poultry Science and ensure development of well-educated and informed graduates; and
5. to serve as a counselor to students, enabling them to become effective communicators and leaders of the livestock and meat industries.

Research:

My overall program of research and graduate training has been:

1. to carry out a beef cattle research program emphasizing problems in cattle feeding, growth and development in bulls, and cow/calf management; and
2. to engage in cooperative research with other faculty in the area of ruminant nutrition. With increased economic pressure to become more efficient, beef cattle producers are continually in need of new information and methods to improve their efficiency of production.

Extension:

My program in extension focuses on adult education and 4-H and FFA youth programs. The majority of my presentations and inquiries are in the area of cow/calf management and nutrition, trace-mineral supplementation, performance bull testing, livestock evaluation and selection, and registered purebred cattle.

Education:

• BS, Animal Science from The Ohio State University, 1973
• Ph.D., Ruminant Nutrition from Michigan State University, 1978

Hometown:

• Baltimore, Ohio

Phone: (540) 231-6280

Duties:

• Oversees the daily management of the beef cattle herd
• Supervises health care, feeding, breeding and calving so that they comply with teaching management and research activities
• Coordinates activities and work schedules at the Beef Center
• Maintains livestock, supplies, and feed inventories

Education:

• BS, Animal Science from Virginia Tech, 1976

Hometown:

• Covington, Virginia

Duties:

• Herdsman at the Virginia Tech Beef Center
• In charge of Sale and Show Cattle
• Assists with the semen acquisition and daily management of the beef cattle herd

Education:

• Associates Degree, Agricultural Technology from Virginia Tech, 1993

Hometown:

• Creston, North Carolina