April 27, 2012 - Top University of Wyoming agricultural students were honored, and state veterinarian Jim Logan of Riverton received Gamma Sigma Delta's Outstanding Agriculturalist Award, at the organization's recent annual meeting. Gamma Sigma Delta is the international honor society of agriculture.

Receiving outstanding student awards, their hometowns and majors in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, were:

Outstanding Freshman Female -- McKensie Harris, Laramie, animal and veterinary sciences (ANVS).

Outstanding Freshman Male -- Shane Bell, Winnemucca, Nev., ecosystem science and management (ESM).

Outstanding Sophomore -- Amanda O'Donnell, Spring Creek, Nev., ESM.

Outstanding Junior -- Erin Anders, Cheyenne, agroecology and anthropology.

Outstanding Senior -- Sara van Knapp Jennings, Burbank, Calif., ANVS.

Outstanding Master's Student -- Sarena Ann Olsen, Las Vegas, ANVS.

Outstanding Doctoral Student -- Rebecca Cockrum, Chesterfield, Md., ANVS.

Logan was a practicing veterinarian in the Riverton area for more than 20 years, and has served as Wyoming state veterinarian for more than 11 years.

"Jim genuinely has producers' best interests in mind at all times," says Dannele Peck, assistant professor in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, during her award presentation.

Logan has not only shown leadership in brucellosis issues but also in sheep industry concerns, says Jim Schwartz, former director of the Wyoming Livestock Board, in his nomination letter.

"Whatever the issue, he has worked toward solving problems based on science instead of yielding to emotional or political pressures," he states.

Bob Meyer, Wyoming's assistant state veterinarian, noted Logan does far more than normally expected from many state veterinarians.

"Besides his involvement with many agriculturally oriented organizations here in Wyoming, Jim also serves as chairman of various committees for national organizations," he says. "These organizations support and protect our livestock producers from the effects of several livestock diseases, and having Jim's close involvement serves to keep Wyoming's interests front and center."

Source: University of Wyoming