Alumni
At the Department of Animal & Food Sciences, we have formed a community with our alumni that allows them to engage with us through activities and events like guest seminars, publication and project collaboration, and department reunions.
Explore our news and events, check up on our awards and scholarships, stay connected and give back.
Alumni News
Agriculture Research Building
1/15•UK M-G CAFE Building Projects
Meats & Foods Workforce Development Center
1/15•UK M-G CAFE Building Projects
UK Research and Education Center at Princeton
1/15•UK M-G CAFE Building Projects
USDA/ARS, UK Forage Animal Production Research Lab
1/15•UK M-G CAFE Building Projects
Three years since the tornado: UK research center rebuilds stronger, reaffirming role in Kentucky agriculture
12/12•UK M-G CAFE News
Congratulations to Dr. Fan for USDA NIFA funding on Asian Carp
12/5•UK Research
KCA, Partners, Break Ground on Livestock Innovation Center
12/5•Cow Country News
University of Kentucky Presents the Inaugural Companion Animal Speaker
11/21•Wildcat Canter
Faculty Awards in 2024
- Drs. Amaral-Phillips, Bullock, Ely, David Harmon, Bob Harmon, Pescatore, Rentfrow, Rossano, Surendranath, Urschel, VanValin, Xiong
10/31•AFS Alumni Newsletter
UK Animal & Food Sciences Alumni Scholarship awarded
10/22•AFS Alumni Newsletter
Department Update: Note from the Chair
- Dr. John "Scott" Radcliffe
10/17•UK Animal & Food Sciences
'A man of integrity': George Heersche Jr. inducted into the National 4-H Hall of Fame for decades of service
10/17•UK M-G CAFE News
A New "Ag Campus" Is Coming
10/16•Animal & Food Sciences Alumni Newsletter
‘Behind the Blue’: Tom Hammond on his decades-long career in sports and his love for UK
8/26•UK NOW
Dr. Donna Amaral-Phillips receives the Hoard’s Dairyman Youth Development Award
8/22•ADSA
Dr. Robert Harmon receives the American Dairy Science Association Award of Honor
8/22•ADSA
UK professor honored with first-ever Poultry Science Association service award, recognizing decades of dedication
- Dr. Anthony "Tony" Pescatore
8/8•UK M-G CAFE News
Gatton Foundation Professorships announced, supporting innovative research in advancing Kentucky
- Dr. Youling Xiong
7/26•UK Now
Oct. 11 - Save the Date for the 2024 Animal & Food Sciences Reunion
7/16•UK Animal & Food Sciences
University of Kentucky breaks ground on Agricultural Research Building, advancing the state’s agricultural industries
- Animal & Food Sciences Department
7/3•UK M-G CAFE News
Recipients of the 2024 Ken Freedman Awards announced
- Dr. Mary Rossano - Faculty Advisor award
7/1•UKNOW
Dr. Bullock is awarded the 2024 BIF Pioneer Award
6/17•Beef Improvement Federation
Dr. Suman selected as a Signal Service Award Winner in the meat industry
6/10•American Meat Science Association
2024-25 TEK Faculty Fellows cohort announced
- Dr. Jackie Wahrmund
6/4•UKNOW
David L. Harmon: 2024-25 University Research Professor Q&A
5/21•UKNow
Dr. Dave Harmon Receives the 2024 William B. Sturgill Award
5/9•UK M-G CAFE Facebook
Dr. Kristine Urschel receives an Outstanding Teacher Award
5/9•UK M-G CAFE Facebook
Watch Live: May 2024 UK Commencement Ceremonies
5/3•UKNOW
16 faculty named 2024-25 University Research Professors
- Dr. Dave Harmon
4/29•UKNOW
UK recognizes faculty and teaching assistants with 2024 Outstanding Teaching Awards
- Dr. Kristine Urschel
4/29•UKNOW
Dr. Katie VanValin receives the 2024 KASEP Outstanding New Extension Specialist award
4/18•UK Research & Education Center
Dr. Gregg Rentfrow receives the UK Research/Extension Impact Award
4/2•UK M-G CAFE
UK M-G CAFE Night of Excellence recognitions include Animal Science Alumni
- Jim Mahan, David Williams, Valerie Still
3/4•UK M-G CAFE News
Dr. Surendranath Suman appointed to Interim Chair for the Department of Veterinary Science
2/16•UK Animal & Food Sciences
The "UK Food Science program" is renamed to "UK Food Biosciences program"
Rising from the rubble: UK Research and Education Center at Princeton reveals remarkable post-tornado transformation
12/18•The Herald Ledger
December 2023 Commencement Ceremonies
12/18•UK YouTube
Dr. Don Ely looks back on 55-year tenure at UK Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment
11/2•M-G-CAFE News
2023 UK Animal & Food Sciences Reunion Photos
10/5•UK MG-CAFE Media Library
2023 AFS Alumni Scholarship Recipients
9/13•AFS Alumni Newsletter
Dr. Roy Burris receives 2023 Hall of Fame Induction
9/12•AFS Alumni Newsletter
Jim Akers receives 2023 Distinguished Alumnus Award
9/12•AFS Alumni Newsletter
Dr. Youling Xiong receives Ki2023 Kirwan Prize, Sturgill Award
9/12•UK College of Medicine
The UK Food Science program is renamed to the UK Food Biosciences program
8/2•UK Animal & Food Sci.
September 29 is the 11th Annual Animal & Food Sciences Reunion
7/12•UK Animal & Food Sci.
Welcome Dr. Scott Radcliffe as the new Animal & Food Sciences Department Chair
7/10•UK CAFE News
Three University of Kentucky animal scientists earn national honors
- Drs. Renfrow, Lehmkuhler, Trotta
6/15•UK CAFE News
Dr. Kristine Urschel appointed Assistant Dean for Instruction
6/7•UK Animal & Food Sci.
Dr. Jeff Lehmkuhler receives the 2023 Extension Award
6/6•American Society of Animal Science
Ron Trotta receives the 2023 Wettemann Graduate Scholar in Physiology Award
6/6•American Society of Animal Science
Dr. Gregg Rentfrow receives 2023 Animal Industry Innovation Award
6/2•American Society of Animal Science
UK, USDA break ground on new forage research building
5/24•UK CAFE News
Dr. Surendranath Suman named Assistant Dean of Research
4/20•UK CAFE
Princeton REC Open House
3/21•UK CAFE YouTube
Tom Hammond receives UK Founders Day Award
- UK AFS Alumni
2/24•UK Now
Alumni Awards
2024 Paul Appel Alumni Service Award: James Mahan, ‘67 B.S. Animal Sciences
2024 HODA: David Williams, ‘66 B.S. Animal Science, ‘68 M.S. Animal Science; Valerie Still, ‘00 B.S. Animal Science
2022 HODA: Barbara P. Glenn, '76 B.S. Animal Science, '80 Ph.D. Ruminant Nutrition
2024: Dr. Steven I. Smith
2023: Jim Akers
2022: Dr. Kimberly Ragland
2021: John Stika
2020: Dr. Jerry Spears
2017: Dr. Sally Northcutt
Alumni Newsletters
- 2024 Alumni Newsletter
- 2023 Alumni Newsletter
- 2022 Alumni Newsletter
- 2021 Alumni Newsletter
- 2019 Alumni Newsletter
- 2018 Alumni Newsletter
- 2017 Alumni Newsletter
Other Department Newsletters
Attend the Reunion
The Department of Animal and Food Sciences hosts an annual reunion. It's a time to reconnect with former classmates, visit with faculty and staff and bid on unique items in the silent auction to benefit the AFS Undergraduate Scholarship Program. See you there!
Join UsStay Connected
Did you receive a promotion? An award? Have you recently moved? Are you an alum, but have not heard from us? We want to hear about all of your exciting news and ensure you're included on our communications. Please take the time to update us!
Update UsGive Back
One of the nicest things about the Animal & Food Sciences Department is the sense of community. We encourage participation, inviting you to give guest seminars and collaborate on publications and projects. Gifts are welcome to support the Alumni Scholarship or the department.
Contact Us about a GiftAnimal and Food Sciences Alumni Scholarship
Funds raised through the Animal and Food Sciences Reunion Silent Auction support the Animal and Food Sciences Alumni Scholarship. Recent recipients are:
Charity Moore
2024, 2023
A recipient in both 2023-2024 and 2024-25, Charity Moore is a sophomore majoring in Animal Sciences with an agricultural economics minor. Charity grew up on a grain farm in Germantown, Ohio, and has been involved in the beef cattle industry since childhood. At a young age Charity was bitten by the livestock showing bug and began exhibiting cattle at shows through her involvement in 4-H and FFA. Today, in addition to being a college student, she shows beef cattle on various national show circuits. As a student at the University of Kentucky, Charity is an active member of the Block and Bridle Club, Sigma Alpha and Collegiate Farm Bureau. Upon graduation, she plans on having a career in the beef cattle industry. Eventually, Charity would like to own and operate her own purebred beef cattle herd.
McKenzie Bell
2023
A 2023-2024 recipient, McKenzie Bell is a senior from Monticello, Kentucky. McKenzie’s enthusiasm for animal agriculture started at a young age as one of her earliest memories was helping nurse a bottle calf that was born during a cold, wet Kentucky spring day. She built upon that early interest throughout high school being involved in 4-H and FFA. When enrolling at the University of Kentucky, McKenzie took on the daunting task of pursing dual degrees in Animal Sciences and Agricultural and Medical Biotechnology. This academic year, McKenzie is serving as president of the Block and Bridle Club and is a member of Sigma Alpha and the Western Equestrian Team. After graduation in May 2024, McKenzie plans on attending veterinary school with the long-term goal of owning her own large animal practice in rural Kentucky.
Tyler Purvis
2022
For 2022-23, the Animal and Food Sciences Alumni Scholarship was awarded to Tyler Purvis, a senior majoring in Animal Sciences from East Bernstadt, Kentucky. At a young age Tyler became fascinated with cattle. One of Tyler's earliest memories was helping his grandfather feed bottle calves before going to kindergarten for the day. Tyler's enthusiasm fore animal agriculture grew throughout his high school career and his involvement in FFA. While a student at the University of Kentucky, Tyler has been involved in the Block and Bridle Club and Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity. Upon graduation in May 2023, Tyler plans on attending graduate school focusing on animal reproduction. Eventually Tyler would like to own a cattle operation running both a commercial and a purebred herd.
Sierra Tichnell
2021
For 2021-22, the Animal and Food Sciences Alumni Scholarship was awarded to Sierra Tichnell, a senior majoring in Animal Sciences. Sierra’s enthusiasm for animal agriculture started at a young age as she was a member of the Maple Mountain 4-H club, showing sheep in her home state of Maryland. Since arriving at the University of Kentucky in 2019, Sierra has been involved in many clubs associated with the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. This academic year Sierra is serving as president of Ag Student Council, president of the Pre-Vet Club and vice president of the Block and Bridle Club. She will graduate from the University of Kentucky in May 2022 and plans on attending veterinary school to pursue a career as a large animal vet.
