HARRISBURG, Pa. — On Tuesday, February 18, PennAg Industries Association had the great privilege of honoring two individuals for outstanding accomplishments in the agriculture industry at the PennAg Annual Banquet, held at the Spooky Nook Complex, Manheim, Pennsylvania. More than 450 PennAg members and representatives of the agriculture industry were in attendance as PennAg recognized Dr. Troy Ott and Mr. Dean Collamer as the 2020 recipients of the PennAg Distinguished Service Awards.
The Distinguished Service Award, the Association’s highest acknowledgement of achievement, is presented each year to one industry and one non-industry recipient. The award for the industry recipient is intended to honor lifetime achievement in agribusiness. The non-industry award recognizes a person whose achievements have benefited agribusiness. Nominees are provided by members of the association; recipients are selected by the PennAg Board of Directors.
2020 PennAg Distinguished Service Award Recipient: Dr. Troy Ott
The PennAg Industries Association Board of Directors is pleased to announce Dr. Troy Ott as the 2020 Distinguished Service Award Recipient, Non-Industry Category. Dr. Ott is a Professor of Animal Science and Associate Director of the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences at Penn State. He also holds a courtesy appointment in the Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences. Dr. Ott’s research focuses on issues of animal food production, fertility regulation, immunology and the physiology of early pregnancy with a primary focus on the signaling between the embryo, uterus and circulating immune cells.
Dr. Ott is inventor or co-inventor on 6 awarded patents related to his research and he is actively engaged in efforts to commercialize novel diagnostic technologies to aid farmers in managing reproduction and animal health. He has published over 95 scientific papers and review articles, 10 book chapters and co-edited the textbook ‘Reproductive Genomics in Domestic Animals.’
In addition, he developed and mentored the “Let’s Eat!” Distinguished Honors Faculty program designed to engage Penn State Schreyer Honors scholars in issues related to food production and feeding the growing world population sustainably. He gives 10-20 public seminars each year to a variety of audiences on the role of animal biotechnologies in sustainable food and fiber production.
Dr. Ott and his wife, Colleen, have three children and live in Boalsburg, PA.
(L-R: Secretary Russell Redding; Mr. Dean Collamer, GROWMARK FS; Mrs. Patty Collamer; Mr. Andrew Bradford, President, PennAg Board of Directors, Nutraferma; Chris Herr, PennAg.)
2020 PennAg Distinguished Service Award Recipient: Mr. Dean Collamer
The PennAg Industries Association Board of Directors is pleased to announce Mr. Dean Collamer as the 2020 Distinguished Service Award Recipient, Industry Category.
Dean is a field sales agronomist with GROWMARK FS responsible for agronomic training and field testing of crop nutrients & crop protection products. Activities include presentation preparation and delivery to growers & Growmark FS staff, technical article writing, field problem solving and agronomic leadership for product usage and recommendations. He was formerly with Honeywell’s ammonium sulfate marketing group as an agronomist for 12 yrs. He coordinated field research projects throughout the eastern half of the US and Canada, developed marketing, advertising and sales aid materials, developed/delivered presentations and provided agronomic support to salespeople, growers, crop needs dealers and consultants.
Dean is active in industry and academic organizations. He is a member of the American Society of Agronomy and was a member of the Certified Crop Adviser steering committee that designed and created the CCA program. He has served on the ICCA board, continuing education committee and ethics and standards committee. He has also served on the Certified Professional board. Dean has been a participant on TFI’s Agronomy Task Force.
In the Northeast region Dean was a charter member of the NY State CCA board and he is a regular participant in the Northeast Branch Crops Soils and Agronomy chapter including the annual meeting, its board and various committees. Additionally, he is a member of the NY State Agribusiness Association, PA Agronomic Education Society (past president), PennAg Agronomic Products Council, PA NRCS Nutrient Management Subcommittee (chair), PA Young Farmers Association and Cornell Alumni Admissions Ambassador Network.
Dean lives in Hanover, PA, with his wife, Patty, and has two grown children.
“We are honored to recognize Dr. Troy Ott and Mr. Dean Collamer with the PennAg Distinguished Service Award this year. The many accomplishments and outstanding efforts these individuals have put forth for the betterment of the agribusiness industry are unparalleled,” said Christian Herr, executive vice president of PennAg Industries Association. “The agriculture industry in Pennsylvania continues to thrive thanks to the foresight and work ethic of those in the agriculture community. We look forward to continuing our relationship with both Troy and Dean, as PennAg strives to maintain a competitive environment for agribusiness to grow and prosper in Pennsylvania. Congratulations.”
–Kelly Caldwell, PennAg Industries Association