AMES, Iowa – Russ Euken has received the R.K. Bliss Award from Iowa State University. The award recognizes outstanding achievement of an ISU Extension and Outreach staff member for developing an overall or continuing extension education program. The award is named for Ralph K Bliss, the director of extension from 1912 to 1946.
Euken is an ISU Extension and Outreach beef and swine field specialist. He was recognized on Sept. 25 during Iowa State’s annual awards ceremony. Interim ISU Vice President for Extension and Outreach John Lawrence presented the award.
“Mr. Euken is a trusted resource for information and education for the livestock industry in North Central Iowa. He conducts approximately 10-12 programs per year and works with individual producers, impacting 300-450 clients per year. He also works cooperatively with the Iowa Beef Center and the Iowa Pork Industry Center teams,” Lawrence said.
Euken works with commodity groups and agribusinesses to increase the availability and impact of programs, Lawrence noted. He also works to help non-agriculture groups, such as chambers of commerce and city government, understand and access information on agriculture related issues.
The R.K. Bliss Award recognizes achievement throughout an extension professional’s career, particularly in leading educational program planning and development. During his career, Euken has led statewide educational efforts on beef feedlot facilities, organized a statewide employee management workshop series, and helped initiate a beginning livestock producer program and organize a local peer group of new producers. He also has taken a leadership role on ISU Extension and Outreach’s north central area ag team.
Euken serves Butler, Cerro Gordo, Chickasaw, Floyd, Franklin, Grundy, Hamilton, Hancock, Hardin, Howard, Humboldt, Kossuth, Mitchell, Webster, Winnebago, Worth and Wright counties. He is based at the ISU Extension and Outreach office in Hancock County.
Euken joined ISU Extension and Outreach in 1980, starting as a county extension director. He has been an extension livestock specialist since 1993.
[PHOTO] Russ Euken