by Fran tenBensel Benne | Agronomy and Horticulture Communication
Over 175 people gathered to celebrate and honor the achievements of students, faculty, staff and alumni of the agronomy and horticulture department at the spring banquet April 15 in the Nebraska East Union.
The evening began with a social hour, followed by a buffet meal and program. Master of Ceremonies Ankit Yadav, doctoral student and Agronomy and Horticulture Graduate Student Association vice president, and Lovely Zamord, a master’s student, welcomed everyone, including industry leaders, stakeholders and guests and thanked the sponsors, including Jhala Weed Management Lab, Nebraska Crop Improvement Association, Nebraska Agri-business Association, Stock Seed Farms, Ward Laboratories, Charles A. and Barbara L. Francis and Central Valley Ag.
Department Head Martha Mamo gave the opening remarks.
Mamo presented the Martin A. Massengale Outstanding Senior Award to Bryson Rader. The award honors Massengale, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Chancellor from 1981–1991, president emeritus of the University of Nebraska, founding director of the Center for Grassland Studies and Foundation Distinguished Professor.
Rader, one of the highest-performing students in the department, was noted for his engagement with instructors and peers and his ability to apply concepts and knowledge to curriculum in the classroom. He has been actively involved with several student organizations and programs at the university including the Engler Entrepreneurship Program, the Clayton Yeutter Institute of International Trade and Finance, and has served as a UNL Student Court Justice appointee. He was also named a 2025-2026 Yeutter Student Fellow. Over the last four semesters, Rader served as a teaching assistant for the Soil Resources course.
Rader graduates this May with a degree in agronomy and minors in horticulture, Engler agribusiness entrepreneurship, and international trade. After graduation, he plans to continue working on his family's farm and grow his aronia berry business, Above Aronia, which he developed while part of the Engler program. He also has an interest in pursuing other agronomy-related careers and paths, including international trade and agricultural policy, applied agronomy research or production and graduate school.
A representative from each student club, organization and competition team gave a brief overview of their group, introduced the officers and advisers, talked about their group’s achievements and activities during the year and presented awards.
Gabrielle Clifton, a junior agronomy major, introduced the Crops Judging Team. Yadav presented the Weed Science Team.
Anna Newcome, a senior majoring in plant biology and environmental science, and Promise “PJ” Smeal, a senior majoring in plant and landscape systems, introduced the Soil Judging Team. Becky Young, associate professor of agronomy and horticulture, presented Newcome with the UNL Soil Judging Team’s Sharp Shooter Award. The team’s Trowel Award was given to Diego Sanchez, a junior environmental science major and Soil Resources teaching assistant, at the School of Natural Resources award banquet on April 11.
Each president introduced their club or organization.
Gage Fryda, a junior agronomy major, introduced the Agronomy Club and presented two awards. The UNL Agronomy Club’s Outstanding Member of the Year award went to Clinton Turnbull, a junior agronomy major. Alex Roth, an agricultural economics major, received the club’s Outstanding Freshman award.
Claire Kiolbasa, a senior plant and landscape systems and environmental science major, introduced the Horticulture Club.
Kiolbasa also introduced the university’s Alpha Gamma Chapter of Pi Alpha Xi, the national honor society for horticulture. On behalf of the chapter, Kiolbasa awarded Zachary Halley, Lincoln Parks and Recreation Public Gardens district supervisor, with the President’s Citation in recognition of outstanding service in the field of horticulture. Luqi Li, a club adviser and lecturer in agronomy and horticulture, and Kiolbasa presented a Pi Alpha Xi Alpha Gamma Scholarship to Aaron Barnhouse, a senior plant and landscape systems major.
Ryleigh Kirby, a doctoral student in complex biosystems, introduced the Plant Biology Club.
Clara Freese, a senior majoring in fisheries and wildlife and grassland systems, introduced the Range Management Club. The club honored two members at the School of Natural Resources awards banquet. Freese received the Trail Boss Award, and the Trail Blazer Award was given to Aidan Choat, a sophomore Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication major.
Barnhouse then introduced the Turf Club.
Somdatta Achar, doctoral student in agronomy and horticulture and AHGSA secretary, introduced AHGSA. Achar presented Amit Jhala, professor of agronomy and horticulture and department associate head; Andrea Basche, professor of agronomy and horticulture; and Christine Booth, lecturer and coordinator of the IANR Science Communication Hub, with AHGSA Faculty Appreciation Awards for their involvement and contributions to the association.
Achar presented AHGSA Staff Appreciation Awards to TJ McAndrew, research facility coordinator; Tracy Pickering, office supervisor; Lisa Hilfiker, graduate program coordinator; and Fran Benne, communications specialist, for their outstanding support of all graduate students.
Zamord recognized Yadav and Achar as this year’s AHGSA Outstanding Student Members for their support and engagement in the association and its activities.
Yadav and Zamord recognized undergraduate and graduate students who received awards and fellowships over the past year. They then thanked all sponsors for their generous contributions to scholarships and fellowships.
Sam Wortman, professor of agronomy and horticulture, announced the department’s inaugural Outstanding Student Awards recognizing excellent teaching and research assistants. Undergraduate Student Outstanding Teaching Assistant awards were presented to Blake Hansen, a senior agronomy and agricultural economics major, and Rader. Anmol Singh was recognized as the Graduate Student Outstanding Teaching Assistant. Adrian Cox, a senior integrated science and sustainable food systems major, was honored with the Undergraduate Student Outstanding Research Assistant award and Luka Milosevic, a doctoral candidate, was given the Graduate Student Outstanding Research Assistant award.
Benne, Staff Advisory Committee chair, recognized staff nominated for the SAC Special Contribution Award including Kyle Bernadt, finance specialist; Gianna Butcher, office associate; the Eastern Nebraska Research Extension and Education Center Facilities Operations Team, Greg Teichmeier, research manager; Lan Xu, research manager, and the Office Professionals team of Pickering, Butcher and Toma Sukhova. Butcher was honored with the award for going above and beyond her usual job duties in a way that greatly benefited the department and/or the university.
David Meyer, co-chair of the Agronomy and Horticulture Alumni Advisory Council, introduced the council and announced the winners of the 2025 Alumni Lifetime Achievement Award. The award is the highest honor bestowed upon graduates of the department who have made significant contributions to their community, state and nation through professional service, public service and/or civic engagement. Those honored included Thomas S. Payne, Calvin O. Qualset, James “Jim” S. Schepers, and the late James “Jim” Specht. Their bios were read by Kirby, Chuck Francis, Charles Herron, Fryda and Freese.
Full biographies of Alumni Lifetime Achievement Award recipients are available at https://agronomy.unl.edu/alumni.
Professor emeritus James Schepers thanked the students for their hard work. Then he, David Vetter of Grain Place Foods, and Ray Ward of Ward Industries, handed out five-dollar bills to all undergraduate students to pay for their banquet meal.
The emcee thanked everyone and the banquet ended with the announcement of the winners of the silent auction.
Go to https://go.unl.edu/banquet26-photos for photos.
More details at: https://go.unl.edu/springbanquet2026