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The Leopold Center begins 2006 with a new leader and a new
staff position.
On November 1, Leopold Center director Fred Kirschenmann
accepted a position as the first Leopold Center
Distinguished Fellow. The move allows Kirschenmann time to
focus on the broader issues that face sustainable
agriculture and how they relate to the Center’s work. At the
same time, Jerry DeWitt, coordinator of ISU Extension’s
sustainable agriculture program and its Pest Management and
Environment program, began a two-year appointment as interim
director at the Leopold Center.
The changes were announced October 28 by Wendy Wintersteen,
a 15-year member of the Leopold Center Advisory Board and
then-interim dean of the Iowa State University College of
Agriculture. She also chaired the search committee that
brought Kirschenmann, a North Dakota organic farmer who was
well-known in national sustainable agriculture circles, to
ISU in July 2000.
“The Distinguished Fellow position is an acknowledgement of
Fred’s leadership in broad issues affecting farmers,”
Wintersteen said. “He has a deep understanding of the
science and philosophy of sustainable agriculture as well as
a special talent for looking to the future and bringing
people together to work on goals. His emphasis on marketing
and food systems, ecology and policy will continue to guide
the center’s programs.”
”Iowa State is firmly committed to sustainable agriculture
research and education and to the Leopold Center as a
catalyst for making farming more profitable, more
environmentally friendly and to build stronger rural
communities,” Wintersteen added.
The personnel changes also were discussed briefly at a
previously scheduled day-long retreat in Boone for members
of the Center’s advisory board and staff.
“Fred has taken the Leopold Center to a new level and we
have the ability to grow even more under this new
arrangement,” said Jim Penney of Ames, who represents the
Agribusiness Association of Iowa on the board.
Drake University law professor Neil Hamilton has served on
the board since the Leopold Center was created in 1987. He
said the leadership changes allow Kirschenmann to continue
his work on national projects while DeWitt can focus on
strengthening the Center’s partnerships in Iowa.
“I am very proud of the Leopold Center’s reputation for
sustainable agriculture and Fred has given us a stronger
national presence,” Hamilton said. “Jerry also knows
sustainable agriculture and will build what we need at home,
so this has a bookend quality.”
DeWitt, who also attended the retreat, said he has long
respected Kirschenmann and that he looked forward to their
joint efforts to further the Center’s mission.
Kirschenmann said his activities will continue to build on
the synergy created by bringing the vision for sustainable
agriculture to new groups. He has helped plan several
national conferences and worked with a number of
nationally-focused projects, including the Agriculture of
the Middle efforts that grew out of meetings he helped
convene in 2003. The multi-state project addresses the
diminishing number of midsize farms, many of which are
family farms.
Kirschenmann also will continue to represent Iowa in a
long-term effort to improve water quality in the Mississippi
River Basin, and on the Whiterock Conservancy Board.
“I am absolutely committed to the Leopold Center mission and
as long as I can be useful to fulfill the mission I will
continue to be here,” he said. “My alternative position
allows me to continue many of my activities and speak about
the changes that I believe we need to make if we are going
to have a sustainable agriculture on this planet.”
Kirschenmann was the Center’s second director and first
farmer to hold the position. He holds a faculty appointment
in ISU’s Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies.
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