Published on 05/09/12

Beard, Protsko win prestigious Walter B. Hill awards from UGA

By Jonathan R. Veit

Two University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences faculty members have received Walter Barnard Hill awards in recognition of their public outreach programs.

Glenn H. Beard, county extension coordinator for Colquitt County, and Eric Prostko, a crop and soil sciences professor and Extension weed specialist, both received 2012 Walter Barnard Hill Awards for Distinguished Achievement in Public Service and Outreach.

Glenn Beard

Beard has 30 years of service with the university. For the past 17 years, he has served as the agricultural and natural resources Extension agent in Colquitt County.

His county has the largest acreage of commercial vegetables in Georgia and is the largest producer of greenhouse vegetable transplants in the southeastern United States, exceeding $400 million in annual net value.

“Glenn’s service to agricultural communities in Georgia has had a major impact in the state and beyond," said Jennifer Frum, UGA’s vice-president for public service and outreach. "He has earned a national reputation for his expertise in recognizing and identifying vegetable diseases and has become a resource for farmers and county agents across the Southeast."

Beard is the author of "Diseases and Conditions of Vegetables in Georgia: A Pictorial Dictionary." He has received international recognition for his work in China teaching concepts such as soil fertility, pH, and crop rotation to local farmers.

Eric Prostko

With 13 years of service, Prostko is responsible for the statewide weed science program in field corn, peanut, soybean, sunflower, grain sorghum and canola.

A former county Extension agent, he has provided 68 in-service training programs for county Extension agents and made educational presentations at 545 local county crop production meetings. He has also made presentations to many allied agricultural industry groups.

Protsko is the author of a bimonthly column titled “From the Turn-Row,” which appears in "Southern Farmer", a regional publication covering agriculture in Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Kentucky and eastern Tennessee.

“Eric is a firm believer in sharing information and data with the farming community," Frum said. "He was one of the first UGA extension specialists to formally develop an Internet-based training program for county extension agents."

A maximum of five Hill Awards are presented each year by UGA’s Office of the Vice President for Public Service and Outreach. Each recipient is judged to have made contributions to the improvement of the quality of life in Georgia or elsewhere of an order that greatly exceeds the normal accomplishments of a productive faculty member.

Beard and Prostko were presented their award during the 21st Annual Public Service and Outreach Meeting and Awards Luncheon held April 16.

Jonathan Veit is a public relations specialist with the office of the University of Georgia Vice President for Public Service and Outreach.

Authors:

Jonathan R. Veit

Experts/Sources:

J. Scott Angle

Eric Protsko and Glenn Beard win Walter B. Hill Awards

Pictured from left to right, Jennifer Frum, vice president for public service and outreach; Glenn Beard, Walter Barnard Hill Award recipient, Michael F. Adams, president, University of Georgia, Scott Angle, dean, University of Georgia College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences.

Pictured from left to right: Jennifer Frum, vice-president for public service and outreach, Eric Protsko, Walter Barnard Hill Award recipient, Michael F. Adams, president, University of Georgia, Scott Angle, dean, University of Georgia College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.

Download Image

CAES News

UGA Extension supports resilience in Georgia farm communities after Hurricane Helene 12/19/24 Emily Cabrera

Hurricane Helene wrought sweeping devastation across Georgia’s agricultural sector in late September, leaving an indelible mark on both the land and the people who tend it, bringing focus to vulnerabilities in Georgia’s farming industry and the need for more robust safety nets. In addition to the physical destruction, the hurricane took an emotional toll on Georgia’s farmers. In response, UGA Extension has prioritized mental health support.

At the 2024 Georgia Life Sciences Summit held Oct. 21-22 in Atlanta, Professor Quingguo “Jack” Huang of the College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences received the Golden Helix Innovation Award for his research in technologies to mitigate “forever chemicals” in water resources. (Photo by Andrew Davis Tucker)

CAES News

Nothing lasts forever: CAES professor finds solutions to break down ‘forever chemicals’ 12/05/24 Carson McAfee

University of Georgia Professor Qingguo “Jack” Huang always wanted to do one thing: solve problems. Growing up in a small city in central China, Huang’s favorite subject in elementary school was math, granting him the opportunity to work on many problems. In high school, his passion transitioned to science, where he learned he could feed those same interests in a way that benefited others. He was finishing high school in the 1980s when Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring made its way to Chinese newspapers, capturing Huang’s attention.

Georgia Simmons at the office of U.S. Sen. Warnock

CAES News

Georgia 4-H alum, CAES student spends semester serving at the nation's Capitol 12/03/24 Josie Smith, Cooper Hardy

Third-year University of Georgia student and Banks County 4-H alum Georgia Simmons has been in the center of the political action this fall with the Georgia 4-H Washington DC Intern Program. Simmons, an environmental resource science major in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, works in the office of U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock. As an intern on his staff, she interacts directly with policy experts and lawmakers, participating in the legislative process while earning a semester of credit hours.

Longtime faculty member George Vellidis was named the first permanent director of the Institute for Integrative Precision Agriculture. IIPA was launched in 2022 and has grown to include more than 70 faculty members. (Photo by Paul Privette for UGA CAES)

CAES News

Vellidis named director of Institute for Integrative Precision Agriculture 12/02/24 David Mitchell

University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Professor George Vellidis has been named director of the Institute for Integrative Precision Agriculture (IIPA). His term began on Nov. 1, and he will serve as the unit’s first permanent director. “Dr. Vellidis has been a vital member of our UGA faculty for years and played a key role in launching IIPA,” said Chris King, interim vice president for research. “Whether it’s his impact as a first-class researcher and educator or the work he does behind the scenes to elevate our reputation in the field abroad, his presence has made UGA a hub for precision agriculture research.”

CAES News

That's the spirit! 11/18/24 Maria M. Lameiras, Claire S. Kinnard

Wheat breeders spend years meticulously crossing varieties to coax the best traits out of each species, carefully propagating plant varieties that are healthier, heartier and better suited for the environments where they are grown. Professional brewmasters are equally painstaking when choosing the components that will give their beers a specific flavor profile.

CAES News

CAES Transfer Pathways Program expands enrollment access for rural students 11/12/24 Emily Cabrera

The Transfer Pathways Program is opening new doors for rural students who dream of attending the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES). In partnership with Wiregrass Georgia Technical College and Southern Regional Technical College, students who complete required coursework at these institutions can transfer to CAES to complete bachelor’s degrees in one of three majors — agribusiness, agricultural education, and agriscience and environmental systems.