Congratulations are in order for Dr. John Walker for receiving the Sustained Lifetime Achievement Award. He has been recognized for more than four decades of substantial contributions to Rangeland Science and Management.
“The Society for Range Management has been very important in my career,” Walker said. “Most of my mentors were members of the organization, held leadership positions and have received similar awards. It feels good to be recognized alongside the people I respect.”
Following his passion for sustainable, rangeland-based livestock production, Walker has been able to participate in research throughout the United States, Israel and South Africa. In addition, he has also been recognized as a pioneer in the field of targeted grazing. He also created the Society for Range Management’s Targeted Grazing Committee. This committee helps educated and certify targeted grazing service providers.
(AgriLife Today Photo)
His current research is focused on the selective breeding of goats to consume species of juniper. He and other collaborators have developed a line of goats that consume roughly twice the amount of juniper as the average goat, known as “Aggie Cedar Eaters”.
Dr. Walker has also published studies on livestock guardian dogs, rangeland hydrology, wool metrology, and carbon cycling on rangelands.
Texas A&M Alumna and Executive Director of the Texas Grazing Land Coalition, Jenny Pluhar, also received the W.R. Chapline Land Stewardship Award. This award celebrates a legacy of maintaining and improving rangeland resources. Jenny received her Masters of Science in Range Science from Texas A&M University and currently serves on the External advisory Committee for the Department of Rangeland, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management.
For more information on Dr. Walker and Jenny Pluhar and other awards that were received, be sure to read the full AgriLife Today article.