The Department of Animal Science recently announced its 2022 Awards of Distinction. The recipients of the Distinction Awards are:

• Advanced Graduates of Distinction – Broc Sandelin and Jarold Callahan

• Graduated with Distinction — Zachary Boone

• Friend of the Department – Michael and Beth Hodges

Each recipient was recognized for their contributions to the animal science industry and research, as well as to the Department of Animal Science at the U of A’s Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences.

Pitcher Sandelin graduated from Oklahoma Panhandle State University with a degree in animal science before coming to the U of A, where he completed his master’s and doctoral degrees. in Animal Science in 2001 and 2005, respectively. After earning his doctorate, he started as an assistant professor at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. He was tenured and promoted to associate professor in 2009 before becoming chair of the Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences in 2010. Since 2018, Sandelin has served as Dean of the School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at Delaware Valley University in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. , where he oversees all academic matters for the School of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. This includes program development, evaluation, faculty development, strategic planning, fundraising, and the budgeting and oversight of DelVal’s large farm operations. Sandelin currently resides in Warminster, Pennsylvania with his wife, Lerae; their Labrador, Cooper; and pot belly pig, Penelope.

Jarold Callahan was born on a farm and ranch in Welch, Oklahoma, and graduated from Welch High School. He majored in agriculture and attended Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College in Miami and earned an AA degree before transferring to Oklahoma State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science. After graduating, he became an instructor at NEO. While there, he earned a master’s degree in agriculture from the U of A. In 1981, he joined the faculty at OSU and served as an assistant professor in the department of animal science, where he taught beef production from purebred and livestock selection. He was also responsible for the purebred cattle herds and trained the cattle judging teams. In 1991, he joined Express Ranches, initially as Operations Manager. He is now president of Express Ranches. Additionally, he was elected to the board of directors of the American Angus Association for eight years and served as president of that association in 2011 and 2012. Currently, he is vice-chairman of the board of directors of OSU A&M . Callahan and his wife, Jennifer, also own and operate their own cattle operation located in Oklahoma and Craig County.

Zachary Boone earned his Associate’s degree in Animal Science from Northeast Oklahoma A&M and his BS in Animal Science from the U of A. While at U of A, he was a member of the team livestock judge and founding member of FarmHouse Fraternity. After graduation, Boone joined Cargill’s North American protein business and held various positions in canned beef distribution, sales, operations and management. His current role at Cargill is a canned beef pricing consultant. In recent years, Boone has returned to the U of A to support the Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Conference, lecturing on the post-harvest beef supply chain. Before college, Boone graduated from Gravette High School, where his family owned a small farm. In high school, Boone was president of the FFA, showed cattle, and was a member of the cattle judging team. He found his passion for the beef industry here working for local ranchers.

Michael Hodges, MD, graduated from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry in 1992. He went to the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas, and graduated his medical degree in 1996. The Hodges married in 1996 and moved to Fayetteville. He completed a three-year family medicine residency through UAMS in 1999. The Hodges moved to Mountain Home in 1999 to join North Central Arkansas Medical Associates. He practiced medicine there and served the community of Twin Lakes for the past 23 years. Beth Hodges graduated from Texas A&M University in Galveston, Texas, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology in 1993. She was employed at UTMB in the Genetics Department from 1994 to 1996. She worked at the U of A System Division of Agriculture in soybean genetics from 1996 to 1998. Hodges was the Easy Riders 4-H leader in Baxter County from 2008 to 2021. They have two daughters: Avery was born in 1998 and Quinn was born in 2003. Both girls grew up around horses up to 4-H and continue to compete in the AQHA and HRHA at the regional and national levels. The Hodges recognize the tremendous importance of the 4-H program in preparing their daughters for success in life and continue to be strong supporters of this wonderful program.

About Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences: Bumpers College provides life-changing opportunities to position and prepare graduates who will be leaders in businesses associated with food, family, environment, agriculture, sustainability and quality of life. human life; and who will be first-choice candidates for employers looking for leaders, innovators, decision makers and entrepreneurs. The college is named after Dale Bumpers, a former governor of Arkansas and longtime U.S. senator who propelled the state into national and international agriculture. For more information about Bumpers College, visit our website and follow us on Twitter at @BumpersCollege and Instagram at BumpersCollege.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas’ flagship institution, the U of A offers an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to the Arkansas economy through teaching new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and employment development, discovery through research and creative activity while providing training in professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation ranks the U of A among the top 3% of colleges and universities in the United States with the highest level of research activity. US News and World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. Learn how the U of A is working to build a better world at Arkansas Research News.