The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) presented awards to five young members for notable early-career achievements. The five were honored at the 2023 ASABE Annual International Meeting.
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Vivek Sharma is the 2023 recipient of the Larry W. Turner Young Extension Professional Award for his work developing a research-based extension program in precision irrigation management, best management practices, and soil moisture sensing. Sharma is an assistant professor and precision water management specialist in the agricultural and biological engineering department at the University of Florida.
The Larry W. Turner Young Extension Professional Award recognizes excellence in personal character and outstanding achievement in serving and motivating clientele to acquire new knowledge and skills, transferring technology and research, and advancing the profession of agricultural and biological engineering.
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Alicia A. Modenbach, PE, is the 2023 recipient of the A.W. Farrall Young Educator award for her enthusiasm for the discipline, energy, and creativity in the classroom, as well as openness and fairness to students. Modenbach is a lecturer and student services coordinator in the Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering at the University of Kentucky
The A. W. Farrall Young Educator Award honors outstanding success in motivating the application of engineering principles to the problems of agricultural engineering.
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Nathan R. Vandike is the recipient of the 2023 Sunkist Young Designer award for exceptional engineering contributions in the design, innovation, and technology advancement of crop harvesting equipment. Vandike is a staff engineer in crop harvesting advanced engineering with John Deere Global Crop Harvesting.
The Sunkist Young Designer Award honors the development or creation of a technical plan that is materially influencing agricultural engineering progress, as evidenced by use in the field.
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Haibo Huang is the recipient of the 2023 New Holland Young Researcher award for his contributions to developing and applying engineering technologies to valorize agricultural and food wastes for supporting societal sustainability. Huang is an associate professor in the Department of Food Science and Technology and an affiliate professor in the Department of Biological Systems Engineering at Virginia Tech.
The New Holland Young Researcher Award honors dedicated use of scientific methodology to seek out facts or principles significant to agricultural engineering.
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Adam Watson is the 2023 recipient of the Gale A. Holloway Professional Development award for his ASABE membership and leadership activities, service, and for stimulating professional development, intellectual curiosity, and student achievement. Watson is an assistant professor and the undergraduate coordinator of agricultural operations management in the agricultural and biological engineering department at the University of Florida,
The Gale A. Holloway Professional Development Award seeks to encourage and recognize outstanding leadership and active involvement in ASABE for early career members.
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The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers is an international scientific and educational organization dedicated to the advancement of engineering applicable to agricultural, food, and biological systems.