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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John T. McMaine is the recipient of the 2026 Larry W. Turner Young Extension Professional award for leading the charge of signature programs in water sustainability, from stakeholder collaboration to next-gen extension training. McMaine is an associate professor and extension specialist in the biosystems and agricultural engineering at the University of Kentucky. He previously served in a similar capacity at South Dakota State University until 2024. McMaine’s research and extension program focuses on addressing water quantity and quality challenges through naturebased engineering and landscape restoration solutions. As an extension specialist, McMaine has organized over 50 extension and research events, working to reduce barriers to implementation and ensure that sustainable water management practices are accessible to growers and land managers. Full biography
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.
Ana Martin-Ryals is the 2026 recipient of the A.W. Farrall Young Educator award for her contributions to advancing the biological engineering profession and stimulating professional development and intellectual curiosity through teaching and mentoring. Martin-Ryals serves as an assistant professor and undergraduate coordinator in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering at the University of Florida (UF). She instructs several undergraduate and graduate courses within the discipline and oversees academic advising and curriculum development for the undergraduate biological engineering program. Full biography
The A.W. Farrall Young Educator award recognizes and honors outstanding success in motivating others in the application of engineering principles to the problems of agricultural engineering.
John T. Evans IV is the recipient of the 2026 Sunkist Young Designer award for his work developing a cyber-physical co-development framework to enable rapid, safe, and transferable automation of off-road vehicles in agriculture. Evans is an assistant professor in agricultural and biological engineering at Purdue University where he leads a nationally recognized research program focused on autonomous off-road navigation and instructs two courses annually. He oversees the development of systems that merge cyberphysical design with real-world deployment for agricultural and infrastructure operations. Full biography
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.
Natalie Nelson is the recipient of the 2026 New Holland Young Researcher award for distinguishing herself as a prolific researcher, an inspiring mentor, and a collaborative leader within the profession. Nelson is an associate professor and University Faculty Scholar in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering at North Carolina State University, where she serves as the principal investigator of the Coastal and Watershed Analytics Lab. Her research focuses on the intersection of inland water management and coastal water quality outcomes, with an emphasis on resolving surface water quality hazards. In addition to her research, she teaches graduate-level courses in coding and environmental modeling. Full biography
The New Holland Young Researcher Award honors dedicated use of scientific methodology to seek out facts or principles significant to agricultural engineering.
Joe Sagues is the 2026 recipient of the Gale A. Holloway Professional Development award for exemplary leadership in engaging and mentoring early-career ASABE members, enhancing professional development, and elevating student participation in Society activities. Sagues serves as an assistant professor and principal investigator of the Biocarbon Utilization & Sequestration (BUS) Lab at North Carolina State University, where he leads a research and teaching program focused on climate change mitigation. Sagues has held diverse research and development roles across corporations, startup companies, and national laboratories. Full biography
The Gale A. Holloway Professional Development Award seeks to encourage and recognize outstanding leadership and active involvement in ASABE for early career members.
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.