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Purdue Ag Economics Dept. to honor 4

Purdue’s Department of Agricultural Economics will present the 2010 Apex Award to 4 individuals with close ties to the department on Friday, April 16.

“These four outstanding individuals are great examples of the impact that graduates from our department have on society, the agricultural economy and their communities,” said Ken Foster, head of the Department of Agricultural Economics. “Their influence runs the gamut from providing educational opportunities for our students, improving the livelihoods of rural stakeholders and framing policy that makes U.S. agriculture more competitive.”

The four receiving the 2010 Apex Award include:

* Kim Emshwiller, president of Vision Ag Inc., which offers full farm management services in Rensselaer, Ind. With her sister, Emshwiller also began Blue Monday Soap Co., which produces handmade soap and body products. She holds a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics from Purdue.

* Jason Henderson, vice president and Omaha, Neb., branch executive for the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. His duties include leading the bank in agricultural research, representing the bank as a regional economist, recruiting and working with the board of directors. He holds master’s and doctoral degrees in agricultural economics from Purdue and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Central College in Pella, Iowa.

* Evelyn Ott of Jeffersonville, Ind. who has pledged a gift that will ultimately create a $1 million dollar endowment to provide full-ride scholarships for undergraduates studying agricultural economics. The gift honors Ott’s husband, Leland Ott, who earned a doctoral degree in agricultural economics from Purdue and served on the faculty of Cornell University.

* Warren Preston of Alexandria, Va., associate deputy administrator and chief economist for the Livestock and Seed Program, USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service. He advises the agency on policies and programs that affect livestock, meat, fish, grain and seed industries. He earned master’s and doctoral degrees in agricultural economics from Purdue and a bachelor’s degree in dairy science from Ohio State University.