Posted: December 6, 2017

Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences has inducted seven alumni into the Armsby Honors Society. The society was created to honor individuals whose service, scholarship, teaching and philanthropy have demonstrated a profound commitment to the college. It is intended to recognize and encourage members’ continuing involvement in both the college and the alumni society.

The 2017 inductees are:

-- Kira Bowen, a 1980 alumna in plant science. Bowen is a professor of plant pathology, with a focus on plant disease epidemiology, at Auburn University. She is a noted teacher and mentor, accomplished author, and vice president of the American Phytopathology Society. Her research on peanut aflatoxin has had a direct impact on peanut and corn production and consumers in the United States and abroad. Her work has garnered more than $1 million in research grants. In 2017, she also was named an Outstanding Alumna of the college.

View photos from the Outstanding Alumni Award and Armsby Honor Society Ceremony, a spectacular evening full of talented alumni leading exemplary lives in their professions and communities, distinguishing them as Penn State award honorees.

-- Bruce Bugbee, a 1981 alumnus in horticulture. Bugbee is a professor of environmental plant physiology at Utah State University. Over the past 30 years, his research has received consistent NASA support for projects related to food production in regenerative environments for use on space stations, including recent funding to participate in a multi-university institute. He is well regarded internationally and is the founder of Apogee Instruments, a leading manufacturer of research-grade instrumentation. In 2017, he also was named an Outstanding Alumnus of the college.

-- Eric Cowden, a 2003 alumnus in animal science. Cowden is the outreach director for the Pennsylvania State Senate and previously served as outreach manager for the Marcellus Shale Coalition. He has tirelessly served the University, college and the agricultural industries during and after his time as a student at Penn State. He is former president of the Ag Alumni Association, a member of the McGuffy FFA Advisory Board and Farm Show Scholarship selection committee, a 4-H leader, and a music director and board member at his church.

-- Barry Flinchbaugh, a 1964 alumnus in animal science and 1967 graduate in agricultural economics. Flinchbaugh is professor emeritus of agricultural economics at Kansas State University. He is a leading expert on agricultural policy and economics and has taught approximately 4,000 undergraduates over the course of his career. He has contributed significantly to the development of agricultural policy, including serving as chair of the Commission on 21st Century Production Agriculture, authored more than 100 publications and a textbook, and received multiple academic and industry awards.

-- Theodore Katsigianis, a 1975 and 1979 alumnus in dairy and animal science. Katsigianis is vice president of agricultural sciences for the Biltmore Co. in Asheville, North Carolina. At the Biltmore estate, a national public landmark, he is responsible for livestock and equestrian programs, oilseed production, and agricultural tourism, and has pioneered sustainable agriculture and local food and wine programs. Formerly, he was an assistant professor of animal science at the University of Maryland and assistant extension professor at the University of Maryland. He has been consistently involved with education, extension and improvement of the livestock industry throughout his career.

-- Joel Krall, a 2006 alumnus in animal science. Krall is owner and operator of Furnace Hill Holsteins, a registered herd of more than 500 Holsteins. His family's business is well known for premier dairy herds, forage crop production and quality genetics. Krall is active in the dairy and agricultural communities at both the regional and state levels and gives his time and expertise by volunteering with several agricultural organizations, including Penn State student organizations. He is treasurer of the Professional Dairy Managers of Pennsylvania board, president of the Lebanon County Holstein Association, and a member of Lebanon County's Pennsylvania Farm Bureau board.

-- Fred Metzger, a 1981 alumnus in animal bioscience. Metzger is a doctor of veterinary medicine and the owner and chief executive officer of Metzger Animal Hospital, the largest veterinary hospital in central Pennsylvania. He is an active contributor to the field, interfacing with other practitioners nationwide and authoring numerous publications, including the textbook, "A Guide to Hematology of the Dog and Cat." He serves on the practitioner advisor boards for Veterinary Economics and Veterinary Medicine magazines and is the senior international adviser to Idexx Laboratories. He is a board-certified veterinary specialist, distinguished speaker, designated Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners, and member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in the U.K.

Associate Director of Alumni Relations

Kelly Praskovich
  • Associate Director of Alumni Relations

Development and Alumni Relations

Address

240 Agricultural Administration Building
University Park, PA 16802