Continuing with our celebration of this year’s CALS Awards recipients, we are sharing information about the winners of the Pound Extension Award, the Robert G. F. and Hazel T. Spitze Land Grant Faculty Award for Excellence, and the Donald R. Peterson Farm Technology Transfer Award this week.

Steven Deller

Steven, recipient of the Pound Extension Award, is a Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics. His research looks at rural economic growth, and he is one of the top rural development economists in the nation. He has served as the intellectual leader for UW’s Community Economic Development program for almost 20 years and the state’s U.S. Economic Development Administration University Center since its inception in 2017. Steven has collaborated with the Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative, thinking about how their hospitals could engage in community economic development locally.

Claudio Gratton

Claudio, recipient of the Robert G.F. and Hazel T. Spitze Land Grant Faculty Award for Excellence, is a professor in the Department of Entomology. He is conducting research at the intersection of biodiversity conservation and agriculture, and he translates his work to be actionable for decision makers. He co-leads the USDA-funded Grassland 2.0 project, developing collaborations among farmers, land managers, industry leaders and scientists to create more sustainable agriculture solutions. Additionally, his expertise on pollinators helped develop Wisconsin’s first Pollinator Protection plan in 2016. Claudio is a committed teacher and mentor.

Russell Groves

Russell, recipient of the Donald R. Peterson Farm Technology Transfer Award, is a professor and extension specialist in the Department of Entomology and recently completed his service as department chair. He has planned educational programs for the Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association, the Midwest Food Products Association, Wisconsin Muck Farmers, and the Wisconsin Berry and Vegetable Growers Association. In addition to development of the Wisconsin Vegetable Disease and Insect Forecasting Network, Russell has supported farmers, land managers, industry leaders, and scientists with UW Extension AgWeather.