Floyd Andre Award
This citation honors a College of Agriculture and Life Sciences alumnus or friend who has made outstanding contributions to production agriculture, agricultural business or has had a significant impact on Iowa agriculture. Iowa State University faculty members are not eligible for this award. Selection is made by the Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
This award was established in 1978 and is presented annually during Iowa State University’s Homecoming Weekend. Click here for the nomination form. Nominations are due the third Tuesday in November.
2023 Floyd Andre Awardee
Michael L. Peterson (’84 agricultural business)
Cedar Falls, Iowa
Michael Peterson, president and owner of Peterson Genetics, Inc., has had a profound impact on Iowa agriculture and has been a local supporter of Iowa State University.
As a leading provider of soybean germplasm to the North American soybean seed trade, Peterson’s company attributes its success to soybean research and genetics. That is why it is no surprise that through his leadership, Peterson Genetics joined the Iowa Soybean Research Center at Iowa State through both financial support and an advisory role through their industry council.
Peterson’s expertise in the industry developed through over 30 years of experience and through a variety of local and national industry leadership positions. He is a past President of the Iowa Seed Association, past Chair of the Soybean Division of the American Seed Trade Association, and past Chairman of the American Seed Trade Association.
Beyond the leadership of his company’s partnership with ISRC, Peterson has remained personally engaged with Iowa State with significant support of the Stark Performance Center and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The Peterson Genetics Seed Science Center Graduate Fellowship provides a great example of his commitment to research and development. He is also a proud recipient of the Agricultural Business Club’s Outstanding Alumni Award.
Peterson is a life member of the ISU Alumni Association. He also belongs to the Order of the Knoll W.M. Beardshear Society and Campanile Society and is a Cyclone Club member. He is the father of five children.
Past Recipients
- 2022 – Robert E. Rust, friend of Iowa State University
- 2021 – Neal (CB) Conover, ’69 animal science, and Dwight Conover, ’74 agricultural business
- 2020 – Jeff Plagge, ’76 agricultural business
- 2019 – Steve Berger, ’86 agricultural business
- 2018 – Jim Christensen, ’82 farm operation
- 2017 – Todd Hall, ’82 animal science
- 2016 – Cindie Marie (DeCoster) Luhman ’83 animal science, ’90 PhD nutritional physiology
- 2015 – Harold Hodson, Jr., ’61 animal science, ’65 PhD
- 2014 – Sig Cornelius, ‘76 farm operation
- 2013 – David Morrison, ‘69 food technology, ‘71 MS chemical engineering
- 2012 – Dennis Casey, ‘64 agricultural business, ’68 MS poultry science, ’78 PhD
- 2011 – James G. Frevert, ’60 farm operation
- 2010 – James C. Borel, ‘78 agricultural business
- 2009 – Dwight Hughes, Jr., ’70 horticulture
- 2008 – Roger Underwood, ’80 ag business
- 2007 – Terry Meyer
- 2006 – Theodore Crosbie, ’73 ag and life sciences education, ’76 MS agronomy, ’78 PhD
- 2005 – Lee Kline, ’51 agricultural journalism
- 2004 – Daryll E. Ray, ’65 farm operation, ’71 PhD agricultural economics
- 2003 – James Penney, ’68 farm operation, ’79 MS agronomy
- 2002 – Ron Holden, ’67 agronomy
- 2001 – Jan Schuiteman, ’74 doctor of veterinary medicine
- 2000 – Duane Halverson, ’67 agricultural business, ’69 MS
- 1999 – Willard Latham, ’63 agronomy
- 1998 – James Bradford, ’56 animal science
- 1997 – Alan Tubbs, ’66 animal science
- 1996 – David Williams, ’53 animal science
- 1995 – Kenneth Bower, ’32 agricultural business
- 1994 – John Greig, ’60 MS animal science
- 1993 – Donald Latham, ’69 agronomy
- 1992 – Derryl McLaren, ’71 agricultural business
- 1991 – Robert Kalton, ’45 MS agronomy, ’47 PhD
- 1990 – Russ Sanders, ’75 farm operation
- 1989 – Varel Bailey, ’62 farm operation
- 1988 – Marvin Walter, ’62 animal science, ’64 MS
- 1987 – William Larson, ’49 PhD agronomy
- 1986 – Raymond Baker, ’28 agronomy, ’91 PhD
- 1985 – Edward Tubbs, ’41 animal science
- 1984 – G. Joe Lyon, ’51 dairy science
- 1983 – Owen J. Newlin, ’51 agriculture, ’53 MS
- 1982 – Robert Skinner, ’49 animal science, ’54 MS
- 1981 – Bob Joslin, ’47 agricultural business
- 1980 – Robert Buck
- 1979 – James Hilton, ’23 animal science, ’65 PhD
- 1978 – George Strayer, ’32 agronomy