Floyd Andre Award
This citation honors a College of Agriculture and Life Sciences alumnus 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.
2018 Floyd Andre Awardee
James R. Christensen (’82 farm operation )
Royal, Iowa
James Christensen, a fifth-generation farmer and co-owner of Christensen Feedlot and Royal Beef, LLC, near Royal, Iowa, is a leader in Iowa’s agricultural industry. Christensen works collaboratively with Iowa State University and commodity organizations to advocate for increased state funding for agricultural research, extension and the Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.
In 2013, Christensen gathered a group of individuals interested in supporting Iowa agriculture. The group started Grow Iowa Agriculture, a grassroots organization focused on advocating for legislative support for the Iowa State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station, and ISU Extension and Outreach. Christensen continues to lead Grow Iowa Agriculture, which has grown to more than 350 members.
Christensen’s dedication to his alma mater has included 13 years of service on the Department of Animal Science’s External Advisory Board. He was inducted in to the department’s hall of fame in 2018. He served eight years on the board of trustees for the Iowa State University Agricultural Foundation (now known as the ISU Agricultural Endowment), serving as chair from 1999-2002. Christensen is actively involved with the Alpha Gamma Rho Eta Chapter and received its Agricultural Leadership Award in 2014.
Christensen’s involvement in his local community includes service on the Bethlehem Lutheran Church Council, the Great Lakes Cooperative Board of Directors, Royal Telephone Company Board of Directors, and Clay County Cattlemen’s Board of Directors. He is an active member of the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, which presented him with its 2017 Iowa Beef Quality Assurance Award.
Past Recipients
- 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.
- 2008 – Roger Underwood
- 2007 – Terry Meyer
- 2006 – Theodore Crosbie
- 2005 – Lee Kline
- 2004 – Daryll E. Ray
- 2003 – James Penney
- 2002 – Ron Holden
- 2001 – Jan Schuiteman
- 2000 – Duane Halvaerson
- 1999 – Willard Latham
- 1998 – James Bradford
- 1997 – Alan Tubbs
- 1996 – David Williams
- 1995 – Kenneth Bower
- 1994 – John Greig
- 1993 – Donald Latham
- 1992 – Derryl McLaren
- 1991 – Robert Kalton
- 1990 – Russ Sanders
- 1989 – Varel Bailey
- 1988 – Marvin Walters
- 1987 – William Larson
- 1986 – Raymond Baker
- 1985 – Edward Tubbs
- 1984 – G. Joe Lyon
- 1983 – Owen J. Newlin
- 1982 – Robert Skinner
- 1981 – Bob Joslin
- 1980 – Robert Buck
- 1979 – James Hilton
- 1978 – George Strayer