Henry A. Wallace Award

This citation honors a College of Agriculture and Life Sciences alumnus or friend who has achieved notable professional achievements nationally or internationally and brought distinction to themselves, the college, and the university through their significant contributions. 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.

2024 Henry A. Wallace Awardee

Scott Hutchins (Ph.D. ’87 entomology)
Carmel, Indiana

Dr. Scott Hutchins has made a pronounced impact in both the public and private sectors of the agricultural industry, finding bridges between the two. Prior to becoming an independent consultant, Hutchins served as the deputy under secretary for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Research, Education, and Economics (REE) mission area.

Hutchins’ impact while at the USDA was extensive. The agencies that make up the REE have a unique federal leadership responsibility to advance agriculture research, extension and education.  Hutchins’ focus was developing a national agricultural innovation strategy and USDA science blueprint.

Before his time with the USDA, Hutchins spent nearly 32 years in the private sector working for Dow AgroSciences (now Corteva AgriSciences). There, he served in several technical and leadership roles focused on agricultural innovation, ultimately serving as the Global R&D Leader for the company.

As a professional entomologist, Hutchins is the past president of the Entomological Society of America and was subsequently elected as a Fellow and Honorary member.

His time at Iowa State had a lasting impact, both professionally and personally. As a graduate student, Hutchins had an extraordinary mentor (Dr. Larry Pedigo) and supportive fellow graduate students that worked to challenge each other. Beyond receiving his doctoral degree here, Ames is a special place for Hutchins and his wife, Janet. They’ve encountered many memorable life experiences in Ames, including the birth of two of their three children.

Hutchins is an ISU Alumni Association Life Member.

Past Recipients

• 2023 – Patrick McGonegle, ’83 animal science
  
• 2022 – Bill Northey, ’81 agricultural business
• 2021 – Deland J. Myers Sr., ’81 MS food technology, ’84 PhD
• 2020 – Roger Carlsson, ’78 agricultural business
• 2020 – Betsy Freese, ’84 agricultural journalism
• 2019 – Dhamu Thamodaran, ’83 PhD agricultural economics
• 2018 – Max F. Rothschild
• 2017 – Catherine E. Woteki
• 2016 – Robert E. Walton, Sr., ’61 PhD animal science
• 2015 – James P. Tobin, ’78 agricultural and life sciences education
• 2014 – Steven Bradbury, ’81 MS entomology, ’85 PhD
• 2013 – James Blome, ‘85 agronomy and pest management
• 2012 – John P. Gordon
• 2011 – Lowell Catlett, ‘80 PhD economics
• 2010 – Dana R. Robes, ’67 dairy science
• 2009 – David L. Wright, ’82 agronomy, ’86 MS
• 2008 – Owen J. Newlin, ’51 agronomy, ’53 MS
• 2007 – Harlan Ritchie, ’57 animal science, ’64 PhD
• 2006 – Carl Whitcomb, ’66 MS horticulture, ’69 PhD
• 2005 – Ray Townsend
• 2004 – D.L. “Hank” Harris, ’67 doctor of veterinary medicine, ’70PhD
• 2003 – Wesley Buchele, ’54 PhD ag engineering
• 2002 – Burton Endo, ’51 horticulture
• 2001 – Douglas Hard, ’75 animal science, ’78 MS, ’81 PhD
• 2000 – Mark Drabenstott, ’80 MS agricultural economics, ’81 PhD
• 1999 – Billy Day, ’58 PhD animal science
• 1998 – Francis Byrnes, ’75 PhD sociology
• 1997 – Ned Raun, ’61 PhD animal science
• 1996 – Walter Fehr, ’67 PhD agronomy
• 1995 – Luther Tweeten, ’54 agricultural education,’ 62 MS agricultural economics
• 1994 – Duane Acker, ’52 animal science, ’53 MS, ’57 PhD
• 1993 – Roger Mitchell, ’54 agronomy, ’61 PhD
• 1992 – Arnel Hallauer, ’58 MS agronomy, ’60 PhD
• 1991 – Robert Barnes, ’57 agronomy
• 1990 – Kenneth Frey, ’48 PhD agronomy
• 1989 – Eugene Meyer, ’46 dairy science
• 1988 – Herb Plambeck
• 1987 – Neil Harl ’55 agricultural education, ’65 PhD economics
• 1986 – Kenneth Nielsen, ’46 agricultural education
• 1985 – Robert Kalton, ’45 MS agronomy, ’47 PhD
• 1984 – Charles Henderson, ’33 animal science, ’35 MS, ’48 PhD
• 1983 – George Beal, ’43 agricultural economics, ’47 MS, ’53 PhD rural sociology
• 1982 – Louis Thompson, ’47 MS agronomy, ’50 PhD
• 1981 – R. J. Hildreth, ’49 industrial administration,’ 50 MS, ’54 PhD agricultural economics
• 1980 – Charles Black, ’38 MS agronomy, ’42 PhD
• 1979 – Lauren K. Soth, ’32 agricultural journalism, ’38 MS
• 1978 – Earl Heady, ’45 PhD economics