The College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources honored six recipients with the 2025 CAFNR Column Award for Distinguished Alumni at an event Thursday, Nov. 6. This is the only award specifically for alumni presented by the college – the highest honor bestowed by the College in celebration of outstanding alumni. The awardee class includes one graduate from each of CAFNR’s six divisions, reflecting the six historic columns at the University of Missouri.
Animal Sciences
Gregory Lardy, Ph.D.
M.S. Animal Science ’93
Gregory Lardy is the Joe and Norma Peltier V.P. for Ag at North Dakota State University, a position he has held since 2020. This role includes responsibilities as Dean of the College of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural Resources; Director of NDSU Extension; and Director of the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station.
He has spent his academic career at North Dakota State University, serving as an Extension Beef Cattle Specialist, Department Head of Animal Sciences, and Vice President for Agriculture since receiving his Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln in 1997. Lardy has served as the President of the American Society of Animal Science, and has received honors for extension service, excellence in research and communicator of the year over his career. Most recently, awards have included Honorary Membership in the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association and the Kernel Award from the North Dakota Grain Growers Association.
“Dr. Greg Lardy operates with a true servant’s heart in all aspects of his leadership actions. North Dakota State University has been beneficiary to Greg’s incredible institutional loyalty as he has and continues to work tirelessly for all three areas of the land-grant mission,” said Bryon Wiegand, Director of the Division of Animal Sciences. “Dr. Lardy has moved the needle for agriculture in North Dakota and beyond. Dr. Lardy’s leadership trajectory within the NDSU system has been meteoric. He has led significant capital campaigns, engaged stakeholders at the highest level and has earned the respect of academics, legislators and industry stakeholders alike.
“Greg’s colleagues, direct reports and stakeholders hold him in highest regard as a person of integrity, honesty and one that shows empathy for his fellow humans.”
Biochemistry
Lawrence E. Page II, Ph.D.
B.S. Biochemistry ’07
Larry Page is Managing Director at Lewis & Clark Partners, which invests in and develops businesses across the agricultural and food supply chain landscape. The group backs companies whose main goal is to feed the world.
“Larry’s early career as an outstanding scientist studying basic and diverse research problems surrounding pollination biology and light-harvesting in early autotrophs has positioned him to be a trusted critical evaluator of applied science concepts that are ultimately brought to market,” said Michael Chapman, Director of the Division of Biochemistry.
During his time at Mizzou, Page was awarded a prestigious Discovery Fellowship (reserved for only the top 1% of incoming freshmen) – a program he continues to support – in both his freshman and sophomore years. He worked in the laboratory of Bruce McClure, Professor Emeritus, at the University of Missouri, where he “went well beyond a typical undergraduate researcher,” earning authorship on two publications. He then pursued a Ph.D. at Washington University in the lab of Himadri Pakrasi; he also led a campus-wide student entrepreneur club.
“This was an extraordinarily productive research period resulting in 10 co-authored publications studying the phycobilisome antenna modifications in cyanobacteria,” said Chapman. “Larry’s passion for applied science ultimately led him to pursue entrepreneurial positions as part of a Nidus Partnership in St. Louis, wherein he served as the Chief Technology Officer for Terra Biologics from 2013-15. From there, Larry joined Lewis & Clark Partners’ AgriFood Team, and has quickly risen from Associate to Managing Director, while serving on the board of 11 portfolio companies and managing 20 investments.”
Page continues to support Mizzou as a mentor in the Interdisciplinary Plant Group, in addition to helping raise discretionary funding for investment opportunities as a member of the Chancellor’s Excellence Fund Committee.
Division of Applied Social Sciences
Andy Stein
B.S. Hotel & Restaurant Management ’99
Andy Stein began his 27-year career with US Foods while he was still a CAFNR student, driving vans for one of the nation’s largest food service distributors while finishing his bachelor’s degree in hotel and restaurant management. Since then, he has steadily worked his way up through the corporate ranks to his current position as Area President.
“Andy’s service to the hospitality management program is exceptional. As President of the Hospitality Management Industry Advisory Board, he is instrumental in bringing industry leaders to campus twice annually to meet with faculty and students, discuss current industry issues that will impact student success, and advise on curriculum and fundraising efforts in the program,” said Harvey James, Director of the Division of Applied Social Sciences.
Additionally, Stein has supported CAFNR students directly through annual corporate sponsorships covering food costs for etiquette dinners, Advisor’s Forum luncheons, DASS Family Weekend breakfast events, recruitment events and an industry spotlight event. He has facilitated collaborations between the Hospitality Management program and Mizzou Athletics, with students now part of major events such as ROARS, Mizzou’s version of the ESPYs, which has become a capstone project, and staffing the “Can I help you” stations at home football games, providing experience in game-day operations and fan engagement. He has hosted groups of students annually during the St. Louis Winter Externship, and gives his time and shares industry insight and knowledge by mentoring capstone groups.
“From reviewing business plans to designing menus for a special event, Andy is an invaluable advisor and consultant to countless hospitality management seniors,” James said.
Stein also serves his industry as an Allied Board Member of the Missouri Restaurant Association, which honored him as “Allied Partner of the Year” in 2022. He is an active member and advisor for the St. Louis chapter of the University of Missouri Alumni Association and a member of the Agricultural Alumni Leadership Society. He helps to lead volunteer crews of US Foods employees through ‘gleaning’ events, hand-harvesting produce from Missouri producers that would otherwise be unused and readying the product for distribution to food-insecure families in the greater St. Louis area.
Food, Nutrition and Exercise Sciences
Wendy Reinhardt Kapsak, M.S., RDN
B.S. Nutrition & Fitness ’97
Wendy Reinhardt Kapsak is President and Chief Executive Officer of the International Food Information Council (IFIC), which delivers science-based information on food safety, nutrition and sustainable food systems to policymakers, professionals and the public.
She previously led the Produce for Better Health Foundation, launched the award-winning Have A Plant® Movement reaching billions, convened the first National Fruit & Vegetable Consumption Summit to drive a national action plan for healthier diets, and was the lead representative for North America in the United Nations/Food and Agriculture Organization’s International Year of Fruits and Vegetables. Her career also has included serving as Global Leader for Food, Nutrition, and Health Partnerships at Monsanto (now Bayer Crop Science).
“Wendy has elevated public health messaging and advanced global dialogue on sustainable food systems, leaving a lasting impact on both the profession and society,” said Dojin Ryu, Director of the Division of Food, Nutrition and Exercise Sciences. “Her consistent presence in scientific, policy, and media forums ensures that credible, evidence-based perspectives reach wide audiences, driving meaningful improvements in public health and sustainable food systems.”
Her career blends science, policy and consumer engagement, including 11 peer-reviewed publications and 200+ industry articles, along with 500+ presentations and media work. Honors include being named Produce Marketer of the Year (2022), a Women in Produce Honoree (2022), and a member of The Packer 25 (2018), recognizing the most influential leaders across the fresh produce industry.
“Wendy is a visionary leader who unites government, industry, academia, and consumers around evidence-based solutions. She embodies MU’s core values – Respect, Responsibility, Discovery, and Excellence – through her integrity, strategic foresight, and impact-driven leadership,” Ryu said.
Plant Science and Technology
Anson Elliott
B.S. Agriculture Education ’65, M.S. Agronomy ’68, Ph.D. Agronomy ’72
Now the Senior Agriculture Advisor for Convoy of Hope, a global, faith-based humanitarian organization serving vulnerable communities in the U.S. and worldwide, Anson Elliott served for 36 years as the Director of the William H. Darr School of Agriculture at Missouri State University, retiring in 2016. At MSU, where he also served as a Professor of Agriculture, Elliott oversaw departments of Animal Sciences; Agricultural Business, Education, and Communications; and Plant Sciences and Natural Resources, as well as seven undergraduate degree programs.
“He provided guidance and encouragement to thousands of students in the classroom and hallways, always challenging students to reach high goals,” said Jerry Nelson, Curators’ Professor Emeritus; Elliott served as a graduate teaching assistant for Nelson’s introductory class in Field Crops while pursuing his graduate degrees at Mizzou. “Several went on to graduate schools including the University of Missouri. I was fortunate to have two of his excellent students with me for Ph.D. programs.”
Elliott has pioneered partnerships with Mizzou and CAFNR, including a program to deliver agricultural training to farmers in the Bahamas; opportunities to share agriculture mechanization and goat expertise in Kenya; and providing Mesonet weather stations at MSU and Convoy of Hope sites. He is part of numerous international trade missions and national committees, in addition to service on Missouri State University’s Board of Governors and on Agriculture Advisory Committees for Missouri’s members of congress over the years.
In 2023, an award was developed by U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley in Elliott’s honor: The Dr. W. Anson Elliott Preparing the Future of Agriculture Award; in addition, the Anson Elliott Citizen Leadership Award Endowment was established at MSU in 2009. He has received awards including Wall of Fame at MSU, Missouri’s Agricultural Educator of the Year and Missouri Agriculture Leader of the Year, the National Association of College and Teachers of Agriculture Distinguished Educator Award, and the Distinguished Service Award from Missouri Farm Bureau.
Before joining MSU, he developed the first variety of wild rice at the University of Minnesota, and taught high school agriculture courses in Clever, Missouri.
“It has been pure pleasure to watch the career of this unique individual as it grew in scope and opportunity, yet he never wavered from his quest to make a difference, not for himself but for his family, his students and his many associates,” Nelson said.
School of Natural Resources
Eric Kurzejeski
B.S. Fisheries & Wildlife ’77, M.S. Wildlife ’79
Eric Kurzejeski is a Program Director and Instructor for the University of Missouri’s Prairie Fork Conservation Area. Previously, he spent 30 years with the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) as a researcher, administrator and Outreach Programs Chief. He led many agency-wide communication efforts aimed at gleaning public input from Missouri citizens, supervised staff responsible for the development of hunting regulations and worked closely with all aspects of the regulatory process.
“Eric is always at the beginning of great ideas and continues to help them grow into bigger and better realities,” said Patrick Market, Director of the School of Natural Resources (SNR). “He has established a phenomenal professional network so it’s nearly impossible to find someone whom he doesn’t know or doesn’t know him. These are also life-long relationships which have fostered a variety of experiences and opened a wide range of opportunities.”
Kurzejeski has had a profound impact on SNR during and since his time with MDC. He shepherded a $1.6 million gift from Pat Jones for Prairie Fork Conservation Education Program/Area, which include hands-on learning, natural resource research and natural community management. He has taught courses in Wildlife Management Techniques while also collaborating on research.
From 2023-25, he served as the Interim Director of the Johnny Morris Institute of Fisheries, Wetlands & Aquatic Systems in SNR, a partnership between Mizzou CAFNR, MDC and the Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation (MCHF). In this role, Kurzejeski helped get JMI off the ground as well as brought in a permanent director, Rick Relyea, who joined Mizzou in July 2025.
“While he served as the Interim Director of JMI, he inspired others to think deeply about the impact JMI will have on the future generation of conservationists,” said Tricia Burkhardt, Executive Director of MCHF. “His vision helped build a strong foundation for students, providing them with real-world field and research experiences and training to prepare them for the workforce. He worked diligently to establish three internships and two scholarships. His partnership-building skills have forged new opportunities to bring different areas of study together.”
Kurzejeski also has served on the Editorial Board and as President of the Missouri Chapter of the Wildlife Society; received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Wild Turkey Federation; and has led the Missouri Department of Conservation Instructor Training Course.