1997 Irvin T. Omtvedt

Mr. President, members of the head table, honored guests, ladies and gentlemen - thank you for the opportunity to participate in this important occasion. It is indeed a singular honor for me to be at this podium, giving voice to the feelings of respect, admiration and appreciation thousands of us have for the 1997 Nebraska Hall of Agricultural Achievement Honoree.

Dr. Irvin T. Omtvedt, "Irv" to all of us, has been described as a brilliant scientist, a gifted teacher and mentor, a visionary administrator, a skilled politician, a caring father and husband, and a trusted friend. At the core of all those gifts is an extraordinary brand of leadership we are pleased he chose to apply to agriculture - especially Nebraska agriculture. For, in the process, he lifted each of us in our capacity for achievement and brought particular prestige to the title "agriculturist" we all hope proudly to wear.

Tonight, we assemble not at the end of the trail, celebrating in finality this lifetime of accomplishment. We gather, instead, to survey and say thanks for all that has been done thus far, to analyze the impact one man has had on the lives of so many others, and learn from this remarkable "work in progress." No, Irv, this isn't closure. It is only a pause that allows us to give back to you a little of the recognition and encouragement you have given so generously to all of us in Nebraska agriculture.

Let's begin at the foundation of this complex human mansion. The builders are at a reserved table right down front, and I know that Irv will be introducing them during his remarks. Irv's experience with agriculture began in America's abundant and diversified Dairyland of the upper Midwest. He was born at Rice Lake, Wisconsin, and reared on his family's farm near Bloomer. He was involved in 4-H and FFA at the local and state levels. There he developed his fundamental views of agriculture and rural culture which continue to be expressed in his leadership. But, early on it became evident that his intellectual gifts and disciplined achievement would lead him away from the farming enterprise to academe.

Irv's distinguished academic career a variety of rich exposures. He first completed a bachelor's degree in agriculture at the University of Wisconsin - Madison in 1957. He was involved in the livestock and meats judging teams there, and worked in the beef, sheep, and swine operations. From there he traveled to south to another top-flight land grant institution, Oklahoma State University, where he earned Master of Science and Ph.D. degrees in Animal Science. It should be noted that, in the midst of his scholastic advancement, Irv served his country as a member of the U.S. Army Reserves including active duty at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and Fort Polk. Louisiana.

His professional career then focused on public service through the research and education channels of the land grant university system. Irv first returned north to begin his career serving two years as an extension specialist with the University of Minnesota. Then, building on his record of achievement there, he was called back to Oklahoma State University for service on the Animal Science faculty where he remained for nine years. While there he demonstrated what would become his trademark love for students, serving as faculty advisor to Alpha Zeta and the Block and Bridle Club, as well as advising a number of graduate students. In July of 1973, Irv began his path in academic administration, answering a call to become Assistant Dean of Agriculture and Associate Director of the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station for Auburn University.

Then Nebraska called, and we begin the chapters in this story of special interest to us this evening. In 1975, this swine breeding specialist with the difficult-to-pronounce Norwegian name came to Lincoln as Head of the Department of Animal Science, stepping into the much-respected shoes of Dr. Frank Baker. (We cow guys shook our heads!) But, with his now familiar openness, candor and commitment to the needs of the University's constituents, Irv quickly established a respected presence in Nebraska's livestock industry. He acknowledged the strength of his predecessors but declared that such a foundation is only of value if built upon, and he wasted no time setting a course of service to an industry at the border of dramatic changes.

His skills as an administrator and breadth of scientific interest led, in 1982, to his appointment as Dean of Agricultural Research and Director of the Agricultural Experiment Station at UNL. Once again, he acknowledged the proud and productive heritage of agricultural research at Nebraska but applied his growing aptitude for strategic planning to develop, along with Nebraska's agricultural leadership, a coherent plan for the future of this crucial scientific enterprise.

In August of 1987, Dr. Omtvedt followed two of his closest professional colleagues, Drs. Martin Massengale and Roy Arnold, to become the fourth Vice Chancellor for the University of Nebraska's Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. He was first named to the interim position, then was awarded the permanent post in January 1988. In 1992, thanks to the efforts of several leaders in attendance tonight, the additional title of University Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources was added, bringing university-wide responsibilities to Irv's role.

During his leadership tenure at UNL, Irv has not only achieved significant milestones, he brought the science and application of collaborative planning to unprecedented levels. While head of the Animal Science Department, he played a major role in developing Agriculture 2001, the state's first strategic plan for agriculture, involving over 100 leading agriculturists from all sectors of the industry. As his administrative responsibilities grew, Irv drove implementation of the Ag 2001 plan at the university level. With that success, he instituted IANR's Strategic Plan, a dynamic, ongoing process which continues to spur the University and Nebraska agriculture to consider the long-term implications of near-term decisions and actions.

Under Dr. Omtvedt's leadership, strategic plans don't go on the shelf when completed. They become a roadmap to be checked regularly for direction, and a framework for accountability to be certain that resources are properly allocated, efforts are properly channeled, and progress is properly achieved. Such focused administration of Nebraska's research and education enterprise led to development of: 1) The Animal Science Complex and Food Industry Complex, facilities and related programs recognized among the finest in the U.S., if not the world; 2) the AG*SAT (now A*DEC) Telecommunication System and the Great Plains Veterinary Education Center, both of which erased old barriers to effectiveness and efficiency in service to agriculture; and, 3) the George W. Beadle Center for Genetics and Biomaterials Research, to which I will refer more in a moment, and major improvements to IANR's off-campus facilities in strategic locations across Nebraska. We should all remind ourselves that virtually none of these landmarks would have been reached without Irv's disciplined approach to strategic planning, and unwavering commitment to achieving targeted results.

I began by saying Irv is an extraordinary leader. That talent has been recognized and exploited by organizations around the country and, literally, around the world. I would mention just a few:
* President of the American Society of Animal Science
* President of the American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists
* Chairman, Administrative Heads Section, National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges
* Chairman, National Research Council panel on Animal Health and Veterinary Medicine for the National Academy of Sciences
* Chairman of the Board, AG*SAT National Agricultural Telecommunications Consortium
* Chairman, Midamerica International Ag Trade Consortium
* Numerous international assignments in Great Britain, the Netherlands, Syria, Morocco and Kenya
* Leadership of People - to-People tours of the Soviet Union and China

Likewise, his contributions as a leader have been frequently highlighted with prestigious awards. A sampling includes:
* Ak Sar Ben's Agricultural Achievement Award
* Honorary Member, Innocents Society UNL
* Advanced Degree of Distinction Award Oklahoma State University
* Fellow, American Society of Animal Science
* Fellow, American Society for the Advancement of Science
* Who's Who in Science
* Who's Who in the Midwest
* Outstanding Educators of America

While working on national and world stages, Irv has never ignored his local community where he and Wanda have set deep roots and built close relationships.

Among many local leadership roles and activities in which Irv takes pride, I would especially mention:
* Foundation Board of Directors, St. Mark's United Methodist Church
* President, Capital City chapter of Kiwanis Clubs of Lincoln
* Lincoln Agribusiness Club
* Lincoln Chamber of Commerce Agriculture Committee

That Irv is a leader is well documented and unquestioned. For me, though, how he has led is the more interesting issue for our examination. Let me use the Beadle Center as an example. As some of you know and all of you should, the George W. Beadle Center for Genetics and Biomaterials Research would likely not have been built, and certainly not in its present strategic location, were it not for Irv Omtvedt. While we now point with pride to that magnificent structure, whose embodied works will influence certainly agriculture and perhaps much of mankind for generations to come, its establishment was not without controversy. There are those in this room who argued vehemently that it was an agriculture-based facility and must be built on East Campus. There were others, equally strident, who said it was a basic science facility and must be built near current Arts and Sciences operations on City Campus. Irv, who picks his fights carefully but is nonetheless a fighter, staked his professional stature and integrity on this position: The Beadle Center will be built as a bridge, not a barrier, between campuses, disciplines and interests, or it will not be built at all. Clearly, and thankfully for all of us, he prevailed.

Rob Raun used to instruct me that in all matters of commerce and state, one must always know "who has the hammer." "If you have it," he said, "use it prudently, use it judiciously, but use it. That's the responsibility of leadership." Well, Irv has had the hammer and has been willing to use it prudently, judiciously, and effectively in our behalf.

You know, this man has had his name mispronounced by more important people than anyone I know. Netanyahu, Schallikishvilli, Begin, Butros Butros Ghali, Ghandi, even Yeutter, have nothing on Omtvedt in its capacity to tangle silver tongues. But the Beadle Center is one effort among many in Irv's career where decision makers may mispronounce his name, but rarely misperceive his wisdom nor his resolve.

Dr. Irv Omtvedt has led and collaborated in declaring the future for American agriculture. This room, this state and nation, are filled with people whom he has challenged with the biggest questions, from whom he has drawn creative solutions, and in whom he has placed trust and offered encouragement to achieve results beyond their expectations. Irv believes that big windshields and small rear-view mirrors are built in the correct proportion. He knows history and respects tradition. But he reveres neither to the point of allowing them to retard progress or suffocate new ideas. Combining his vision, curiosity, organization and discipline, Irv has shaped thought and action for enduring change. He is a builder of the first order, reaching higher and higher with each new phase of his career, but building on the solid bedrock of his legendary long-term commitments to people, to place, to ideas and to mission.

The Nebraska Hall of Agricultural Achievement's list of honorees is filled with native sons and daughters who have capitalized on their heritage and Nebraska's rich agricultural resources for great accomplishment. In contrast, Irv first experienced agriculture in a variety of settings before choosing Nebraska as domicile for his family and career. He recognized Nebraska's strengths and opportunities and, perhaps, in the process he helped each of us know ourselves and our opportunities a little better.

Irv, we are proud you chose the Cornhusker State for execution of your remarkable career. We now offer our thanks for the consequences of that choice. And, by the way, we can't wait to see what's next!

Thank you.