David R. Brown
 David R. Brown was presented the Private Lands Stewardship Award by the Fish and Wildlife Service in cooperation with the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission (GSWCC) for his conservation ethic and actions carried out on his Longview Farm in Coweta County, Georgia. David’s property contains over 400 acres, mainly consisting of hayland, pastureland, and cattle. He entered into a voluntary partnership with the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program and the GSWCC in an effort to improve water quality and benefit fish and wildlife resources in the watershed and improve habitat conditions for several federally listed threatened and endangered mussels found in Coweta County.
This project involved the installation of nearly one mile of fence to exclude cattle from streams and a lake on David’s property. In addition to the fencing, he installed controlled access watering ramps to allow the cattle to continue to utilize water from the streams and lake while protecting these waters from further degradation. He also allowed a 35 feet riparian buffer of natural regeneration of native vegetation to be restored along each side of the Little White Oak Creek and associated wetland areas.
Although the Fish and Wildlife Partners Program and the GSWCC provided technical assistance and funding for these conservation activities, David went far above and beyond typical landowner contributions by spending his own funds and labor to implement the conservation practices. David’s conservation knowledge gained over many years enabled him to recognize the numerous benefits this project presented.
David is a retired District Conservationist with the US Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. He received his B.S. in Agricultural Economics in 1959 and was a member of the Agricultural Economics Club and Lambda Chi Alpha. Professors in the department were an inspiration to David to do his best. He fondly remembers Professor Roy Proctor as a wonderful teacher who had a positive impact on his professional career. David offers this advice to current students in the department: “Figure out what you want to do in life and get a degree that closely relates to your goals, and get an advanced degree.”
David’s greatest accomplishment has been using the knowledge he gained while obtaining his degree in agricultural economics and in his profession to establish a self-supporting farm from over 400 acres of cut-over timberland. He was awarded the Conservationist of the Year Award by the GSWCC Supervisors and the Commercial Cattleman of the Year Award by the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association.
David feels fortunate that his life’s work has also been one of his favorite hobbies – raising cattle and improving the environment. He has owned cattle since he was ten years old, including the years he was in college. Another hobby is archeology. He is also a history buff and an admitted Georgia Bull “Dawgs” fanatic. David and his wife, Rita, have four daughters and two grandchildren – a boy and a girl. Their daughter, Stephany, holds a UGA degree in Anthropology and works for the Farm Service Agency as a Global Position Satellite Specialist.
Mark Byrd
 Mark Byrd received the Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award presented by the Southern Agricultural Economic Association. The title of his thesis is “Farm-Level Approach to the Methyl Bromide Phase-Out: Identifying Alternatives and Maximizing Net Worth Using Stochastic Dominance and Optimization Procedures.” Mark’s major professor was Dr. Cesar Escalante and other members of his advisory committee included Dr. Michael Wetzstein and Dr. Greg Fonsah.
Currently a student at the University of Miami School of Law, Mark earned a B.S. in Environmental Economics and Management in 1999 and an M.S. in Agricultural Economics in 2005, both from the University of Georgia. While at UGA, he was on the Dean’s List and a member of Phi Theta Kappa, Gamma Sigma Delta, the Agricultural and Environmental Economics Club, and the Graduate Student Association. Mark attributes his success in being accepted into law school to his hard work. While in college, he “worked when he wasn’t studying.” His advice to current students in the department is “Work hard, continue to live as cheaply as you did in college, and learn how to invest your own money.”
Mark currently lives in Miami, Florida and enjoys reading and exercising during his leisure time.
Randy Nuckolls
 Randy Nuckolls (B.S. in Agricultural Economics - 1974) was presented the Friend of Extension Award from National Epsilon Sigma Phi (ESP), the Extension Professionals’ Organization, at their national conference in Colorado Springs, CO. Randy is one of only three individuals to receive this honor, which is the highest recognition given by ESP to non-Extension people, businesses or organizations. The award recognizes truly outstanding support and personal involvement in Extension efforts. Randy was nominated for this honor by the Alpha Beta Chapter from Georgia.
He has more than 25 years of experience in Washington, D.C., working on national issues in the public policy arena focusing on agriculture, natural resources and higher education issues. His relationship with 4-H and appreciation for the value of Cooperative Extension began when he was in the fourth grade growing up on a poultry and dairy farm in North Georgia. He has selflessly supported the Extension mission through assisting higher educational institutions and organizations in pursuing their federal affairs agendas, including promoting the causes and programs of land-grant institutions. With a speciality in agricultural and natural resource law, Randy has served as Washington Counsel for the University of Georgia. For more than 20 years, he has hosted visiting Georgia Extension agents and 4-H groups when they visited Washington, organized congressional meetings for them and advised them on ways to communicate Extension interests to key policy makers.
Student News
Allyson Barnes
 Allyson Barnes is a fourth year student in the Honors Interdisciplinary Studies program with a focus on agricultural economics and political science. She served as an intern in Congressman Sanford Bishop’s office in Washington D.C. during the summer of 2005, where she attended congressional briefing and hearings regarding agricultural issues. In addition, she composed letters of support for pending constituent grant requests from federal agencies, participated in lobbyists’ meetings, informed Congressman Bishop of policy effects on constituents and local businesses, and compiled votes and notes of these meetings to aid the congressman in making speeches. In 2004, Allyson was selected to serve as an intern in the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s International Office in Brussels, Belgium. While there, she evaluated the prospect of introducing pecans into the markets of Sweden, Finland, and Norway and composed an in-depth research paper for presentation to the Southern United States Trade Association describing a marketing plan she had designed. She also evaluated the European Union’s political situation and composed briefings to better inform Georgia producers and agribusinesses of trade opportunities in Europe. She authored two articles regarding European agriculture which were published in the Farmers’ and Consumers’ Market Bulletin. In addition, Allyson worked as a UGA Honors Program student aide, preparing mailings, scheduling meetings for staff and providing tours and informational sessions for prospective students and their parents. She also served as a peer advisor for the Honors Program, creating a schedule of activities and leading meetings for first year students in the program to help prepare them for the transition from high school to university life.
Allyson is a born leader, active in numerous campus leadership activities. She has served as president and vice-president of the Ag Hill Council and as their liaison with the Student Government Association (SGA) where she informed representatives of the activities and votes being held in SGA. She has facilitated communication of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) clubs among each other and with the administration. She re-wrote the Ag Hill Council’s Constitution and By-Laws and distributed funds to clubs based upon their participation in the council and the college. She also organized “Breakfasts with the Dean” to enable students to express their concerns to him.
A number of other organizations have benefitted from Allyson’s leadership abilities, including the AGHON Honorary Society where she is currently serving as secretary/treasurer, the Panhellenic Council where she served as a recruitment counselor, the Student Government Association where she served as a freshman board senator, the University Council where she served as a CAES student representative, and the Arch Society, where she served as a university student ambassador. She represented numerous university offices at official functions to welcome guests, alumni, and dignitaries to the university. She also served as a Barrow Elementary School mentor, serving as a role model and friend for an underprivileged student through weekly activities of playing, reading, or studying.
Allyson was a founding member and community service chair of the Rotaract UGA, the collegiate version of the Rotary Club committed to community service and professional development. She has organized activities within the Athens area to provide opportunities for greater service to the community by Rotaract UGA members. Additionally, she has facilitated the activities of 100 high school students at Interact Day, a time of collaboration of service ideas, introduction to the opportunities of the university, and socialization.
Allyson is also a member of the Blue Key Honor Society which honors students exhibiting leadership, academic success and service as recognized by their pears, the Dean William Tate Honor Society which recognizes characteristics of commitment and love for the university through involvement and compassion, and the Agricultural and Environmental Economics Club.
Allison Leigh Brazell
 Allison Brazell, a fourth year Agribusiness major with a minor in Horticulture, is from Kingsland, Georgia and has been a UGA student since the spring of 2005. Prior to that, Allison attended Coastal Georgia Community College for two years. She is currently an FFA reporter and a member of the Agricultural and Environmental Economics Club.
Allison joined the department as a work-study student in the fall of 2005. Her duties vary on a daily basis, since she is assigned to support the central office staff. She has become a valued addition to the staff, always carrying out her duties with excellence and a great attitude.
Allison grew up working in her family’s business involving satellite installation. During the last few years at home, she and her brothers did most of the installation work, and Allison ran the office, as well. Her experience with the family business has given Allison aspirations of operating her own business. After college graduation, she plans to work for someone else for a few years and then open her own business.
In her leisure time, Allison enjoys playing tennis, hunting, fishing, reading, playing with her dogs, going to the beach and just spending time with her family. She is a member of Twin Rivers Missionary Baptist Church in Hortense, Georgia.
Stephen Kuzniak
 Stephen Kuzniak, a fourth year agribusiness major from Dalton, Georgia, is enjoying an active and productive college career. He is a Presidential Scholar, on the Dean’s List, recipient of the AGR Don Ray Newton Award and Scholarship, Scholarship Officer of Alpha Gamma Rho and a member of the Alpha Zeta Honorary Fraternity, Collegiate 4-H Club, Georgia Counselors Alumni Association, and the Poultry Science Club. Additionally, he served as vice-president for Agribusiness of the Agricultural and Environmental Economics Club and is currently serving as the club’s president. After obtaining his B.S., Stephen plans to attend graduate school and then operate a business of his own.
Stephen’s active lifestyle extends beyond academics and club activities. He plays intramural sports, including flag football, basketball, softball, indoor soccer, and tennis. He attends St. James Methodist Church and volunteers and coaches an upward basketball team for first and second graders at Beachwood Baptist Church.
In his leisure time, Stephen plays football and enjoys running. He is currently in training for a marathon.
Alumni News
Phil Southerland
 Phil Southerland, a 2005 graduate with a major in Agribusiness, is now employed by Massachusetts Mutual. He recently co-founded an organization, TeamType1 (TT1), which is dedicated to finding a cure for diabetes and to raising awareness for people with diabetes to exercise in order to stay healthy. Phil donates 5% of his commissions to TT1 which raises funds for diabetes research and helps subsidize the cost of care for young people with diabetes who are denied health insurance because they have a “pre-existing” condition.
Phil was diagnosed with diabetes when he was only seven months old. The disease was difficult to diagnose because of its rarity in one so young. He credits his mother for taking excellent care of him when he was too young to care for himself. Phil has not allowed diabetes to control his life. Always an excellent athlete, at the age of 13 he began focusing on cycling and has been cycling competitively ever since. For the most part, Phil’s diabetes has not interfered with his racing career, with one exception during an 800-mile race in Ireland. He and TT1's co-founder, Joe Eldridge, want people with diabetes to understand that control of blood sugar is one way of limiting long-term damage to the health of diabetics, and exercise helps people with diabetes have better control of their blood sugar.
If you would like more information about TeamType1, you may contact Phil at philracer3@yahoo.com or log onto the web site at www.teamtype1.org/phil.html.
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