Three University of Kentucky College of Agriculture graduate students that are researching forage were awarded the top three spots in the Emerging Scientist competition during the American Forage and Grassland Council’s (AFGC) annual conference in Springfield, Mo., in June.

Laura Schwer, graduate student in the College of Agriculture’s Plant and Soil Sciences Department and assistant coordinator for UK’s Pasture Evaluation Program was awarded top honors. Jennifer Johnson, graduate student within the UUSDA’s Agricultural Research Service, placed second. Third went to Christin Herbst, graduate student in Animal and Food Sciences.

Each participant had to be nominated by an AFGC member to be eligible to attend the conference and contest. The annual conference is attended by forage and livestock producers, agribusinesses, and research, extension, and teaching faculty in crop and animal sciences, agricultural engineering, and other affiliated disciplines. More information about AFGC can be found by visiting www.afgc.org.

Holly Wiemers, MS, is communications director for UK’s Equine Initiative.

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