Anderson Inducted In Ag Hall Of Fame; Whitacre Named Young Ag Alumni At Virginia Tech

9 Sep 2003

Glenn Anderson, specialist in agricultural education with the Virginia Department of Education, was inducted into Virginia Tech's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Hall of Fame Sept. 5.

The induction was part of the college's homecoming activities held in conjunction with the university's Farm and Family Showcase. Also part of the activities was the awarding of the college's Young Agricultural Alumni Citation to Jamie Whitacre, a senior loan officer with Valley Farm Credit in Winchester and a 1994 graduate of the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics.

Anderson, a resident of Mechanicsville, was named to the hall of fame for his contributions to the industry of agriculture and to the university. Sharron Quisenberry, dean of agriculture for Virginia Tech, recognized Anderson during the ceremony.

"It is in his role as specialist in agricultural education for the Virginia Department of Education and in his support to this college through the Virginia Tech Agricultural Alumni Organization that we know Glenn best," Quisenberry said. "In both, his leadership has had lasting impacts on the state's agriculture industry and on this college."

Anderson, who earned a bachelor's degree from Virginia Tech in 1968 and went on to earn his master's and doctoral degrees from the university as well, has been in a position to influence agricultural education in Virginia's schools for more than 30 years. In addition to serving as the agricultural education specialist for the Department of Education, he is also the state adviser for the FFA.

He served on the leadership council for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and on the board of the Virginia Tech Agricultural Alumni Organization. He served as the organization's president for a one-year term that ended last fall. His other accomplishments include serving as managing editor of Agricultural Education Magazine, adviser to the Young Farmers of Virginia, a member of the board of directors of the Virginia Council of Farmer Cooperatives, and a member of the Virginia Plant Pollination Advisory Council.

Jay Jackman, outgoing president of the Virginia Tech Agricultural Alumni Organization, presented Whitacre with the Young Alumni Award.

Whitacre is a past president of the organization, and he served in a number of leadership positions on the organization's board since he was a student representative during his senior year in 1994. He is a part-time farmer in addition to his job with Valley Farm Credit.