The Department of Animal Science recently announced its 2022 Awards of Distinction. The Awards of Distinction recipients are: 

• Advanced Graduates of Distinction — Broc Sandelin and Jarold Callahan

• Graduate of Distinction — Zachary Boone

• Friend of the Department — Michael and Beth Hodges

Each awardee was recognized for his or her contributions to the animal science industry and research, as well as to the Department of Animal Science in U of A's Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences.

Broc Sandelin graduated from Oklahoma Panhandle State University with a degree in animal science before he came to the U of A, where he finished his M.S. and Ph.D. in animal science in 2001 and 2005, respectively. After graduating with his Ph.D., he started as an assistant professor at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. He was awarded early tenure and promotion to associate professor in 2009 before becoming chair of the Animal and Veterinary Sciences Department in 2010. Since 2018 Sandelin has served as dean of the School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at Delaware Valley University in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, where he oversees all academic-related matters for the School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences. This includes program development, evaluation, faculty development, strategic planning, fundraising and budgeting and oversight of DelVal's large farming operations. Sandelin currently resides in Warminster, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Lerae; their Labrador, Cooper; and pot belly pig, Penelope.  

Jarold Callahan was born on a farm and ranch in Welch, Oklahoma, and graduated from Welch High School. He majored in agriculture and attended Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College in Miami and received an A.A. degree before transferring to Oklahoma State University, where he received a bachelor's degree in animal science. Upon graduation, he became an instructor at NEO. While there, he received a master's degree in agriculture from the U of A. In 1981 he joined the faculty at OSU and was an assistant professor in the Animal Science Department, where he taught purebred beef production and livestock selection. He was also in charge of the purebred beef herds and coached the livestock judging teams. In 1991 he joined Express Ranches, initially as chief operations officer. He now serves as president of Express Ranches. Additionally, he was elected to the American Angus Association Board of Directors for eight years and served as that association's president in 2011 and 2012. Currently, he is serving as vice chair on the OSU A&M Board of Regents. Callahan and his wife, Jennifer, also own and operate their own cattle operation located in Oklahoma and Craig County. 

Zachary Boone earned his associate degree in animal science from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M and his B.S. in animal science from the U of A. While at the U of A, he was a member of the livestock judging team and a re-founding member of FarmHouse Fraternity. After graduation, Boone joined Cargill's North American Protein business and has held various roles in box beef distribution, sales, operations and leadership. His current role at Cargill is boxed beef pricing consultant. In recent years, Boone has returned to the U of A in support of the Young Cattlemen's Leadership Conference, giving talks on beef supply chain post-harvest. Prior to college, Boone graduated from Gravette High School, where his family owned a small farm. While in high school, Boone served as the president of FFA, showed livestock and was a member of the livestock judging team. He found his passion for the beef industry here working for the local ranchers.  

Michael Hodges, M.D., is a graduate of Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, where he received his Bachelor of Science in biochemistry in 1992. He went to the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas, and received his M.D. in 1996. The Hodges were married in 1996 and moved to Fayetteville. He completed a three-year residency in family medicine through UAMS in 1999. The Hodges moved to Mountain Home in 1999 to join North Central Arkansas Medical Associates. He has practiced medicine and served the Twin Lakes community there for the last 23 years. Beth Hodges is a graduate of the University of Texas A&M in Galveston, Texas, where she received a Bachelor of Science in marine biology in 1993. She was employed at UTMB in the genetics department from 1994 to 1996. She worked at the U of A System Division of Agriculture in soybean genetics from 1996 to 1998. Hodges was the Easy Riders 4-H leader in Baxter County from 2008 to 2021. They have two daughters: Avery was born in 1998, and Quinn was born in 2003. Both girls grew up around horses through 4-H and continue to compete in AQHA and HRHA on regional and national levels. The Hodges recognize the extreme importance the 4-H program had in preparing their daughters for success in life and continue to be ardent supporters of this wonderful program.

About the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences: Bumpers College provides life-changing opportunities to position and prepare graduates who will be leaders in the businesses associated with foods, family, the environment, agriculture, sustainability and human quality of life; and who will be first-choice candidates of employers looking for leaders, innovators, policy makers and entrepreneurs. The college is named for Dale Bumpers, former Arkansas governor and longtime U.S. senator who made the state prominent in national and international agriculture. For more information about Bumpers College, visit our website, and follow us on Twitter at @BumpersCollege and Instagram at BumpersCollege.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas' economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the top 3% of U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research News.