Congratulations to PPEM 25-year service awardees

At the award ceremony, Barbara Christ, Interim Dean, recognized the contributions of each employee, and the University awarded a University Chair to mark the occasion attended by family and friends.  Randy Dreibelbis, manager of the Plant Pathology Research Farm at Rock Springs, is responsible for supervision of operations including research field plot preparations, use and maintenance of field equipment, pesticide applications, worker production standards, marketing and sales, and facilities.  Douglas Keith works as a biological technician at the Mushroom Research Center and is responsible for assisting faculty in mushroom cultivation used for research.  Doug works to prepare specialized compost for mushroom production tests, crop maintenance and harvesting, and ensuring the high levels of building sanitation needed for mushroom cultivation as a food commodity.  Vija Wilkinson is a research support technologist working with Dr. Dan Royse on mushroom research projects and manages the Mushroom Spawn Lab which supplies mushroom spawn used to grow mushroom crops worldwide.  Vija also contributes by assisting graduate students and visiting scientists in learning the many techniques for characterizing and growing mushroom fungal cultures.  The College and the Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology thank each of these individuals for their contributions to our research, teaching, and extension programs.

For more photos from the 25-Year Award ceremony, click here.