Anna Lute Award Winner:

2008 Anna Lute Award Winner: Pat Brownfield

Pat and Brent Anna Lute was described as having a brilliant mind, exceptional efficiency and an enviable reputation for accuracy and dependability. This year’s winner has these qualities in spades. Pat is a tireless and eloquent champion of seed analysts to the seed industry; being active locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.

These activities have included teaching and training many RST’s, organizing many workshops, contributing countless hours to SCST administration and chairing several committees as well as contributing to the regional seed analyst’s group.

The nominator concluded his remarks about her by saying “The best thing we can say is that she is remarkably generous with her time and energy. She can provide inspiration or a swift kick to the seat of your pants if that is what you need. Her experience with vegetable seeds is second to none.”

The Front Range Seed Analysts are proud to present this year’s Anna Lute Award to Pat Brownfield. Congratulations! (Photo: Pat with Brent Reschly)

2007 Anna Lute Award Winner: Barbara Ann Atkins

        Barbara Atkins is really a lot like Anna Lute—no nonsense, but willing to share information, is exuberant about seed testing, and cares deeply about her customers.
She has drawn on her rural Colorado upbringing and her academic training in Denver (B.S. degree) and at New York's Cornell (M.S. Degree). She worked at laboratories in Nebraska and Colorado (Applewood Seed Company) before running her own Laboratory in Denver (B.A. Atkins Seed Testing) in the 1980's. Since 1989, she has worked at STA Laboratories in Longmont, Colorado.
    Her approach has always been balanced between seed analysis and seedsmen. She has always been well respected in the industry. People send seed to STA Labs because they want her to test it. When she owned her own seed testing business she once accepted samples on Christmas eve.
    She attends all the functions in her state seed industry, all the regional events, and many national events. She once remarked, “Once I didn’t attend an AOSA meeting and I was lost for three years.” She has been on SCST board, and active on numerous committees. She made significant contributions to the TZ Handbook, Handbook 25 and multiple rule proposals over the years.
    Barbara received her RST almost 30 years ago. She received a very high score—people wondered if she wrote the test.. Barbara loves to share what she knows. She trained several RSTs. Her expectations of trainees are very high. She gives her RST trainees an encyclopedia of references to study. Though they discover later that just a fraction of the information would prove to be on the test, they come to appreciate Barbara’s thoroughness as a mentor and teacher.    She doesn't just help her RST trainees pass the test, she helps them excel as well-rounded analysts. The FRSA is proud to present the 2007 Anna Lute Award to Barbara Ann Atkins. (Presentation by Melissa Simpson)

2006 Anna Lute Award Winner: Aleta Meyr

Aleta Meyr has seed analysis in her genes. She has carried on her mother Betty Ransom Atwater's legacy as the director of the Ransom Seed Lab. Some of the quotes on her website and brochure are so in tune with the Anna Lute vibe that it seems there must be some relation there too. Here is one: " The lab was always a part of my life. I grew up hanging out at the lab after school, playing with seeds and carefully replanting discarded seedlings out in my garden to watch them grow." --And this: "I enjoy my days at the lab, always full of challenges and invigorating projects." Most of us know her as the tireless contributor and participant in countless projects, referees and committee work. The fact that her employees also have a high level of dedication and commitment also sustained over many years is a testament to her effectiveness as a lab director. She clearly demonstrates the Anna Lute value of making the lab a fit place for minds to live. Congratulations Aleta Meyr.

2005 Anna Lute Award Winner: Sandra Hegna

Sandy Hegna

Sandra Hegna is a long time RST and CSA. In her 33 years of seed testing, she has always been enthused about training other analysts. Her students have caught her energy and in turn have “paid it forward” so that there is hardly a region of this country that has not been touched by her students or their students. One student remarked: “She taught me that seed identification is an art and not just a science.” Her interactions with customers go above and beyond the typical report of analysis. She strives to understand special needs and to ensure that the customers have a complete understanding of the results with additional follow up communications. One colleague recalls that she was “always early and always stayed late.” Her nominators say she has raised the bar with her numerous contributions. Sandra currently works at the Iowa State Seed Science Center in Ames, Iowa. Congratulations Sandra!

2004 Anna Lute Award Winner: Marilyn Milhous

Marilyn Milhous, long time seed analyst (CSA and RST) with the Colorado Seed Laboratory is the 2004 Anna Lute Award winner. Nominators cited her dedication to the improvement of seed analysis and the laboratory environment. Marilyn has continued the Anna Lute tradition of educating the public, seed industry, and students about seed testing. Over the decades, she provided crucial guidance to many undergraduate and graduate students. She provided displays and educational materials and interacted with the seed industry in ways that inspired confidence in her seed testing talents. One grower remarked: "If I send samples to Marilyn, I can sleep at night." She has helped develop new methods, assisted in the improvement of the AOSA Rules, is a charter member of the FRSA, and is always quick to volunteer on referee and workshop projects. Her "giddy" enthusiasm for interesting seed samples is infectious in the lab. She strives to bring an awareness of cultural diversity in the lab by sharing her extensive travel experiences. Marilyn's serious side comes out in her concern for safety, ergonomics and concern about accuracy and test method improvement. We think Marilyn is a fine analyst in the Anna Lute tradition. Congratulations Marilyn!

2003 Anna Lute Award Winner: Dr. Tim Gutormson

Nancy Vivrette, seed analyst with Ransom Seed Lab of Carpenteria,California, is the 2000 Anna Lute Award winner. She has workedin seed testing for over 15 years. After the Anna Lute model,she is passionate about "every phase of seed work." Her special interestsare in dormancy research and she has authored and coauthored many publicationson seed testing throughout the years. She is generous with her timeand expertise, helping younger seed analysts and leading many workshopsabout identification, purity, germination and tetrazolium testing. Since attaining her RST in 1985 she has served on numerous SCST and AOSAcommittees. She was the "Bookshelf" editor for the Seed Technologist News. As did Anna Lute, Nancy also participates in ISTA activities and is recognized internationally for the breadth of her expertise.

Susan R. Maxon, Seed Analyst with the Seed Regulatory and Testing Branch of the USDA in Beltsville, Maryland, is the 1999 Anna Lute Award winner. She has worked in seed testing for 22 years. Her nominator praised her excellent knowledge of purity and testing procedures and her identification skills. Many around the country have benefited from her instruction at federal seed schools and workshop presentations. Her efficient and conscientious service on the AOSA Rules Committee, editorial committee, and other technical committees, has benefited everyone in seed testing. She is also active in ISTA technical committees. State, seed company, and independent laboratories seek her advice and assistance to help solve a variety of difficult seed testing problems and seed identification questions. Susan Maxon also works to educate the general public, students, and teachers about seed testing.

Deborah J. Meyer, Associate Seed Botanist at the CaliforniaPlant Pest Diagnostic Center, California Department of Food and Agriculture,is the 1998 Anna Lute Award winner. The voluminous materialsprovided by her nominator can’t all be reprinted here. Butthe quality of her writing and seed art is truly impressive. True to the Anna Lute spirit, she is wholeheartedly involved in educationof the public and seed analysts. She works with master gardener groups,county agricultural agents, and has conducted at least nine seed testingworkshops. The original art and study materials she createdfor these workshops is among the best new educational materials produced for seed analysts in decades. Her service as AOSA President from 1994-1996 and her participation in many AOSA committees over the past two decades has provided crucial improvements in the AOSA Rules for Testing Seeds. She continues to address new problems thatcome with the appearance of new species in the seed trade.

Congratulations to Deborah Meyer for making the Seed Lab (as Anna Lute said) a “a fit place for minds to live…”

The 1997 Anna Lute winner has made many contributions to the Seed Industry over the years. She is at her 20th AOSA/SCST meeting this year. She earned her RST in 1976. Her career began in Palmerston North, New Zealand in 1966 at the Government Seed Testing Station. She worked for Yates Seed Company in Sydney, Australia, and also at the seed Testing Station in Tasmania until 1971. In 1971 she accepted a position with A-E. McKenzie in Brandon, Manitoba. In 1985 she established Accu-Test Seed Lab in Brandon.

The contributions of the 1997 Anna Lute award recipient are too numerous to list. Some highlights to mention here are: she was instrumental in writing the CSAAC Constitution and Bylaws; has been a Seed Show Judge at Royal Manitoba Winter Fair, in conjunction with the Manitoba Seed Industry Days she has conducted grading workshops; seasonally is on radio with phone-in interviews concerning seed and disease problems in Manitoba; has served as CSAAC President two terms; hosted CSAAC and SAM workshops while giving presentations at many more workshops; was the first woman named as Fratemalist of the Year in 1994 by United Commercial Travelers International; was SCST Historian 1984-86; SCST Secretary Treasurer 1986-93; Canadian Referee Chairperson 1978-80; and recipient of the SCST 1993 Meritorious Award.

Congratulations to the 1997 Anna Lute Award winner Marie T. Greeniaus.
In Memory: Marie Greeniaus 1950-2005
FRSA extends condolences to the family of Marie Greeniaus. Marie's giant heart and professional legacy left a lasting impression on all of us.
Marie will be greatly missed!
Marie died on Decmber 16, 2005.
The family has asked that no flowers be sent but that donations can be made to:
Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation
Manitoba Chapter
2nd Floor - 119 Marion Street
Winnipeg, Manitoba R2H 0T2 Canada

Sharon Davidson, RST and owner of Agri-Seed Testing, Inc.,in Salem, Oregon has won the inaugural Anna Lute Award. Her laboratory is indeed a place "fit for minds to live in... " and her skill as an analyst is highly regarded, particularly in the turf grass sector. Though she isa business owner, she does spend more than 50% of her time testing seedsand is an effective "hands on" manager. She has taught numerous seed workshops. Also noted by the selection committee was her effort to fight falsified reports in the seed trade.

The award was presented at the breakfast in Milwaukee on June 17. Congratulations Sharon!