Barry J. Steevens, Columbia
Barry J. Steevens, born and reared on a Wisconsin dairy farm, has made his mark in the Missouri dairy industry.
After earning a bachelor of science degree in agriculture at the University of Wisconsin River Falls in 1966, Barry married his wife Kay in 1967. The Steevens have two children – Lori Group who works at Group Travel in Columbia and son Jeff who is a graduate student at the University of Mississippi.
In continuing his academic training Barry earned master and doctoral degrees at Oklahoma State University in dairy science and animal nutrition in 1968 and 1971.
After completing his graduate study Barry worked as a farm management agent for Wisconsin Extension for three years. In 1974 he moved to the University of Wyoming where he was an extension animal specialist until 1978 when he joined the University of Missouri as assistant professor and state extension dairy specialist.
At MU he has developed extension programs in mammary physiology, mastitis, milk quality, and milking management; served as liaison with regulatory agencies and the Missouri Department of Health on issues of milk quality, mastitis control, and antibiotic residue avoidance programs; and worked with other faculty to develop programs on dairy facilities, stray electricity, waste management, and financial management of the mature cow herd and replacement heifers.
Another of Barry’s important contributions to the Missouri dairy industry has been his work on alternative feeds. He recognized that Missouri dairy producers have a competitive advantage given the supply of alternative feeds available at economical prices.
The two major program thrusts he focused on in alternative feeds were 1) a by-product bulletin board and 2) a by-product feed handbook. The bulletin board consisted of a computerized listing of alternative feeds reported by suppliers and posted and updated weekly on the Agricultural Electronic Bulletin Board AgEBB.
Barry was a contributing author for a comprehensive handbook on the use of by-product feeds. The volume includes discussion on by-product feed use for all livestock species and it has been used nationally and internationally by animal nutritionists.
In 1991 Barry was a member of the planning and host committees for a National Invitational Symposium on Alternative Feeds for Dairy and Beef Cattle, the first such event. Attendance at the event included a national audience of university and industry scientists and nutritionists.
Professionally, Barry was promoted through the academic ranks to associate professor in 1981, to professor in 1989, and he is a member of the MU graduate faculty. He also has been an active member of professional and industry organizations including the American Dairy Science Association, National Mastitis Council, Missouri Dairy Association, Missouri Holstein Association, State Milk Board, MU State Agricultural Extension Specialist Association, Missouri Fieldmen’s and Sanitarians Association, and the Missouri County Agents Association. His membership in these organizations includes serving as an officer and on many of their committees.
Barry is also a member of Gamma Sigma Delta and Epsilon Sigma Phi, honorary professional societies in agriculture and extension.
During his tenure at the University, Barry has written a number of refereed journal articles; extension publications including many MU Agricultural Guides; and articles for the national and state popular press.
His work as state extension dairy specialist has been recognized a number of times. He has received the Vice Provost’s Outstanding Extension Award; Vice President’s Award in Extension; the Gamma Sigma Delta Mid-Career and Distinguished Service in Extension Awards; and the MU Dairy Science Club has twice named Barry the Outstanding Faculty Member.
Away from the dairy world the Steevens are members of the Campus Lutheran Church in Columbia and Barry is a project leader for the Shaw 4-H Club in Boone County. The Missouri State FFA Association has awarded Barry its Honorary Degree for his work and support of FFA programs. He also spent five weeks in the Ukraine and Russia providing technical assistance for agricultural industry in those two countries as a VOCA-Volunteers for Overseas Cooperative Assistance volunteer.
The Missouri Holstein Association nominated Barry for the Hall of Honors Dairy Leadership Award.