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Father Figure In Agronomy
Sam Atwell, agronomist at the University of Missouri Delta Research Center, with his years of service
in the field of agronomy, does make him a father figure.
Photo by John LaRose Jr.
BETTY VALLE GEGG-NAEGER
MidAmerica Farmer Grower
PORTAGEVILLE, MO.
While he didn’t institute agronomy, Sam Atwell, agronomist at the University of Missouri Delta Research Center, his years of service in that field does make him a father figure.
For that reason, the New Madrid County University of Missouri Extension Council will host a retirement reception honoring him on May 16, at the Fisher Delta Research Center located at 147 E. State Highway T in Portageville. The reception will be from 1 to 4 p.m. with presentations starting at 1:30.
“We hope you can attend and celebrate Sam’s successful career In Agronomy,” said Glenda Hunter, Delta Center secretary, in the official invitation. “Please RSVP by Friday, May 11, with names and number attending by calling 573-748-5531, texting 573-521-0919, or send an email to hunterg@missouri.edu.”
Atwell’s pride in being an agronomist for 52 years has led him to accomplish great strides in his profession. He was Tech Service Leader of introduction, adoption and 99.9 percent use of PIX Plant Growth Regulator in all U.S. Cotton. He served on the team that developed and introduced the first Total Post Overtop Herbicide System.
Though his deepest joy is being called an agronomist, he credits God first for all his knowledge, his mentors, and the ability to walk, diagnose, learn, retain and teach common sense agronomic information. He has the heart of a teacher, and a gift of gab that allows him an ease in presenting to others his wealth of knowledge.
That knowledge has been far-reaching.
“I had the great honor of working for the Universities of Missouri and Mississippi State and with almost all U.S. Land Grant Universities, and I have contacts with Universities in Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Australia, France, Spain, Italy, England and Germany.”
His fingerprints are on almost every crop treatment:
“I was a team member for the introduction and adoption of Basagran, Basalin, Basamid, Pix, Storm, Poast, Ronalin, Facet, Clearfield, Newpath, Beyond, Clearpath, Pentia, Clarity, Headline, Serenade, Ballad, herbicides, insecticides, fungicides and PGRs in soybeans, cotton, rice, corn and milo across the Mid-South,” he said.
As if that were not enough, he was the researcher and developer of the Ultra Narrow Row Stripper Cotton System.
Surely, farmers across the area who have benefited from Atwell’s expertise will want to attend his retirement event, thank him for his service, and wish him well in his next endeavor. ∆
BETTY VALLE GEGG-NAEGER: Senior Staff Writer, MidAmerica Farmer Grower
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