The two winners of the 2011 prize were Thomas Smith and Matthew Hint.

Tom is a senior from Hamlin, NY where he grew up on a beef cattle and swine operation. He grew up showing his livestock on the local, state, and national level and is very active in pro-agriculture groups, including being the Chairman of Public Relations for the NY Beef Producers Association and a Master’s of Beef Advocacy Alumnus. Tom has taken many animal production courses at Cornell, including the Sheep and Beef cattle courses, did a year of fermentable fiber research with Dr. Thonney, and spent a year working at the Cornell Teaching and Research barns caring for sheep. He graduatedfrom the Animal Science program after three years with Magna Cum Laude honors. Tom will be attending the Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine in the fall.

Matthew is a senior from Perry, NY. He transferred to Cornell in the fall of 2008 after one year of study at Genesee Community College in Batavia, NY. His course work includes Animal Science 2500 (dairy), Animal Science 3600 (beef) and Animal Science 3800 (sheep). Matthew worked at the Cornell Sheep Farm in his junior and senior years and participated in the Block and Bridle Student Livestock Show. He will be attending Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine starting in fall 2011 and would like to work with large animals.

Tom and Matthew are shown after receiving their awards from Dr. John Parks, Acting Chairman of Animal Science. In addition to the $500 prize, Tom and Matt were each awarded a Cornell Sheep Program Lap Robe embroidered with their names and the year of the award.