By Scout Nelson
South Dakota State University's College of Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Sciences has appointed Amanda Blair as the Assistant Director of SDSU West River Research and Extension. Blair, an Animal Science professor, has recently co-led an $80 million grant project focusing on beef and bison systems.
Blair’s upgraded role involves leading a dedicated team based in Rapid City. This team comprises budding scholars, experienced faculty, and diligent staff. She will supervise the SDSU Cottonwood Field Station near Philip.
Kristi Cammack, a key figure in the college, highlighted the mounting success the College of Agriculture is witnessing in South Dakota's West River region. She emphasized the need for adept leadership to sustain this momentum.
According to Cammack, Blair's esteemed stature and previous leadership stints make her the ideal fit for this role. This sentiment is especially true considering the expansion seen in departments like Animal Science, Horticulture, and Natural Resource Management in West River.
One of the important institutions under Blair’s purview will be the Cottonwood Field Station, recognized as SDSU’s core livestock research hub West River. This station is currently experiencing a transformative phase, thanks to investments from the South Dakota Legislature, paving the way for state-of-the-art facilities.
Blair’s hands-on experience, coupled with her deep-rooted involvement in the Cottonwood Field Station's revamp, ensures the facility’s functionality aligns with both research and production needs.
Blair's journey from a modest farm in Indiana to acquiring degrees from Purdue University to now being at the helm of crucial research activities at SDSU encapsulates her dedication to agriculture and research. Her expansive research includes delving into strategies affecting growth, composition, and meat quality of beef cattle and bison.
Photo Credit: South Dakota State University
Categories: South Dakota, Education