This citation honors distinguished College of Agriculture and Life Sciences alumni and/or friends who have demonstrated outstanding achievement or leadership in making significant, influential, or innovative contributions to society. Selection is made by the Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
This award was established in 2005 and is presented annually during Iowa State University’s Homecoming Weekend.
2025 George Washington Carver Distinguished Service Awardee
Pete ('74 agricultural business) and Dana (’87 home economics education, adult home economics education) Wenstrand
Essex, Iowa
Pete and Dana Wenstrand have made influential contributions to society and Iowa State University through generous giving and dedicated services.
Pete is the owner and operator of a 1,200 acre no-till corn and soybean farm near Essex, Iowa. In addition to building his professional career, Pete has invested heavily in the community through charitable donations and serving on various boards and organizations, including the Iowa Board of Regents and as president of the Iowa Corn Growers Association and National Corn Growers Association.
Dana farms alongside Pete, playing an active role in daily operations, planting, and harvest. Dana has also held roles as founder and president of IMAGE Professional Training and Consulting and has a background in hotel sales and marketing. She has served as the founder, chair, and co-chair of the Essex Community Fund and trustee of the Iowa 4-H Foundation. Dana currently serves on the Iowa State University Foundation Board and is chair of the finance committee.
The Wenstrands have given generously to Iowa State. They created the Professorship for Excellence in Agricultural Economics, the Peter J. and Dana M. Wenstrand Agricultural Economics Fund, and College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Harvest Fund. They have also supported other initiatives in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Health and Human Sciences.
The Wenstrands are active Iowa State University Foundation governors who have provided a wealth of time, resources and knowledge to support the betterment of Iowa State and the ISU Foundation. They are life members of the ISU Alumni Association and belong to the Order of the Knoll W.M. Beardshear and Campanile Society.
Past Recipients
- 2024 – Robert, attended ISU '58-'63, and Patricia Jester, '64 food and nutrition
- 2023 – Gerald, ’62 agricultural business, and Karen Kolschowsky
- 2022 – Christopher E. Nelson, friend of Iowa State University
- 2021 – Rachel Chikwamba, ’02 PhD genetics
- 2020 – Dewayne L. Goldmon, ’91 PhD agronomy
- 2019 – Diane Feickert Birt
- 2018 – Dawn Mellion-Patin, ’95 PhD agricultural and life sciences education
- 2017 – Gerald E. Klonglan, ’58 rural sociology, ’62 MS, ’63 PhD
- 2016 – Walter Hill
- 2015 – Don Koo Lee, ’75 MS forestry, ’78 PhD
- 2014 – Antoine J. Alston, ‘00 PhD agricultural and life sciences education
- 2013 – Jon Kinzenbaw
- 2012 – Jim Gulliford, ‘73 forestry, ’75 MS
- 2011 – Harold R. Crawford, ‘50 agricultural and life sciences education, ’55 MS, ’69 PhD
- 2010 – Rose Marie Boughton, ‘58 dietetics
- 2009 – Jerald DeWitt
- 2009 – Charles E. Sukup
- 2008 – Rich & Nancy Degner
- 2008 – John Pesek
- 2007 – Duane Acker
- 2006 – Harold “Sande” and Margo McNabb