Ben Drescher, animal science farms director, is the recipient of the Professional and Scientific Excellence Award from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State University. Drescher provides direct supervision of the beef, dairy, swine, sheep, horse and poultry farms that are part of the animal science department. The successful supervision and operation of these farms includes management of equipment, land and new construction, as well as personnel, communications and coordination with faculty and other farm users. He has implemented several operations and equipment changes to improve the efficiency and communications of the farms and farm clientele. They are used for teaching courses that involve more than 1,700 students per year as well as research, extension and student club activities. The farms under his supervision are spread over nine different locations with an annual budget of $6 million.
The shutdown resulting from COVID-19 brought special challenges of keeping animals fed and housed with minimal staff and while maintaining health and biosecurity efforts for staff safety. The impacts of the August 2020 derecho had Drescher and his staff securing temporary power sources to protect the livestock under their care. His leadership was critical to minimizing the long-term damage brought on by these two major events.