SDSU Fraternity Honors Prominent W oman in Ag

PIERRE (November 26, 2004)—Pat Adrian, long-time leader in the state’s beef industry, has been named the 2004 Prominent Woman in Agriculture by the South Dakota State University chapter of CERES, a fraternity for women.

Adrian, executive vice president of the South Dakota Beef Industry Council since 1973, received the honor November 20 during the fraternity’s Founder’s Day event.      

“Pat is a woman involved in production agriculture who has impacted South Dakota with her many contributions to the beef industry over the years,” says Laura Geraets , CERES chapter president and a senior at SDSU. “We felt she would be a wonderful mentor for women pursuing a career in agriculture.”

            CERES, a fraternity focused on providing a nurturing environment for women who have an appreciation for agriculture and the natural environment, has honored prominent women in agriculture since its start on the SDSU campus 13 years ago.

            “The women receiving this honor must currently be working in an ag-related career and be well respected and well known in their industry,” says Geraets, explaining that they must also display the attributes of CERES: commitment, ag-orientation, leadership, fellowship and scholarship.

            Adrian, who has partnered with her husband Robert on a ranching business in Mellette County , S.D. since 1957, has been involved in the beef industry both on a state and national level. She was the first woman chairman of the Beef Industry Council of the former National Livestock and Meat Board, served several years on the U.S. Meat Export Federation as well as on numerous committees and boards.

She is a 2000 inductee in the South Dakota Hall of Fame, was named as one of 25 who made a difference in the cattle business in BEEF magazine in 1987, and in 1978 was named SDSU Friend of the Beef Industry.

“I was extremely honored to be chosen by this group of enthusiastic, dedicated and intelligent young women,” says Adrian .

 When receiving her honor, Geraets says Adrian talked to fraternity members about the important role women play in agriculture whether they choose to pursue the production segment or another facet of the agricultural industry. “She really had an encouraging message to any of us looking at an ag-related career,” explains Geraets.

The SDSU Chapter of CERES currently has 22 members who are pursuing degrees in a variety of fields, including agriculture. The chapter, says Geraets, is involved in several philanthropic activities throughout the year, including hosting an annual agricultural fair for Brookings area grade school students where members provide various educational stations on livestock and farm safety. Last year approximately 280 youth attended the event.

The chapter won the SDSU College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences Club of the Year Award for 2003-2004, and has had the highest grade point average out of the Greek system on the SDSU campus for the past eight consecutive semesters.