News Release
March  18, 2008

UW ag group honors Wheatland rancher, university president

A long-time rancher near Wheatland and the president of the University of Wyoming have been honored by the University of Wyoming chapter of Gamma Sigma Delta, an international honor society of agriculture.

Outstanding students in the College of Agriculture also received awards for their academic performance at the March 1 program.

Juan Reyes of Wheatland, whose family immigrated to the United States in 1962, was honored with the Outstanding Agriculturist Award for the operation of his ranch and service to the agriculture industry and his customers.

Reyes owns MR Angus Ranch, with feedlot facilities to confine up to approximately 5,500 head with adjacent land to run up to 7,000 head total. The ranch runs about 500 head of registered Angus cows and another 400 head at a unit near Saratoga. The ranch sells about 250 bulls each spring.

“I believe the key to Juan’s success is that he first produces an excellent product, and he stands behind it,” said Professor Doug Hixon, head of the Department of Animal Science in the College of Agriculture, who nominated Reyes. “Furthermore, Juan contributes significantly to the organizations he has chosen to offer his time and services. Juan’s fortuitous journey from Cuba to a life as a successful farmer and rancher and leader in Wyoming agriculture is an amazing story.”

Reyes was born in Cuba. In 1962, his parents relocated him and his two sisters from Cuba to a refugee camp in Florida when Juan was 11. They knew no one and did not speak English. After eight months, they were moved to Colfax, Wash., by the Catholic Church. Their parents were not able to join them from Cuba until four years later.

Reyes enrolled at Eastern Washington State College. He helped a friend move to Laramie, liked the area and transferred to the University of Wyoming. While outfitting, he met someone who said he would like to buy a ranch in the area. The person purchased an operation in the Tie Siding area and asked Reyes if he would manage it. Reyes agreed, and, in 1983, they sold that ranch and purchased what would become MR Angus Ranch. Reyes later bought out his partner.

Reyes, concerned with water issues, is on the board of the Wheatland Irrigation District and a member of the College Agriculture Dean’s Advisory Board, among several other groups.

Various student awards were presented during the brunch. “For me, the two most important issues are youth and water,” Reyes said during his acceptance speech. “After today (and hearing the accomplishments of these outstanding students) , I’m a lot less concerned about the youth.”

UW President Tom Buchanan received the Friend of Agriculture Award for support of the College of Agriculture and Wyoming agriculture in general, stating agriculture is the heart and soul of the state and the university.

On the Web: http://uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/GSD/

 

UW ag students receive academic honors from international honor society

Outstanding students in the College of Agriculture received awards for academic performance from the University of Wyoming chapter of Gamma Sigma Delta, an international honor society of agriculture.

The honors were presented March 1.

Receiving outstanding student awards were:

Outstanding freshman female – Jessica Larsen, Emigrant, Mont.

Outstanding freshman male – Todd Small, Wheatland

Outstanding sophomore – Amy Berry, Cheyenne

Outstanding junior – Travis Allen, Cheyenne

Outstanding senior female – Stacia Berry, Cheyenne

Outstanding senior male – Doug Watt, Upton

Outstanding masters student – Marjorie MacGregor, Englewood, Colo.

Outstanding doctoral student – Keith Underwood, Shallowater, Texas.

On the Web: http://uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/GSD/

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Contact: Steven L. Miller, Senior Editor
Phone: (307) 766-6342
E-mail: slmiller@uwyo.edu
Archived News Site http://uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/UWAG/news.asp

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