Ag Business Council Names Two for Outstanding Service
The Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City will honor the late Cliff Becker and Dr. Scott Brown with the group’s prestigious Jay B. Dillingham Award for Agricultural Leadership and Excellence at a luncheon on May 16 in Kansas City’s historic Union Station. Agricultural Business Council Chairman Ron Seeber said each honoree has left an enduring legacy of accomplishment and leadership.
Cliff Becker, Edwardsville, KS
Cliff Becker, prior to his untimely passing on December 30, 2023, served as vice president of new campus development for the American Royal. Becker enjoyed a distinguished career in agriculture, largely in the media and publishing sectors. At Vance Publishing where he worked for 23 years, he was the senior executive for the firm’s food360 Division. He later joined Farm Journal where he was executive vice president of its livestock publications group for 10 years. Becker served as chair of the Ag Business Council from 2016-2017.
Becker was recognized with several industry awards over the span of his 39-year career, including the National Agri-Marketing Association's Career Achievement Award and the Livestock Publication Council's Distinguished Service Award. He was a nationally recognized speaker in the industry and served on several boards, including as Vice Chair of the Agriculture Advisory Board at Western Illinois University. His leadership there was instrumental in enhancing the School of Agriculture program, alumni involvement and current and future success of WIU students.
Dr. Scott Brown, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
Dr. Scott Brown has announced he is retiring in September from the University of Missouri’s College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources where he is an Associate Extension Professor and Interim Director of the Rural and Farm Finance Policy Analysis Center (RaFF). He joined Mizzou in 1989 as a research associate in FAPRI, the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute.
Dr. Brown is an expert in Missouri agricultural policy, as well as the livestock market outlook and dairy policy. During the past two decades, he has worked extensively in determining the quantitative effects of changes infederal dairy and livestock policies and has testified regularly before U.S. Congress. He currently works with the Missouri legislature on the economic effects of state policy options on Missouri agriculture. He also provides regular market outlook on the livestock and dairy industries.
He has been honored on many occasions for his work. In 2016 he received the C. Brice Ratchford Memorial Fellowship from the UM Board of Curators for commitment, dedication and effectiveness in advancing the land-grant mission, and has been recognized as a Special Friend of the Missouri Institute of Cooperatives. He was the 2005 national winner of the Farm and Ranch Financial Management Program Award, given by the National Association of County Agricultural Agents.
Council Chair Seeber said, “Cliff Becker and Scott Brown have rendered outstanding service to agriculture on a local, regional and national level. Their exemplary service follows the example of the late Jay B. Dillingham, long-time leader of the Kansas City Stockyards, for whom the award is named. “Both Cliff and Scott have had a positive and lasting effect on our community,” Seeber added. “They are great examples of what a leader can accomplish.”
The event will be held May 16 at the Chamber of Commerce Board Room in Union Station beginning at 11:30 a.m. for networking followed by lunch. Visit www.agbizkc.com for more information and to register to attend.
Luncheon sponsors are the American Royal and John Deere.
