University of Illinois Professor Emeritus of Animal Sciences Mike Hutjens and retired Extension educator Dave Seibert were recently awarded the Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB) Eagle Award for Excellence during the Illinois Agricultural Association's annual meeting in Chicago in December.

The IFB Eagle Award for Excellence recognizes an individual or organization for excellence on issues or programs important to the Farm Bureau and agriculture on a statewide and/or national basis.

Hutjens has served as a U of I Dairy Extension specialist since 1979, helping countless dairy farmers advance productivity and profitability in their operations. He has presented seminars and programs in 46 states, 15 countries and nine Canadian provinces.

In addition, he has received numerous awards and honors, including the Illinois Commodity Conference Friend of Agriculture Award, American Dairy Science Association Award of Honor, World Dairy Exposition Service Person of the Year, American Dairy Science Association Fellow Award, U of I College of ACES Paul A. Funk Award, College of ACES Junior and Senior Extension Award of Excellence, and the DeLaval Extension Award and Applied Dairy Nutrition Award.

He received his undergraduate, master's and doctorate degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He and his wife, Carol, reside in Savoy and have five children and five grandchildren.

Dave Seibert began his career as an Extension educator in 1968, serving as the assistant and associate Extension advisor for McDonough County. He has served the U of I on several levels, including working as the Area Livestock Advisor and Animal Systems Educator. He also pioneered numerous programs for the U of I Extension, including 4-H and FFA quality assurance and ethics clinics, Livestock E-Quiz, area cow/calf field days, Superior Young Producer Awards, regional meats judging workshops, Illinois swine environmental assurance series and many more.

Throughout his career, Seibert has received many honors, including the U of I CAPE Award, College of ACES Professional Staff Award for Sustained Excellence, Extension's Outstanding or Innovative Team Program Award and Sustained Award, Illinois Commodity Conference Friend of Agriculture Award, Illinois FFA Honorary State FFA Degree, G.R. Carlisle Award for Excellence in Extension Teaching, Illinois Pork Producers Education Award, and an honorary membership from the U of I Hoof-N-Horn chapter.

Seibert earned his undergraduate and master's degrees in animal sciences from Southern Illinois University. He and his wife, Julie, reside in Washington and have three daughters.