2006 Gamma Sigma Delta Extension award

Dr. Alvaro Garcia was awarded the Extension award of the SDSU Chapter of Gamma Sigma Delta at their annual awards banquet on 19th April. Dr. Alvaro Garcia has been a faculty member in Dairy Science as Extension Specialist since 2001 and currently holds the title of Associate Professor. Dr. Garcia has established himself as a well respected Dairy Extension Specialist for small as well as large dairy producers in South Dakota. His work prior to joining SDSU was the foundation for his high level of performance at SDSU. In his prior service he conducted numerous continuing education programs in Uruguay that had a positive impact on many producers. As a department head in the Veterinary College in Uruguay, he maintained a leadership role in extension duties. After joining SDSU as Dairy Extension Specialist, Dr. Garcia continued to expand upon the themes of improving profitability for dairy producers and extension education in South Dakota. His diversified experience in dairying that includes South America, Europe and North America, has added a unique dimension to his activities and enhanced his Extension functions at SDSU. Last fall he taught a Dairy Spanish class. During his appointment at SDSU Dr. Garcia has been a lecturer at over 60 events within and outside the State and overseas. Unsolicited testimony from dairy producers and extension personnel provide evidence of his excellence. Dr. Garcia designs his extension programs to empower producers rather than just solve immediate problems. A good example of this is the assistance he provided a local producer for improving efficiencies at the farm.

Dr. Garcia has added value to his functions by being an active participant in local and national organizations such as the Central Plains Dairy Expo and the National Professional Dairy Heifer Growers Association. The latter has particularly brought national recognition to Dr. Garcia’s program and the dairy industry of the state in general. Dr. Garcia was on assignment in Honduras to help improve milk production and he was an invited speaker in Uruguay for a Ruminant Nutrition course and in Mexico to speak on the applications of distillers grains in dairy cattle diets. He has also been invited to speak in neighboring states in areas of his expertise. Dr. Garcia has collaborated with the SD Department of Agriculture and provided professional, factual information to prospective producers. Through his collaborations with the Department of Agriculture, the importance of dairying in South Dakota and at SDSU have been well noted.

He is a prolific writer; he was author or coauthor of 23 Extension Extras and numerous other publications and radio stories. He provided major contributions to the College of ABS Livestock Development Document. He has also conducted workshops in Spanish. This has taken the SDSU Dairy Extension program and the SDSU Extension program in general to a new and unique level of outreach and is recognized by many in other states as well.

Dr. Garcia does not have a formal research appointment but he has made substantial contributions to the dairy research program through collaboration with Dairy Production faculty in developing grant proposals and conducting several research projects, recently on the applications of distiller’s grains in dairy diets. This resulted in authorship or co-authorship of several research publications and presentations. His most notable creative activity was the translation of 10 Extension Extra publications into Spanish. This has truly expanded his Extension mission.

In recognition of his outstanding performance Dr. Garcia received the 2004 College of ABS Dean and Directors Team Award for efforts displayed to improve dairy profitability. He has also been nominated by the College for the National Extension Leadership Development Program.

19 April 2006

South Dakota State University / Dairy Science Department
Dairy Microbiology Rm 109 / Phone: 605-688-4116
College of Agricultural and Biological Sciences