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Dec. 2, 2010 Source: American Society of Agronomy This year, two CCAs received the International CCA of the Year Award, Fred Vocasek and Ralph Franklin. Franklin received his award posthumously, as he died unexpectedly in June 2009. Fred Vocasek When Fred Vocasek was asked to join the Kansas CCA board in its inaugural year, he thought he would help launch the group, stay for maybe 12 months, and then move on to other things. "That was 1992," he recalls with a laugh. Now, he jokes that his colleagues can't get rid of him. They're not complaining. Earlier this year, the board voted unanimously to nominate Vocasek for the International CCA of the Year Award, calling him a "model CCA" and acknowledging his "selfless volunteering" for the Kansas CCA program, innovative ideas, and vision. A 27-year employee of Servi-Tech, the nation's largest crop-consulting firm, Vocasek received the award in Long Beach, CA in early November at the Annual Meetings of the American Society of Agronomy (ASA), Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America. In addition to serving on the Kansas CCA board since its inception, Vocasek has held several positions on the International CCA board, most recently as its representative to the ASA board. But while he may joke about his involvement, Vocasek values the CCA program deeply, especially for its ability to reach people through continuing education. "To me, that's the strength of the program," he says. "By educating and working with the CCAs, you're not just working with the 25 people in the room. You're working with the 25 people in the room who will then work with their 20 or 25 people outside. So, those efforts are multiplied." Ralph Franklin When Ralph Franklin passed away last year, Tom Kemp says he not only lost a good friend, but a great teacher as well. Franklin excelled in teaching people to question their assumptions, develop their own knowledge, and think for themselves. "He challenged you to learn," says Kemp, CCA and president of the fertilizer company Carolina Eastern Pamplico, who first met Franklin in 1996 as a student in Franklin's preparatory classes for the ICCA exam. "His passion for the CCA program was for you to learn." Franklin was posthumously recognized by the ICCA Program Award Committee as 2010 International CCA of the Year for his many years of service and support of the ICCA Program in early November at the Annual Meetings of the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America. Franklin wasn't just passionate about the South Carolina CCA program; in many ways, he was the program, adds Clemson extension agent and CCA Charles Davis. A soil scientist who earned his Ph.D. at Ohio State University, Franklin launched the program shortly after arriving at Clemson in the early 1990s and then led it as executive director for the rest of his life. As director, he assisted local CCAs in interpreting the international board's direction. He helped develop the southern regional CCA exam and the national exam. Tweet |
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