Colorado Agriculture Hall of Fame to Induct Former Colorado State University Professor

A retired Colorado State University professor will be one of four people inducted this week into the Colorado Agriculture Hall of Fame. John Matsushima, professor emeritus in animal sciences, began his legendary beef cattle nutrition practices at Colorado State in 1961.

Matsushima pioneered the process of stream flaking grains – a practice that helps to reduce the cost of beef production that continues to be used today in cattle feeding operations worldwide.

Matsushima is the author of hundreds of professional and popular publications and several books including “A Journey Back: The History of Cattle Feeding Colorado and the United States”, and “A Century of Progress – History of the Animal Sciences Department” at CSU.

Last year, Matsushima received the prestigious Japan Emperor award, which is presented periodically to dignitaries. He received the Emperor Citation, the highest level of the Emperor Award, for his accomplishments in establishing U.S. beef exports to Japan and for his career as an educator and innovator.

During his academic career, Matsushima has received numerous awards including: national and Colorado 4-H Club awards; Distinguished Colorado State University Alumni award; and Colorado State University Livestock Leader award.

Among the other Colorado Agriculture Hall of Fame inductees are:
• Donald Norgren, honored for his long association with Hereford Cattle and the National Western Stock Show. Norgren, and his wife, Donna, were 1993 Colorado State University Livestock Leader award-winners.
• Jim Read, a former Colorado State University Extension agent serving Cheyenne, Prowers and Logan counties. Read used extensive research and demonstration plots to help improve farming practices for nearly every crop produced in Colorado.
• Andrew Mair, a Larimer County farmer who is being honored posthumously. Mair oversaw the Colorado Commodity Stabilization Service and represented Colorado and U.S. agriculture in over 40 countries on five continents serving or consulting with six presidential administrations.

The Colorado Agriculture Hall of Fame banquet will be Thursday, February 18 at the Renaissance Denver Hotel, 3801 Quebec St. A reception will begin at 4:15 p.m., with dinner at 5:30 p.m.

Proceeds from the banquet support the Colorado FFA Foundation. The banquet is held annually to honor those who have made significant contributions to Colorado and the nation’s agricultural industry.
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