The Department of Agronomy and the College of Agriculture recognize Dallas Peterson for 30 years of professional service to Kansas State University and K-State Research and Extension. Dallas served his last official day in the department on October 31, 2019. People from all sectors of his life (family, colleagues, ag agents, industry representatives, students, and friends) attended a retirement reception hosted by the department on October 30 at the North Agronomy Farm.
Dallas grew up on a small diversified crop and livestock farm in north central Kansas, and received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Agronomy from Kansas State University. He completed his Ph.D. degree in Weed Science at North Dakota State University and worked as an Assistant Professor and Extension Weed Specialist in North Dakota from 1987 to 1989.
Dallas returned to Kansas State University in 1989 when he started as an Assistant Professor and Extension Weed Specialist, advancing to full professor in 1998. As a Specialist, he developed educational programs and conducted applied research on weed management in soybeans, small grains, alfalfa, and specialty crops. His extension program had a strong farmer and dealer focus, including participation in many public meetings, field days and demonstrations at which he has made approximately 1500 presentations to more than 70,000 participants during his extension career. He is author or co-author of 60 refereed journal articles, hundreds of Extension publications, research reports, meeting abstracts, and newsletter and popular press articles. His educational programs often included information generated from an applied research program that is focused on local issues, such as herbicide resistance, new weed control technologies, and application technology.
Dr. Peterson was an active member of the Weed Science Society of America, the North Central Weed Science Society, the Western Society of Weed Science, and the Council on Agricultural Science and Technology. He has served on numerous committees and in various capacities, including the Board of Directors for WSSA and NCWSS, Board of Representatives for CAST, and the Presidential leadership sequences for both WSSA and NCWSS. He also has served on the Kansas Certified Crop Advisors board of directors and worked in an advisory role with the Kansas Department of Agriculture and the Kansas Noxious Weed Programs on herbicide registrations and weed management programs.
Dallas supervised 10 graduate students and served on numerous graduate committees. He helped coach the KSU weeds teams to several high finishes at the summer student contest. Dallas has been previously recognized with the Outstanding Extension Award from WSSA, Fellow Award from WSSA and NCWSS, the Horizon Early-Career and Mid-Career Awards from the Kansas chapter of Epsilon Sigma Phi, and the Excellence in Extension Award from Gamma Sigma Delta at Kansas State University.
When colleagues and students, both former and current, speak about Dallas’s career, several qualities are repeated over and over.
- “His knowledge of weed science is vast and he relates to producers on their level.”
- “He is well-respected in all sectors of agriculture (industry, university, and the farming community).”
- “Dallas is one of the most respected Extension Specialist’s K-State has ever had. He was usually the highlight of any extension program he was involved with.”
- “Dallas has a knack for delivering a take-home message that is backed by research and his years of experience in the field.”
- “I am a better agronomist and weed scientist because of the time Dallas has spent teaching me.”
- “Dallas is a great ambassador for K-State Research and Extension and his impact will be felt for years to come.”
His friends and colleagues extend this token of appreciation to Dallas for his service to the Department of Agronomy, the College of Agriculture, K-State Research and Extension, and Kansas State University.
Tags: Retirement