Jim Gerrish, author of BEEF magazine's “Grazier's Page,” is the recipient of the American Agricultural Editors' Association (AAEA) 2006 Distinguished Service Award. Gerrish, a grazing-management consultant based in May, ID, and former lead pasture researcher at the University of Missouri's (MU) Forage Systems Research Center in Linneus, was recognized for his leadership in revolutionizing beef, dairy and sheep grazing in North America.

During a 22-year MU career, Gerrish helped livestock producers increase their returns with pioneering research, hands-on teaching of thousands of producers and fellow educators, and writing of key instructional materials used in many states, the AAEA citation says.

After leaving MU in 2003, Gerrish founded American GrazingLands Services LLC (http://americangrazinglands.com). He continues to teach at grazing schools and workshops throughout North America, as well as providing consulting services to farmers and ranchers on both private and public lands. His book, “Management-intensive Grazing: The Grassroots of Grass Farming,” has gone through four printings since it was published two years ago.