A tornado wiped out most of Phil Peterson”s family dairy farm in 1992, but nothing will erase his contributions to agriculture and Wisconsin”s dairy industry.

For his service to Wisconsin agriculture, Peterson will receive an Honorary Recognition award from University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. The award will be presented at a banquet Oct. 24 in the Memorial Union on the UW-Madison campus. (For information on attending the banquet, please call Lee Gottschalk at the CALS conference office, (608) 263-2421.)

Peterson served in leadership positions for 34 years with Pure Milk Association and Associated Milk Producers Inc. as a delegate, as director on the regional and corporate boards, and as president of the Morning Glory region for two years. He is currently the secretary of the AMPI Members Retirement Trust board of directors.

Peterson has served on the board of the Wisconsin Federation of Cooperatives for seven years, and its executive committee for three years. “As a director he is always prepared to enter into the discussion of issues. His opinions are sought by others and his views respected by others,” according to WFC president Rod Nilsestuen. “Phil has always considered the big picture for the dairy industry and sought to increase returns for dairy producers.” He played a crucial role in the federation”s Dairy Marketing Initiative over the years, says Nilsestuen. The initiative dealt with dairy exports, milk pricing, federal order reorganization, volume premiums, futures markets, and many other issues.

Peterson has served on the board of directors of the Agriculture Council of America and the National Milk Producers Federation in Washington, D.C. He has been a committeeman of the American Dairy Association of Wisconsin, chairman of the Dane County Farm Bureau dairy committee, and a member of the Wisconsin Agri-Business Foundation board of trustees. He served on the Dane County Dairy Promotion Committee and chaired the June Dairy Month breakfast for two years.

A graduate of the CALS Farm and Industry Short Course, Peterson has served as director of the Short Course Board. He has cooperated closely with CALS and UW-Extension, and hosted many visitors and foreign delegations at his farm.

He has been selected on several occasions to serve as a national spokesman for agriculture, and has been recognized for his efforts to improve the image of farming and food production. In dealings with legislative and congressional leaders, he has repeatedly and eloquently argued for continued support of research and education.

He has been a strong supporter and promoter of education for youth, and for young members, directors and employees of cooperatives. For years he was a regular panel member at WFC Young Leaders Conferences and youth programs. Recognizing that rural Wisconsin needs strong leaders, he has served on the board of directors of the Wisconsin Rural Leadership Program, which educates young people on a variety of topics and introduces them to the global economy.

He is currently president of the board of directors of the Middleton Insurance Company, and serves on the board of the Federated Youth Foundation. He has served on many other boards and committees to help benefit his community, church, cooperatives and agriculture.

In 1984 he was appointed by the Governor and the chancellor of UW-Madison to chair the Wisconsin Dairy Task Force 1995, which made recommendations for the future of Wisconsin”s dairy industry.

Following the 1992 tornado, Peterson switched to grain farming. He and his wife, Carol, now operate a 750-acre corn and soybean farm near Oregon, Wis.

Honorary Recognition, the highest honor bestowed by the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, recognizes people who have made outstanding contributions toward the development of agriculture, protection of natural resources, and improvement of rural living. Since 1909, the college has honored more than 400 people with these awards.