legacy
GROWING
FUTURE SCHOLARS
THROUGH RED GOLD EXECUTIVE'S MEMORIAL
When Steve Smith (BS ’75, agricultural sciences), senior director of agriculture for Red Gold, passed away in 2021, tributes quickly poured in. People who worked with Smith viewed his many contributions to state and federal agricultural policies, as well as to a variety of agricultural coalitions and businesses, as both innovative and visionary.
Red Gold President and CEO Brian Reichart emphasizes the impact of his longtime colleague and friend, who spent 32 years with the company. “Steve was a courageous and strong advocate for the processing tomato industry in areas of research, federal crop insurance and product labeling,” Reichart says. “He was admired throughout our industry. His reach and influence extended beyond the Midwest into Canada and even other continents.”
Reichart cites Smith’s contribution as the founder and chairman of the Save our Crops Coalition, a national group dedicated to protecting sensitive crops from damage caused by the release of growth-regulator herbicides on other crops tolerant to these products. Smith was also active in other industry endeavors, such as the American Fruit and Vegetable Processors and Growers Coalition, Mid-America Food Processors Association and the Sysco Corporation National Sustainability Advisory Board. He was a member of the USDA Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee.
A 2009 Purdue Distinguished Agriculture Alumni Award winner, Smith was a founding member of FieldWatch and its first registry, DriftWatch. Working closely with Purdue’s Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, the nonprofit company’s original intent was to work with tomato processors and growers to minimize the impact of chemicals drifting onto their crops. Its mission has since expanded to developing easy-to-use mapping tools to enhance communications and awareness among crop producers, beekeepers and pesticide applicators through multiple registries. The FieldWatch registry now operates in 24 states, Washington, D.C. and one Canadian province.
I’m so proud of Steve’s accomplishments, and I’m grateful for the opportunity for an annual scholarship to grow future agricultural leaders like him.
– Brian Reichart, Red Gold president and CEO
FieldWatch CEO Bob Walters worked closely with Smith, who chaired the company’s board for several years. “Steve was an excellent mentor,” Walters says. “He had this ability to reach across the table, strip out the facts and build relationships. He was held in the utmost respect. It’s amazing how networked he was and how many relationships he built that benefited all of us who worked with him.”
Smith’s colleagues, friends and family knew that celebrating his legacy through a scholarship in the College of Agriculture was the appropriate way to honor him. “Having the student recipient be a student within the plant sciences was especially important,” Walters says.
A lead gift of $50,000 from Red Gold, along with many other industry, organizational and individual contributions, amounted to over $100,000 to create the Steve E. Smith Memorial Scholarship. A $5,000 scholarship is awarded annually to a student whose major and interests focus on plant or crop sciences and state and federal agricultural policy.
Last year’s recipient, Alyson Godwin, is a plant breeding and biotechnology major from Greenfield, Indiana, interested in cereal crops and the impact of climate change on their production. “This scholarship has provided me the ability to focus on my research project on hybrid vigor in corn, which I would like to complete this school year,” she says.
“I’m so proud of Steve’s accomplishments, and I’m grateful for the opportunity for an annual scholarship to grow future agricultural leaders like him,” Reichart says. “Steve was so proud of the growers, industry and suppliers and was genuinely admired by all who had the pleasure to meet or work with him.”
Smith, an avid Purdue fan, also served on the Dean’s Advisory Council for Purdue Agriculture. Karen Plaut, former Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture, praised Smith’s contributions to his alma mater. “Steve was a tremendous partner to Purdue Agriculture. His generosity of time in sharing his perspectives and experiences made a difference in every interaction he had within our college.”
Reflecting on his friend’s contribution, Walters summarized his feelings. “Communication. Cooperation. Collaboration. That’s FieldWatch’s motto. And Steve drove home those three words every day.”
Use this link to contribute to the Steven E. Smith Memorial Scholarship. To initiate another scholarship for Purdue Agriculture students, please contact Kyle Bymaster.
legacy
GROWING
FUTURE SCHOLARS
THROUGH RED GOLD EXECUTIVE'S MEMORIAL
When Steve Smith (BS ’75, agricultural sciences), senior director of agriculture for Red Gold, passed away in 2021, tributes quickly poured in. People who worked with Smith viewed his many contributions to state and federal agricultural policies, as well as to a variety of agricultural coalitions and businesses, as both innovative and visionary.
Red Gold President and CEO Brian Reichart emphasizes the impact of his longtime colleague and friend, who spent 32 years with the company. “Steve was a courageous and strong advocate for the processing tomato industry in areas of research, federal crop insurance and product labeling,” Reichart says. “He was admired throughout our industry. His reach and influence extended beyond the Midwest into Canada and even other continents.”
Reichart cites Smith’s contribution as the founder and chairman of the Save our Crops Coalition, a national group dedicated to protecting sensitive crops from damage caused by the release of growth-regulator herbicides on other crops tolerant to these products. Smith was also active in other industry endeavors, such as the American Fruit and Vegetable Processors and Growers Coalition, Mid-America Food Processors Association and the Sysco Corporation National Sustainability Advisory Board. He was a member of the USDA Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee.
A 2009 Purdue Distinguished Agriculture Alumni Award winner, Smith was a founding member of FieldWatch and its first registry, DriftWatch. Working closely with Purdue’s Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, the nonprofit company’s original intent was to work with tomato processors and growers to minimize the impact of chemicals drifting onto their crops. Its mission has since expanded to developing easy-to-use mapping tools to enhance communications and awareness among crop producers, beekeepers and pesticide applicators through multiple registries. The FieldWatch registry now operates in 24 states, Washington, D.C. and one Canadian province.
I’m so proud of Steve’s accomplishments, and I’m grateful for the opportunity for an annual scholarship to grow future agricultural leaders like him.
– Brian Reichart, Red Gold president and CEO
FieldWatch CEO Bob Walters worked closely with Smith, who chaired the company’s board for several years. “Steve was an excellent mentor,” Walters says. “He had this ability to reach across the table, strip out the facts and build relationships. He was held in the utmost respect. It’s amazing how networked he was and how many relationships he built that benefited all of us who worked with him.”
Smith’s colleagues, friends and family knew that celebrating his legacy through a scholarship in the College of Agriculture was the appropriate way to honor him. “Having the student recipient be a student within the plant sciences was especially important,” Walters says.
A lead gift of $50,000 from Red Gold, along with many other industry, organizational and individual contributions, amounted to over $100,000 to create the Steve E. Smith Memorial Scholarship. A $5,000 scholarship is awarded annually to a student whose major and interests focus on plant or crop sciences and state and federal agricultural policy.
Last year’s recipient, Alyson Godwin, is a plant breeding and biotechnology major from Greenfield, Indiana, interested in cereal crops and the impact of climate change on their production. “This scholarship has provided me the ability to focus on my research project on hybrid vigor in corn, which I would like to complete this school year,” she says.
“I’m so proud of Steve’s accomplishments, and I’m grateful for the opportunity for an annual scholarship to grow future agricultural leaders like him,” Reichart says. “Steve was so proud of the growers, industry and suppliers and was genuinely admired by all who had the pleasure to meet or work with him.”
Smith, an avid Purdue fan, also served on the Dean’s Advisory Council for Purdue Agriculture. Karen Plaut, former Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture, praised Smith’s contributions to his alma mater. “Steve was a tremendous partner to Purdue Agriculture. His generosity of time in sharing his perspectives and experiences made a difference in every interaction he had within our college.”
Reflecting on his friend’s contribution, Walters summarized his feelings. “Communication. Cooperation. Collaboration. That’s FieldWatch’s motto. And Steve drove home those three words every day.”
Use this link to contribute to the Steven E. Smith Memorial Scholarship. To initiate another scholarship for Purdue Agriculture students, please contact Kyle Bymaster.