Cale Bigelow, professor of horticulture and landscape architecture (HLA), has been named a fellow of the American Society of Agronomy (ASA). Fellow is the highest honor bestowed by the ASA and is awarded based on members’ outstanding contributions in national and international education, research and service. Bigelow will receive formal recognition for this achievement at the annual ASA meeting on Oct. 30 in St. Louis.
Bigelow’s research and teaching have focused on turf species and cultivar evaluations to provide more sustainable turfgrass systems, as well as optimizing nutrition and water conservation for the care of lawns, sports fields and golf courses.
“Cale exemplifies a faculty member who does work across all three mission areas of our land grant university – research, Extension and education,” Linda Prokopy, HLA department head and professor, said. “His deep commitment to students is second-to-none, and it is excellent to see this external recognition of his work.”
Bigelow currently serves as the turf science division board representative for the Crop Science Society of America. He recently received the William Daniel Founders Award from the Sports Field Management Association and the Teaching Excellence Award from the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture, and was inducted into Purdue University’s Book of Great Teachers.
Throughout his career, Bigelow has worked to stay true to the land-grant mission in his practical research and sought to serve undergraduate students in their educational journeys. Reflecting on the impact of his work, Bigelow says that, in the end, he simply enjoys helping others find their passion.
“My career has been one of sustained productivity,” Bigelow said. “It hasn’t been like a firework that pops off all at once, but I have worked each year to be a bit better in serving the land-grant mission. This recognition by the ASA feels like a real tip of the cap to me, knowing my work has made an impact.”
