Certificate of Honor for Kansas Dairy Leader

Dr. Joe Harner shares remarks with attendees at the 2024 Kansas Dairy Annual Meeting and Conference March 22 in Manhattan.

2024 Kansas Dairy Leader

Joseph P. Harner, III, was recognized as the 2024 Kansas Dairy Leader at the Kansas Dairy Annual Meeting and Conference, March 22 in Manhattan.

Dr. Harner was honored with comments from previous honorees Lynda Foster and George Blush, and from university colleague Dr. Mike Brouk.

To follow is the text from the Certificate of Honor presented, and will be displayed with others who have been honored since 1952.

For serving as a state agricultural engineering extension specialist for 40 years at Kansas State University.

For 28 years of technical support to the dairy industry as a member of the K-State Dairy Team.

For guiding Kansas dairies in stepwise expansion of existing facilities and/or development of new dairy structures.

For collaborating in the development of global heat stress abatement strategies based on research and field studies.

For conceptualizing the idea of a low profile cross ventilated dairy free stall housing system.

For designing the single row dairy free stall housing system for smaller domestic and international dairies.

For developing guidelines and methods to recycle sand use for bedding freestalls.

For actively supporting the environmental sustainability of the Kansas dairy industry.

For protecting the waters of the State of Kansas through development of the dairy weep wall manure system.

For transferring knowledge through authoring / co-authoring more than 200 dairy technical papers.

For communicating the impact of K-State Dairy team field studies and research in 39 other states.

For making a global dairy impact on dairy facilities in 30 countries.

For assisting land grant universities exploring 21st century dairy teaching and research dairy facilities.

For receiving the ASABE Henry Giese Structures and Environment Award and the ASABE G.B. Gunlogson Countryside Engineering Award for efforts in applying engineering principles in dairy facility design.

For being inducted as an ASABE Fellow and into the Rural Builders Hall of Fame for his dedication to the dairy industry.

For his concern for ensuring a safe sustainable global food supply and dedication and devotion to his family and friends.

Dr. Victor Gomez Leon and Dr. Mike Brouk join the Joe Harner family in celebrating Dr. Harner’s recognition as 2024 Kansas Dairy Leader.