Champaign, IL (May 8, 2026)—The American Dairy Science Association (ADSA®) is pleased to announce Don Beitz as the 2026 recipient of the ADSA Distinguished Service Award. The award will be presented on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, during the awards ceremony at the ADSA Annual Meeting in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The ADSA Distinguished Service Award was created to recognize unusually outstanding and consistent contributions to the welfare of the dairy industry, either directly or indirectly. The award is based on a broad, even nonscientific, contribution. Thus, outstanding achievements by those in industry, public administration, or academic administration shall qualify. The contribution may be national or international. The ADSA Distinguished Service Award is not for ADSA accomplishments. The winner must have fulfilled as of January 1 of the year of the award the contributions to the welfare of the dairy industry for which they are to be recognized, must be living when nominated, and need not be a member of ADSA.
Donald C. Beitz was raised on an Illinois Guernsey dairy farm, where he developed an intense interest in animal agriculture. He earned his BS and MS degrees from the University of Illinois and his PhD from Michigan State University. In 1967, he joined the Animal Science and Biochemistry faculties at Iowa State University, where he is now the Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor of Agriculture. He teaches biochemistry classes and advises agricultural biochemistry students. Beitz’s research has focused on milk fever and ketosis, beef tenderness, mitochondrial DNA, and dietary control of milk fat, body composition, and plasma cholesterol. He has directed 105 advanced degree programs. He has two children, five grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.
It is with great pleasure that ADSA presents Don Beitz with the 2026 ADSA Distinguished Service Award.
About the American Dairy Science Association (ADSA)
The American Dairy Science Association (ADSA) is an international organization of educators, scientists, and industry representatives who are committed to advancing the dairy industry and keenly aware of the vital role the dairy sciences play in fulfilling the economic, nutritive, and health requirements of the world’s population. It provides leadership in scientific and technical support to sustain and grow the global dairy industry through generation, dissemination, and exchange of information and services. Together, ADSA members have discovered new methods and technologies that have revolutionized the dairy industry. www.adsa.org