Champaign, IL (May 8, 2026)—The American Dairy Science Association (ADSA®) is pleased to announce Xin Zhao as the 2026 recipient of the ADSA Award of Honor. The award will be presented on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, during the awards ceremony at the ADSA Annual Meeting in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The ADSA Award of Honor was created to recognize unusually outstanding and consistent contributions to the welfare of the association or distinguished service to the association. The award is primarily for services to ADSA, with career achievements or contributions to other segments of the dairy industry receiving secondary consideration. The winner must have been a member of ADSA for 25 years or more, be living when nominated, and have served ADSA with unusual distinction.

A member of ADSA since 1990, Xin Zhao has served ADSA with distinction throughout his career. His pioneering research has advanced our understanding of mastitis, host–pathogen interactions, and sustainable dairy production, with nearly 300 research and review papers. He has strengthened the Journal of Dairy Science, served on key committees, and provided strategic leadership as a board member and Journal of Dairy Science section editor. He was the recipient of the ADSA West Agro Inc. Award and is an ADSA Fellow. Through visionary scholarship, mentorship, and international collaboration, Zhao has profoundly shaped dairy science and advanced the health and sustainability of global dairy systems.

It is with great pleasure that ADSA presents Xin Zhao with the 2026 ADSA Award of Honor.

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