Name: Amosson, Stephen H.
Title: Professor and Extension Economist
Texas A&M Class: 1981
Inducted: 2018
Dr. Steve Amosson was born and raised on a small grain and cattle farm near Eagle Grove, Iowa, where he graduated high school. The countless hours spent on a tractor during his youth made him realize he did not want to be a farmer, but gave him a lot of time to figure out how the operation could be improved. Serving as a two-time president of 4-H and an FFA officer cemented his love of agriculture, leading him to a lifetime goal of assisting producers in making more profit.
Dr. Amosson received his B.S. in Animal Science in 1972, and his M.S. in Agricultural Economics in 1980, both from Iowa State University. He continued his academic studies at Texas A&M University where he earned his Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics in 1983. He remained in College Station as a visiting assistant professor until he accepted a position in Amarillo, TX, joining the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension in 1985. As an Area Economist, his responsibilities encompassed 22 counties in the Texas High Plains. His primary focus was developing educational resources and conducting applied research in the agriculture industry. He worked to improve efficiency and profitability as well as to strengthen farm and ranch management. Steve was the first economist in the country to quantify the economic damage of the Russian Wheat Aphid, which was instrumental in obtaining more than 23 million dollars of disaster payments for Texas Wheat producers. He also led a project to implement a mobile computer lab to provide financial and management education to producers. More than 200 short courses were taught utilizing this technology, and this is thought to be the only lab of its kind in the country to be totally paid for through participants’ registration fees. In the early 90s, Steve led the development and served as co-director of the nationally-recognized Master Marketer program. This 64-hour intensive educational program for producers is still offered today. A 2 ½ year post survey of the more than 1,000 graduates reported increased returns of more than $33,00 annually based on what they had learned in the training. He also implemented the only grain-grading school in the state to assist agribusinesses in identifying the various damages that occur to grain and their potential impact. Even after 30 years and 1,000+ attendees, the popularity of this school with Agribusiness has not waned, with each of the last two offerings being sold out. Overall, Dr. Amosson has been on more than 140 grant teams dealing with projects on education and applied research, serving as project group leader on more than half of the efforts.
Dr. Amosson has been recognized on 33 different occasions for his professional contributions in marketing, finance, and policy either as an individual or a member of a group effort. His national awards include the National Association of Wheat Growers Excellence in Extension Award, the Epsilon Sigma Phi National Honorary Extension Fraternity – Visionary Leadership Award, the Southern Agricultural Economics Association Lifetime Achievement Award, and the American Agricultural Economics Association’s Distinguished Extension Award: More Than 10 Years’ Experience. At Texas A&M, he has received the Vice Chancellor’s Award – Team and Individual and the Former Students Association Faculty Distinguished Achievement Award in Continuing Education, as well as many AgriLife Extension awards, including: Distinguished Extension Program – Group and Individual, Distinguished Achievement Awards, six Superior Service Awards, including Superior Service Award for Distinguished Career, Epsilon Sigma Phi – Mid-Career Award and State Team Award, Superior Service Award – Specialist and Team, Lifetime Achievement, Outstanding Extension Program – Team, Regents Fellow Service Award, Secretary’s Award for Expanding Economic Trade, Extension Education – Specialist and Team, and Outstanding Extension Program – Career.
Steve has been a supporter of youth sports activities in his local community over the years, coaching multiple sports. Most notably, he has coached both girls’ and boys’ basketball teams in four different leagues as well as served on the board of the Southwest Amarillo Basketball Association for several years. In addition, Steve has served as a volunteer for the Time to Share project, which collects and distributes Christmas gifts to low-income elderly people in Amarillo, many of which are homebound.
Dr. Amosson retired in January of 2018. He and his wife Maggie reside in Amarillo where he continues to consult with Texas A&M AgriLife and other organizations. They have two children, Stephanie (’04) and Matt, their spouses Jonathan and Mindy, and four grandchildren, Maddy, Jayden, Cameron, and Corbin.
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