Wisconsin

Staff Changes and Recognition

In July, the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) presented John Shutske, UW-Madison professor and agricultural safety and health specialist, with the Ergonomics, Safety, and Health Award. The award was presented to recognize Shutske's 37 years of leadership and interdisciplinary teamwork that focuses on tackling long-accepted problems through Extension, engineering, and education for a safer and healthier agricultural workplace. 

Shutske is a faculty member in UW's Biological Systems Engineering Department where he directs cross-disciplinary research. Throughout his career, Shutske has made significant improvements to agricultural workplace safety and health conditions and reduction of property loss. He conducted some of the early research in 1991-92 in child development and its applications in farm injury prevention. This work eventually led to the multi-national development of the North American Guidelines for Children's Agricultural Tasks, led by the National Farm Medicine Center, one of Shutske' s many long-time collaborators and frequent partners in efforts to protect farmers and their families. Congrats John! 

Well done, Cheryl! After a 38-year career with UW Extension and the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) at UW-Madison, Cheryl Skjolaas retired this past July. Cheryl started her career as a 4-H youth agent in Pierce County. She came to work at the UW-Madison in 1990. 

 Cheryl has worked with the Wisconsin Safe Operation of Tractor and Machinery Certification program and the County Farm Safety Grant program, as well as AgrAbility of Wisconsin, and the National AgrAbility Project. Cheryl also directed the UW Center for Agricultural Safety and Health. Cheryl has been a valued resource and continued advocate for farm safety in our state for almost four decades. We thank her for all her years of dedication and wish her the best! 

Submitted by Andrea Klahn