The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) honored seed-industry veteran Dr. Owen J. Newlin with its inaugural Lifetime Industry Achievement Award--hereinafter known as the Owen J. Newlin Lifetime Seed Industry Achievement Award--which recognizes exceptional professionals whose career contributions to the seed industry span more than 50 years. Dr. Newlin was honored on June 20 during the Opening General Session of the joint ASTA-Oregon Seed Association Annual Convention in Portland, Oregon.
“Owen Newlin is nothing short of a legend in the seed industry,” said ASTA Chair Risa DeMasi. “We’re extremely grateful for his expertise, dedication and service to ASTA over the years, and we couldn’t be more pleased to honor him with this landmark award.”
Dr. Newlin’s distinguished career dates back more than 60 years. He joined Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., known today as DuPont Pioneer, in 1955 as a Research Assistant in the production department of the central division. He became Production Manager for the division in 1964 and served as its President from 1967 to 1978. He was elected Senior Vice President for Pioneer Hi-Bred International, a company his father helped to create, in 1986 and became a key driving force in the maximization of hybrid corn for farmers, which serves as a foundation of the seed business to this day.
Dr. Newlin is active both in and out of the seed industry. For ASTA, he has served many leadership roles, and is the longest running ASTA Past President who remains an active participant on the ASTA Board of Directors to this day. He currently serves as Chair of the Subcommittee for Strategic and Allied Partnerships and he is a Lifetime Honorary Member.
Dr. Newlin attended Iowa State University, where he received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Agronomy in 1951 and 1953, respectively, before moving on to earn his doctorate in Plant Breeding and Genetics from the University of Minnesota in 1955. He later attended Harvard University’s Advanced Management Program, from which he graduated in 1974.
American Seed Trade Association Press Release June 22, 2016: Bethany Shively, Portland Oregon
bshively@amseed.org (703) 837-8140
Photo credit: ASTA
Caption: Dr. Owen Newlin receives the America Seed Trade Association Lifetime Industry Achievement Award from Chair Risa DeMasi.