Source:  PRESS RELEASE, 8/12/20

On July 9th, during the International Society for Agricultural Safety and Health (ISASH) virtual business meeting, three members were recognized for their contributions to both the organization and the ag safety and health industry.

Outgoing ISASH president, Scott Heiberger, announced LaMar Grafft was named as the 2020 recipient of the organization’s most prestigious award, the Maynard Coe Professional Achievement Award. Grafft has been actively engaged in agricultural safety for a majority of his professional career. His career spans multiple states and institutions that include the position of Rural Health and Safety Specialist at the University of Iowa and his current position as Associate Director of the North Carolina Agromedicine Institute and an Agromedicine Specialist with North Carolina Extension. These positions are directly connected with the agricultural safety and health profession and much of Grafft’s interest is tied to helping farmers live and work safely.

Like the award’s namesake Maynard Coe, Grafft brings people together and cuts through external barriers that often prevent collaboration. He also extends his health and safety efforts beyond his job responsibilities. He has been involved in so many extra activities outside of work responsibilities that help people and support safety. Grafft serves on the Progressive Agriculture Foundation Board of Directors, providing guidance to the Progressive Agriculture Safety Day® program. Many may not be familiar with Grafft’s steadfast volunteer efforts with the Iowa Farm Safety Council, a not-for-profit organization during his time based in Iowa. Grafft also has his own personal commitments for hurricane disaster, supporting their recovery and reconstruction efforts.

Grafft is a very active member of ISASH and is currently serving as the co-chair of the team hosting the 2021 ISASH Annual Conference. He is an acknowledged expert, approachable member, and a regular participant in committees. However, Grafft is not a person who seeks the spotlight of success. He is happy working behind the scenes, except for one ISASH role that makes him visible to all the members. For multiple years, Grafft has stood in front of all the ISASH conference participants and snapped the group photo to commemorate this annual event. This one task is very symbolic in the sense that Grafft is visible to members, but not captured in the record of those participating – he is often a hidden member in plain sight.

Criteria for the prestigious Maynard Coe Professional Achievement Award includes demonstrating achievement in the practice of agricultural safety and health over a period of several years. Achievements may be in the
realm of research, outreach/extension, administration, resident education, or some combination, and may involve state, national or international efforts. The award’s namesake, Maynard Coe, served as director of the Farm Division of the National Safety Council for 20 years, and in that capacity he enlisted the help of dedicated people at universities and farm and agricultural organizations in establishing farm safety as a recognized profession. From the beginning, he was an inspiration to farm safety specialists and educators, giving them advice and encouragement. Later, when numbers increased, he urged the group to form their own professional organization.

The ISASH President’s Award recipients for 2020 were Dr. Aaron Yoder and Dr. Robert “Chip” Petrea. “From the beginning of my term, I really relied on these two guys,” stated Heiberger.

Yoder, an Associate Professor at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in the Department of Environmental, Agricultural & Occupational Health, served as transitional financial officer. After his term on the Board ended in June 2019, Yoder worked with ISASH 's retired treasurer, the Association Services Group (ASG) and the Finance Committee to ensure a smooth restructuring of ISASH’s financial operations. Heiberger thanked Petrea, the ISASH secretary, for being a sounding board and advisor, and for providing a “steady hand on the tiller” as ISASH navigated a year of great change. Petrea is a retired Principal Research Specialist in Agricultural Safety and Health for the University of Illinois. The President’s Award is made at the discretion of the ISASH President.

Learn more about the International Society for Agricultural Safety and Health by visiting our website www.isash.org. Register today and access sessions from the virtual conference. Also, be sure to like ISASH on Facebook www.facebook.com/ISASH/ or follow on Twitter @real_isash.