Idaho Ag Summit 2004
Recipients of the Governor's Award for Excellence in Agriculture

Education/Advocacy - Dr. John Mundt has dedicated most of his life to teaching others about agriculture and the rural way of life. In 1967, John began his teaching career as a high school vocational agriculture at Meridian High School, a position that he kept for 13 years before being asked to serve as State Advisor of the Idaho Association of Future Farmers of America in the State Division of Vocational Education. Mundt then became State Supervisor of Agriculture Education within the State Division of Vocational Education. In 1985, John joined the University of Idaho as a Teacher Educator within the Department of Agriculture and Extension Education. John's professional achievements in agricultural education are numerous. Mundt was inducted into the Alpha Zeta Agriculture Honorary in 1966, named the Outstanding Young Member by the National Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association in 1970, and in 1972 was named Meridian Toastmaster of the Year. In 1979, Mundt received the Idaho Inspirational Vo-Ag Teacher of the Year Award. John has served as a member of the University of Idaho College of Agriculture Alumni Association Board of Directors since 1997, and continues be an active participant in agricultural programs throughout the state. In 2000, Leadership Idaho Agriculture presented Mundt with the Appreciation Citation for Outstanding Service. Mundt is a popular presenter for seminars and workshops, and is widely recognized and respected throughout the state for all of the years of service he has dedicated to educate Idahoans about agriculture. Dr. John Mundt is a true advocate for agriculture.

Environmental Stewardship - Kip Wooten and Charles Coiner, Jr. have emerged as leaders in improving environmental stewardship of both agricultural and non-agricultural land. After sharing equipment and materials for several years, Wooten and Coiner decided in 1998 to combine resources and form Coiner & Wooten, LLC. Wooten and Coiner are committed to caring for the land as their first priority, with profits being second. As Wooten states, their philosophy is simple: "Take care of the soil and it will take care of you." Coiner and Wooten have implemented environmentally friendly practices on many areas of their farm, such as switching from furrow or gravity irrigation to sprinkler systems in an effort to reduce erosion, and planting grass along ditches to control weeds and reduce erosion. The partners have also been committed to providing an adequate habitat for wildlife on their farm, and have implemented energy-efficient means of farming, such as reduced tillage. Coiner and Wooten are currently in cooperation with the University of Idaho, USDA, and Twin Falls Canal Company on numerous projects to enhance their methods of crop rotation, compost experiments, and more efficient means of irrigation. Regardless of the farm, field, or landscape, Wooten and Coiner are continually striving to further enhance the well-being of the land and environment.

Marketing/Technical Innovation - Carl J. Hobbs has been a pioneer in marketing and technical innovation in the potato industry for over 50 years. As a child, Hobbs was constantly tinkering and building his own inventions. As an adult, Hobbs put those creative and hard-working skills to use in the early 1960's, when he and a partner developed the potato equipment manufacturing company, Spudnik Equipment Company, LLC. Spudnik Equipment, which started as a small means of developing new products, now has over 200 employees and is one of the two largest potato equipment manufacturing companies in the nation. The success of Spudnik Equipment is a testament to Carl's hard work in constantly striving to develop new and improved technology, and providing consumers with high-quality, efficient products. Aside from his creative ingenuity, Hobbs is widely known and respected for his integrity and honesty. He is known throughout the nation as a man of character and above all, a gentleman. Through his years of innovation and hard work, Carl J. Hobbs has significantly contributed to the betterment of the potato industry in Idaho, as well as worldwide.

Lifetime Achievement - Lawerance and Mary Lou Gray are two individuals who have dedicated their lives to strengthening and preserving agriculture in Idaho. Married in 1952, the Grays have been striving to help and improve agriculture, as well as their community, for over 50 years. Lawerance has been an active member of the Agriculture Council of America since 1976, and served as the organization's National Chairman in 1983. He has also devoted time to other agricultural organizations such as the National Potato Promotion Board, the Idaho Bean Commission, the Pioneer Irrigation District, and many more. In the early 1980's, Lawerance was appointed to the USDA Economic Research Review Board by then Secretary of Agriculture John Block. Mary Lou Gray has also been recognized as a leader in the agricultural industry.
A longtime member of Idaho Women for Agriculture, Mary Lou helped organize the Treasure Valley Chapter and has been involved in numerous state and national functions. In 1995, she was chosen as the Idaho Agri-Woman of the Year. While both Lawerance and Mary Lou have very impressive individual achievements, together this pair has been one of the most powerful and dynamic duos to ever speak out as advocates for Idaho agriculture at the local, state, and national level.