2012 Dryland Field Day Abstracts - Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences ...

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working in the barley program for so many years. One does not make accomplishments in a vacuum. Research presentations
and research collaborations led Steve to approximately 25 countries throughout the world. One highlight, was involvement in
international agricultural development research collaborations and consultancies through the joint United Nations –
International Atomic Energy Agency Division on peaceful uses of nuclear energy for crop improvement, i.e., mutation breeding.
IAEA Interactions and consultancies led to work in many barley producing countries. Other highlights were a sabbatical leave at
the Carlsberg Laboratory in Copenhagen and hosting a number of sabbatical and other visiting scientists from around the world.
Steve is very appreciative of the support he has received from students, colleagues, and administrators, as well as barley
growers and the various barley organizations and industries. Financial support from the State of Washington, WSU and the
federal government and in the commercial world the Washington Barley Commission and the American Malting Barley
Association were especially important and critical.
As much as he loved working with barley, other major emphases were in academic teaching and advising. The love of students
and teaching was instilled in Steve while teaching secondary school in the Peace Corps, followed by community college teaching,
and eventually to teaching and advising at WSU. Working with students both undergraduate and graduate has been a joy for
Steve. He taught or co-taught 12 courses at WSU over the years, and taught in other courses at WSU, the University of Idaho,
Sichuan Agricultural University in Ya’an, China and the Mediterranean Agricultural Institute in Zaragoza, Spain. He continuously
advised undergrads and even in retirement through spring 2012 “finishing” the last of his seniors. His last grad student finishes
summer of 2012. Steve’s advising work was recognized by the CAHNRS Outstanding Advising Award in 2002.
Serving on many department, college, and university committees at WSU, as well as carrying out “extension” duties as a plant
breeder at grower meetings and field days was particularly rewarding. Service to professional societies, national and
international barley genetics committees was valuable. He is particularly proud to have served on the National Barley
Improvement Committee, the USDA Barley Crop Germplasm Committee, the Crop Science Society Barley Crop Registration
Committee, and as the WSU Foundation Seed Representative on the Washington State Crop Improvement Association Board of
Directors. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Agronomy and
the Crop Science Society of America in recognition of research
accomplishments and service.
Overall, he is most proud of the people with whom he has interacted
and the accomplishments made in his career at WSU and beyond.
The people in one’s life are most important. His aim was always to
have balance between Career (teaching, research, service) and
Family. He is very proud of his family: Mary, and their children,
Nathan and Sarah and their spouses, Olivia and Brian, and their
children Gavin, Soren, Elise, and Evan. Participation in their lives and
with their love and support, there has been balance in his 33 years
on the faculty of WSU. With retirement, the connection to WSU
continues as Sarah and Brian move along in their careers on the
College of Education faculty.
Steve Ullrich presents “Talkin’ Barley” at the Asotin
County Field Day in 2001. Photo by John Burns.