46 / SEEDWORLD.COM SEPTEMBER 2017 at Iowa State University in the depart- ments of agronomy and seed science. Smith first started with DuPont Pioneer more than 30 years ago with a temporary assignment to study the rela- tionship between teosinte and modern corn, but that temporary assignment led to a career-long passion. Smith’s research interests include genetic diversity, germ- plasm access and benefit sharing, use of molecular data for variety identification, sustainable use of genetic diversity to improve agricultural productivity, pedi- gree analysis of crop varieties and intel- lectual property protection. He earned his bachelor’s from the University of London, a master’s in con- servation and plant genetic resources from the University of Birmingham in England and a doctorate on the evolu- tion of maize, also from the University of Birmingham. Another individual recognized during the convention was Joe Funk, long-time editor of Seed Today. Funk was honored with ASTA’s Distinguished Service Award. Funk has been faithfully serving agriculture and the seed industry with in-depth report- ing on the rapidly changing seed business since 1998. Before that, he wrote for the Grain Journal for more than 10 years. “He’s not satisfied to just research a topic and write about it,” said Herrmann. “More often than not, you will find Joe making a personal trip to see first-hand the subject of his article.” In his speech, Funk was very gracious, saying that the award was “only possible because you have been so generous in opening your offices, your plants, your facilities and allowing us to come in and hear your story.” Since the convention, Funk has left his post at Seed Today, and has been on a six-week adventure to Nigeria, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana as an external ag communications consultant. The New Crew It’s during the annual convention that ASTA members elect their leaders for the year ahead. Members of the 2017-18 ASTA leadership team are: • Chair Tracy Tally, Justin Seed Co. •  First Vice Chair Jerry Flint, DuPont Pioneer. •  Second Vice Chair Wayne Gale, Stokes Seeds. •  Representative to/from Canada Jim Schweigert, Gro Alliance. •  Representative to/from Mexico Pablo Fernandez, Dow AgroSciences. •  Central Region Vice President Dave Pearl, The CISCO Companies. “In the coming days, weeks and months, we will have new opportunities to help guide change,” says Tally in stepping into the role of ASTA chair. “These range from new plant breeding innovations, and how they’ll be defined both domestically and internationally, the implementation of a new food labeling law, and making our voice heard in the midst of the changing political landscape.” With more than 30 years’ experience in the seed industry, Tally is the second- generation Tally to run Justin Seed — a company that is more than half a cen- tury old. He is also a second-generation graduate of the College of Agriculture at Texas Tech University (1986). Besides run- ning Justin Seed for the past 25 years, he served as the ASTA Southern Region vice president, an officer on the Texas Seed Trade Association Board, was previously a certified crop adviser and serves for a variety of organizations in his community. He and his wife Julie live in Dallas and have four daughters, Emily, Elizabeth, Erica and Ellen who have been active participants in ASTA conventions through the years. Tally says he can’t remember a time when ASTA members are needed more, and perhaps listened to more than today. “My goal is to continue the strong legacy that has been built over the past 134 years as we work to address new and emerging challenges at home and around the globe — through better seed for better life; it really does all start with a seed,” he says. SW Tracy Tally, 2017-18 ASTA chairman, celebrates the year ahead with his wife Julie and their four daughters who have participated in a number of ASTA’s annual conventions. Joe Funk of Seed Today was honored with ASTA’s Distinguished Service Award.