College of Agriculture Award History

Elliott Booth is an outstanding and unique individual who is a real supporter of the University of Arizona College of Agriculture and truly deserving of the UA 1998 Honorary Alumni Award, says UA Vice Provost and Dean Eugene G. Sander. The award was presented by the UA Alumni Association. In 1993, Elliott Booth also was awarded the College's Distinguished Citizen Award.

"Elliott Booth has demonstrated his commitment not only to Arizona agriculture, but also to the Colorado River Indian Tribes, his community, and at the national level," Dean Sander said in presenting the Honorary Alumni Award.

Elliott is the first and only Indian representative on CARET, the national Land Grant College's Council for Agricultural Research, Education, and Teaching. He requested and put together a CARET program on the needs for College of Agriculture and Cooperative Extension programs on Indian reservations across the country.

He testified before Congress and helped get funding for Cooperative Extension programs on reservations. Due to his influence, five Extension Indian Reservation Programs (EIRP) are on Arizona reservations.

In 1987 Elliott, along with Harry Cruye from the Gila River Indian Community, formed the Southwest Indian Agricultural Association (SWIAA), which represents Arizona's agriculture producing tribes.

"Elliott Booth has a rare ability to look not only at his own tribal situation, but to encompass the overall Indian situation across the country," Dean Sander says.

Conner Byestewa, Jr., of the Colorado River Indian Tribes, was named 1997 Extensionist of the Year by James Christenson, Arizona Cooperative Extension director.

"Conner is truly a believer in Extension, and his track record of 27 years of agricultural contributions and accomplishments shows it," says S. Sherwood Winans, La Paz County Extension director, who nominated Byestewa for the award.

This award winner believes 4-H has been a large influence on his life. "I gained learning work skills, management and self-confidence; I value extension," Conner says.

Conner is a leader, Winans adds. He was instrumental in getting Cooperative Extension established when La Paz became a county in 1983. He is well known among extension specialists, educators, regulators, public and private industry, both in Arizona and nationally.

Louva McCabe Dahozy has blended her interest in helping others with her Navajo religious and cultural values. She was born of the Haskaahaszoi clan and for the Kinyaanii clan. In 1994, the College of Agriculture awarded her its Lifetime Award.

While living in Parker, she worked with Cooperative Extension, assisting local communities in home economics.

When Louva returned to the Navajo reservation, she organized 4-H clubs, teaching hundreds about livestock, home economics, and cultural awareness. She established the first Navajo Homemakers radio program, which was broadcast in the Navajo language on eight stations for ten years.

Louva, with help from Cooperative Extension, helped begin the North America Indian Women's Association; she was elected first national chairwoman. This group directly sought funding from Congress to help solve local problems.

In addition, Louva was a founder of the National Indian Council on Aging and helped organize Navajo Nation Council on Aging. She developed the first Navajo Illustrated Cookbook, using commodity and native foods. She was the motivating force behind a native foods analysis that proved they had a high nutritional value.

Asked about her lifelong work, Louva says, "I wanted to provide education for Navajo people, education that includes traditional and modern ways so that people might have better home living."

Juanita Tiger Kavena received the College of Agriculture's Lifetime Award in 1992. Juanita's crowning achievement, Hopi Cookery, published by the University of Arizona Press, was voted among the top cookbook of its kind in 1980.

It is a celebration of the heritage of a people who have called Arizona home for hundreds of years. The Hopis' centuries old culinary tradition, which provides a high level of nutrition from a relatively barren environment, is preserved.

Concerned about the economic situation of the Hopi, Kavena worked with Hopi women to set up a cottage industry making and selling Hopi dolls.

In 1973, she was nominated to the White House Conference on Children and Youth, and in1974 was listed in Who's Who of American Women.

George Stevens played a powerful role in the cattle industry of Arizona and the Southwest. For his leadership in establishing a coalition between the University of Arizona and the San Carlos Apache Tribe at Arsenic Tubs, he was awarded the College of Agriculture's Lifetime Award in 1992

He was manager of the R-100 San Carlos Apache registered research herd, which produced seed stock for commercial cattle associations. The combined breeding, management, and research program made a great impact on the entire area and served as a teaching tool for Indian stockmen for more than 25 years.

At one time, Arsenic Tubs was the largest cattle research station in the United States. The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the western states contributed heavily to this program because of its integrity and value to the entire cattle industry.

Howard Jones, former assistant to the Dean for Native American Programs in the College of Agriculture, was recognized in November 1999 for his longstanding leadership and dedication in working with USDA and with the Intertribal Agriculture Council. He also received a Distinguised Service Award from the Arizona Agriculutral Extension Agents Association.

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