University of Idaho animal physiologist and dairy management Prof. Amin Ahmadzadeh works closely with Idaho’s rapidly growing dairy industry. He also puts a priority on educating future dairy leaders, recently winning national recognition as the cream of the crop among college teachers. “Amin is very deserving and does a great job with students. He’s enthusiastic and brings a lot to the classroom,” said John Foltz, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences associate dean and academic programs director. “My advice to all the teachers is that we must teach with all the energy we have. If at the end of class, we don’t feel exhausted and tired, we haven’t done our job. I want to give the students everything I have to help them learn. My mission is to accomplish that the best way I can,” Ahmadzadeh said. That works both ways. Students also have to invest effort, he added. “I tell students: Education is not something to have like a degree. Be an educated person.” Ahmadzadeh won one of six regional teaching awards given by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges. He was among eight professors, including two from the West, who were honored Nov. 12 in New York City by the nation’s oldest higher education association, which represents 216 colleges and universities. “His role is important because we’re a large and growing dairy state,” Foltz said, citing recent statistics that showed Idaho is battling with New York to become the third-largest milk producer in the U.S., behind California and Wisconsin. “We don’t have more cows, but we’re much more productive. Amin does a good job of giving our students a practical view of the science,” Foltz said. Idaho cows average 63 pounds of milk a day compared to New York cows’ 52 pounds. Ahmadzadeh, an associate professor of dairy management, joined the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences faculty in 2000. He teaches courses on dairy management and animal science. PD —Excerpts from University of Idaho news story Amin Ahmadzadeh Dairy Management Professor amin@uidaho.edu