Dr. Rick Funston has established a state, national and international reputation in the area of beef systems/heifer management systems. He has an international reputation for his groundbreaking research in reproductive management and fetal programming. Funston has taught beef producers how to capitalize on resource and market opportunities to add new pro t centers to their ranch business to increase ranch profits. Funston’s leadership, scholarly accomplishments, program impacts, communication skills and his program visibility are well documented. His ability to seamlessly combine his extension and research programs has become a model for state specialists nationally. His research is at the cutting edge of science and is being confirmed by numerous researchers around the country. Funston has the unique ability to translate his research into management.