Steve Pohl, Professor of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering at South Dakota State University (SDSU) will be recognized for his distinguished career with a retirement reception on May 30, 2014.

He has spent the last 27 years teaching in SDSU's College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences and the Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Department.

Pohl's SDSU Extension and research work in the areas of livestock, ventilation and environment with a focus on its effects on the health and performance of the livestock and agricultural workers has been paramount in establishing industry standards. 

Through his tenure in SDSU Extension, Pohl made more than1,000 site visits, and was invited to speak in several countries including, China, South Korea and Vietnam.

Pohl has been a popular and effective teacher in the area of Livestock Structures within the department and the university, and received significant acclaim from students, peers and industry leaders for his Ag. Systems Technology Rural Structures course.

As an SDSU Extension Specialist in Structures and Environment, Pohl developed and implemented statewide, regional, national and international extension programming in the areas of agricultural structures and environment, housing, farmstead and grain storage systems planning and waste management, recognized by an SDSU Extension Specialist Association Distinguished Service Award, and the Gamma Sigma Delta Extension award.

Pohl was recognized as a 2011 National Hog Farmer Master of the Pork Industry. Read more about his impressive career here.

Pohl has been instrumental in the development of several multi-state programming efforts including the Agri-Builders and Equipment Association and the Ventilation workshop, Managing Your Unseen Employee: The Ventilation System. The ventilation workshops alone impacted more than 4,000 students, producers and industry personnel regionally and nationally.

He co-authored more than 100 publications through SDSU Extension and the MidWest Plan Service, earning an ASABE Blue Ribbon award.

Pohl was honored with induction into the Rural Builders Hall of Fame, the National Hog Farmer Masters of the Pork Industry Award, the South Dakota Honorary Master Pork Producer and Lifetime Achievement Award, the Dedicated and Distinguished Service Awards from the South Dakota Pork Producers Council and Extension Innovation Award from the National Pork Board.

Pohl's retirement reception will be held from 3 to5 p.m. on May 30 in Tompkins Alumni Center on the SDSU campus. Please join Steve in celebrating his retirement and enjoy some refreshments.