🌟 One Day. Lifelong Impact. 🌟

Because somewhere along the way, someone believed in us.

A mentor encouraged us. A scholarship made travel possible. An ASAS connection helped shape a career, a friendship, or a future we never imagined for ourselves.

Today, it’s our turn to do the same.

One Day for ASAS is about investing in the next generation of animal scientists through scholarships, travel awards, internships, research opportunities, and career-shaping experiences that change lives.

Every gift helps create opportunities for students and young professionals following in our footsteps.

Let’s make today count. Let’s Inspire. Ignite. Invest.
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For non-online contributions, such as IRA gifts (RMDs), stock transfers, mailing a check, or distributions from donor-advised funds, please notify Amy Brainard, ASAS Foundation Director, at amyb@asas.org or by phone at (217) 729-7600 to ensure proper acknowledgment and processing.
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We Give Because -
Behind every ASAS member is a story of discovery, of mentorship, of a student who became a scientist because someone invested in their journey. From travel scholarships to internships, awards, and access to cutting-edge research collaborations, your support makes these life- and career-changing opportunities possible.

When you give, you’re not just funding a program - you’re fueling a future.

💥 We’ve been where they’re going - let’s make the path even stronger.

Read a few of their stories below -
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Joseph P. Fontenot Travel Scholarship Recipients - "THEN" & "NOW"

"Since becoming a member of ASAS as an undergraduate student, ASAS meetings have always been opportunities to connect and network with other researchers and grow as a young scientist. The 2009 Joseph P. Fontenot Travel Scholarship provided for the opportunity to attend the 2009 ASAS Annual Meeting, where I established lasting connections and collaborations with scientists in my field very early in my career that are still in place today. These long-lasting collaborations and friendships have been the key to success as a young and now mid-career scientist, and I am grateful for the opportunities provided by the travel scholarship. Establishing a firm foundation of collaboration and meeting attendance is vital to students and young scientists today, and I am thankful to those that continue to support these endeavors. Nicole Burdick Sanchez, Ph.D., ASAS Member since 2006.

"Receiving the 2026 Joseph P. Fontenot Travel Scholarship Award is a profound honor that has supported my professional growth as an animal scientist and strengthened my community within the American Society of Animal Science. This award allowed me to attend the 2026 Southern Section conference, where I was able to learn from fellow researchers, share our research team’s current work, and foster collaborative partnerships. I am deeply grateful to the ASAS Foundation, whose generosity makes opportunities like this possible for graduate students." Madeline McKnight | Ph.D. Student | Mississippi State University | Anticipated Graduation Year: 2028

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DC Animal Agriculture Policy Interns - "THEN" & "NOW"

“The ASAS Foundation's 2009 DC Animal Agriculture Policy Internship was a pivotal experience that helped me realize science doesn’t end at publication - it has to move through people, institutions, and policy to matter. Working with Meridian Institute and the AGree Initiative showed me that evidence alone isn’t enough; how stakeholders understand, trust, and engage with that evidence shapes whether it leads to action. That experience fundamentally shaped my career and is part of what led me to step into public service, committed to ensuring science informs real-world decision-making and ensuring research actually benefits communities.” Chris Gambino, Ph.D., MPA | Senior Monitoring, Evaluation, & Learning Officer at Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) | Independent Candidate for PA State Representative

"As an aspiring animal health sales professional with a lifelong passion for animal agriculture, I’m honored to serve as the 2026 DC Animal Agriculture Policy Intern. This experience will allow me to grow both personally and professionally within the industry. My background with livestock and my involvement in the Texas A&M Animal Science Department have strengthened my appreciation for the people and science that drive animal agriculture. I’m excited to deepen my understanding of policy and continue building relationships with industry professionals as I work toward a career in animal agriculture." Madison Barbee | Animal Science | Texas A&M University | Graduated May 2026

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"I give because I’ve been where they’re going, and I didn’t get there alone.” Gerald Horn, Ph.D.

(Top, left: "THEN." Gerald Horn, Texas Tech, 1965. Bottom, left: "NOW." Gerald Horn, Ph.D.)

“At every stage of my career, beginning as a graduate student at Purdue and continuing through my time at the University of Georgia and Oklahoma State University, I was fortunate to be surrounded by people who supported and encouraged me.
Mentors, colleagues, and fellow graduate students believed in me and formed friendships that have lasted a lifetime.

Two of the mentors who most notably shaped my journey, Dr. W.R. Featherston, my major professor during my Ph.D. studies at Purdue, and Dr. Thomas L. Huber, a cherished colleague during my time on the faculty at the University of Georgia, had already traveled the path I was just beginning. Their support and encouragement meant more to me than I can fully express. Looking back, I realize none of us gets here alone. There is always someone who has already been where we are going, someone who encourages, guides, and opens a door. Now, I find myself on the other side of that journey, hoping to do the same for those just starting out.

That's why I give - because I have been where they’re going, and I know how much it matters to have someone believe in you along the way.

I’m proud to support the ASAS Foundation and One Day for ASAS so that today’s students and young scientists have those same opportunities. I hope you’ll join me in continuing this cycle of support.”

Gerald Horn, Ph.D. | ASAS member since 1966 | ASAS Fellow

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(Left: "THEN."Gretchen, freshmen year, winning Little International. Right: "THEN." Gretchen, junior year, with the livestock judging team. Left, below "NOW." Gretchen and the Purdue Mascot, receiving their Distinguished Alumni Award.)

“How many times did you write a 'Thank You' note to someone who did something for you? There are many I have, but many I forgot from the time my Dad sent me $5 in his weekly letter while I was in college to those I am writing now that are past students who nominated me to be a Distinguished Alumni at Purdue University.

At every stage of my career, someone opened a door for me, encouraged me, or believed in me when I needed it most. From Dr. Frank Buck at the University of Kentucky, to Dr. M.P. Plumlee at Purdue, to Dr. Elwyn Miller and Margaret Benson at Michigan State University, I was fortunate to learn from mentors and leaders who helped guide my journey as one of the very few women in animal science at the time.
Years later, Dr. Gary Allee encouraged me to reconnect with ASAS, bringing me back to the people and profession that shaped my roots and lifelong friendships. It brought me back to my roots and gave me the opportunity to work with great people such as Greg Lardy, a Missouri grad student at the time, and Richard Coffey, a swine graduate student at UK and now at Oklahoma State.

Looking back, I realize how much these mentors, colleagues, students, and friends influenced both my career and my life. That is why I support the ASAS Foundation, because we have been where they’re going, and the next generation deserves the same encouragement, opportunities, and belief that others once gave to me.”

Gretchen Myers Hill, Ph.D. | ASAS Member since 1978 | ASAS Fellow
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The future of animal science is not built by one person - it is built by our community, willing to invest in each other.

Thank you for helping open doors, inspire dreams, and create opportunities for those following in our footsteps.

Together, let’s Fuel the Future.

One Day for ASAS 2026