OSU Agriculture names Sarkeys Distinguished Professor Award recipient
Wednesday, January 29, 2025
Media Contact: Mandy Gross | Sr. Manager of Strategic and VP Communications | 405-744-4063 | mandy.gross@okstate.edu
Oklahoma State University’s Craig Edwards has been named a recipient of the 2024 Sarkeys Distinguished Professor Award by OSU Agriculture.
The Sarkeys Foundation created the Sarkeys Award in 1980 in honor of Elmo Baumann, an agronomist who worked with the foundation following his retirement from OSU. The annual award recognizes those with outstanding contributions to the agricultural industry through teaching, research or Extension efforts.
“I am deeply humbled to be honored with the Sarkeys recognition, especially knowing the caliber of Ferguson College of Agriculture faculty members receiving it in the past,” Edwards said. “I am also proud to be a social scientist playing a part, albeit small, in helping the college and OSU achieve the land-grant mission in service to our state, nation and world.”
Edwards is a professor in the OSU Department of Agricultural Education, Communications and Leadership and was presented the award during the OSU Agriculture Appreciation and Awards Luncheon held last month.
His research interests include the development needs of agriculture and food entrepreneurs in Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as undergraduate students’ attitudes and knowledge on global issues impacting the agriculture and natural resources sectors and their related learning needs. He also focuses on the teaching, learning and use of change theory in agricultural education, communications and Extension.
Edwards’ interest in students’ learning and achievement began as a high school agriculture teacher.
“I strived to provide students with instruction that was relevant and rigorous,” he said. “The way some students learned or responded to my teaching better or more readily than others always intrigued me and still does.”
Edwards has authored or co-authored more than 100 peer-reviewed journal articles and nearly 300 research conference presentations.
He teaches multiple undergraduate and graduate courses, including his signature graduate course of more than 20 years, focusing on methods of technological change.
Edwards begins his graduate courses by asking students to consider a quote from Karl Popper, a scientist and distinguished philosopher of science: “With each step forward, with each problem which we solve, we not only discover new and unsolved problems, but we also discover that where we believed that we were standing on firm and safe ground, all things are, in truth, insecure and in a state of flux.”
Edwards said this quote helps students understand and appreciate the ongoing need for high-quality, rigorously conducted research and discovery, including its interpretation and reporting.
“Dr. Edwards is in an elite category as it relates to effective teaching,” said Shane Robinson, professor and department head in agricultural education, communications and leadership. “His ability to teach, conduct high-quality research and accumulate grant funding to support his work is second to none.”
Edwards also has earned several achievements and recognitions throughout his career.
He received the VIP Award from the National FFA Organization as well as the Excellence in Graduate Student Advising and Mentoring Award and Outstanding Faculty Member Award for the Master of International Agriculture degree program from the Ferguson College of Agriculture.
He was named a Fellow, Senior Fellow, Outstanding Leadership Award recipient and Outstanding Service Award recipient of the Association of International Agricultural and Extension Education. In addition, he was named a Fellow and received the Distinguished International Agricultural Educator Award, Distinguished Research Award, Outstanding Agricultural Educator Award and Outstanding Early Career Member Award from the American Association for Agricultural Education.
“There is no doubt Dr. Edwards has developed the reputation of a tremendous scholar, which is evident in the voluminous and overwhelming number of awards and recognitions that have been bestowed on him,” Robinson said. “These awards are prestigious, impressive and well deserved.”