MANHATTAN, KANSAS, US — Dr. Chad Paulk, associate professor of feed science and management for the Department of Grain Science at Kansas State University, is the first recipient of the Belstra Family Professorship in Feed Science.

The award created by KSU alumni Tim and Marta Belstra of DeMotte, Indiana, US, will support Paulk’s research and teaching activities. Paulk’s research focuses on feed processing, feed safety and monogastric nutrition. He also advises and mentors feed science undergraduate students and serves as Feed Science Club co-adviser.

“This endowment will enhance my research, teaching and outreach in feed manufacturing, monogastric nutrition and feed safety,” Paulk said. “The additional funds will provide great help with travel, equipment needs and support of undergraduate and graduate students in my program. This support will help us fulfill our mission to provide excellent career paths to students while filling the employee pipeline within the feed industry.”

KSU is the only degree-granting program in North America for feed science and management, milling science and management, and bakery science and management. Endowment gifts such as the Belstras’ provide permanent support and stability for the department.

“This professorship helps tremendously to recruit and retain the highest quality faculty, such as Dr. Paulk,” said Dr. Hulya Dogan, interim department head. “While we are a recognized leader around the world, the endowed chair will undoubtedly raise the global stature and impact of the department to new heights and help us achieve our vision of being the global education, research and technology transfer leader for the grain and feed industry.”

Tim Belstra earned his degree in feed science and management from KSU in 1971, and Marta Belstra graduated from KSU in 1972 with a degree in elementary education. Tim Belstra’s family has been in the feed business in Indiana since 1954.

“We support a scholarship in the grain science program and decided to help the department with a professorship,” Tim Belstra said. “We hope this relieves a bit of the department’s budget and allows for more growth in the program while retaining top-notch professors. Our family has been blessed, and one of life’s joys is giving back.”