CALS Tailgate was once again a successful event in 2006, drawing more than 1,500 guests to its new venue, the Exposition Center at the N.C. State Fairgrounds, Sept. 9. Sponsored by the CALS Alumni and Friends Society, the 15th annual tailgate festivities were held before the N.C. State versus Akron football game at Carter-Finley Stadium. While the Wolfpack fell short in that outing, CALS alumni and friends nevertheless had an entertaining day complete with barbecue and other sumptuous food, departmental exhibits and chances to participate in a silent auction - which raised $7,600 for the CALS Alumni and Friends Scholarship Endowment.

On the Friday evening before the tailgate, the College honored its 2006 alumni award winners. Dr. David A. Thompson and R. Kendall Hill were named the 2006-2007 Distinguished Alumni of the College. CALS departmental outstanding alumni, outstanding young alumni and the outstanding faculty/staff member were also recognized, including:

Outstanding Alumni

• Dr. Barbara Blakistone, M.S. 1976, Ph.D. 1982, food science, director of technical and regulatory affairs, National Fisheries Institute
• Dr. Rebecca Bullard-Dillard, B.S. 1990, biochemistry, chair and associate professor, Department of Biology, Claflin University
• Dr. John W. Ezzell Jr., M.S. 1973, Ph.D. 1976, microbiology, senior scientist, Diagnostic Systems Division, U.S. Army Medical Research Institute
• James T. Hill Jr., B.S. 1959, agricultural economics, animal industry, president and co-owner, Tull Hill Farms Inc.
• Vernon Leroy Jackson, B.S. 1953, agronomy, retired, Plant Food Association of N.C.
• Robert B. Kornegay, A.A. 1982, Agriculture Institute, marketing and member relations manager, Tri-County EMC, co-owner, Kornegay Farms
• Zack F. Ladd, B.S. 1958, agricultural education, retired, N.C. Farm Bureau Insurance
• William S. Lamm, B.S. 1953, agronomy, M.Ed. 1969, adult edu- cation, retired, North Carolina Cooperative Extension
• Windell L. Talley, B.S. 1963, poultry science, owner, Talley Farms
• Elijah J. Tyson, B.S. 1958, agricultural engineering, retired, Duke Energy
• Larry B. Wooten, B.S. 1973, animal science, president, N.C. Farm Bureau Federation

Outstanding Young Alumni

• Erica Balmer Hanchey, M.S. 2001, food science, product development manager, H-E-B Grocery Co.
• Amanda Pugh Patnaud, B.S. 1998, microbiology, compliance engineer, Wyeth Vaccines

Outstanding Faculty/Staff

• Marcy L. Bullock, director, Career Services, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences