News
Ankeny, Iowa – The North Central Poultry Association (NCPA) honored Iowa State University leaders Dr. Pat Halbur and Dr. Wendy Wintersteen as recipients of the 2025 Honorary Member Award on September 23 at the NCPA Fall Festival and Annual Meeting awards banquet in Altoona, Iowa. The Honorary Member Award is given annually in appreciation of service to the poultry and egg industry.
Dr. Pat Halbur
Dr. Pat Halbur grew up on a diversified family farm near Carroll, Iowa, and earned his DVM degree from Iowa State University in 1986. After several years in mixed-animal practice, he returned to ISU as a diagnostic pathologist and went on to serve in multiple leadership roles, including Director of the Veterinary Diagnostic Lab, Chair of the Department of Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine, Associate Dean, and Interim Dean.
Throughout his career, Dr. Halbur worked closely with NCPA, IEC, and IPA to expand poultry diagnostic services, research, and education at ISU. His leadership helped secure significant state funding for the ISU VDL and grow the College of Veterinary Medicine’s poultry faculty, establishing ISU as a national leader in poultry medicine, research, and training.
“I am honored and humbled to accept the Honorary Member Award recognition from the NCPA which represents the most progressive poultry producers in the world,” Dr. Halbur said.
“Throughout my career at ISU, I have always appreciated how the NCPA leadership and members valued their relationship with ISU CVM. Working together, we have made each other better and continuously improved the services provided to poultry producers.”
Dr. Wendy Wintersteen
As a graduate student in entomology at Iowa State University in the early 1980s, Dr. Wendy Wintersteen began her career studying fly populations around poultry facilities in northwest Iowa. Over the following decades, in roles ranging from Associate Dean for Extension to Senior Associate Dean for Finance, she worked closely with poultry and egg industry leaders.
“Through the years, President Wintersteen has been a strong advocate for the Iowa poultry and egg community and has worked diligently to develop relationships with our staff and members,” said Kevin Stiles, NCPA interim executive director.
As Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Dr. Wintersteen led efforts to significantly expand faculty and staff engaged in poultry and layer-related research, growing the number from fewer than five to more than 25. She played a pivotal role in establishing the Egg Industry Center Endowment, the Iowa Egg Council Endowed Professorship, and the Egg Industry Center Economist position, ensuring long-term support for research and economic analysis benefiting the egg industry.
Dr. Wintersteen also oversaw planning for the Bob and Arlene Hamilton Poultry Teaching and Research Farm, which opened in 2020, further strengthening ISU’s role in supporting the nation’s leading egg-producing state.
“I want to thank Dean Dan Robison for his leadership in making this project a reality,” Dr. Wintersteen said. “Further, I thank Dean Robison for his continued efforts to maintain and grow our university’s excellent relationship with Iowa’s egg and poultry industry. I also want to recognize Ray Klein, who played a key role in building the partnership and raising the funds necessary for the endowments and facilities at [ISU].”
“I am honored to receive this award, as it serves to recognize the cherished relationships with so many current and former leaders of the egg and poultry industry,” Dr. Wintersteen said. “A short listing includes Blair Van Zetten, Bruce Dooyema, Jeff Henning, Craig Rowles, Dennis Casey, Bob Sparboe, Marv and Coke Anderson, Beth Sparboe, Bob and Arlene Hamilton, Bob Riley, Rich Hall, Mark Friedow, Kevin Vinchattle, and Kevin Stiles.”
“I am certain I missed many people,” Dr. Wintersteen said. “But I hope this list provides a sampling of the many cherished relationships and friendships developed over the years that have proved essential in moving initiatives forward. I believe these initiatives have transformed the poultry and egg industry, and Iowa State University in incredibly positive ways. I will always be thankful to have played a role in this transformation.”