Past Department Heads

Agricultural & Applied Economics

The History of UW Agricultural Economics

The Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics formally began in 1920 when the College of Agriculture created a home for specialists to apply the concepts of economics to Wyoming’s production of livestock and crops. Originally focused on assisting ranchers and farmers in making management decisions, the Department’s economists applied their skills with statistics to help them maximize the limited resources all businessmen face.

Over time the department broadened its focus to meet the needs and challenges of more stakeholders interested in agricultural and rural issues. Issue areas the Department works on tend to be with natural resources and the environment, risk and uncertainty, community development, consumption and food supply chains, prices and incomes, and market structures. 
 

Twelve Department Heads, nearly 100 years . . . .

	Alonzo Frederick Vass Head, 1920-1957
Andrew Vanvig Head, 1957-1982
	Jim St. Clair Head, 1982 – 1983
Gordon Kearl Head, 1983-1985
	Sam Cordes Head, 1985-1989
Glen Whipple Head, 1989-1992
	Jim Jacobs Head, 1993
Glen Whipple Head, 1994-1997
	Ed Bradley Head, 1997-2004
Nicole Ballenger Head, 2004-2005
	Roger Coupal Head, 2005-2017
Ben Rashford Head, 2017-present