Expressing appreciation I certainly appreciate this, Ebelhar said during his virtual acceptance speech.
He thanked the nomination committee and those who submitted letters of support on his behalf. I m humbled by the recommendation, he said.
Ebelhar thanked his support staff, including the farm operations crew, the business office and fellow scientists. I want to say a special thanks to my support staff. I ve told administration for years, if I don t have support staff, you don t need me.
He said they work as a team. The teamwork approach is by far the best way to go, he added.
Ebelhar started his research in Stoneville. I was a farm boy from Western Kentucky who grew up with tobacco, corn, soybeans, wheat, hay and cows. I never thought about being a research scientist. I actually tried to hide in a tobacco field because I hated suckering tobacco. I was probably less than 10 years old.