Benton County native Jerry Rakes and Washington County dairy farmer Bob Spears were named Graduates of Distinction by the Department of Animal Science in Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences at the University of Arkansas.

Spears graduated from Mountainburg High School and from the U of A with a bachelor’s degree in animal science in 1962. During his college career he was a member of the Livestock Judging Team, was on the Dean’s list for two years and was a member of Alpha Zeta Honorary Fraternity.

After graduating, Spears first worked as a livestock buyer for Swift & Company in Kansas City. In 1968 he became a partner in a 25-cow dairy farm in Washington County. The milking herd was expanded to 400 mature Holstein cows with modern facilities near Farmington. It was the highest producing herd in Arkansas 12 times during a 20-year span and was the highest classified herd in the state.

Cattle and embryos from Spears’ farm have been exported to Mexico, Honduras, several countries in Europe, and Japan. The milking herd, which at one point was the largest in Arkansas, was sold in 2001, and the primary enterprise began raising about 1,300 dairy heifers annually on 2,000 acres of land.

Spears has been invited to judge animals at state fairs in Missouri, Mississippi, and Oklahoma and at shows in several other states. He is a life member of the Dairy Shrine Club. He served on the corporate board of Associated Milk Producers, Inc. (AMPI), and was named Outstanding Young Cooperator by AMPI in 1975-76. He has also provided leadership for the Arkansas and American Holstein Associations, Arkansas Dairy Federation, and the Farmington School Board.

Spears and his wife Nadine made three trips to Bolivia as volunteers with Partners of the Americas. The Spears have hosted educational events for the U of A, 4-H, FFA and the Chamber of Commerce.

Rakes entered the Army after high school and served during the Korean Conflict. He completed his B.S. in 1955 and his M.S. in 1956, both in animal science at the U of A. He completed his Ph.D. in animal science at Iowa State University in 1958 and joined the U of A animal science as assistant professor that same year. He was promoted to associate professor in 1964 and to professor in 1968.

During his tenure at Arkansas Rakes taught dairy cattle judging and selection, principles of genetics, dairy cattle breeding, artificial insemination of cattle, dairy junior judging team activity, dairy senior judging team activity, and market milk.

Rakes conducted research in management and genetics of dairy cattle, particularly in selection for protein concentration in milk and in embryo development in the bovine. He authored or coauthored 24 refereed journal articles, 15 non refereed articles and gave over 96 scientific presentations. He was a member of Gamma Sigma Delta, Sigma Xi, Alpha Zeta, the Arkansas Holstein Association, the American Holstein Association, the American Dairy Science Association, and the American Society of Animal Science. He was listed in Who's Who in American Education, and American Men of Science.

Rakes retired in 1993. He and his wife Betty of almost 60 years now reside in southern California. They have a son Mike who is head of World Wide Sires, a son Randy who is a Shakespearean actor, and a daughter Missy Gentile who is chief financial officer for a Chicago area hospital.

The awards were presented during an awards banquet held recently at the U of A.