SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. – Dr. Jim Heird, Tennessee native and Associate Dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences and the Director of Teaching and Outreach for the Equine Center at Colorado State University, has agreed to serve as the chairman of the SHOW HIO Independent Board.
“SHOW is pleased that Dr. Heird has accepted this position and assignment. He is truly an outstanding horse industry leader and we are proud to have someone of his credentials assisting our industry and the future of our breed,” stated Dr. Doyle Meadows, Celebration and SHOW CEO.
The following is a bio of Dr. Heird. Before his current position Dr. Heird served as Interim Dean of the College of Business; Associate Dean and Director of Resident Instruction for the College of Agricultural Sciences; Director of Instructional Programs for Equine Sciences; Department Head of Agricultural Interdepartmental Programs which includes Agricultural and Extension Education, and the Master of Agriculture Program and as Interim Dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences and Interim Vice Provost of Agriculture and Outreach. He is chairperson of the Y Cross Ranch management committee. He is a tenured professor in the Department of Animal Sciences.
Dr. Heird graduated with his BS in Animal Husbandry Production and his MS in Animal Genetics from the University of Tennessee. He earned his doctorate in Animal Behavior at Texas Tech University. He was an extension specialist at North Carolina State University and a faculty member at Texas Tech University.
Dr. Heird is an approved judge for the American Quarter Horse Association. He serves as a member of the executive committee of the National Western Stock Show. He served on several subcommittees of the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges. He was a member of the Weld County Fair Board from 1996-1999. He served as the chair of the AQHA judges committee and chair of the United States Department of Agriculture and Bureau of Land Management’s Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Committee. As faculty representative for athletics he served as chair of the Western Athletic Conference Council and Executive Committee
Dr. Heird has an international reputation in the field of Equine Sciences. He has lectured on numerous topics both nationally and internationally. He was a successful judging team coach, as well as teacher and extension specialist. His research in the areas of equine conformation and equine behavior is recognized throughout the equine industry. He has received numerous honors, including the United States Department of Agriculture Honor Award for Excellence in Diversity as Discovery Program Coordinator; the distinguished Service Award from Southern University and A&M College, Baton Rouge, Louisiana; the Colorado State University Distinguished Service to Diversity Award; the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Department of Animal Science at The University of Tennessee; and the Outstanding Professor-Leadership Award from the National Horse Judging Team Coaches Association and the outstanding advisor award for Texas Tech University.
Dr. Heird has a history of sincere dedication to fulfilling the land grant mission of helping to make people’s lives better. In 2001 he led the development of a new strategic plan for agriculture at Colorado State University. He initiated a first-year experience course to enhance student retention. He has directed recruitment and retention efforts that have seen an enrollment change from 760 agricultural undergraduates in 1990 to 1324 students in 2002 and an increase in scholarships awards from $68,000 in 1991 to over $400,000 in 2003. He initiated Bachelor of Science and Master of Agriculture degrees in Extension Education and a Bachelor of Science curriculum in Applied Information Technology. He initiated the College of Ag Sciences’ career advising office and the hiring of a college career director; the hiring of the College of Agricultural Sciences diversity coordinator; the College of Ag Sciences Career Fair, Peer Advising Program; developed a computer technology support group; established student computer lab development and computer skills classes; initiated the development of a distance education offering for the Master of Science in Extension Education; and developed a network of junior college leaders who meet annually to discuss articulation. He also established the Summer Discovery Program to increase minority enrollment in the College of Agricultural Sciences by recruiting, particularly in the Southeast, outstanding minority students. He has been active and successful in development activities for the college and several of its programs. He has been instrumental in helping to secure funding for the University’s interdisciplinary program in Integrated Resource Management.
More recently Dr. Heird was named “Professional Horseman of the Year” by the Colorado Horse Council.