A couple of years ago, I was asked to write a paper on the future of beef production in North America. I had previously given a presentation along the same lines about cattle feeding in the U.S., but expanding my thinking to the overall beef production systems in North American was a bit challenging. Only time will tell if my “predictions” have merit. When reminded that it was time to prepare an article for the newsletter, I started thinking about what ARPAS might look like a few years down the road. So, I will offer a few thoughts for your consideration, recognizing that just as with my predictions about beef production, only time will tell if these forecasts have validity.

First, I see ARPAS getting more involved with assessment of animal science academic programs in the U.S., and perhaps ultimately around the globe. Regardless of what I might think about the value of outcome assessments in higher education, the push for accountability will likely increase the need for animal, dairy, and poultry science programs around the country to use assessment tools to quantify how effectively graduates are being educated. As a professional society, ASAS recently announced a plan to move into the arena of certifying academic programs. With a history of providing tests to assess the general knowledge of applicants for certification, ARPAS is well-positioned to be a player in the area of outcome assessment. Under Steve Schmidt’s leadership, the Examining Board is currently evaluating the feasibility of developing exams for graduating seniors, and Jack Garrett is leading ARPAS efforts to visit with ASAS about projects of mutual interest related to online education, certification, and testing.

Second, I see ARPAS growing older and struggling to maintain membership numbers – unless we take steps as an organization to involve and certify younger members. To that end, we have been working to engage undergraduate students who attend the ADSA-ASAS joint annual meeting by providing them the opportunity (through funds provided by the ARPAS Foundation) to take ARPAS certification exams at no cost. We also need to consider how to explain the value of ARPAS and the relevance of the certification process to graduate students in programs around the country, as these young people will be stepping into professional roles in academic and industry settings in the years to come, and thereby represent a very important pool of potential ARPAS members. If we want ARPAS to be a viable organization 15 to 20 years from now, engaging these young professionals is critical.

Third, I see the Professional Animal Scientist continuing to grow in size and stature. There is a clear and continuing need in the animal sciences for a top-quality journal that provides a venue for timely reviews and the publication of sound science that addresses real-world issues. The Professional Animal Scientist is filling that role now, and I believe it is poised to reach far greater heights of success in the future. A flagship journal is key to the success of a professional educational organization, and ARPAS is fortunate to have a strong platform that will aid our growth in the future.

Finally, I see ARPAS continuing to grow in terms of member services. As an organization, ARPAS was built on the idea of the value of certification and credentialing. Clearly, certification and continuing education represent the bedrock of what we do and will remain so as we move into the future. Nonetheless, we must look for ways to engage and attract new members through new and meaningful member services. Working with fellow FASS-affiliated societies to provide these services might be a cost-effective and functional way to achieve this goal.

As I noted previously, only time will tell whether my crystal ball has any predictive value. Nonetheless, what I have discovered after investing some time and energy into such soothsaying efforts is that the process is what is most important, not the veracity of the predictions. Organizations with a vision and passion for the future survive and thrive. To that end, I would encourage all members of ARPAS to be visioning about the future and sharing your thoughts and ideas with ARPAS leadership.

Thanks for letting me serve as President of ARPAS, and I look forward to seeing you this summer in Kansas City.