March 7, 2023
Owensby Honored by Society for Range Management with Renner Award
Dr. Clenton E. Owensby, life member of the Society for Range Management (SRM) and a Professor of Range Management in the Department of Agronomy at Kansas State University, received the Frederic G. Renner Award at the Society for Range Management’s 76th Annual Meeting in Boise, Idaho earlier this February. The Renner Award is the most prestigious award bestowed by the SRM and was made possible by a generous contribution from Frederic G. Renner, a Charter and Life member, and SRM’s second President (1949). The award is presented with the belief that such recognition will foster better use of rangeland resources and a broader understanding of the contributions that these resources make to the welfare of all people.
During his 55-year career, Dr. Owensby has taught more than 7,000 students in range related courses, including advising 16 M.S. and 4 Ph.D students. He developed the first video course on range management and established Kansas State University’s Kling L. Anderson Range Science Lectureship, recognizing leading range scientists around the U.S. Dr. Owensby was responsible for the acquisition and development of the Hilas Bay and Emma Browning Rannells Flint Hills Prairie Preserve as well.
In SRM, Dr. Owensby has served on the Range Science Education Council, been a plenary speaker at an annual SRM meeting, and published more than 40 articles in the Journal of Range Management, Rangelands, and Rangeland Ecology & Management. He has been previously honored by the Society with the SRM Outstanding Achievement (1989), W.R. Chapline Research Award (2004), Range Science Education Undergraduate Teaching (2018), and SRM Lifetime Achievement Award (2022).
Dr. Owensby has contributed significantly to rangeland research with far reaching impacts and for those tremendous contributions to the science and management of rangeland ecosystems, it is with great honor the Society of Range Management recognized Dr. Clenton Owensby with the Renner Award.