2019 SIU Distinguished Alumni Award — Career Achievement

Stephen J. Scates ’59 — College of Agricultural Sciences

Stephen J. Scates

Stephen Scates is a retired farmer but still actively involved in his family farming operations. He serves as president of Scates Valley, Inc., is a senior partner at Pat Scates and Sons Farms, and is on the board of director for Scates Gardens, Inc.

Steve Scates and former United States President Barack Obama. In 2012 Scates was invited to visit the President at the White House — Photo and story by the Carmi Times

He has served on the Illinois Soybean Association Board of Directors including two years as chairperson, as chairperson of the Illinois Council for Food and Agricultural Research Legislative, and as a presidential appointee as Illinois state director for the Farm Service Agency (USDA). He facilitated the endowment gift to SIU from the Illinois Soybean Association, formerly known as Illinois Soybean Program Operating Board.

In 2005 Stephen Scates (seated, left), presented former SIUC Chancellor Walter V. Wendler (seated, right), with a $500,000 gift to establish an endowed fund to support soybean research efforts. Former dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences, Gary L. Minish (standing, left), and current SIU Chancellor John M. Dunn (at the time provost and vice chancellor — standing, right), look on. Photo credit: Russell Bailey

Scates was the 2005 Outstanding Alumni in the College of Agricultural Sciences, received an award for Faith in the Marketplace Award from Diocese of Belleville (2008), the Farm Bureau Eagle Award (2005), the Secretary’s Award USDA (2000) and several other awards.

All SIU Alumni, students, faculty and staff, as well as the general public, are invited to attend the 2019 SIU Distinguished Alumni Awards Ceremony at 4 p.m. Friday, April 26 in the Student Center Auditorium.

There will be a reception following in the International Lounge. If you are planning to attend and did not RSVP by April 18, please give us a call between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Mon-Fri at: 618–453–2408.