Block and Bridle

Block & Bridle Honoree

"It is in my genes" was a response Gretchen Myers Hill made when a student asked, “how did you become such a good teacher?” Growing up in rural Ohio with parents involved in advising 4-H and FHA, she saw what adults could do to help the younger generation and apparently the idea stuck! After graduating from a high school class of 27, Gretchen enrolled in Animal Science at the University of Kentucky.

After receiving a masters degree at Purdue University in animal science, a teaching certificate, and working in agriculture publications, she taught science in Ann Arbor. Gretchen decided it was ''now or never" for a doctoral degree. So with the advice of Dave Hawkins and Harlan Ritchie, Gretchen met with Dr. Elwyn Miller and continuation in mineral nutrition began.

After completion of a doctoral degree and a post doc in the medical center at the University of Michigan, Gretchen began as an assistant professor in U of M's School of Public Health, taught a course in Minerals, and began having her own graduate students.

Answering the call to join a faculty with many members interested in minerals, Gretchen moved to the University of Missouri and again taught "minerals," but also taught Life Cycle Nutrition in the Dietetics program. In response to how can you teach about people, you are a pig lady, Gretchen said ''they are all born and get old". Students in a club Gretchen advised planned and carried out a Nutrition Week for the entire campus. Dr. Hill was honored as an outstanding teacher at the University of Missouri.

Animal science has always been in Gretchen's heart so she returned to MSU as a researcher and teacher. Initially, she taught non-ruminant nutrition and again "minerals," then 110. Gretchen learned that innovation was the key to meeting the needs of the "new type" of student so she wrote case studies, on-line texts, and began the use of "i-clickers."

Hill went from a few undergraduates involved in research to ultimately having students complete research trials and present their work at the Midwest ASAS competition in three species--sheep, beef and swine. She served as an advisor for the Block and Bridle Club including when the Club hosted the national convention. Utilizing a USDA grant to encourage animal science undergraduates to be entrepreneurs, Gretchen worked with undergraduate students, Margaret Benso and Alan Culham in marketing blankets from MSU's sheep's wool to marketing MSU lamb to local consumers and the Kellogg Restaurant.

She served MSU on the departmental, college and university curriculum committees and was honored by the College with the Howard and Lili Ann Camden Endowed Creativity/Teacher/Scholar Award and Outstanding Academic Advisor.

In recognition of her research, she has won the American Society of Animal Science Non-Ruminant Nutrition Award (2006) and the Mineral Research Award (2015). ASAS recognized her with an Appreciation Club in her name honoring her service and assistance of students and supports Midwest ASAS student competitions, and she was named a FELLOW in 2016.