Holistic Transformation of Lives of Impoverished Families Through Rabbit Projects (Beachcomber)
Dr. Steven Lukefahr: The 2020 Darwin B. Nelson Excellence In Research Award Recipient
Dr. Lukefahr received his graduate education at Oregon State University, where he earned M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Animal Breeding & Genetics. From 1983 to 1985, he was employed by Heifer International where he worked in Cameroon, West Africa, developing a grass-roots level, meat rabbit program for rural impoverished farmers. For the next eight years, Dr. Lukefahr was a professor at Alabama A&M University where he directed a rabbit research program. In 1994, he joined the faculty at Texas A&M University-Kingsville.
Over his career he has taught thousands of students, some of whom work in developing countries. Dr. Lukefahr is co-author of the popular book, Rabbit Production, and the author of a book entitled, Developing Sustainable Rabbit Projects, which is published by Heifer International Publishers. This book has been used as a guide in training programs in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America and the Caribbean. Dr. Lukefahr has published about 200 articles in international journals and in conference proceedings. He has collaborated with many rabbit scientists and has worked in over 30 developing countries in establishing sustainable meat rabbit projects targeting low income families. His most recent project is in Nepal that involves families who were victims of an earthquake disaster in 2015. From 2004 to 2008, he served as President of the World Rabbit Science Association (WRSA), and from 2008 to 2016 served as the WRSA General Secretary for Developing Countries. In recognition for his humanitarian services, in 1997 he received the coveted International Animal Agriculture Bouffalt Award presented by the American Society of Animal Science.