With the first milking at 5:30 a.m., the days were long, the pay was small and the rewards were great, recalls alumnus William (Bill) Oswalt. After earning a degree in dairy science, he returned to his family farm in Vicksburg, Michigan. He became a dairy industry leader and founded Ozland Enterprises, which manufactures and markets dairy management products throughout the U.S. and internationally.
Bill’s lifelong commitment to agriculture was behind a recent $100,000 gift to establish a fund that provides flexible support for the MSU Department of Animal Science. The William Oswalt Discretionary Endowment will enable the department chairperson to direct expenditures toward the most pressing needs at the time.
“MSU was established as and continues to be recognized as one of the premier land-grant universities,” said Bill. “Life on this planet will continue to evolve and the validation of animal science must meet the challenges encountered along the path of inevitable change.”
In 2016, Bill was named one of the charter members of the Farm Lane Society for his contributions to the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
“We are so grateful for Bill Oswalt’s thoughtfulness to provide such flexibility for the future,” said Catherine Ernst, animal science chairperson. “His generosity will have a tremendous and longlasting impact on our students and faculty and will provide vital support for enhancing our animal science teaching, research and outreach missions.”
LEARN MORE about supporting the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources by contacting Senior Director of Development Jeff Martin at mart2767@msu.edu or by calling (517) 432-1576.