MSU CANR awards Keith Creagh with Distinguished Service Award

The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) at Michigan State University is honoring four leaders in agriculture and natural resources for their community, state and national leadership with the Distinguished Service Award.

Keith Creagh

East Lansing, Mich. – The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) at Michigan State University (MSU) is honoring four leaders in agriculture and natural resources for their community, state and national leadership with the Distinguished Service Award. The awards will be presented on March 9 during the annual ANR Week luncheon at the Huntington Club at Spartan Stadium.

Keith Creagh has spent more than 40 years working on behalf of Michigan’s farmers and natural resource managers. He has served as director of the state Department of Agriculture and Rural Development  and is now the director of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

At the height of the Flint water crisis, Mr. Creagh stepped in as acting director of the state Department of Environmental Quality. Since returning to the DNR, he has continued to be a critical thought leader on water quality issues.

Throughout his career, Mr. Creagh has tackled many issues related to agriculture and natural resources, including bovine tuberculosis, chronic wasting disease in the state’s deer herd, and preventing the spread of Asian carp into the Great Lakes.

"People spend their entire career developing the strong leadership skills Keith possesses," Phil Korson, president of the Cherry Marketing Institute, said in support of Creagh's nomination. "Keith has used these skills to solve real world problems that have benefited MSU and the state of Michigan."

Mr. Creagh has led many MSU initiatives that have benefited Michigan agriculture, particularly as a member of the first Directors Action Team for Project GREEEN (Generating Research and Extension to meet Economic and Environmental Needs). Project GREEEN is a key partnership between MSU, the State of Michigan and Michigan’s plant agriculture industries. He has also served MSU students as both a guest lecturer and a mentor.

"I have witnessed firsthand his ability to help coalesce the capabilities of multiple agencies and organizations while addressing an emergent public health crisis and rebuilding relationships and confidence among local citizens," Jeff Dwyer, director of MSU Extension, said. "Rarely in my 25 years in academic administration have I known an individual who has made a greater impact on multiple organizations across so many domains over such an extended period," 

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