Annual Meeting 2005
The 41st Annual Meeting of
The Association for International Agriculture 
and Rural Development
June 5-7, 2005

Speakers and Panelists

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Ambassador Clayton Yeutter
The 2005 AIARD Special Service Award is presented to Ambassador Clayton Yeutter who is currently Of Counsel to Hogan & Hartson, L.L.P., Washington, D.C., specializing in trade policy and consultation including legislative strategies for trade and agricultural issues. He was Secretary of Agriculture and has served in cabinet and sub-cabinet level positions under four presidents.

Ambassador Yeutter grew up on a farm in central Nebraska, earned three degrees from the University of Nebraska, and served that university on the faculty and as Director of its USAID/Ford Foundation Project in Colombia. He was President and Chief Executive Officer of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. He holds honorary doctoral degrees from eight universities. As Ambassador 
in U.S. trade negotiations he greatly improved trade relations world-wide contributing to the formation of the World Trade Organization. His work on trade negotiations with Canada and Mexico eventually led to NAFTA. These are only examples of many significant accomplishments during his years of service to international agriculture and development.

“He has always been willing to share unselfishly his time and talents with others by his service on boards of many private corporations and non-profit organizations. Dr. Yeutter is truly a respected and distinguished American,” according to one of his references.

The Association for International Agriculture and Rural Development acknowledges Ambassador Clayton Yeutter's exemplary leadership in the field of international agricultural policy and trade and is pleased to recognize him with our 2005 Special Service Award.