Dr. Orville A. Vogel began his career in 1931 as a wheat breeder for the USDA Agricultural Research Service stationed in Pullman at what was then called Washington State College. After earning his PhD from WSU in 1939, Vogel went on to release eight wheat varieties during his 41-year career. He revolutionized the industry with the first new class of semi-dwarf varieties: Gaines. In Washington alone, Vogel’s semi-dwarf varieties were credited with immediately adding $50 million a year to the state’s wheat crop value in the 1960s. His innovations extended beyond breeding. Leading researchers credit him with the invention of small-scale equipment that allowed researchers to plant, harvest, and thresh thousands of plots in a single day.
This endowment was originally established in 1973 in honor of Dr. O.A. Vogel and his contributions to agriculture in the Pacific Northwest.
Award Requirements
Those considered eligible for scholarships and fellowships hereunder shall be full time, regularly enrolled undergraduate and/or graduate students majoring in agronomy or soils at Washington State University. Scholarships shall be awarded on the basis of grade point average, extracurricular activities and demonstrated financial need.