Basil Eastwood's Home Page

Employment History (43yrs-9mos after college)

Education

Awards and Recognition

Major Accomplishments

The following was written by Donald E. Voelker, Professor Emeritus, Iowa State University

On-Farm Genetic Evaluation System:

Basil developed a useful on-farm genetic evaluation system through the Mid-States DHI Record Processing Center. The special genetic reports designed and engineered by Basil incorporated estimated transmitting (ETA) and producing abilities (EPA) with USDA's Predicted Differences for sires. This system brought these concepts out of the textbooks and classrooms to the farms for the first time to become a useful genetic improvement tool for DHI members in nine states. These measures later were adopted in various forms throughout the industry.

Basil was a pioneer in the use of records in progress to speed up availability of genetic estimates on cows and sires. He initiated the first preliminary sire evaluations using records in progress. USDA later incorporated partial lactations into predicted difference estimates. Youngstock genetic evaluations based on pedigree estimates was another of his pioneering contributions to dairy producers.

Verified Identification Program (VIP):

Recognizing the inherent inaccuracies of genetic estimates caused by missing or inaccurate animal identification, Basil was the prime initiator of the Verified Identification Program (VIP). He provided persistent leadership working with the National Dairy Herd Improvement Association to launch this program. For the first time breeders of non-registered cattle had a way to verify the identity of their cattle. Basil provided the leadership for the Mid-States DHI Processing Center to process applications, issue certificates, and edit and provide support. It was because of Basil's single-handed, tireless and dedicated efforts that the VIP program was launched successfully. Breed associations were quick to imitate VIP with programs of their own. Today, large numbers of dairy cattle are enrolled in these programs nationwide.

Basil brought many other innovations to the Mid-States DHI records, such as a continuous 21-day reproductive calendar, a sophisticated and effective culling guide, heifer identification program, and the Reprogram, an innovative and timely reproduction record. He was a prolific writer of Extension publications to support his program efforts.

Extension Education:

Basil is also a talented educator, highly respected by farmers and industry people. He is innovative in simplifying complexity without losing the integrity of concepts. His reputation for creative, well prepared visuals is widely recognized.

Basil has a unique ability to design events to meet specific needs of groups. Some examples are: "Kitchen Klinics" for small group consultation and discussion; "Cow Power Days" designed to provide total cow evaluation through performance and physical evaluation of groups of cows at farmyard meetings; "Dairy Cow Profit Days: emphasizing individual herd breeding, cost efficiency and management, and "CARD Sessions" (Cows Analyzed, Ranked and Discussed) to explain individual cow and herd evaluations.

Basil has been an effective force for initiating and marshalling cooperative efforts among and between state Extension specialists and key industry personnel in his National Dairy Program Leader position. Basil has provided several forums to improve communications between Extension Specialists to encourage cooperation on projects and efforts of mutual interest. He organized an annual Extension workers breakfast meeting at the American Dairy Science Association meeting, and an annual meeting of Extension Specialists at the National DHI Convention.

Both the National Cooperative Dairy Herd Improvement Program (NCDHIP) Handbook and the Extension Goat Handbook were conceived and coordinated by Basil. Under his leadership, Extension specialists and industry personnel nationwide contributed their expertise to author and review the fact sheets in these reference manuals. Both handbooks have gained wide acceptance and use in the classroom, by Extension staff, by industry personnel, and by producers as the most authoritative sources of information on their respective topics.

He represented USDA-Extension Service with the National Cooperative Dairy Herd Improvement Program (NCDHIP) from 1980 to 1994 and coordinated drafting of the Memorandum of Understanding for the NCDHIP among USDA-ES and ARS, National Dairy Herd Improvement Association, the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP), and each State Cooperative Extension Service in 1983.

Basil was one of the first Extension educators to recognize the potential value of the personal computer as a tool that could enhance greatly the educational and decision making process. Consequently, many of his efforts have been directed toward increasing the knowledge and understanding of his Extension co-workers relative to the application of these technologies to the problems facing producers and the industry. Basil was instrumental in planning and organizing a number of national workshops directed toward expanding computer applications in dairy health, feeding, management, records and genetic evaluations.

Recognizing the powerful information storage and retrieval capabilities of the personal computer, Basil organized and coordinated the effort to develop the National Dairy Database, a collection of dairy-related informational and educational materials available and accessible on electronic media. He is currently testing and demonstrating methods for practical and inexpensive development of Animal Agriculture Databases.  These may be viewed at http://usextension.org. (Updated by BRE on 1/14/07.)

Basil helped organize and direct efforts to establish a national Dairy Decision Support Systems (DDSS) group, whose goal was to coordinate the development of computerized decision support systems to enhance the decision making process and improve dairy farm profitability. He encouraged Extension specialists to join the internet and communicated extensively with them electronically to help establish this as the method of choice for routine messages and committee deliberations.

From a colleague of 15 years at Iowa State University:

"Basil has the unique ability to attack a problem with vigor and industry, reducing a mass of complexity to its simple terms, then forthrightly developing in logical sequence the necessary steps to apply a solution to the problem. In doing so, he never loses sight of the ultimate goal and uses good judgement and thorough planning in reaching the goal.

Basil has keen insight and a sense of humor in motivating people to action."

-- Donald E. Voelker, Professor Emeritus, Iowa State University

From a former Director of Cooperative Extension, Iowa State University:

"Dr. Eastwood is a leader in Iowa and the nation in his specialty -- Extension dairy genetics and breeding. He wears well with the people with whom he works including dairy farmers, other members of the dairy Extension team, Extension specialists in other departments, and departmental, college, and Extension administrators. He has demonstrated his ability to stimulate people so that they react positively to his efforts as an Extension educator.

Dr. Eastwood is a creative Extension specialist. One of his real strengths is his capacity to see a problem in perspective, apply logic in analyzing the problem and alternative solutions and to develop effective solutions to problems facing Iowa dairymen and the dairy Extension team.

Dr. Eastwood is an excellent communicator. He has the ability to express complex, sometimes controversial subjects in clear, easy to understand language. His involvement in the Verified Identification Program (VIP) project is a good example of his ability to express his thoughts clearly and succinctly.

Dr. Eastwood's work as an effective Extension educator is a direct result of his ability to plan, organize, and develop projects. An example is the Total Cow Evaluation Program which he has worked on since 1966. In this program, Dr. Eastwood has applied the principles of dairy genetics with those of computer science to develop a widely recognized, highly regarded tool to help dairymen in herd evaluation.

Dr. Eastwood is accurate and meticulous in his work. He does not know the meaning of carelessness or sloppiness in the conduct of his profession. Dr. Eastwood is recognized in Iowa and nationally as a competent Extension educator. Respect goes with this reputation."

-- Charles E. Donhowe, Former Dean, University Extension and Director, Cooperative Extension Service, Iowa State University

Personal History:

Born and raised on a Southwestern Wisconsin dairy farm. Worked with the home herd of registered Holsteins and owned a small herd of registered Hampshire hogs and a small flock of registered Shropshire sheep as well as a flock of laying hens.

Youngest of eight children of Ralph and Selma (Berget) Eastwood.

Active in 4-H with projects in Jr. Leadership, Dairy, Swine, Sheep, Forestry, Tractor Maintenance, and Electricity.

Married Barbara Jean Schewe of Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1963 and have two children: Elizabeth and Charles.

Currently reside on a small farm at Round Hill, Virginia.

Extracurricular Experience:

Read pedigrees for two of the Martin Cockriel Arabian Horse Auctions. These large annual two-day auctions of registered Arabian horses were held in the Denver, Colorado Coliseum.

Served two terms as president of the Iowa Arabian Horse Association and as a delegate to the International Arabian Horse Association Convention for several years.

Managed the Iowa Arabian Horse Association Fall Show in Des Moines, Iowa for several years. This show received a Class A, Star-rating by the American Horse Shows Association (AHSA).
Managed the first Region Eleven International Arabian Horse Association Championship Show in Des Moines, Iowa. This was also a Star-Rated, AHSA Class A show.

Served as ring announcer for several AHSA Star-Rated, Class A, All-Arabian shows.
Served as ringmaster for one AHSA Star-Rated, Class A show.

Coached several State 4-H dairy cattle judging teams in Massachusetts and Iowa and served as judge for many 4-H and open class dairy shows throughout the midwestern and northeast states.

Hobbies and Other Interests:

Doberman Pinscher dogs.
Arabian horses.
Old farm tractors.
Old Chevy Camaros and Monte Carlos.
Fruit jars, milk bottles, insulators, depression glass
L.P. records, books, and videos.
Antique furniture.
Woodworking.
Auctions
Farm machinery restoration.
Video photography.
Tree and shrub propagation.
Fishing.