R. K. and Pat McGuffey
Dr. R. K. (Ken) McGuffey a graduate of Allen County High School received a B.S. in Agriculture from Western Kentucky University (‘70) and MS (’74) and Ph.D. (’75) degrees in Dairy Cattle Nutrition from Michigan State University. Post-doctoral stints at Michigan State and Rutgers preceded a teaching and research position on the faculty of the Dairy Science Department at South Dakota State University. There he taught courses in dairy cattle feeding and dairy farm management and served as faculty advisor to the SDSU Dairy Club. Dr. McGuffey moved in 1980 to Lilly Research Laboratories in Greenfield, Indiana where he initiated the dairy research program for Elanco Animal Health. Dr. McGuffey worked closely with Elanco colleagues, domestic and international scientists at the US Food and Drug Administration and University dairy scientists in developing protocol guidelines for conduct of product registration studies. The research produced three compounds for field testing, two of which are now approved for use in dairy cattle in many countries worldwide.
Additionally, his research demonstrated the importance of energy and protein nutrition in dairy cattle receiving these products. Dr. McGuffey served as a Technical Consultant/Advisor to the Elanco sales and marketing for the United States and Latin America. He spoke frequently on dairy cattle topics, especially related to growth and development of replacement heifers. His research resulted in 18 publications in refereed journals, numerous abstracts for scientific meetings, 14 research and scholarly publications for conference proceedings, 12 technical publications for Elanco Animal Health, and a recently completed book chapter – “History of the Dairy Farm,” for Elsevier Publishing Company. Dr. McGuffey retired from Elanco in 2004 but remains active in several areas of the dairy industry. He serves as Industry Advisor to the Indiana Dairy Producers Association. He has provided classroom instructions to dairy classes at Eastern Kentucky University, Middle Tennessee State University, and Western Kentucky University.
Dr. McGuffey served on the Board of Directors of ADSA from 1997 to 2000. He served on the Program Committee for the Discover Conference. In 2002, ADSA President, David Schingoethe, appointed McGuffey as Chair of the Centennial Planning Committee. Dr. McGuffey and his committee planned and executed the Centennial celebration of ADSA in 2006. Highlights included the Centennial issue of the Journal of Dairy Science, a book, “One Hundred Years of Inquiry and Innovation” and oral presentations at the annual meeting by “Pioneers in Dairy Science.” He served as president of ADSA in 2012. He lives in Indianapolis, Indiana with his wife, Pat (Harston) McGuffey, also from Allen County.
Patricia (Pat) McGuffey, his wife, also leads a prolific life. She was born and raised in Scottsville, Kentucky where she lived until graduating from high school. She then went on to study at Michigan State University and Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, where she graduated in 2001.With over 30 years in governmental affairs, Mrs. McGuffey has a track record of success. She has cooperated with numerous administrations and was awarded the prestigious Sagamore of the Wabash by Governor Frank O’Bannon in 2002. Throughout her career, Mrs. McGuffey has effectively advocated for numerous mental health, health, and budgetary issues. In addition, she has assisted many agricultural and business organizations in implementing well-balanced policy for the interests of the client and the public at large. She has also served on the Governor’s Juvenile Justice Advisory Board; is a past president of the Indianapolis Press Club; a former board member of the Indiana Protection and Advocacy Commission; is Past President of the Governmental Affairs Society of Indiana and on the Indianapolis Bar Association’s (Government, Health Care, Agriculture and Environmental Law Practice Section); and former Chairman of Public Relations Committee of the Indiana State Bar Association and currently serves on their legislative committee.
The couple has two children: one daughter, Lindsey, and one son, Matthew. The McGuffys continue to give back to the Bowling Green community, even after moving to Indiana, and have done so through the establishment of a scholarship fund. The R. K. and Pat McGuffey Scholarship in Agriculture aids deserving students at WKU who are graduates of Allen County-Scottsville High School, like Pat, and who are engaged in agriculture as their major area of study, like Ken. Dr. and Mrs. McGuffey are using this as a means to recognize the outstanding contributions of the teachers at Allen County-Scottsville High School and WKU.