Tom Hoegemeyer, a 1970 graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's College of Agriculture, will receive the 2006 College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Award.

Hoegemeyer, a third-generation farmer, is chief technology officer of Hoegemeyer Hybrids in Hooper, Nebraska. His grandfather began the family-owned seed company in 1937 with 11 acres of seed from parent stock grown at the University of Nebraska.

The company has dedicated 70 years of research toward the development of hybrid corn varieties for the western Corn Belt. Hoegemeyer recently developed PuraMaize, a variety of corn designed to block pollen from genetically modified corn. In addition to hybrids enhanced with herbicide and insecticide protection technology, the company also produces soybeans and sorghum and partners with America's Alfalfa and Target Seed LLC.

Hoegemeyer is a member of the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture Advisory Board and works with agronomy faculty on various projects. He will be honored this weekend at a dinner hosted by the CASNR Alumni Association Board and the University of Nebraska Foundation and at the CASNR Alumni Association 2006 Football Reunion.

CASNR is a division of the university's Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.