Congratulations to Greta Koebel, the 2006 Merle Howard Outstanding Junior Award. A sophomore at Michigan State University, Koebel is studying agribusiness management. The award was presented to her at World Dairy Expo.

Kobel is only the third person to receive the honor, which is awarded to young people with exemplary skills in fitting, showmanship and sportsmanship and an overall passion for the dairy industry. Koebel is the daughter of Terry and Jennie Koebel of Three Oaks, MI. She is currently president of the Michigan Junior Holstein Association and a member of the MSU Dairy Science Club.

The award is named after Merle Howard, a respected dairy industry pioneer. Winner of the 1954 Klussendorf Award, Howard was a herd manager, Holstein classifier and later a sales and export business man. Serving on the first National Dairy Shrine Board, he became one of only six people to receive the 4-E Award for Outstanding Service.