Rodney Gilbert from farm dreams to livestock hall of fame

By Blake Jackson

When he was 18 years old, Rodney Gilbert, had originally planned to expand his small three-head, hand-milking operation into a dairy farm in Connecticut. However, life had different plans for him. More than five decades later, he finds himself being inducted into the Livestock Hall of Fame at the Keystone International Livestock Expo.

His journey began with pursuing a master's degree in animal science, focusing on dairy. But Gilbert's passion soon shifted toward livestock, and he changed his concentration. He ended up with three majors: dairy, livestock, and nearly a whole meats major. Life took another turn when he married his wife, Barbara, and decided to pursue a master's degree in animal science.

Eventually, an adviser recommended that he reach out to Delaware Valley University. Rodney moved to Pennsylvania, where he became the university's livestock manager. Teaching was an unexpected aspect of his career, but he embraced it wholeheartedly. He enjoyed the hands-on teaching approach at DelVal, encouraging students to get involved and get their hands dirty. Rodney emphasized doing the job right and taking pride in their work while instilling a love for learning.

In 2010, Rodney received the DelVal Distinguished Faculty Award and was honored as the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Distinguished Alumni at the University of Connecticut. After 43 years at DelVal, he retired in 2016. However, retirement didn't last long, as he was asked to fill in part-time at the University of Rhode Island.

Despite retirement, Rodney still misses his students and the bonds he formed with them. He particularly enjoyed teaching livestock judging courses, where he got to know students individually. He remains close to many former students, welcoming them into his home during holidays when they stayed to care for the animals.

Being inducted into the Pennsylvania Livestock Hall of Fame is an honor Rodney cherishes deeply. He holds great respect for the members of the Hall and considers it a remarkable achievement to be recognized among them. While he and Barbara have enjoyed retirement activities like traveling, volunteering, and joining the Grange, Rodney's heart remains with the students and colleagues who made his teaching career so memorable.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-jessicahyde