Norm Luba, MS, was named 2011 Friend of UK’s Equine Initiative during the Kentucky Quarter Horse Association’s annual meeting and banquet, held Dec. 10 in Lexington, Ky.

Luba, executive director of the North American Equine Ranching Information Council (NAERIC), was recognized for his leadership, vision, and work on behalf of the Equine Initiative. Luba currently serves as the chair of the UK College of Agriculture Equine Advisory Committee and has been involved in the Equine Initiative since early in its formation and in college equine programming before that.

"Norm brings his interest and knowledge of the horse and the horse industry, plus a strong desire to make our equine programs the best they can be," said Bob Coleman, PhD, PAS, associate director for undergraduate education in equine science and management and extension horse specialist.

"This award was created to recognize our stakeholders for contributions that elevate what we offer and challenge us to provide the best possible programs," said Nancy Cox, PhD, associate dean for research in UK’s College of Agriculture, Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station director, and administrative leader for UK’s Equine Initiative. "Norm has provided valuable leadership to developing our undergraduate program, and he led the process to create the College’s Equine Advisory Committee, and then agreed when we asked him to serve as its initial chair. In that post he has created lively, relevant, and provocative discussions. He represents stakeholder leadership and engagement at its very best