In June of 2008 Dr. Dutson retired from his position as OSU’s Dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences. Often clad in Wranglers or formal western attire, Dr. Dutson credits his love of agriculture to two things. The first is his farming background. Dr. Dutson was raised on a cattle and sheep ranch in Idaho that taught him two valuable life lessons: produce as much value as you can with what you have, and always strive for accountability, excellence and balance.

The other reason Dr. Dutson loves agriculture and natural resources is his interest in the minute details of the earth. It was this fascination with the intricacies of how things work that led Dr. Dutson to many different colleges and even different continents. Although he loved agriculture, Dr. Dutson pursued his interest in chemistry and biological systems through his schooling at Utah State. He later traveled to England for a year, and then took a job at Texas A&M for twelve years. In the process, Dr. Dutson became the co-author of a published work in its eleventh volume, and won a few national research awards.

Dr. Dutson now enjoys spending time on his ranch near Sisters. There he can be found horseback riding with his granddaughter or pulling calves during calving season. And what advice does Dr. Dutson have for the students at OSU? “Remember your life line! Whether you know what path you’re taking or not, these years at school are just a small portion of the rest of your life. Don’t be afraid to spend a little extra time investigating what interests you.”