MJ Fisher

• Beef cattle nutrition
• Livestock management
• Agriculture promotion and advocacy
• Local foods and food systems
• International agricultural travel

• Bass, T. and M. Fisher (ed.) 2022. Livestock Mortality Composting For Large And Small Operations In The Semi-Arid West Manual (2nd edition). Colorado State Univ. Ext., Ft. Collins, CO.
• Bass, T., D. Colburn, J. Davis, J. Deering, M. Fisher, R. Flynn, J. Norton, and S. Paisley. 2012. Livestock Mortality Composting For Large And Small Operations In The Semi-Arid West Manual. Montana State Univ. Ext., Bozeman, MT.
• Fisher, M. J., N. Schauermann, J. Deering, J. Davis, T. Bass, and R. Flynn. 2012. Livestock Mortality Composting For Large And Small Operations In The Semi-Arid West Video. Colorado State Univ. Ext., Ft. Collins, CO.
• Brummer, J. E. (ed.). 2011. Intermountain Grass and Legume Forage Production Manual. Colorado State Univ. Ext., Fort Collins, CO. (At the invitation of the editor, I conducted a pre-publication review of ten chapters for this manual.)
• Whittier, J. C., R. W. Ellis, D. Colburn, M. Fisher, M. Jarosz, S. P. Porter, and the Western Beef Resource Committee. 2008. CSUBEEF.COM as a web resource for disseminating beef cattle educational information and for on-line access to the Cattle Producer's Library. J. Anim. Sci. Proc. 58:133-136.
• Fisher, M. J., D. W. Bohnert, C. J. Ackerman, C. S. Schauer, T. DelCurto, A. M. Craig, E. S. Vanzant, D. L. Harmon, and F. N. Schrick. 2004. Evaluation of perennial ryegrass straw as a forage source for ruminants. J. Anim. Sci. 82:2175-2184.
• Fisher, M. J., D. W. Bohnert, C. J. Ackerman, C. S. Schauer, T. DelCurto, A. M. Craig, D. L. Harmon, and F. N. Schrick. 2003. Evaluation of perennial ryegrass straw as a forage source for ruminants. J. Anim. Sci. Proc. 54:30-35.
• Ackerman, C. J., R. R. Mills, R. L. Dickson, S. I. Paisley, and M. J. Fisher. 2002. Impacts of implants on carcass quality and gross income. J. Anim. Sci. Proc. 53:181-184.
• Co-reviser of the Animal Science Merit Badge Manual. 2000. Boy Scouts of America. Irving, Texas.

MJ Fisher grew up on a diversified family farming operation in Central Iowa. They raised cattle, sheep, corn, soybeans, alfalfa hay, grass hay and oats. MJ was employed by the farm for several years and also rented a crop farm of his own. MJ attended Iowa State University, as a non-traditional student, for his bachelor's in animal science, which he received in 1998. While at ISU, he worked with the carcass ultrasound team, was active in Block & Bridle leadership, and was a member of the 1998 National Champion Meat Animal Evaluation Team. After receiving that first degree, he worked for a technology company in the beef industry, where he did cattle feed research, IR camera research, and training in feedlots throughout the United States. In 2003, he received his master's degree from Oregon State University in animal sciences, concentrating on ruminant nutrition. His degree research evaluated the use of perennial ryegrass straw as a forage source for cattle.

After college, MJ was the meat animal evaluation coach for the University of Georgia for a year and then became an agriculture and natural resource Extension agent for Virginia Cooperative Extension in 2004. In 2007, he moved to Colorado where he served in the roles of Golden Plains area livestock Extension agent, interim Ag program area leader, Pueblo County Extension director and interim central region director. He spent 15 years working for Extension in Colorado. During the summer of 2022, MJ began working in his current position as the central district director for University of Idaho Extension, based out of Twin Falls, Idaho.

• Colorado County Agents Association Presidential Appreciation Belt Buckle, 2021
  
• Colorado State University Extension, Fifteen Years of Service to Extension, 2019
  
• National Association of County Agricultural Agents, Distinguished Service Award, 2018
  
• Colorado County Agents Association, Distinguished Service Award, 2018
  
• Colorado State University Extension Peaks & Plains Region, Extending Excellence Award: Outstanding Educator/Communicator, 2016
  
• Colorado State University Extension, Ten Years of Service to Extension, 2014
  
• American Society of Agronomy, National Award of Excellence - Publication Over 16 Pages (Livestock Mortality Composting for Large and Small Operations in the Semi-Arid West Manual; 2012)
  
• American Society of Agronomy, National Award of Excellence Audio Visual (Livestock Mortality Composting for Large and Small Operations in the Semi-Arid West Training Video; 2012)
  
• Colorado State University Extension Team Award (Mortality Management Team; 2012)
  
• National Association of 4-H Agents, Western Regional Winner: Excellence in Natural Resources/Environmental Education Team, 2012
  
• Colorado Association of Extension 4-H Agents, Denise Miller National 4-H Innovator's Award (AgFest; 2012)
  
• National Association of 4-H Agents, Western Regional Winner: Excellence in Natural Resources/Environmental Education Team (AgFest; 2011)
  
• Colorado Association of Extension 4-H Agents, Excellence in Natural Resources/Environmental Education Team (AgFest; 2011)
  
• Colorado Association of Extension 4-H Agents, Educational Package  Team Award (AgFest; 2011)
  
• Colorado Association of Extension 4-H Agents, Extension Team Award (AgFest; 2011)
  
• Colorado State University Extension Team Award Northeastern Colorado MQA Team, 2009
  
• Colorado State University Extension Five Years of Service to Extension, 2009
  
• Virginia Dept. of Agriculture Pesticide Recycling Program Award, 2007