Remembrance
Barbara Ann Atkins
1946 - 2012
Barbara Ann Atkins was born and grew up in Haxtun, Colorado, a small farming community in the northeast part of the state. She attended college at the University of Denver and she attained an M.S. at Cornell. From 1970 to 1978 she was the manager of Nebraska Crop Improvement Lab. She then managed Applewood seed lab from 1978 to 1979. She became an RST in 1979 and ran her own seed lab, B. A. Atkins Seed Testing in the 1980’s. From 1989 until her retirement in 2008, she was a supervisor at STA Laboratories in Longmont, CO.
Barbara was very active in the AOSA and SCST and served on numerous committees and on the Executive Board as Membership Director. The charter meeting of the Front Range Seed Analysts began at her home in Denver and she was instrumental in training several seed analysts. She also held leadership positions with the Colorado Seed Industry Association. Barbara was an excellent seed analyst and a good teacher. In all her years of hard work, she put the customer first. Once, when she had her own business in Denver, she even accepted seed samples brought to her on Christmas Day. In retirement, she enjoyed helping others with her volunteer work at the Elks club. She also created wonderful needlework for STRF (Seed Testing Research Foundation) and others. In the face of illness, she had tremendous backbone and a gracious spirit. Her seed collection was donated to the SCST Seed Library. Barbara’s professionalism and friendship will be missed by many.
Barbara was very active in the AOSA and SCST and served on numerous committees and on the Executive Board as Membership Director. The charter meeting of the Front Range Seed Analysts began at her home in Denver and she was instrumental in training several seed analysts. She also held leadership positions with the Colorado Seed Industry Association. Barbara was an excellent seed analyst and a good teacher. In all her years of hard work, she put the customer first. Once, when she had her own business in Denver, she even accepted seed samples brought to her on Christmas Day. In retirement, she enjoyed helping others with her volunteer work at the Elks club. She also created wonderful needlework for STRF (Seed Testing Research Foundation) and others. In the face of illness, she had tremendous backbone and a gracious spirit. Her seed collection was donated to the SCST Seed Library. Barbara’s professionalism and friendship will be missed by many.