The IR-4 Project is now welcoming nominations for the Jerry Baron SOAR Award, which recognizes external collaborators who excel in serving growers of specialty crops and minor uses. The selected recipient will have demonstrated clear excellence in Service, Outreach, Altruism, and Research (the core tenets of “SOAR”).
Honoring Jerry Baron’s Legacy: The SOAR Award was renamed in 2026 to honor IR-4 Executive Director Emeritus, Jerry Baron. Jerry perfectly exemplified the spirit of this honor and was instrumental in fostering IR-4’s culture of stakeholder engagement and collaboration.
Eligibility & Nominations
- Who is eligible? The award is open to any partner or collaborator associated with the IR-4 Project who champions our mission. Examples include researchers, federal agency partners, grower group representatives, individual growers, and Extension specialists.
- Who is not eligible? Active PMC members and full-time IR-4 staff.
- Who can nominate? Any IR-4 employee (regional or HQ) or IR-4 researcher may submit nominations, and you are welcome to nominate multiple individuals. Collaborators are encouraged to reach out to IR-4 team members to suggest potential nominees.
Discover past recipients and award criteria info here.
Submission Guidelines
To submit your nomination(s), please visit our Awards web page for a link to the nomination form. This page also further outlines SOAR award criteria, other IR-4 awards, and past award recipients.
Deadline & Selection
All nominations, including the letters of support, must be submitted by Friday, July 31, 2026, at 11:59 pm PST. Award recipients are selected by the IR-4 Headquarters Management Team and will be announced in the fall.