Outstanding Alumnus Meritorious Service Award

Winner of the 2008 Meritorious Service Award: Bruce Berlage

Bruce Berlage was raised on a dairy farm in Olney, Maryland. He joined the 4-H Club when he was 9, raised and exhibited pure-bred Jersey cattle. He added some Holstein cows and for several years he raised a baby beef as his 4-H projects. He was a member of the Montgomery County and Maryland State Dairy Judging teams as well as the Future Farmers of America (FFA) judging teams. In 1951 he represented the National FFA organization in greeting the then-Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinborough at the British Embassy.

During school, Bruce entered and won several essay and public speaking contests. Winning an FFA public speaking contest came with the award of a scholarship to the University of Maryland, thus providing the entree to his major of general agriculture in 1952. He was a member of the Collegiate Dairy Cattle Judging Team and Collegiate Livestock Judging Team. He was also active in the Block and Bridle Club.

Beyond his AGNR related activities and working while in college, Bruce found time to be in the Men’s Glee Club and Chapel Choir. He further served as Business Manager of the “Old Line” Magazine and WMUC radio station. Additionally, he was vice president of the Student Government Association.

Since his graduation in 1956, he has been involved in the sales and marketing of new homes including operating his own home building business. In 1996, he formed the firm of Beck & Berlage Real Estate for the sales and marketing of new homes in Maryland and Virginia and currently serves in the capacity of Managing Partner. He is a member of the National Association of Home Builders and serves as a Life Director of the Northern Virginia Building Industry Association.

In 1996, Bruce and his wife, Donna, established the Bruce L. and Donna W. Berlage Maryland 4-H Scholarship to support AGNR students with active 4-H backgrounds. His experience in SGA has led to a gift to support an “alternate spring break” program which funds students to do community work, such as Katrina Relief,during spring break.

Bruce reconnected with the Maryland 4-H program in the late 1990’s through the dairy cattle judging program, assisting with state practices and coaching youth with their evaluation of dairy cattle. His gentle manner made him popular among youth and volunteers alike. His reconnection to the Maryland 4-H program finds him currently serving as chairman of the Maryland 4-H Foundation. Acknowledging the powerful changes and potential in the 4-H Youth Development program, he and Donna established an Innovative Grant program for Maryland 4-H units to teach 4-Hers about applying for and administering grants. They have also established a challenge grant that will promote grassroots support for Maryland’s 4-H program across the state.

While living in Northern Virginia, Bruce and Donna continue to be avid Terp fans and frequently travel to away games with the teams. He has lived the 4-H motto of making the best better in all of his endeavors.