College News

 

TYLER NAMED ASSISTANT DEAN FOR STUDENT SERVICES

Howard Tyler has been named the assistant dean for student services for the Iowa State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. For the past 25 years Tyler has served as an Iowa State professor with research, teaching and advising roles in the animal science department. Tyler succeeds Tom Polito (’76 agronomy, ’82 MS, ’87 PhD), an assistant professor of agronomy, who worked in that position for 38 years. Polito, who plans to retire in May, saw changes in technology over the years and instilled a student-centered focus for student services. The changes he implemented helped the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences reach record enrollments in recent years. More

 

GOOD NEWS FOR EGG SAFETY

Six years of Iowa State testing show a dramatic decrease in the number of environmental samples taken from egg facilities that test positive for the Salmonella enteritidis bacterium which causes human food poisoning. More

 

ISU SELECTED AS PEACE CORPS PREP SITE

The Peace Corps has selected Iowa State as a training site to help students prepare for service in other countries. ISU is one of 50 in the U.S. and the only university in Iowa offering a Peace Crops Prep Program. More than 935 Iowa State alumni have served in the Peace Corps since its inception in 1961. Rebecca Chamberlin (’15 environmental sciences, global resource systems) served in Benin. More

 

CATTLE MAY HELP LIMIT GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS

A new study co-authored by an Iowa State researcher indicates an increase in cattle production, and associated forage land, on Iowa’s agricultural landscape could lead to lower greenhouse gas emissions. More

 

INHIBITING TUMORS, IMPROVING LIVE VACCINES

Melha Mellata, assistant professor of food science and human nutrition, studies the development of effective intervention strategies against diseases. She was recently awarded a patent for the invention of new methods for inhibiting tumors and improving safety of live vaccines. More

 

WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN DISASTER STRIKES YOUR FARM?

Dave Baker, a farm transition specialist with the college's Beginning Farmer Center, talks about helping families make difficult decisions after the death of a loved one as they transfer the family farm to the next generation. His story shows one way ISU Extension and Outreach is building a strong Iowa. Watch the video.

 

WALLACES FARMER JOURNALISTS HONORED BY CALS

Three Wallaces Farmer journalists were honored by CALS for their decades of informing Iowa’s farmers. Wendy Wintersteen, endowed dean of the college, presented its Impact Award for Extraordinary Partnership to Frank Holdmeyer and John Otte, who retired from Wallaces Farmer last year as executive editor and economics editor, respectively, and Rod Swoboda, the magazine’s editor. More

 

CALS STUDENTS HOST SPRING ACTIVITIES

The ISU Block and Bridle Club hosted more than 1,500 people during Animal Learning Day at the Hansen Agriculture Student Learning Center on April 9. The free event provided an opportunity for the public to learn about animals in agriculture. The Agronomy Club hosted 50 middle school 4-H students for workshops on campus the same day to learn  about crops, soils, weeds and insects. Students in the Iowa State University Forestry Honor Society Xi Sigma Pi hosted 140 attendees at Maple Syrup Day, also April 9, at the Iowa Arboretum showcasing demonstrations on maple syrup production, timber sport demonstrations and youth activities. See photos.

 

CALS SPONSORS LEGO EXHIBIT AT REIMAN GARDENS

Reiman Gardens is hosting the Nature Connects: Art and LEGO Bricks exhibit April 23 – October 31. The exhibit features 13 displays illustrating how all living things are interconnected. Artist Sean Kenney created the displays using more than 500,000 LEGO bricks. The college is sponsoring the monarch butterfly exhibit, which consists of 39,708 bricks. More

 

MORE COLLEGE NEWS

Alumni News

 

JORDAN, SCHUMAKER HONORED BY FARM CREDIT

Two CALS alumnae were recently honored as Farm Credit 100 Fresh Perspectives Honorees as part of a nationwide search to identify and honor 100 leaders who are changing rural America. Leslie Jordan (’03 animal science) and Lisa Shumaker (’05 ag business), sisters and co-founders of Farm to Family, an organization teaching families to prepare meals and connecting farmers and consumers, were recognized in the agriculture education and community impact category. More 

 

CALS ALUMNI EDUCATORS HONORED

Several College of Agriculture and Life Sciences alumni were honored by the Iowa Association of Agricultural Educators during the annual Iowa FFA Leadership Conference on April 18-19. A full list of of alumni awardees is available online. Awardees include:

  • Andy Johnson (’98 ag business, ’00 MS ag and life sciences education), Clarinda Community Schools, Outstanding Middle School/High School Ag Ed Program Award
  • Ellen Doese (’83 ag and life sciences education, ’88 MS), Wapsie Valley Community Schools, Outstanding Agricultural Teacher Award
  • Ron Zelle (’83 ag and life sciences education, ’87 MS), Nashua-Plainfield Community Schools, Outstanding Service Award
  • Mike Earll (’79 ag and life sciences education), retired from Sibley-Ocheyedan Community Schools, Lifetime Achievement Award
  • Brad Taylor (’78 ag and life sciences education, ’00 MS professional agriculture), Roland-Story Community Schools, Agriscience Teacher of the Year Award    

BORG HONORED FOR DISTINGUISHED JOURNALISM SERVICE

Dean Borg (’59 ag journalism), senior correspondent and producer for Iowa Public Radio, received the 2016 James W. Schwartz Award from the Iowa State University Greenlee School of Journalism and Mass Communication. The award honors distinguished service to journalism and mass communication. Borg is one of the state’s foremost voices on public policy and politics and hosts Iowa Public Television's popular “Iowa Press” broadcast, now in its 45th year. More

 

UNDERWOOD PRESENTS HERTZ LECTURE

Roger Underwood (’80 ag business), entrepreneur and co-founder of crop-technology company Becker Underwood, presented the 2016 Hertz Lecture on Emerging Issues in Agriculture to nearly 300 attendees on April 7 in the Memorial Union Sun Room. His presentation, “Your future is short. Don’t waste it working for someone else.” is available in a video online.  More

 

CALS YOUNG ALUMNI NAMED ISU STATEMENT MAKERS

Three college alumni were recently named Iowa State University Alumni Association STATEment Makers. The honor recognizes personal and professional accomplishments and contributions to society of graduates 32 years of age and under. 

  • Justin Saenz (’11 public service and administration in ag), county extension agent in 4-H and youth development for Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.
  • Colin Hurd (’13 ag studies), founder and CEO of Agriculture Concepts, co-founder of the Kolbe Scott Fund.
  • Andrew Lauver (’12 ag studies), farmer and seed sales professional at DuPont Pioneer, community volunteer.

 

About STORIES Online

STORIES Online is a supplement to STORIES magazine. The e-newsletter delivers college and alumni news, class notes and relevant links each month. If you have news or story suggestions or would like to subscribe please contact editor Melea Reicks Licht at mreicks@iastate.edu.

 

Young Alum of the Month

Megan Pieters

 

Title: Student of veterinary medicine, Elanco sales intern  

Hometown:Steamboat Rock

Degree: '14 microbiology

Major Responsibilities: Both of my roles, as a student and as an intern allow me to be a part of a greater cause by ensuring safe, wholesome food globally by aiding in animal health.

 

LOOK AGAIN:

CALS ONLINE LEARNING

The college launched a new online learning website for undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs.Online programs available include master’s degree programs in agricultural education, agronomy, community development, plant breeding and seed technology and business. Certificate programs are offered in agronomy, occupational safety, seed science and swine science.

 

 

Class Notes

 

Did you land a new job? Receive an honor or award? Reach a milestone? We’d like to know! Submit your class note via e-mail stories@iastate.edu.

 

2010s

Kailey James (’15 animal ecology) was featured for her internship with Fortress of the Bear, a non-profit bear rescue facility in Sitka, Alaska, in the P.E.O. Record Magazine. Her story appears on page 16.

 

Garrett Smith (’14 genetics, microbiology), graduate student at Ohio State University, was awarded a National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship.

 

Tyler Romoser (’12 ag systems technology) has been promoted to Header Quality Engineer with Case New Holland in Burlington.

 

Nathan Anderson (’10 agronomy), a farmer near Aurelia, was a panel speaker at an Iowa State lecture on sustainability sponsored by Practical Farmers of Iowa and the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture. Anderson also serves on the Practical Farmers of Iowa Board of Directors. 

 

Jill Madden (’10 genetics, ‘14 PhD), postdoctoral fellow with the University of Kansas Medical Center Research Institute, was recently featured by the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund for her work in ovarian cancer research. 

 

2000s

Catherine Swoboda (’08 agronomy, ’10 MS crop production and physiology), director of planning for the World Food Prize Foundation, was named one of the Des Moines Forty Under 40 honorees by the Business Record

 

A.J. Blair (’03 ag business) and Kellie Blair (’06 agronomy, forestry), farmers near Dayton, were honored with an Environmental Stewardship Award Program by the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association.

 

Stephanie Vinton-Pollock (’03 public service and administration in ag, international ag) has accepted as position as Ag Market President for Southwest Iowa for US Bank in Red Oak.

 

Brad Moline (’02 animal science, dairy science), a farmer near Manson, was featured in the New York Times for his turkey operation’s challenges with avian influenza.

 

Nicole Behne (’00 public service and administration in ag), marketing director of grocery products for Hormel Foods, was featured in an article by NBC News regarding the reopening of the Spam Museum in Austin, Minnesota.

 

1990s

Grant Moline (’98 ag business), a farmer near Manson, was featured in the New York Times for his turkey operation’s challenges with avian influenza.

 

Amy Millmier Schmidt (’97 ag engineering, ’99 MS), assistant professor in the departments of biological systems engineering and animal science at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, was honored with the Outstanding Pork Service Award for Producer Outreach by the Nebraska Pork Producers Association.

 

Kevin Kimle (’91 economics), director of the Iowa State Agricultural Entrepreneurship Initiative, was featured in a video by The Angus Report on entrepreneurs in rural America.

 

Todd Wiley ('91 animal science, ag and life sciences education), a farmer near Walker, received the Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.

 

1980s

Steve Berger (’86 ag business), a farmer near Wellman, received the Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Conservation Pioneer Leader Award.

 

1960s

Darrell Trample ('69 animal science), posthumously received the Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Innovation in Animal Agriculture Award. Trample was a faculty member in the Iowa State College of Veterinary Medicine.

 

Larry Ebbers (’62 ag and life sciences education, ’68 MS), university professor in the Iowa State School of Education, will retire in May. Ebbers has served more than 50 years at Iowa State.

 

In Memoriam

Edwin Ratashak, Jr. (’71 farm operation), 67, of Osceola, died April 18.

 

Gary Goldsmith (’60 farm operation), 77, of Oskaloosa, died April 7.

 

Loren Greiner (’36 MS agronomy), 104, of Emmetsburg, died April 2.

 

 

 

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Iowa State University 

303 Curtiss Hall

Ames, Iowa 50011

(515) 294-5616

stories@iastate.edu

http://www.cals.iastate.edu