College News

 

IOWA STATE JOINS NATIONAL PUSH FOR AG RESEARCH

What do Iowa State, MIT, Tuskegee University and Cornell have in common? They are calling for a surge in federally funded food and agricultural research. A new report from the Supporters of Agricultural Research (SoAR) Foundation, Retaking the Field, explains why. More

 

NAIR WORKS TO GROW FRUIT AND VEGETABLE SECTOR

Ajay Nair, assistant professor in horticulture,travels the state helping vegetable growers improve their operations. He’s grafting a deeper understanding and appreciation of locally grown produce onto Iowa’s strong agricultural roots. More

 

KEEPING TABS ON ZIKA 

Mosquitoes are taking flight, and it’s likely only a matter of time before they appear in a backyard near you. Though Zika virus poses no immediate threat in Iowa, Iowa State personnel are monitoring state mosquito populations for species that could potentially carry the disease. More

 

FIGHTING BUGS WITH BUGS

Sometimes an entomologist has to fight fire with fire – or bugs with bugs. Iowa State entomologists are studying the possibility of combating soybean aphids, one of the most damaging pests Iowa farmers battle, by introducing a species of stingless wasp that eats them. It’s similar to a tactic adopted recently near Fairfield, Iowa, where officials hope a different species of wasp will limit the spread of the emerald ash borer. More

 

BAMBOO: NOT JUST FOR PANDAS

The fast-growing, renewable resource known as bamboo offers more than food for pandas. Millions of people in every hemisphere of the world depend on bamboo for housing, clothing, deforestation protection and more. Lynn Clark, professor in ecology, evolution and organismal biology, is one of the world’s leading authorities on bamboo, naming 110 species of the plant since she began her research more than 40 years ago. More


ICE CREAM FOR BREAKFAST, CELEBRATING DAIRY MONTH

To celebrate dairy month, the Iowa State Dairy Farm held its annual open house on June 10. More than 1,300 people attended, taking tours of the farm, eating dairy products and visiting the milking parlor and milk house. More than 850 students took classes at the farm last semester, and the Dairy Farm employs 40 to 50 students each semester. Watch this video to learn more about the farm. More

 

AG STARTUP ENGINE TO DRIVE COLLABORATION

The Agricultural Entrepreneurship Initiative has helped launch a new program at the Iowa State University Research Park to identify and fund innovative agricultural startups. The accelerator program, called the Ag Startup Engine, is part of a broader Iowa State effort to foster business startup, innovation and technology transfer. More

 

NEW LEADERSHIP FOR AG EDUCATION AND STUDIES                    

Mike Retallick (’05 PhD ag and life sciences eduation), a professor in the Department of Agricultural Education and Studies at Iowa State, has been named its department chair. Retallick’s appointment is effective July 1. He succeeds Wade Miller, who served as interim chair for seven years, and will continue as a professor in the department. More

 

CARVER CHARITABLE TRUST CREATES ENDOWED CHAIR

The Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust of Muscatine has committed $1 million to establish the Roy J. Carver Chair in Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology at Iowa State. Amy Andreotti, director of the department’s Initiative in Biomolecular Structure, has been appointed as the first chair holder. More

 

MORE COLLEGE NEWS

 

Events

Save the date: 
  • August 27, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. – Insect Zoo Bug Village, Molecular Biology Building
  • September 3, 3-6 p.m. – Annual CALS BBQ, Hansen Agriculture Student Learning Center 
Alumni News

 

HOGBERG HONORED FOR PRESTIGIOUS SERVICE

Maynard Hogberg (’66 ag and life sciences education, ’72 MS animal science, ’76 PhD), emeritus professor and former animal science department chair, will be presented with the 2016 Saddle and Sirloin Club Portrait Award – one of the American livestock industry’s highest honors – at a ceremony in Louisville, Kentucky, in November. Hogberg also recently received the 2016 John B. Swisher Leadership Award at the World Pork Expo in Des Moines. JBS United presents the award annually to an individual who exemplifies extraordinary leadership qualities and who has made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of the swine industry.

 

SENTS TRAVELS U.S. TO TELL AG’S STORY

Following graduation, Natalina Sents (’16 ag business) began a yearlong trip visiting all 50 states and blogging about agriculture. In partnership with Beck’s Hybrids “Why I Farm” project, Sents will spend a week in each state gathering stories from farmers and sharing via social media and her personal blog. She’s dubbed the project “Roots Journey” and has already visited Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Maryland. More

 

DEGNER, PORK PRODUCTION FEATURED IN NEW MURAL

The mosaic stained-glass mural “Innovation from Production to Plate” was recently installed in the Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) Atrium of the Jeff and Deb Hansen Agriculture Student Learning Center at Iowa State. IPPA funded the section of the mural depicting the relationship of pork production with sound science and Iowa State’s land grant mission. The mural includes a likeness of retired IPPA CEO Rich Degner (’72 ag and life sciences education, ’77 MS), who was instrumental in helping make the project a reality. More

 

AWARD-WINNING CURTISS LEAGUE WELCOMES MEMBERS

Members of the CALS young alumni initiative, the Curtiss League, visited campus on May 20 for their annual kick-off. Members received an orientation to the program, toured water quality research and demonstration projects and received a college update from Dean Wendy Wintersteen. Curtiss League includes 165 members who assist the college in recruitment, advocacy and awareness efforts. The Curtiss League was recently awarded first place in society programming by the National Agricultural Alumni and Development Association at the organization’s annual meeting. More

 

 

Young Alum of the Month

 

Elizabeth

Burns-Thompson

 

 

Title: Government Relations Manager, Iowa Corn Growers Association

Hometown: Alburnett, Iowa

Degree: '11 ag business, international ag

Major Responsibilities: Serve farmer members across the state by focusing on policy development and implementation to improve their operations.

 

Thompson is one of several CALS alumni in Iowa Corn’s leadership development program I-LEAD. Applications for the next class are due July 1.

 

Cyclone Night at the
DSM Botanical Garden
July 28
Join us for an evening of music, education and Cyclone pride at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden July 28. As live jazz fills the garden, you can learn about the science that brings its beauty to bloom. Hands-on learning stations include a make-and-take activity and guided tours. A short program features Kelly Norris (’08 horticulture, MS ‘11), director of horticulture, who will share the story of the garden’s dynamic renewal. Sponsored by the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, the Department of Horticulture and the ISU Alumni Association. Register today!
 

 

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

Breanna Branderhorst (’16 ag and life sciences education) has joined the team Swine Genetics International, managing marketing initiatives.

 

Michael Knight (’16 ag and life sciences education) has joined Vermeer Corporation as a product specialist.

 

Jeremy Maass (’16 animal science), has joined AgriLabs as a territory manager for the Upper Midwest.

 

Victoria Walker (’16 MS ag meteorology), graduate student in agronomy, received a NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship for the 2016/2017 academic year.

 

Molly Foley (’14 public service and administration in ag, ag and life sciences education), legislative correspondent for U.S. Senator Charles Grassley, received her master’s degree in public administration from George Washington University.

 

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

 

Carly Cummings (’11 ag business), program coordinator for the Iowa State Agricultural Entrepreneurship Initiative, received her master’s degree in ag business from Kansas State University.

 

TJ Masker (’11 ag business), agronomic information adviser with Premier Crop Solutions, was featured in Successful Farming for helping an Iowa farmer utilize technology on his farming operation.

 

Rita Reynolds (’10 public service and administration in ag, ag business, economics) is the new business director for Reynolds Ag Solutions in Indianola.

 

2000s

Afton Holt (’08 ag and life sciences education), owner of Corner Post Marketing, was elected to the Cooperative Communications Association board of directors.

 

Martha Smith (’04 ag business), has been promoted to area business manager for the Channel brand for Monsanto in Kansas and Colorado.

 

Jennifer Bentley (’02 dairy science, ’11 MS professional ag), dairy field specialist for Iowa State Extension and Outreach was recently featured in the Mitchell County Press News, describing the use of automated systems in modern dairies.

 

Sally Worley (’01 horticulture), executive director of Practical Farmers of Iowa was recently featured in the Des Moines Register.

 

1990s

Joe Byrum (PhD ’99 agronomy, plant breeding) was recently featured in MIT Sloan Management Review magazine for his work with an award-winning suite of analytics tools. 

 

Matt Jones (’99 ag systems technology), was featured in the Tri-State Neighbor for his use of sustainable practices and technology in his farming operation.

 

Douglas Austen (PhD ’92 animal ecology) has received the Gerald H. Cross Alumni Leadership Award from Virginia Tech University’s Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation and the College of Natural Resources and Environment’s Leadership Institute.

 

1980s

Julie Schwalbe (’87 ag business) has joined Ceva Animal Health’s swine business unit as a strategic account manager.

 

Wes Johnson (’81 ag and life sciences education, dairy science) has joined Ceva Animal Health’s swine business unit as a strategic account manager.

 

Pamela White (’81 PhD food technology), dean of the College of Human Sciences, will retire from Iowa State University in July.

 

1970s

Dan Froehlich (’79 agronomy, ’80 MS) has been named vice president of development for Anuvia.

 

Clay Bernick (’74 dairy science), a dairy farmer near Spencer, Wisconsin, and his family were recently featured in AgriView for the changes they are making to their dairy operation.

 

1950s

Mahlon Fairchild (’52 zoology, ’53 MS entomology, ’59 PhD), retired professor at the University of Missouri and United States Army Veteran, was featured for his service in the Maryville Daily Forum.

 

In Memoriam

Nathaniel Jackson (’03 ag studies), 36, of Kent, died June 5.

 

Joel Hertz (’59 animal science), 79, of Monticello, Illinois, died May 28. 

 

Aldon Jensen (’53 animal science), 93, of Urbana, Illinois, died May 20.

 

 

 

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.

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