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College News
MEDALLION CEREMONY HONORS DEAN ROBISON
A medallion ceremony in the Iowa State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences celebrated the installation of Daniel J. Robison as the holder of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Endowed Dean’s Chair. Iowa State President Wendy Wintersteen (’88 PhD entomology) presented the medallion April 24 in the Dolezal Auditorium in Curtiss Hall. Wintersteen was the inaugural holder of the endowed dean’s chair prior to becoming president of Iowa State. The dean’s chair was the first-of-its-kind at Iowa State when it was established in 2007, thanks to a $3 million gift from an anonymous alumnus. The university has five endowed dean positions. From left: Senior Vice President and Provost Jonathan Wickert, Endowed Dean's Chair Daniel J. Robison and President Wendy Wintersteen. More
NEW CONSORTIUM WORKS TO REDUCE FOOD WASTE
Food loss and waste thought leaders and experts from across the globe will work in tandem with industry and nonprofit organizations to address social, economic and environmental impacts from food loss and waste in a new consortium led by Iowa State University. Dirk Maier, agricultural and biosystems engineering, directs the Consortium for Innovation in Post-Harvest Loss and Food Waste Reduction, which includes The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research and The Rockefeller Foundation. More
ARTFULLY COMMEMORATING 100 YEARS OF IOWA’S STATE PARKS
In anticipation of the 100th anniversary of Iowa state parks in 2020, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the Iowa Arts Council and Iowa State University are bringing 20 artists to 20 state parks this summer. From April through August, faculty and graduate student artists from agriculture and life sciences, design and liberal arts and sciences will be matched with a state park, creating artwork that reflects their time as artists-in-residence. More
UNDERSTANDING LAWN AND GARDEN TREATMENTS
Homeowners and gardeners may be considering the use of pesticides and other lawn and garden treatments to control pests. These products should be applied in a way that is safe for both the applicator and the environment. ISU Extension and Outreach has recently developed a helpful chart for users to consult about common lawn, garden and ornamental treatments used to control insects, weeds and pathogens in Iowa. More
HOFF: STUDENTS ARE WHAT I’LL REMEMBER MOST
 With 29 years of experience in agricultural and biosystems engineering, professor Steve Hoff defines his work by the skills and knowledge he has shared with his students. In “Ask a Cyclone Engineer,” he reflects on his career prior to his retirement in July 2019.“It’s always about the students. Throughout the years, I have interacted with many of our great students. It keeps you young and energetic and that’s something I’m certainly going to miss the most," he said. "I’ll miss the faculty and wonderful support staff, but at the end of the day the students are what I’ll remember the most.” More
EGG INDUSTRY CENTER OFFERS INSIGHTS ON COSTS
The Egg Industry Center has released a study that seeks to fill an 18-year-old gap in information important to the U.S. egg industry. The study helps egg farmers analyze their costs of washing, weighing, packaging and transporting their eggs. “The data we collected from late 2018 shows that this cost has increased 80% during the last 18 years,” said Maro Ibarburu, associate scientist and business analyst for the Egg Industry Center. “While that may seem like a lot, given the changes in regulations and regular inflation, a cumulative 3.3% per year is not unreasonable.” More
ANGEL INVESTING IN RURAL AMERICA
A new video series and website, Strategies for Rural Angel Investing, guides stakeholders interested in Iowa’s emerging rural investor networks for agricultural technology startups and strategic rural ventures. These ISU Extension and Outreach resources offer insight into legal requirements, due diligence, types of investments and deal flow. More
FLOOD RECOVERY CONTINUES WITH PASTURE RENOVATION
As flood waters are receding, the renovation of flooded pastures is just beginning. Beth Doran (’83 animal science), beef specialist, and Joel DeJong (’80 ag business, ’88 MS professional ag), field agronomist, both with ISU Extension and Outreach, recommend producers check pasture plants for survival. They remind producers that forage production is a function of the plant species, and their density and growth. More
BECOME A MASTER CONSERVATIONIST
To help expand Iowans’ knowledge of conservation in their own communities, ISU Extension and Outreach is continuing its Master Conservationist Program across the state. The goal of the program is to create a community of passionate conservationists who are engaged in local communities and advocate for conservation practices and policies that ensure a sustainable future. The Master Conservationist Program was featured in the latest STORIES magazine. Online registration is available. More.
WRIGHT NAMED UDALL SCHOLAR
 Jacob Wright, a senior in agronomy and environmental studies, is one of two Iowa State University students named Udall Scholars for 2019. This marks the first time since 2001 that more than one Iowa State student has been selected for the honor in the same academic year. Read more about Wright and his internship repairing forests and vineyards after the devastating wildfires in Napa, California, in the next STORIES magazine this summer. More
KEMP HONORED FOR LEADING CHANGE
 An Iowa State University student has received the U.S. Forest Service LEADing Change Agent award. Megan Kemp, a senior in agronomy and global resource systems, was one of five students nationwide to receive the award during the 2019 Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS) 34th Annual Career Fair and Training Conference April 6 in Overland Park, Kansas. More
NEW CALS CLUB BRINGS HOME TOP AWARDS
The Iowa State University Professional Agricultural Student Organization (PAS), that was formed just last year, has won national and state award competitions. “Iowa State has been attending PAS competitions for several years, but we have only been a recognized club for two years,” said Nate Dobbels (’12 ag and life sciences education, international ag), an adviser in agricultural education and studies. Among the club’s honors is a first place Livestock Team finish and second place in College Bowl. More
AGR HELPS YOUTH EXPLORE ISU
A program that started as a way to introduce elementary students to a tuition-free education at Iowa State University has expanded to help those students choose a major. The partnership between the ISU 4U Promise program and the King and Moulton elementary schools in the Des Moines, Iowa, public school district started five years ago. Now volunteers, including members of Iowa State’s Alpha Gamma Rho (AGR) fraternity, go into elementary schools to teach youth about the different majors they can pursue at Iowa State. More
PLAY YOUR WAY THROUGH REIMAN GARDENS
Iowa State University's Reiman Gardens has created eight larger-than-life toys and games — each with an ecological twist — for its exhibit this year. Starting April 27, visitors will find some of their favorite games throughout the gardens, inspired by KerPlunk, Connect Four, chess and more. Reiman Gardens has announced extended hours for guests to enjoy peak tulip bloom times. The gardens will stay open until 8 p.m. on April 27, May 2, May 3 and May 4. The annual plant sale at Reiman Gardens, which benefits many campus groups, will be held Saturday, May 11 (9 a.m.-6 p.m.) and Sunday, May 12 (10 a.m.-3 p.m.) in the gardens' parking lot. More
MORE COLLEGE NEWS
- BASF Partners with Iowa Soybean Research Center
- Iowa State University-based Distillers Grains Technology Council to Host Research Symposium May 15
Alumni News
ARMSTRONG NAMED INTERNATIONAL CROP ADVISER OF THE YEAR
Walter Armstrong (’84 ag and life sciences education), key account manager with Bayer CropScience, has been honored with the 2019 International Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) of the Year Award by the American Society of Agronomy. Armstrong has been a crop adviser for 34 years, and has been active in the Iowa CCA program serving as a board member, marketing committee chair, and president. One of the more than 13,000 CCAs is selected to receive this annual award based on customer service, innovation, leadership skills, knowledge and ability to exchange ideas and educate those in the agriculture community. More
BOECK HONORED FOR CONSERVATION EDUCATION
 Tom Boeck (’85 ag and life sciences education, ’00 MS), the agricultural educator and FFA Adviser at Central Lee Community Schools in Donnellson, Iowa, has been honored by the Iowa Conservation Education Coalition (ICEC) with a 2018 Conservation Teacher of the Year Award. Boeck has taught at Central Lee Community Schools for 33 years. ICEC is the professional membership organization for all environmental educators in Iowa. More
ALUMNI RECEIVE MASTER FARMER AWARDS FROM WALLACES FARMER
Three agriculture and life sciences alumni were among those honored in the 83rd class of Master Farmers by Wallaces Farmer in March. Henry A. Wallace, editor of Wallaces Farmer from 1921 to 1933, initiated the Iowa Master Farmer Award in 1926 to recognize outstanding management and leadership in local, state and national organizations. It is the longest-running farmer recognition in the country. Larry Buss (’68 ag engineering) and Bunny Buss (right), farmers near Logan, and Dan Winterhof (’84 farm operation) and Lynn Winterhof (left), farmers near Aurelia, were honored as Iowa Master Farmers by Wallace’s Farmer. Joe Sellers (’76 animal science, ’91 MS ag education and studies), recently retired Iowa State University Extension beef cattle and forage specialist in southern Iowa, was also honored with the Exceptional Service to Iowa Agriculture Award. More
CALS ALUMNI HONORED AT IOWA FFA CONFERENCE
A number of agriculture and life sciences alumni were honored at the 91st Iowa FFA Leadership Conference at Iowa State University April 14-16. Over 6,000 FFA members and guests from across the state gathered to learn about careers in the agriculture industry, compete for scholarships, volunteer in the community and shape the future of the Iowa FFA Association. CALS alumni were honored for distinguished service, excellence in agricultural education and receiving honorary Iowa FFA Degrees among other honors. More
HERTZ LECTURE BY KEN ISLEY AVAILABLE ONLINE
The Carl and Marjory Hertz Lecture on Emerging Issues in Agriculture presented by Ken Isley (’84 ag and life sciences education), head of USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service, is now available online. Isley presented “The Role of the U.S. in the Global Food and Agriculture Marketplace” in Curtiss Hall on the Iowa State University campus on April 9. More
YOUNG ALUMNI INITIATIVE WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS
Members of the 2019 class of the college’s young alumni initiative, Curtiss League, were on campus March 30 for their annual kick-off event. Members spent the afternoon learning about programs and research in the departments of natural resource ecology and management and entomology and opportunities to raise awareness, advocate and recruit on behalf of the college. Curtiss League involves 283 young alumni from across the nation and represents 21 CALS majors. More
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