College News

 

FROM THE DEAN:

EXPECTATIONS FOR EXCELLENCE AND INCLUSIVITY

Dean Wendy Wintersteen (’88 PhD entomology) recently shared her expectations for faculty, staff and students on creating an inclusive learning environment in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. “…We have high expectations for faculty and staff to meet our mission of teaching, research and extension and outreach. We have high expectations of our students to meet the rigorous challenges of our programs so they are prepared for the rigors of the waiting world,” said Wintersteen in her letter to faculty and staff. “Our expectations also must be high, for faculty, staff and students, for a commitment to a welcoming environment, and for the value of diversity and inclusion in every place and situation we encounter on campus.” Read Wintersteen's full letter.

 

TEAMING UP TO TACKLE PEST RESISTANCE

CALS Associate Dean John Lawrence (’84 animal science, ’86 MS economics), Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey (’81 ag business) and Iowa farmer Larry Buss (’68 ag engineering) of Logan announced the release of the Iowa Pest Resistance Management Plan in January. The Iowa-specific plan seeks to engage farmers on the issue of pest resistance management with the goal of keeping technology and tools such as pesticides, seed treatments and biotechnology products and native traits available and effective. More

 

ENGROSSED (NOT GROSSED OUT) BY BUGS

The Department of Entomology’s Insect Zoo is celebrating its 20th anniversary. It began as an outreach program to engage kids in the life of insects using a hands-on approach. In 2016, the zoo was featured at 355 events at schools, birthday parties, nursing homes, daycares and fairs, reaching more than 34,000 Iowans. Two new species were added to the Insect Zoo’s collection of 100 species this year: The Malaysian giant walking stick (shown with Joshua Byrne, a senior in animal ecology who works at the Insect Zoo) and the Hercules beetle. More 

 

FINDING HELP FOR FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES


ISU Extension and Outreach has partnered with Iowa Mediation Service to create Understanding Farm Mediation, a video providing information and tips to help farmers better understand the mediation process. Mediation is an option available to farmers as they work with their creditors to find a mutually beneficial solution to a delinquent secured agricultural debt of $20,000 or more. More

 

PRACTICING WHAT THEY PREACH

Iowa State University’s 13 Research and Demonstration Farms around the state have served for decades as models of agricultural and scientific progress for Iowa’s farmers and landowners. The same holds true for the goals of Iowa’s Nutrient Reduction Strategy. The Iowa State research farms strive to serve as models of stewardship by implementing practices on fields, field edges and streamside borders. Angie Rieck-Hinz (’92 MS agronomy) is shown talking with farmers about the benefits of different types of cover crops at a field day at the Northern Research and Demonstration Farm. More

 

POWERING UP WITH WIND, SUN

Scientists in the department of genetics, development and cell biology, including Curtis Mosher (left), Eric Henderson (middle) and Mike Mcloskey (right), have built a device that mimics the branches and leaves of a cottonwood tree and generates electricity when its artificial leaves sway in the wind. The technology could spawn a niche market for small, visually unobtrusive machines that turn wind into electricity. Read more about their device. Iowa State Extension and Outreach specialists are exploring another alternative source of energy for farmers. As the costs associated with installing solar arrays continue to drop, they become more feasible for many farmers to adopt. The usage and installation of solar arrays, as well as economic considerations to take into account, are discussed in a new extension publication, “Farm Energy: Solar photovoltaic energy for agricultural operations.” More

 

EXPLORING THE HISTORY, FUNCTION OF CO-OPS

The oldest active cooperative elevator in the United States sits in Marcus, a small town with just over 1,000 residents in northwest Iowa. Formed in 1887, the cooperative’s goal was to provide farmers a place to competitively sell their grain. Learn more about the history and function of co-ops in a new five-part video series featuring Keri Jacobs, assistant professor and extension economist. Available through a partnership with the Iowa Institute for Cooperatives, the videos were sponsored by CALS through a gift from CoBank. More

 

MAIZE ON MARS – MAKING “THE MARTIAN” REALITY

Inspired by the movie “The Martian,” Raegan Hoefler, a junior in genetics, is testing the effects of radiation on corn seedlings in a lab at Iowa State. The experiment involves exposing the seedlings to ultraviolet and x-ray irradiation levels similar to those found on Mars. Hoefler received a grant from the Iowa Space Grant Consortium to work with adviser Thomas Peterson, professor of genetics, development and cell biology and Pioneer Chair in Maize Molecular Genetics on the project. More

 

EXTRA-ORDINARY JOES MAKE MEAT HALL OF FAME


Iowa State University animal scientists Joe Sebranek and Joe Cordray were inducted into the Meat Industry Hall of Fame on Jan. 31. Sebranek is one of the world’s foremost scientists in meat processing technology and food safety, and his research has had a major impact on making meat safer for consumers. Cordray (’71 animal science), extension meat specialist and professor-in-charge of the ISU Meats Laboratory for more than 20 years, provides information on meat science and technology and coordinates short courses for domestic and international meat industry personnel. More

 

MORE COLLEGE NEWS: 

  • Iowa State receives AAU grant to improve undergraduate education in science, technology, engineering and math
  • Iowa State University STRIPS Research Project Receives Grants to Expand Training
  • Iowa State University Nutritional Science Student Selected for Community Service Scholarship
  • Iowa State University Improves Algae Technology to Treat Wastewater for Communities and Businesses

Alumni News

 

ROSS NAMED CARET DELEGATE

Kevin Ross (’03 ag studies) has been named an Iowa delegate to the Council for Agricultural Research, Extension and Teaching (CARET). He will represent CALS and ISU Extension and Outreach in the national grassroots organization that advocates for greater national support and understanding of the land-grant university system’s food and agricultural research, extension and teaching programs that enhance the quality of life for all people. Ross joins current CARET representatives Donald Latham (’69 agronomy), Alexander; Sally Stutsman (’69 sociology), Riverside; and Robert Petrzelka (’79 forestry), Mt. Pleasant. Ross serves on the CALS Advisory Council, and in the past has served on the Dean’s Executive Council for CALS. Ross and his wife, Sara, run Ross Land & Cattle LLC, a family farm and cow-calf operation near Underwood. More

 

CARLSON HONORED AS EMERGING IOWA LEADER

Stephanie Carlson (’13 animal science), producer outreach and federal policy director with the Iowa Pork Producers Association, has been named the 2017 Emerging Iowa Leader by the college. Carlson was selected for her contributions to advocacy and recruitment through the college’s young alumni program – The Curtiss League. The award was presented at center court of Hilton Coliseum during the CALS sponsored Cyclone Women’s Basketball game Jan. 21. The event also included a pre-game reception with more than 140 CALS faculty and staff, student ambassadors, alumni and friends. View photos

 

HONEYMAN ISU CALS ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR OPERATIONS


Mark Honeyman (’77 animal science, MS ’83, PhD ‘89) has been named associate dean for operations in the Iowa State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. He began his duties Feb. 13. Honeyman will provide leadership for strategic planning and oversight and coordination of budget management, human resources, information technology, facilities and space management, land resources and capital projects. He also will assist with coordination of federal (Hatch Act) research project reporting. Honeyman has worked in the college more than 35 years, starting as an instructor and adviser in the farm operation program. He is a professor of animal science and of agricultural education and studies, and since 1984 has served as coordinator of the ISU Research and Demonstration Farms. He will continue to be involved in management of research farms and ISU and ISU affiliate-owned farmland.

 

KOLISON APPOINTED EXEC VP, PROVOST

Stephen Kolison (’86 MS forestry, ’90 PhD) has been appointed executive vice president and provost for the University of Indianapolis. Kolison, who since 2008 has served as the associate vice president for Academic Programs, Educational Innovation and Governance for the University of Wisconsin System Administration, will lead more than 550 faculty for the university, which boasts an enrollment of more than 6,500 undergraduate and graduate students and is ranked among the top Midwest Universities by U.S. News and World Report

 

MELLION-PATIN VICE CHANCELLOR FOR EXTENSION AND OUTREACH

Dawn Mellion-Patin (’95 PhD ag and life sciences education) has been appointed vice chancellor for extension and outreach by the Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center. She has served the institution since 2003 as an ag specialist and associate specialist in agriculture for the cooperative extension program. 

 

ALUMNI HONORED FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP

  • Ben Bader (’08 ag systems technology), a farmer near Jesup, was presented the Iowa Environmental Steward Award by the Iowa Pork Producers Association.
  • Kellie Blair (’06 agronomy, forestry) received the Secretary’s Iowa Ag Leader Award for outstanding leadership in improving Iowa’s water quality from the Iowa Department of Ag and Land Stewardship. 
  • John Gilbert (’71 ag journalism), a farmer near Iowa Falls, was honored by Practical Farmers of Iowa with the 2017 Sustainable Agriculture Achievement Award. 
  • Tom Kaspar (’76 biology, ’79 MS agronomy, ’82 PhD), soil scientist with the USDA Ag Research Service National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment, and David Williams (’53 animal science), a farmer near Villisca, have been selected as recipients of the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture’s 2016 Spencer Award for Sustainable Agriculture.
  • Kent Swanson (’84 animal science), a farmer near Red Oak, received the Gary Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers.

 

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

 

Rebecca Vittetoe

 

Title: Field Agronomist, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach

Hometown: LeMars, Iowa

Degrees: ’14 agronomy

Major responsibilities: Work with farmers, crop consultants, private pesticide applicators, certified crop advisers, agronomists, seed, chemical, and fertilizer dealers and farm managers in 10 southern Iowa counties. 

 

Social Media Spotlight

@ISUWaterChicks

Iowa State University agricultural and biosystems engineering faculty Michelle Soupir and Amy Kaleita have teamed up on Twitter using the handle “ISUWaterChicks.” Follow them for photos of fieldwork, research updates and other happenings within their department. 

 

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

Josh Kibbie (’16 ag studies) has joined the staff of First State Bank in Humboldt as an ag lender. 

 

Karl Kerns (’14 animal science), graduate student at the University of Missouri, received the Food, Agricultural, Natural Resources and Human Sciences Education and Literacy Initiative Predoctoral Fellowship through the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative of the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

 

Elizabeth Edgington (’12 public service and administration in ag) is the new program coordinator for the ISU Office of Responsible Research.

 

Darrin Rahn (’12 ag business) has been accepted to Harvard University’s master’s of business program.

 

2000s

Casey Balvanz (’09 animal science, ’13 DVM), is the new owner of Rivervale Veterinary Clinic in Union. 

 

Nathan Unsworth (’07 animal ecology), administrative parks superintendent for the City of Newton, was awarded the Amy Jennings Young Professional Impact Award by Des Moines Juice and Young Professionals Connection.

 

Katie Rock (’06 plant health and protection, international ag), grant administrator at Drake University, was elected commissioner of the Polk County Soil and Water Conservation District.  

 

Jordan Carstens (’03 ag business), a farmer near Bagley, was featured in the Food and Swine blog. 

 

Barry Christensen (’02 agronomy, international ag), a farmer near Riceville, was featured in the Globe Gazette for his use of an unmanned aerial vehicle in his farming operation.

 

Mark Licht (’00 agronomy, ag extension education, ’03 MS soil science, ’15 PhD crop production and physiology), assistant professor of agronomy, was featured in Wallaces Farmer for his role with Iowa Learning Farms. 

 

1990s

John Latham (’92 ag business), president of Latham Hi-Tech Seeds, was featured with a question and answer session in Seed World.

 

Angela Rieck-Hinz (’92 MS agronomy), ISU Extension and Outreach field agronomist, was featured in Latham Hi-Tech Seeds blog, The Field Position.

 

Gary Polking (’90 MS horticulture, ’95 PhD), associate scientist and manager of the Iowa State University Office of Biotechnology DNA Facility, retired Jan. 4.

 

1980s

Jean Bertrand (’83 MS animal science) has been appointed associate dean for undergraduate studies at Clemson University’s College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences. 

 

Kevin Carlson (’82 animal science) has been appointed associate dean for research and faculty affairs at Virginia Tech University’s Pamplin College of Business. 

 

1970s

John Williamson ('77 ag business) recently began his third career as a humanitarian assistance adviser to the military at the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance. He retired from the U.S. Air Force after 24 years, in 2001 and from Analytic Services Inc. in 2015.

 

Dennis Bornmann (’75 agronomy), contractor with the United States Air Force, was featured in the Des Moines Register for serving in the role as Santa Claus at the United Service Organization’s station in Afghanistan. 

 

Ron Eichmeier (’74 ag and life sciences education), regional vice president of Farm Credit Services of America in Mason City, was appointed to the North Iowa Area Community College alumni advisory board. 

 

Larry Shannon (’74 PhD fisheries biology) has been appointed interim dean of the College of Science and Technology at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania.

 

Vince Lawson (’75 horticulture, ’82 MS), superintendent of the Muscatine Island Research and Demonstration Farm, retired in January. 

 

1950s

Dean Borg (’59 ag journalism), long-time host of Iowa Public Television’s “Iowa Press,” retired on Jan. 13. 

 

In Memoriam

JoAnn Masterson (’88 MS sociology), 74, of Des Moines, died Jan. 6. 

 

Marcia Zarley Taylor (’77 ag journalism), 61, of Sag Harbor, New York, died Feb. 19. 

 

Robert Britson (’73 animal science), 65, of Radcliffe, died Feb. 2. 

 

Richard Johnson (’67 ag and life sciences education), 70, of Oskaloosa, died Oct. 28. 

 

Willis Van Roekel (’69 animal science), 69, of Pipestone, Minnesota, died Feb. 9. 

 

Raymond Timan (’60 farm operation), 80, of Pocahontas, died Jan. 21. 

 

Clyde Eastman (’58 farm operation), 80, of Las Cruces, New Mexico, died Feb. 4. 

 

John Kuntz (’57 farm operation), 85, of Lisbon, died Jan. 28.

 

Chuck Wengert (’56 agronomy), 88, of Montezuma, died Feb. 4. 

 

Welton York (’53 animal science), 88, of Pryor, Oklahoma, died Feb. 3. 

 

Robert McVicker (’52 poultry science), 87, of Niles, Michigan, died Jan. 31. 

 

Maynard Koppen (’51 agronomy), 94, of Fort Dodge, died Feb. 3. 

 

Marvin Rohlf (’50 farm operation, ’54 MS animal science), 89, of Estherville, died Jan. 25. 

 

Charles Anderson (’49 ag business), 96, of Monmouth, Illinois, died Jan. 25. 

 

Faculty In Memoriam

Charles Hall, 93, of Parker, Colorado, died Feb. 18. Hall served as chair of the department of horticulture from 1974 to 1990. His research led to the creation of several watermelon varieties including Crimson Sweet, a seedless watermelon. Iowa State’s research greenhouses, opened in 2011, were named in his honor.

 

 

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