College News

RESOURCES FOR DISASTER RECOVERY,

DEALING WITH FLOODING

Photo credit: Joseph L. Murphy/Iowa Soybean Association

A recent surge of rainwater and snowmelt in the Midwest has sent floodwaters pouring over frozen ground, overwhelming creeks, rivers and levees.

• Several resources related to dealing with flooding are available from the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Disaster Recovery website.
• Iowa State University, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the Department of Natural Resources offer information on how to handle grain affected by flooding. According to current Food and Drug Administration policy, grain inundated by uncontrolled river or stream water is considered adulterated and must be destroyed.
• Enrolled CALS students who are having difficulty attending class, completing assignments or dealing with stress due to recent flooding may contact Howard Tyler, assistant dean of student services (htyler@iastate.edu, 515-294-6434), or Endowed Dean Daniel J. Robison (robisond@iastate.edu, 515-294-3830) for assistance.

AG AND BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEERING NO. 1

The latest rankings of graduate programs by U.S. News and World Report has Iowa State's program in agricultural and biosystems engineering back at the top of the list. "I give a lot of the credit to our new facilities and also to the new research facilities we're developing at the BioCentury Research Farm, the Agricultural Engineering/Agronomy Research Farm and the new Feed Mill and Grain Science Complex that will be going up," said Steve Mickelson, department chair. Additionally, Iowa State ranked in the top 6 percent (18th) in the latest QS World University Rankings of 302 agricultural/forestry programs, which were released Feb. 27. ISU remained in the top 10 nationally among United States universities (7th), same as a year ago. More

YOU’RE INVITED: WELCOME DEAN ROBISON APRIL 24

Alumni and friends of the Iowa State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences are invited to a special ceremony honoring Daniel J. Robison as he receives his Endowed Dean's Chair medallion. The ceremony is Wednesday, April 24 at 4 p.m. in the Leonard and Evelyn Dolezal Auditorium, 127 Curtiss Hall with a reception to follow in the Neil and Darlene Harl Commons in Curtiss Hall.  More

GENOME SEQUENCING FOR SOYBEANS' #1 PEST
Iowa State researchers have sequenced the genome of the soybean cyst nematode, paving the way for better management practices to combat the number one pest that threatens Iowa soybeans. The research was published recently in the peer-reviewed journal BMC Genomics. Thomas Baum, Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor and chair of plant pathology and microbiology, is senior author of the study. More

CLIMATE CHANGE THREATENS PAINTED TURTLES

Climate change could contribute to the demographic collapse of the painted turtle, a species whose reproduction depends on the temperature. Nicole Valenzuela, a professor of ecology, evolution and organismal biology, is sounding the alarm about the painted turtle’s future in a new study recently published in the peer-reviewed journal Scientific Reports. More

ISLEY TO PRESENT HERTZ LECTURE APRIL 9

Ken Isley (’84 ag and life sciences education), head of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service, will present the 2019 Carl and Marjory Hertz Lecture on Emerging Issues in Agriculture April 9 at Iowa State University. Isley will present, “The Role of the U.S. in the Global Food and Agriculture Marketplace,” at 7 p.m. in the Dolezal Auditorium, 127 Curtiss Hall, on the Iowa State campus. The event is free and open to the public. As administrator of the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, he leads offices around the world in expanding trade and export opportunities for American agriculture. More

CARVER TRUST ADVANCES BIOMOLECULAR RESEARCH

The Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust of Muscatine, Iowa, has committed more than $3.5 million to transform biomolecular research at Iowa State University, making it a leader in advanced electron microscopy technology.  The Carver Trust grant will enable the purchase of a state-of-the-art cryo-transmission electron microscope. Cryo-EM technology generates images of delicate biomolecules. The 2017 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to three scientists for developing the technique. More

PORK PRODUCERS PARTNER TO BENEFIT MONARCHS

Ben Crawford (’06 ag systems technology, MS ’09 industrial and ag technology), environmental services director for Prestage Farms of Iowa, is featured in a new video about Iowa pork producers’ cooperation with researchers from Iowa State and the Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium. Their efforts to plant and survey monarch habitat on their land are helping refine practical recommendations for establishing beneficial habitat across Iowa’s landscape. More

MORE COLLEGE NEWS

• Lamont Named Interim Director of Egg Industry Center
• Steve WhithamReceives Rossmann Manatt Faculty Development Award
• $500 Million in Public and Private Water Quality Funding Identified in Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy Annual Report
• Iowa State University Featured in New Report Identifying How to Supercharge Ag Science
• Iowa Nutrient Research Center Invites Proposals for Water Quality Research

Events

March 28, 7 p.m. Pesek Colloquium on Sustainable Agriculture, Memorial Union Great Hall. David Montgomery, University of Washington, “Bringing Our Soil Back to Life.” Free and open to the public. 

April 6, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Animal Learning Day, Hansen Agriculture Student Learning Center. Animal learning activities for all ages and Taste of Iowa food organized by Block and Bridle. Free and open to the public.

April 9, 7 p.m. Hertz Lecture on Emerging Issues in Agriculture, 127 Curtiss Hall, Dolezal Auditorium. Ken Isley (’84 ag and life sciences education), head of USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service, “The Role of the U.S. in the Global Food and Agriculture Marketplace. Free and open to the public.

April 27, 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. Experience Agronomy Day, Agronomy Hall. Learning activities for youth in grades four through eight hosted by the Agronomy Club. Registration requested, walk-ins welcome. $5/youth.

Alumni News

LATHAM, STOUT HONORED BY UNITED SOYBEAN BOARD, AMERICAN SOYBEAN ASSOCIATION

Two CALS graduates have received top honors from the United Soybean Board (USB) and the American Soybean Association (ASA) for their commitment to the industry and environmental stewardship. The USB recognized Don Latham (’69 agronomy) of Alexander as its Outstanding Achievement Award recipient, and Rob Stout (’78 farm operation) of Washington was named the ASA’s National Conservation Legacy Award winner. Latham and Stout were honored during the ASA’s annual leadership awards banquet held March 1 during Commodity Classic in Orlando, Florida. More

MELLION-PATIN HONORED BY TUSKEGEE FARMERS CONFERENCE

Dawn Mellion-Patin (’95 PhD ag and life sciences education), vice chancellor for extension and outreach at Southern University Agricultural Center, received the T.M. Campbell Leadership Award at the Tuskegee University Farmers Conference. Mellion-Patin was recognized for her efforts to improve extension and outreach and advancing the quality of life for rural citizens. More

MILLER JOINS NATIONAL PORK HALL OF FAME

Tom Miller (’61 animal science) was inducted into the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) Hall of Fame. Miller, an Arizona pork producer, executive director of the Arizona Pork Council and past president of the NPPC, was inducted into the Hall of Fame for his lifetime commitment to advocacy, leadership and advancement on behalf of pork producers. More

YOUNG, BORMANN, BERKLAND HONORED BY IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AG AND LAND STEWARDSHIP 

Diane Young (’91 ag microbiology, dairy science), director of technical services and owner of Foundation Analytical Laboratory in Cherokee, received the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s Leader in Innovation Award. Nancy Bohl Bormann (’04 ag and life sciences education, environmental science), environmental services manager and agronomist for The Maschhoffs, and Tim Berkland (’09 agronomy, ’11 MS crop production and physiology), general manager of Growmark FS Midwest, were each recipients of the Secretary’s Iowa Ag Leader Award for Conservation.

CALS ALUMNI RECEIVE 4-H LEGACY AWARDS

CALS alumni were among those honored with an Iowa 4-H Foundation Legacy Award during the annual Iowa 4-H Celebration and Gala in February. See awardee videos.

• Charles Sukup (’76 ag engineering, ’82 MS), president of Sukup Manufacturing, received the Outstanding Alumni Award.
• Dwight Seegmiller (’75 ag business), president and CEO of Hills Bank and Trust, accepted the Outstanding Corporate Partner Award on behalf of the organization.
• Dean (’61 animal science) and Adele Bowden (’62 child development) of Webster City received the Outstanding Individual Supporter Award.

CARLSON HONORED AS A WORLD FIXER

Sarah Carlson, strategic initiatives director with Practical Farms of Iowa (PFI) was honored as one of fifty Grist World Fixers. The award honors individuals for their work to address global challenges. Carlson (’08 MS sustainable ag, crop production and physiology) works with PFI’s members to grow rural vitality in Iowa by implementing crop diversification and conservation practices designed to increase revenue and improve the land. More

CALS ALUMS AMONG AGGRAD TOP YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

Five College of Agriculture and Life Sciences alumni were among the national honorees of this year’s AgGrad 30 Under 30 awards. The award celebrates young professionals shaping the future of agriculture. More

• Steven Brockshus (’17 ag and life sciences education), founder and chief operating officer, FarmlandFinder
• Colin Hurd (’13 ag studies), founder and chief operating officer, Smart Ag
• Mackenzie Dierks (’12 ag studies, international ag), sustainable ag consultant, KCoe Isom
• Andrew Lauver (’12 ag studies), industry relations manager – North America, Syngenta
• Elizabeth Burns-Thompson (’11 ag business, international ag), corporate affairs, Renewable Energy Group

ALUMNI, CARET REPS MAKE HILL VISITS IN SUPPORT OF LAND-GRANTS

Iowa’s Council for Agricultural Research, Extension and Teaching (CARET) representatives recently accompanied Daniel J. Robison, CALS endowed dean, John Lawrence (’84 animal science, MS ’86 economics), vice president for Extension and Outreach, and Brian Meyer, CALS director of external relations, on a visit to Washington, D.C., to support land-grant research, teaching and extension programs funded federally. Don Latham (’69 agronomy) of Alexander, Sally Stutsman of Riverside, Bob Petrzelka (’79 forestry) of Mount Pleasant and Kevin Ross (’03 ag business) of Minden are the CARET members who advocate on behalf of CALS and Extension. The group visited with Congressional elected officials and staff members in each of Iowa’s four districts including Senator Joni Ernst (pictured above). Learn more about the $125 million request for increased federal funding for land-grant universities and read the CALS report reps shared with legislators about the impact of agriculture and Iowa State.

About STORIES Online

Young Alum

of the Month

Danielle Munsch

Title: Program Specialist, Van Wall Equipment

Degree: ‘16 ag systems technology

Major responsibilities:

Gather and analyze data. Conduct employee training on new procedures. Administrate Customer Relationship Management database.

Proud Alum

After 22 Years

Education is important to Mike Schrum ('18 ag education and studies). That’s why he came back to Iowa State University to finish his degree 22 years after he left. Schrum, who graduated in December, says he always planned to return. Along with family support, Schrum said his employer, The Andersons Ethanol Group in Denison, Iowa, encouraged him and gave him the flexibility to finish his degree. Schrum, who is a maintenance manager for the ethanol division, wanted to be an example for his children and the employees that work on his team. More

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 to stories@iastate.edu.

2010s

Danielle James (’18 ag and life sciences education), ag educator and FFA adviser at Le Mars Community Schools, was featured in the Le Mars Daily Sentinel.

Jessica Manthe (’18 ag business) has accepted a position as a marketing coordinator at Kent Precision Foods Group.

Daiton Tietz (’18 ag and life sciences education) has accepted a position as a client development manager at VerticalXchange.

Ben Winkler (’18 ag studies) was honored as one of three National Pork Board 2019 Pig Farmers of Tomorrow.

Brent Pekelder (’17 agronomy), grain buyer for POET Biorefining in Ashton, was featured by the company.

Natalina Sents (’16 ag business), digital content editor for Successful Farming’s Agriculture.com, was elected secretary of the American Agri-Women.

Ranae Dietzel (’14 PhD sustainable ag, crop production and physiology), postdoctoral fellow in the Iowa State University Department of Agronomy and owner of Lost Lake Farm near Jewell, was featured by WHO-TV-13.

Austin Putz (’13 animal science) has accepted a position as a geneticist for Hypor.

Stephanie Carlson (’13 animal science) has accepted a position as a legislative assistant for Iowa U.S. Senator Charles Grassley.

Vivan Bernau (’12 horticulture, agronomy), has accepted a position as a maize curator for the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Ames.

Tyler Reimers (’12 agronomy), assistant agronomy division manager for Farm Service Cooperative in Denison, was featured by the ISU Department of Agronomy.

2000s

Paul Thomas (’09 animal science, ’13 DVM, ’15 MS veterinary preventative medicine), associate veterinarian for AMVC Management Services in Audubon, was honored with the American Association of Swine Veterinarian’s Young Swine Veterinarian of the Year Award.

Justin Jedlicka (’06 ag studies) has accepted a position as the north central U.S. sales team leader with Alta Genetics U.S.A.

Sarah Low (’02 public service and administration in ag), associate professor of economics at the University of Missouri, was featured in a Marketplace podcast.

Dawn Refsell (’01 agronomy, ’03 MS crop production and physiology), field development manager for Valent U.S.A.’s Midwest region, was featured as a Crop Life International female food hero.

Jen Sorenson (’01 animal science, journalism and mass communication), communications director for Iowa Select Farms, was elected vice president of the National Pork Producers Council at the organization's annual meeting held March 7-8 in Orlando, Florida.

1990s

Brian Canaday (’93 fisheries and wildlife biology), chief of fisheries for the Missouri Department of Conservation, recently celebrated 25 years of working with the organization.

Joseph Cassady (’93 animal science), professor and head of the South Dakota State University (SDSU) Department of Animal Science received the SDSU College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences Dr. Harold and Barbara Bailey Award for Excellence in Academic Department Leadership.

1980s

Jeff Kaisand (’89 animal science, ’93 DVM) has been named the new Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship state veterinarian.

Mark Vitosh (’88 forestry, ’98 MS), Iowa Department of Natural Resources district forester, was featured in the Iowa City Press-Citizen.

Jim Blome (’85 agronomy, pest management), chief executive officer of Calyxt, Inc., was recently featured in Forbes.

Chuck Cornelius (’83 agronomy), president and production manager of Cornelius Seed Company in Bellevue, Iowa, was elected president of the Iowa Seed Association. 

Chris Cornelius (’83 ag journalism) executive assistant and public relations manager for Cornelius Seed, of Bellevue, Iowa, was elected to the Independent Professional Seed Association Board of Directors.

1970s

Bob Birkenholz (’76 ag and life sciences education, ’78 MS, ’82 PhD), professor emeritus for The Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, received the Meritorious Service Award from the college’s alumni society.

Dave Danilson (’76 ag business) retired as Chief Judge of the Iowa Court of Appeals in January after serving 38 years in various judicial positions -- hospitalization referee, magistrate, district associate judge and district court judge.

Bill Foell (’74 agronomy), farmer near Schaller, was featured in The Storm Lake Times.

1960s

View Alumni Memoriams

Faculty Memoriams

Paul Wray (’68 forest management), 73, emeritus forestry extension professor, died Feb. 20. For over 30 years, Wray and Dean Prestemon were the “face of forestry” to countless forest landowners. More

Irving Carlson, 92, professor emeritus in agronomy, died Feb. 23. Carlson joined Iowa State in 1960. A key focus of his work was the development of new varieties of orchard grass and other cool season forage crops.

John Meadows, 85, forestry professor from 1968 to 1973, died Dec. 24. Meadows was an instructor at the 1970 Forestry Camp in Wanakena, N.Y. and served as a USDA forest economist for 20 years.

Thomas Hoerner (’57 ag and life sciences education, MS ’63, PhD ‘65), 84, retired professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering and agricultural education and studies, died Feb. 18. Hoerner co-organized and served as the first superintendent of the National Future Farmers of America Agricultural Mechanics Contest.