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College News
LEOPOLD CENTER SPARED FROM ELIMINATION, BUT WITHOUT STATE FUNDING
On May 12, Gov. Terry Branstad signed a bill that ended state funding to the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, but used his line item veto to remove language that would have eliminated the center. University leaders and many alumni and supporters advocated for the line-item veto to preserve the center's existence. Options for the future of the center and opportunities for support through private philanthropy will be explored.
Learn more about the Leopold Center's future.
Read the statement from Leopold Center director, Mark Rasmussen.
WELCOME NEW ALUMNI
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences welcomed 774 new alumni at the college’s convocation and Iowa State University commencement on May 6. Trey Forsyth (’17 ag business) provided the convocation address (video online). Lauren Dunteman, (’17 biology), was the college’s student marshal. The CALS Council presented awards to: Timothy Riessen (’17 agronomy) for academic achievement, Rachel Dalton (’17 dietetics) for distinguished service, Joni Erwin (’17 agricultural business) for ambassador of agriculture, Bridget McFarland (’17 agronomy) for leadership excellence and Dunteman for outstanding senior. Shayne Wiese (’17 animal science) is Agriculture and Life Sciences Man of the Year. Katlyn Kahler (’17 animal science) is Agriculture and Life Sciences Woman of the Year.
See photos from CALS convocation. More
CUSTOM BUILT FOR ADVENTURE
Alex Shaw's adventure at Iowa State has been an interesting ride. Shaw, (‘17 ag systems technology and industrial technology) designed and constructed a left-handed throttle for his motorcycle. Shaw’s right hand was damaged at birth, and since motorcycles are built with the throttle on the right, he had never been able to ride one. During his time on campus, this innovative Cyclone also developed an app called StoverLive to manage feedstock deliveries to cellulosic ethanol plants. Video
FROM ARGENTINA TO AMES, DISTANCE GRAD EARNS DEGREE
Juliana Albertengo (’17 MS agronomy) traveled from San Jorge, Argentina, to attend Iowa State’s Graduate College Commencement ceremony May 4. As a master of science in agronomy distance student, Albertengo earned her degree while working full-time and helping on her family farm in Argentina. She was introduced to Iowa State in 2008, while attending the Farm Progress Show in Boone and discovered the Master’s in Agronomy distance program offered her the most flexibility of available distance master's programs. More
READY TO MAKE A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE
Christina Gonzalez (’17 global resource systems) probably inherited her spirit of adventure from her mother, who left family and friends in Mexico at 18 to seek a better future. From soaking up cultural opportunities during an internship in northern India to embracing the diversity of campus student organizations, Gonzalez made the most of her Iowa State adventure and is ready to pursue a career as a foreign service officer. More
 CALS PLACEMENT RATE RISES
The latest CALS Career Services report shows an undergraduate placement rate of 97.9 percent for 2015-2016. This is an increase from the 96.7 percent for the previous year. Placement includes students that are employed (82.8 %), furthering their education (14%) or fulfilling military obligations. This was the largest graduating class in college history, with 1,070 undergraduates – a 95 percent increase over eight years ago. The percentage of graduates remaining in Iowa for their first employment experience was 66.6 percent, down slightly from 70 percent. View the complete summary (PDF).
QUALITY OF LIFE DRIVEN BY MORE THAN ECONOMICS
ISU Extension and Outreach has released a new publication titled “What Drives Quality of Life in Iowa Small Towns?” The data on quality of life and social conditions used in the publication are from the Sigma Study, a long-term USDA-funded research effort in Iowa. Residents of 99 small towns were surveyed in 1994, 2004 and 2014. While quality of life is usually thought of in economic terms, author David Peters, sociology, found a much different result. More
SOY OIL OFFERS INNOVATIVE ALTERNATIVE
Tong Wang, food science and human nutrition, and postdoctoral research associate Tao Fei developed a soybean oil-based material that can serve as a substitute for carnauba wax. Carnauba wax, an expensive oil made from Brazilian palm trees, is used in many household products, foods and cosmetics. Their material was recently selected for the National Innovation Award given at the TechConnect World Innovation Conference and Expo in Washington, D.C. More
 FIELD SCOUTING 101
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach has published the Field Crop Scouting book as an online learning tool for students and ag professionals in Iowa. This interactive textbook allows individuals to acquire knowledge about crop scouting topics such as corn and soybean growth stages, insect identification, crop diseases and weed identification through a self-paced, innovative design. More
KEEP UP WITH CALS WATER QUALITY WORK
Visit Research Advances in Water Quality for stories on water quality progress and improvement in Iowa made through scientific results and the efforts of ISU researchers, students and their partners. The Iowa Nutrient Research Center has funded more than 30 research projects since 2013 conducted by scientists at Iowa State, the University of Iowa and the University of Northern Iowa. More
CALS STUDENTS TOPS AT NACTA CONTEST
For the third year in a row, CALS student teams won the overall sweepstakes award among four-year institutions at the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA) Judging Conference, held April 6-8. The sweepstakes award was presented for the teams’ good showing in five agricultural contests. The ISU Ag Knowledge Bowl team won first place for the seventh year in a row. Teams ranked first in livestock management, meat judging, precision agriculture, crops and horticulture. More
CYCLONES EVERYWHERE
Eight travel courses from various College of Agriculture and Life Sciences departments are sending 92 students abroad to Asia, Africa and Europe this summer. The latest newsletter from the CALS Global Programs office provides a highlight of the courses, as well as a recap of spring break courses. Readers also will find highlights from the annual scholarship recognition dinner, which provides scholars the opportunity to share their study abroad experiences with donors. More
INSPIRATIONAL LEADERSHIP, SERVICE
Don Beitz, animal science, and Gail Nonnecke, horticulture, received ISU Alumni Association Inspiration Awards at the annual recognition reception held May 19. Beitz has been at ISU for 50 years. He has served as major professor to more than 100 graduate students, advised approximately 150 undergraduate students and taught more than 11,000 students about nutritional biochemistry. Nonnecke has been at ISU for 30 years. She created the Center for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods’ service learning, school garden and study abroad programs, and in 2009 she helped launched ISU’s interdisciplinary academic major in global resource systems. More
MORE COLLEGE NEWS
- Iowa State University Students Finalists in Nationwide Banking Competition
- Media advisory: Iowa State University Joins the Challenge of Change Commission to Solve Complex U.S. and Global Food and Nutrition Security Challenges
- Iowa State University Agricultural Honor Society Presents Awards
- Indian Chief Minister Visits Iowa State University To Launch Seed Research Project
Alumni News
CASEY NAMED EGG PERSON OF THE YEAR
Dennis Casey (’64 ag business, MS ’68 poultry breeding, ’70 PhD poultry breeding and genetics) was named the Egg Person of the Year at the Urner Barry Executive Conference and Marketing Seminar in Las Vegas, Nevada held April 30 – May 2. Casey worked with Hy-Line International for more than 30 years serving in the research department, as manager of the company's West Coast distribution organization and as president from 1974 until his retirement in 2006. Casey is the current chairman of the Egg Industry Center Advisory Board.
HUNTERS, SMITH HONORED FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP
Mike Hunter (’78 ag business) and Nick Hunter (’83 ag business), farmers near Chariton, were awarded the Gary Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. The Hunters raise grain, finish cattle, run a cow/calf operation and manage a Christmas tree farm. The family’s conservation practices also have earned them the Rathbun Lake Protector Award and recognition from the Natural Heritage Foundation.
Seth Smith (’02 ag systems technology), a farmer near Nemaha, and his family received the 2017 Iowa Cattlemen’s Association’s Environmental Stewardship Award. Smith’s operation includes rotational grazing, an extended grazing season and infrastructure improvements to promote healthy land and water. Their operation provides beef to the Smokin’ Hereford BBQ restaurant in Storm Lake, which won the 2017 Iowa Cattlemen’s Best burger competition.
HALLBERG, BAAS HONORED BY GAMMA SIGMA DELTA
John Hallberg (’76 animal science, ’78 MS, ’82 DVM), director of regulatory affairs with Zoetis, received the Alumni Award of Merit from Gamma Sigma Delta, the Iowa Chapter of the Honor Society of Agriculture. Tom Baas (’72 animal science, ’89 MS, 90 PhD), professor emeritus in animal science, received the International Mission Award from the organization.
A DAY IN THE LIFE AT LAUVER FARMS
The Iowa Corn Growers Association recently featured Lauver Farms near Lake City, on their “Day in the Life” video series. The farm is a fifth generation operation that includes Kevin Lauver (’81 ag business), Andrew Lauver (’12 ag studies) and Jacob Lauver (’16 ag studies), who farm with Kevin’s father, Don Lauver. Andrew was the recipient of the college's 2016 Emerging Iowa Leader Award. Video
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