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College News
CALS PLACEMENT HITS RECORD HIGH: 99 PERCENT
Placement rates for graduates of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) have soared to new heights reaching a record-breaking 99.2 percent. A survey of graduates from the 2016-2017 academic year completed by the CALS Career Services Office, revealed that 99.2 percent of respondents had a job, plans of furthering their education, or military obligations within six months following last year’s commencement. The college’s prior placement rate was 97.8 percent and has ranged from 96.7 – 99.2 percent throughout the past decade. More
CONGRATS TO THE CALS CLASS OF 2018
Friends, family, faculty and staff gathered to congratulate the 820 graduates of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences on May 4 at the college’s convocation ceremony. Edan Lambert, animal science, was the convocation speaker. Catherine Leafstedt, agronomy and global resource systems, was the college’s student marshal at the university commencement on May 5. The Agriculture and Life Sciences Student Council presented awards to: Izak Christensen, agricultural business and agronomy, for academic achievement; Alexis Delaney, animal science and agricultural educati, for distinguished service; Marcus Jansen, horticulture, for ambassador of agriculture; Cody West, biology, for leadership excellence; LaKeisha Perkins, agriculture and society, for diversity and inclusion; and Lambert for outstanding senior. CALS award winners and other graduating seniors offer thoughts about their Iowa State adventure in this video series. Other seniors included in the series are: Daniel Feucht, agronomy; Mary Heiller, animal science; Sara Schafer, agricultural business; Brandon Washington, biology; and Thomas Wilgenbusch, animal science.
NEW GRAD STORIES
- Pursuing Passion in Research Abroad: Adam Willman, agronomy and global resource systems
- Helping Youth Get Involved in the Swine Industry: Lexi Delaney, animal science and agricultural and life sciences education communications option
- Landing Her Dream Job as Zoo Animal Nutritionist: Nicole Huntley, swine nutrition
- Propelling a Scientific Career at NASA: Logan Ott, microbiology
WATERSHED MOMENT
IMPROVING WATER QUALITY WITH SCIENCE
A new series of extension publications – “The Iowa Watershed Approach” – walks readers through the impact of practices on flood reduction, water quality, watershed management, wildlife benefits and more. Authors are Jamie Benning ('01 agronomy, MS '03 soil science) and Kristina TeBockhorst with ISU Extension and Outreach. More
SMART IDEA
DIAGNOSING SOYBEAN STRESS WITH AI
A new approach developed by Iowa State scientists could allow plant breeders and farmers to diagnose soybean stresses – such as iron deficiency, disease or herbicide injury – by using a smartphone. The technology may have uses in unmanned aerial vehicles and ground robots as well. The researchers’ findings, published recently in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, demonstrate how artificial intelligence can identify a range of common stresses in soybeans. The technology can improve efficiency for plant breeders and farmers, and it demonstrates the growing value of automation in agriculture. More
IOWA STATE LAUNCHES NEW EXECUTIVE MBA ON FOOD, AGRICULTURE AND BIOSYSTEMS
The Ivy Executive MBA is a flexible 21-month program for professionals working in food, agriculture and biosystems. In partnership with the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, this Ivy College of Business program features state-of-the-art research and business trends presented by industry experts and scientists. The program is now accepting applications for the August 2018 cohort. More
CALS TO RECEIVE PORTION OF $5 MILLION GIFT FROM LAND O'LAKES FOUNDATION
The Land O'Lakes Foundation has made a $5 million commitment to Iowa State University. A portion of that commitment will support scholarships in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, as well as provide flexible funding to facilitate future interactions with students. More
CELEBRATE DAIRY MONTH IN JUNE
Consumers can learn about local dairy products and the work it takes to make Iowa 12th in the nation for milk production by attending one of several dairy open houses during June. The Iowa State University Dairy Farm and Ag Discovery Center located south of Ames is hosting their open house June 8; Iowa’s Dairy Center in Calmar will host theirs on June 23; and the Western Iowa Dairy Alliance will celebrate on June 28. More
CYCLONE POWER PULLERS 2.0
The 2018 Cyclone Power Pullers, a student organization that designs and builds a quarter-scale tractor from scratch, made some radical changes to the machine they’ll enter into competition next month compared with tractors from previous years. Owing to the new rules, the Power Pullers decided to design an articulated tractor composed of two segments with four-wheel drive. That contrasts sharply with the club’s two-wheel-drive designs of the past. More
MORE COLLEGE NEWS
- Leopold Center at Iowa State University Seeks Nominations for Spencer Award
- Iowa State University Researchers to Study Monarch Butterfly Ecology to Support National Conservation Efforts
Alumni News
KINZENBAW RECEIVES HONORARY DEGREE
During the afternoon commencement ceremony on May 5, Jon Kinzenbaw – farmer, inventor, manufacturer and entrepreneur – received an honorary Doctor of Science degree and delivered brief remarks. For more than 52 years, Kinzenbaw, CEO and chairman of the board for Kinze Manufacturing, Inc. in Williamsburg, has brought innovative technologies and mechanization to production agriculture, all while continuing to farm. Faculty members in agricultural and biosystems engineering nominated Kinzenbaw for the honorary degree. More
BUHR INDUCTED INTO MINNESOTA FFA HALL OF FAME
Brian Buhr (’85 animal science, ag business, ’92 PhD economics), dean of the University of Minnesota College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, was inducted in to the 2018 Minnesota FFA Alumni Association Hall of Fame.
ALUMS LEAD AWARD-WINNING FFA PROGRAMS
The Iowa Council on Agricultural Education honored several Iowa FFA advisers and chapters with excellence in agriculture education awards during the 2018 Iowa FFA Leadership Conference in April. CALS alumni manage the FFA programs of all five chapters honored. More
- Sarah DeBour (’09 ag and life sciences education), Hampton-Dumont Community Schools, 2018 Advisory Committee Award
- Amy Grantz (’07 ag and life sciences education, ’09 MS), Central DeWitt High School, 2018 Excellence in Education Award and the Program Promotion and Marketing Award
- Jamie Christensen (’05 ag and life sciences education, ’16 MS), Midland Community Schools, 2018 Integration of Science Award
- Matt Eddy (’99 ag and life sciences education, ’09 MS), Southeast Polk Community Schools, 2018 Adult Education Award
- Monty Collins (’87 ag and life sciences education), Pleasantville High School, 2018 Agriculture Career Awareness Award
ALUMNI HONORED WITH GOOD NEIGHBOR AWARD
Several college alumni have been recognized with a Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award in recent months. The award recognizes families who take pride in being good neighbors and stewards of the land. It is presented by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and Iowa Ag Radio Network in partnership with the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers.
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Brenneman Family, Washington, Iowa (The Brenneman family is pictured with family and employees. Photo: Lauren Houska/Iowa Soybean Association.)
- Tim Brenneman (’04 ag studies)
- Erin Brenneman (’04 animal science)
- Cari Strabala (’13 ag studies)
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Glick Family, Solon, Iowa
- Rob Glick (’94 ag studies)
- Amy Glick (’96 public service and administration in ag)
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Kerns Family, Clearfield, Iowa
- Steve Kerns (’81 animal science)
JOIN CALS AT ISU AA ZOO BREW JUNE 13
 Join CALS at the Iowa State University Alumni Association Young Alumni Night at Zoo Brew on June 13. Connect with CALS alumni relations staff and volunteers and other fellow Cyclones during a night of networking and discounted admission to the zoo. Register online by noon on Monday, June 11.
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