College News

TURKEYS PLACED AT TEACHING, RESEARCH FARM

A total of 1,800 poults (young turkeys) were placed inside the new Stanley L. Balloun Turkey Teaching and Research Facility earlier this month. The turkeys are a commercial broad breasted white breed and will provide experiential learning opportunities for Iowa State students through research and independent study projects. Research to address current challenges facing Iowa’s turkey industry, as well as continuing education and outreach programs, will also take place at the farm. More

HORTICULTURE STUDENT PAVING HIS OWN WAY

In addition to completing assignments and taking exams, Luke Dietrich’s college career has consisted of laying bricks and drawing landscaping plans. The senior in horticulture is the owner of Pilot Landscaping Solutions LLC, and he has scaled his business while simultaneously pursuing his degree. Dietrich also is involved in the student incubator program through Start Something College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. More

POINSETTIA CLUB FINDS SUCCESS IN GROWING PLANTS

The Horticulture Club grew more than 450 poinsettias for their annual fundraiser this fall. Hannah Kramer, senior in horticulture and executive director of this year’s poinsettia sale, and other members of the committee are in the end stages of preparing the plants to send out to Iowa State students, faculty and staff. Kramer is specializing in the greenhouse plant production option within the horticulture major. More

ACKER TO REIMAGINE FOOD, AG SECTORS IN GREECE AS FULBRIGHT SPECIALIST

David Acker, associate dean for global engagement and director of the Center for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods, received a Fulbright Specialist Program award. Acker traveled to Greece earlier this month and will return again in the spring of 2023 to work with individuals at Perrotis College at the American Farm School of Thessaloniki. He will focus on reimagining Greek food and agriculture sectors in anticipation of major shifts in consumer preferences, advances in production technologies and climate change. More

DEDICATION HELD FOR DYNAMOMETER LABORATORY

A dedication ceremony took place Nov. 17 to celebrate the completion of a new research lab that is one of only a few facilities like it in the nation. Based at Iowa State's BioCentury Research Farm, the $2.9 million Off-Highway Vehicle Chassis Dynamometer Laboratory will enable students to dive into sophisticated traction, power train and vehicle chassis performance testing. Researchers in this area can advance their understanding of sensing and control systems for off-road and agricultural vehicles, as well as power train performance more generally. More

PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS FOR AG RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTED IN APLU INNOVATION AWARD

Iowa State University was one of three land-grant universities recognized with the Innovation and Economic Prosperity University Award from the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities. Iowa State took the top national honor in the “Innovation” category, which recognizes exemplary initiatives spurring innovation, entrepreneurship and technology-based economic development. This is the fourth time since 2017 that Iowa State has been a top winner. More

ISU EXTENSION AND OUTREACH RESOURCES, EVENTS

• New water quality publication provides information for pork producers
• Virtual field days to focus on improving water quality
• Farm Transitions Conference to be held in Ames Feb. 9-10, 2023
• Produce Safety Alliance classes offered through March
• Managing drought is topic of upcoming pasture, hay and forage meetings
• Crop Advantage series will help producers make smart decisions for 2023

These are just a few of the many new and updated resources and upcoming events from ISU Extension and Outreach - Agriculture and Natural Resources. See more.

Alumni News

AG EDUCATION: 'THE BEST CAREER THERE'S EVER BEEN'

Sarah Martin ('00 ag and life sciences education, ag business) didn’t have it in her plan to teach agriculture education, but a chance placement during her student teaching rotation changed her course. Martin was on Iowa State’s campus Nov. 7-8 to share her journey into agricultural education with students in the Department of Agricultural Education and Studies. Her visit was part of the department’s Teacher in Residence Program, made possible by a gift from Jane and Richard Carter (’76 PhD ag and life sciences education). More

HOW NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCE LED ALUMNUS TO AN OBSESSION WITH FEEDING THE WORLD

Tim Johnson ('97 MS crop production and physiology) nearly drowned in the Caribbean Sea in January 1999 while visiting Puerto Rico for work. After that experience, Johnson began pondering what he wanted to do with his life and how he could make a difference in the world, as his grandfather had. He decided to focus his energy on feeding the world - an obsession that continues to this day. More

Young Alum of the Month

Caryn Dawson ('21 global resource systems, horticulture) helps farmers and landowners assess and address potential environmental risks on their farms through her role as a Michigan Agriculture Assurance Program technician. Her job comes with a lot of variety - one day she'll be on a blueberry farm, the next she'll be at a pasture-raised beef operation. She says the diverse background knowledge she acquired through her majors/minors at Iowa State prepared her for this role. More

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