College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Online
Aug. 8, 2016 – No. 912
Top Stories
CALS Sponsors Portraits at ISU Exhibit at State Fair, Aug. 11-21
“Your Beautiful Adventure” is the theme of this year’s Iowa State exhibit at the Iowa State Fair, Aug. 11-21, in the Varied Industries Building. Iowa artist Rose Frantzen will paint 20 portraits at the ISU exhibit during the course of the fair. CALS is sponsoring three of the 20 portraits: Grace Obata Amemiya, who has kept alive the story of the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II (and wife of the late Min Amemiya, an ISU agronomy professor, extension agronomist and USDA soil scientist); Joe Lyon, a state and national leader in the dairy industry from Toledo, Iowa; and Paxton Williams, an ISU alumnus well-known for his one-man play about George Washington Carver that he wrote and has performed countless times. Read full biographies. Also, the ISU Vice President for Research is sponsoring portraits of Stephanie Hansen, associate professor of animal science and a leading cattle nutrition researcher, and Wayne Fuller, distinguished professor emeritus of statistics and economics, an internationally recognized scholar and beloved mentor for more than 50 years.
Research
ISU Study Identifies Protein Essential for Building Memories
ISU researchers have identified a protein essential for building memories that appears to predict the progression of memory loss and brain atrophy in Alzheimer’s patients. The research, by Auriel Willette, food science and human nutrition, and Ashley Swanson, graduate research assistant in FSHN, was published in the journal Brain, Behavior and Immunity. More
Teaching and Students
Weed Science Team Wins First Place at Regional Contest
The ISU Weed Science Team place first in the North Central Weed Science Society Collegiate Weed Science Contest, held at Purdue University, July 27-28. The team included the following agronomy students: Brittany Kirsch, Eric Jones, Lucas Roberts, Lauren Schwarck and Nick Upah. More
Wurstfest Honors German Sausage Maker
ISU hosted its 38th annual sausage and processed meats short course at the ISU Meat Laboratory, July 18-22. Klaus-Peter Kreibig, a wurstmacher (sausage maker) from Wuppertal, Germany, is retiring after presenting at the short course for 30 years. The culminating event of the short course is the Wurstfest, which included 60 products this year and approximately 250 guests consisting of short course participants, graduate students, meat science professors and student employees of the meat lab. A meat science scholarship was created to honor Kreibig’s work with ISU. More
My Wurstfest Experience: A First-hand Report
On July 21, Sarah Mathers, CALS communications intern, attended the annual Wurstfest event held as part of ISU’s sausage and processed meats short course. There were more than 60 unique sausage products to choose from. “My first bite into a cheddar and jalepeno bratwurst sausage was crisp, spicy and decadent all at the same time,” Mathers said. “Wurstfest was an unforgettable experience,” she added. “It represented more than sausage production. It was about the people who attended, the teamwork involved to make the event possible and the passion for the meat industry.”
Interns Talk about Student Life on the Farm
There are 14 student employees working at 10 different ISU research and demonstration farms this summer. Read online about student life on the farm.
Extension and Outreach
Celebrating 40 Years of Iowa State Research
The ISU Northeast Research and Demonstration Farm will celebrate its 40th anniversary on Aug. 26 at its annual fall field day. The 260-acre farm was purchased in 1976 by the Northeast Iowa Agricultural Experimental Association in partnership with ISU. The field day is free and open to the public.
Sheep Pasture Walk Addresses Owners’ Concerns
On July 28, Dan Morrical, an extension sheep specialist and animal science professor, led a sheep pasture walk at the ISU Sheep Research Farm with Jamie Baumgardner, a sales representative with Dow Agrosciences. Morrical and Baumgardner answered several questions, as well as provided suggestions to common concerns as a sheep owner. The most pressing topics discussed were how to conquer thistles, spot sore mouth, handle predator issues and proper precautions to avoid weeds. More
Around the College
Alumnus Tom Sutherland Remembered
ISU faculty and alumni share their reflections and memories of Tom Sutherland, who died July 22 at the age of 85. Sutherland earned two degrees at Iowa State, his master’s in 1956 and his doctorate in 1958, both in animal science with major professor Jay Lush. A celebration of life ceremony will be held in Colorado on Aug. 20.
CALS Faculty and Staff Invited to Attend Annual BBQ
CALS faculty, staff and guests are invited to join the college at the annual barbecue on Sept. 3, 3 to 6 p.m. at the Jeff and Deb Hansen Agriculture Student Learning Center prior to the ISU vs. UNI football game at 7 p.m. BBQ attendees will enjoy complimentary Hickory Park BBQ, networking with CALS alums and friends and hands-on activities from CALS student organizations. Shuttle service will be provided to and from the stadium. Register to attend by August 20.
Volunteer Opportunities Available for Annual CALS BBQ
Volunteer opportunities are available for faculty and staff to welcome CALS alumni and friends at the annual barbecue on Sept. 3. Anyone interested in volunteering may register or contact Haley Cook at hcook@iastate.edu. Please register by Aug. 20.
- Set-up (1-3 p.m.)
- Registration (2:30-5 p.m.)
- Greeting (2:30-5 p.m.)
- Beverage service—Shift 1 (2:30-4:30 p.m.)
- Beverage service—Shift 2 (4:30-6:30 p.m.)
- Tear down (6-7:30 p.m.)
Miranowski Named AAEA Fellow
John Miranowski, economics, has been selected as a 2016 Agricultural and Applied Economics Association Fellow for his contribution to the profession and his leadership in shaping the future of the association and the field of agricultural and applied economics. Miranowski was recognized at the AAEA annual meeting in Boston, July 31 to Aug. 2. More
Sebranek and Cordray to be Inducted to Meat Industry Hall of Fame
Joe Sebranek, distinguished professor of animal science, and Joe Cordray, professor of animal science and extension meat specialist, will be inducted to the Meat Industry Hall of Fame during the International Production and Processing Expo in Atlanta, Ga., on Jan. 31, 2017. More
Water Rocks! Receives Iowa Environmental Excellence Award
Water Rocks!, ISU’s youth water education program, received an Iowa Environmental Excellence Award for Environmental Education on Aug. 2 at the State Capitol in Des Moines. The program produces all its own original outreach materials, including 100 plus educational videos, original songs and enhanced learning activities for grades K-12. More
Thoms Returns to Iowa State as Turfgrass Specialist
Adam Thoms, a graduate of ISU, has joined the Department of Horticulture and ISU Extension and Outreach as an assistant professor and turfgrass specialist. His main area of research is improving safety and performance of athletic fields. More
CALS Fall Convocation, Sept. 8
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Fall Convocation is scheduled for Sept. 8 at 4:10 p.m. in the Memorial Union Sun Room. The program will include brief comments from Dean Wendy Wintersteen and recognition for the College’s new faculty and staff since last fall. CALS award recipients will be honored during the program. (The CALS Spring Awards Program, originally scheduled in February, was cancelled due to the weather.) A reception will follow.
Alliance for Iowa State: CALS Alumni A.J. and Kellie Blair Featured
A.J. and Kellie Blair have tailored their modern, diversified farm near Dayton to include numerous conservation practices. Their efforts have earned A.J. (’03 agricultural business) and Kellie (’06 agronomy, forestry) the 2016 Iowa Cattlemen’s Association Environmental Stewardship Award. Meet the Blairs in the latest Alliance for Iowa State message. More
Donations Requested for CALS United Way Book Sale
Donations are being accepted for the CALS annual United Way book sale to take place this fall. Consider donating unwanted paperback and hardcover books, CDs and DVDs for the event. All proceeds will go to the 2016 ISU United Way Campaign. Bring donated items to 138 Curtiss Hall. Contact Carla Persaud at cpersaud@iastate.edu or 4-1823 with questions.
Calendar
Aug. 22: ISU Veterans in Agriculture Conference
The ISU Veterans in Agriculture and Entrepreneurship Conference will be held Aug. 22, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Memorial Union Great Hall. "Common Ground: Creating Dialog and Action," will provide veterans, their families, service providers and policy makers an opportunity to learn and network.
Funding Opportunities
USDA NCR-SARE Research and Education Grant
The USDA’s North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program supports sustainable agriculture innovators with competitive research and education grants. Awards range from $10,000 to $200,000. Projects may last up to 36 months and are interdisciplinary and/or multi-institutional, with a broad range of agricultural interests. Projects will explore and promote environmentally sound, profitable and socially responsible food and/or fiber systems. Producers are key participants and the projects must include a strong outreach component. Pre-proposals are due Oct. 20. More
Funding Information, Opportunities and Deadline Reminders
Dates listed are application deadlines. Contact: Roxanne Clemens, rclemens@iastate.edu. Additional information is posted at CALS Pre-Award Resources.
Sept. 15, Sept. 27 (proposal abstract): DOD DARPA Engineered Living Materials. More
Oct. 1: Constellation- E2 Energy to Education Grants; $50,000. More
Oct. 10 (letter of intent): NIH Maintain and Enrich Resource Infrastructure for Existing Environmental Epidemiology Cohorts (R24); $250,000 direct costs. More
Oct. 15 (forecast deadline for proposals): CDC Vector-Borne Diseases Regional Centers for Excellence. More
Oct. 17: USDA NCR-SARE Partnership Program. More
Oct. 20: NSF Environmental Sustainability. More
Nov. 2: NSF Improving Undergraduate STEM Education (IUSE:HER) - Exploration and Design Tier for Engaged Student Learning & Institution and Community Transformation; up to $300,000 for three years. More
Nov. 8: NSF Advancing Informal STEM Learning. More
Nov. 16: BrightFocus Foundation National Glaucoma Research Grants. More
Communications Kiosk
ANR Extension in CALS Gets Messages Out through Social Media
Patricia Howard, communications manager for Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension in CALS, announced a new ISU Extension and Outreach ANR Social Media Directory that captures 104 social media accounts across six social media platforms posting on behalf of ANR. The accounts reach 47,267 followers and subscribers. Twitter is the most influential platform with 36,854 followers looking for ANR information. More
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Online
Julie Stewart, Editor
jstewart@iastate.edu, (515) 294-5616
https://www.cals.iastate.edu/news/agonline
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Online, the newsletter for faculty and staff in Iowa State University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, is published by email every Monday. The deadline for submitting content is 12 p.m. on Friday.