CALS Online and Dean’s Message
November 27, 2023
Dean’s Message
Hello CALS – Welcome back after the Thanksgiving break! Only 18 days until CALS Convocation and the beginning of the university Commencement exercises. Please plan to attend Convocation (Friday, Dec. 15, at 9 a.m. in Hilton Coliseum) and join the handshake line to congratulate and celebrate our graduates! Also, don't forget to RSVP to attend the CALS holiday party, scheduled for Dec. 4, from 4-6 p.m. in Sukup Atrium…
Top Stories
Cheesemaking Class to Culminate in Tasting Event
Students in FSHN 376X: Science and Practice of Cheesemaking recently spent a full day making cheddar cheese curds and soaking them in wine. The goal is that after several weeks of aging, the two wine-soaked cheeses will be a delectable treat. The campus community can taste the cheeses during a showcase event on Dec. 8, from noon to 2 p.m. in 2379 Food Sciences Building. The class, led by Stephanie Clark, food science and human nutrition, was made possible by Clark’s participation in the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Faculty Fellows program.
Research
Summer of Studying Baboons Can Open Doors for Students
An ecology, evolution and organismal biology professor is helping make immersive animal behavior research more accessible for students. With funding from a three-year federal grant, students selected for the program run by Corinna Most are paid to study olive baboons for eight weeks in Kenya, getting hands-on experience that’s valued in the field but difficult to acquire.
Teaching and Students
Bootcamp Connects Students to Farm Vehicle Technology
Despite a lack of course credit, a four-afternoon bootcamp about off-road vehicle technology this fall had nearly twice as many applicants as seats. The bootcamp resulted from collaboration among John Deere, agricultural and biosystems engineering, ISU Research Park and the Digital Ag Innovation Lab.
Pocernich Named “Hunger Fighter” Scholar
Jocelyn Pocernich, junior in environmental studies, international agricultural and horticulture, is the 2023 recipient of the annual David Lambert “Hunger Fighter” scholarship. She has a passion for child nutrition, seed science and global food security. The award is administered by Iowa State’s Seed Science Center.
Science with Practice Poster Session Dec. 6
This semester’s Science with Practice poster session open house is Dec. 6 from 2-4 p.m. in the Kildee Hall Atrium. Science with Practice is a CALS experiential learning and work program for undergraduate students.
ISU Creamery Offers Holiday Butter Workshop
The ISU Creamery is offering a Holiday Butter Workshop on Dec. 12 from 5:30-7 p.m. in the Culinary Discovery Lab, 2379 Food Sciences Building. Participants will learn how to make flavored homemade butter under the guidance of ISU Creamery students. The cost is $30.
Agronomy Club Popcorn Orders due Nov. 30
The Agronomy Club is holding its annual holiday popcorn sale. Orders are due to Tyler Atkinson (tyatkins@iastate.edu) or Wyatt Bailey (wjbailey@iastate.edu) by Thursday, Nov. 30. Boxes sell for $10.
Forestry Club’s Christmas Tree Sale Continues
The Forestry Club is holding its annual Christmas tree fundraiser at the Reiman Gardens parking lot. Trees will be for sale Dec. 1-3 and Dec. 8-10. Hours are Fridays, 3-6 p.m., Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The club will have Korean fir, balsam fir, Canaan fir and white pine, as well as wreaths. Proceeds go toward club activities and student development.
Registration for Charcuterie Workshop Opens Today
The Culinary Science Club is offering a Charcuterie Workshop on Feb. 9 at 6 p.m. in the Culinary Discovery Lab, 2379 Food Sciences Building. Participants will make their own charcuterie board, receive a booklet with recipes and charcuterie templates, and learn food safety tips. Registration fee is $30, and seating is limited. The workshop is open to faculty, staff, students and community members.
Extension and Outreach
2024 Garden Calendar Features Tree Care
The 2024 Garden Calendar from ISU Extension and Outreach features tree care topics and photography. Aaron Steil, consumer horticulture specialist, said this year’s theme was inspired by the tree questions he frequently receives from home horticulturists.
Agricultural Engineers Recognized for Innovation
Two members of the Digital Ag Innovation Lab at Iowa State were recently recognized for creating a new planter-based education program for the crop industry. Ben Covington and Levi Powell, agricultural and biosystems engineering, created “Planter University,” first offered in 2022.
Gruss Named Forage Specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach
Shelby Gruss has joined ISU Extension and Outreach as the state forage specialist. She will help educate Iowans about the value of forage production and address issues related to forage management, pests and diseases.
Applications Open for Growing Together Iowa Mini Grants
ISU Extension and Outreach is accepting applications for Growing Together Iowa Mini Grants, which help connect fresh produce and nutrition information to low income Iowans. The mini grants are available to help purchase materials for Master Gardener volunteer donation garden projects. Applications are due Dec. 18.
Around the College
Agronomists Honored at Tri-Society Meeting
At the Tri-Society meeting in St. Louis, Missouri, on Oct. 29-Nov. 1, Asheesh “Danny” Singh was named a Crop Science Society of America fellow. Michael Thompson assumed his role as Soil Science Society of America president.
Xin Recognized with LeggACY Maker Award
Hongwei Xin, dean and director of University of Tennessee Agricultural Research, received the 2023 LeggACY Maker Award at the Egg Industry Issues Forum on Oct. 25 in Indianapolis. As founding director of the Egg Industry Center at Iowa State, Xin was honored for his commitment and achievements in advancing the egg industry and the mission of the Egg Industry Center. More
Dahlke – Science with Practice Personified
Garland Dahlke is an animal nutritionist for ISU Extension and Outreach, specifically the Iowa Beef Center. Since 2003, he has developed about a dozen software programs, spreadsheets and calculators for Windows that measure or track an assortment of details about production animals. Dahlke’s software is used by animal producers or extension specialists every day in every state.
Stahr to Retire as Seed Lab Manager
Mike Stahr, manager of the Seed Laboratory at Iowa State’s Seed Science Center, is retiring at the end of December after a career of almost 45 years. Under Stahr’s leadership, the Seed Lab tests a minimum of 24 million seeds per year of more than 300 species of crops, vegetables and flowers. A retirement reception will be held Dec. 20 from 2-4 p.m. at the Seed Science Center.
Remembering Dr. Gates
The Egg Industry Center released a special edition newsletter remembering director Richard Gates, who died Nov. 8 of pancreatic cancer. Gates held the Iowa Egg Council Endowed Professorship at Iowa State and was a professor in the Departments of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering and Animal Science.
Calendar
Dec. 4: CALS Holiday Party
Dean Robison and the CALS leadership team are hosting a holiday party on Dec. 4 from 4-6 p.m. in the Sukup Atrium. There will be brief remarks at 4:30 p.m. Enjoy food and refreshments along with music by Kaiser Jazz. RSVP by today, Nov. 27.
Infograzing
Iowa State Recognized for Innovation and Economic Prosperity
Iowa State received the top Innovation and Economic Prosperity University Award on Nov. 14 at the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities conference. The top award recognizes overall excellence across three award categories – talent, place and innovation. Also, Iowa State ranked first in Iowa, fifth in the Midwest and 12th nationally in The Princeton Review’s 2024 annual survey of undergraduate schools for entrepreneurship studies. The rankings are based on surveys with more than 300 schools and 40 data points, including the number of entrepreneurship courses and degree programs offered, percentage of students involved in entrepreneurial endeavors and number of companies started by alumni.
Consider Doctorate Students for FFAR Fellows Program
The application process is now open for the 2024-2027 cohort of FFAR Fellows. The three-year Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research program provides doctoral students with exposure to careers from across the agricultural sector. By co-sponsoring a student, leaders in industry and non-governmental organizations build connections to students and university research programs as they mentor a developing researcher. The application deadline is Feb. 22, 2024.
Marginalia
Exploring Agriculture and Natural Resources through Children’s Books
In a Nov. 15 blog post for Iowa Learning Farms, Liz Ripley talks about exploring agriculture and natural resources through children’s books. “As someone working in agriculture and encouraging the use of practices that help protect the soil from erosion and improve water quality, I am more sensitive to the illustrations than others might be,” said Ripley, agricultural and biosystems engineering. “I don’t expect these works of fiction designed for young children to dive into all the aspects of agriculture and the impact on water, soil, wildlife and more. However, I do think there is an opportunity to incorporate conservation practices and the importance of our natural resources in the text and illustrations.”
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 Thursday.