CALS Online and Dean’s Message
February 23, 2026
Dean’s Message
Hello CALS – This week, I am in Washington, D.C., with the annual Association of Public Land-grant Universities Council for Agricultural Research, Extension and Teaching to meet with teams from nearly every land-grant university in the U.S., and then go to Capitol Hill to talk to our Congressional delegation about the vital importance of federal support for USDA funds that enable our work… Then on Thursday this week, Kendall Lamkey, our associate dean for facilities and operations, will host the all-farms meeting for the college…
Top Stories
Four CALS Students Receive Barron Award
Four CALS students are recipients of the 2026 Wallace E. Barron All-University Senior Award – Emma Alstott, global resource systems and horticulture; Haylie Moore, agricultural business; Tristan Weers, biochemistry; and Ryan Wolf, animal science. This award, established in 1968, recognizes six graduating seniors each spring who exemplify excellence in character, high academic achievement and remarkable involvement on and off campus.
Research
ISRC Funds Four Research Projects
Guided by farmer and industry input, the Iowa Soybean Research Center invested $380,000 in four research projects selected during its annual advisory council meeting. Mark Licht, agronomy and ISRC co-director, said the research portfolio reflects both immediate production concerns and long-term strategic challenges.
Teaching and Students
Landscape Club to Hold Design Session March 7
The Landscape Club is holding a student design session on March 7 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Horticulture Hall. Sessions include a basic site overview, plant recommendations and a landscape perspective drawing. Each one-hour session is $160. Slots are limited and are allocated on a first-come, first-serve basis. The event is a fundraiser to support their participation in the National Collegiate Landscape Competition.
Record Number of Seed Science Scholarships Awarded to CALS Students
The Seed Science Center and Iowa Seed Association awarded 16 scholarships to 15 students at the annual Agribusiness Showcase and Conference. This is the largest number of scholarships ever awarded by the Seed Science Center.
Extension and Outreach
Applications Open for 2026 Landowner Program
Applications are being accepted for the 2026 Landowner Program: Balancing Profitability, Stewardship and Legacy, offered by ISU Extension and Outreach. The application window is open until April 10, and program events will take place in June and July.
Guide Released for Selecting Forage Species
ISU Extension and Outreach has released a new publication designed to assist cattle producers with forage selection for spring and summer-planted pastures. “Selecting Forage Species” is available for download at no cost from the ISU Extension Store.
Lane Joins Extension as Food Systems Specialist
Trevor Lane has joined ISU Extension and Outreach Food Systems team as its new food systems specialist, a role focused on strengthening Iowa and place-based national food systems through education and workforce development. Lane began his role on Jan. 20.
Around the College
Donate to ‘pRICE Is Right’ Food Drive through Feb. 27
The CALS Staff Council is holding a “pRICE Is Right” food drive through Friday, Feb. 27 to support students experiencing food insecurity at Iowa State. Faculty and staff are invited to donate bags of long-grain white rice to the SHOP Food Pantry, helping provide a reliable and nutritious staple for students in need. There are seven collection locations around campus.
Compliance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines Required
All faculty and staff should be taking actions now to make public-facing and internal online content accessible. Following a federal ruling by the U.S. Department of Justice under the Americans with Disabilities Act, all public entities are required to comply with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 at the AA level by April 24. Iowa State’s Digital Accessibility Team offers training and resources to help ensure digital materials are accessible. What you should do:
- Read Inside Iowa State's "What to know about the digital accessibility initiative" article
- Faculty: Complete the Core Digital Accessibility Training for Faculty in Workday by May 15
- Staff: Complete the Core Digital Accessibility Training for Staff in Workday by May 15
Calendar
Feb. 25: History and Future of Soil Erosion
The Iowa Learning Farms conservation webinar on Wednesday, Feb. 25, at noon will discuss “The Present, Past and Future of Soil Erosion in the Midwestern United States.” Isaac Larsen, University of Massachusetts Amherst, will present.
March 6: Wine and Beer Tour
The CALS Staff Council is hosting a wine and beer tour on March 6 at 2:30 p.m. in 1598 Food Sciences Building. The tour is limited to 50 participants.
March 9: Faculty and Staff Awards Ceremony
The CALS Faculty and Staff Awards ceremony, honoring employee achievements, is March 9 at 4:10 p.m. in Dolezal Auditorium, 127 Curtiss Hall. The program will include brief comments from Dean Robison and recognition of the 2026 award recipients. A reception in Harl Commons will follow the program.
More Events Listed on CALS Website
Find more events on the CALS Events webpage. Submit events for inclusion on this list to madelyno@iastate.edu or jstewart@iastate.edu.
Infograzing
Sukup Appointed to World Food Prize Foundation Board of Directors
Charles Sukup, former president and CEO and current board co-chair of Sukup Manufacturing Co., has been appointed to the World Food Prize Foundation’s Board of Directors. Sukup is also a professor of practice in the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering.
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Online
Julie Stewart, Editor
jstewart@iastate.edu, (515) 294-5616
https://www.cals.iastate.edu/cals-online
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.