COLLEGE NEWS
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NATIONAL AGRICULTURE WEEK: MESSAGES FROM OUR COLLEGE LEADERS
Today, March 20, is National Agriculture Day and this week, March 19-25, is National Agriculture Week. A packet of College of Agriculture materials recently was provided to 242 Iowa media outlets for use during National Agriculture Week, including messages from Dean Wintersteen, Interim Senior Associate Dean Joe Colletti, Associate Dean Gerald Miller and Associate Dean David Acker. Links to their complete messages are found in the four items below.
DEAN WINTERSTEEN: A VISION FOR AGRICULTURE
"Iowa State has nearly 150 years of service to Iowans and to Iowa agriculture. My vision is to build on that proud tradition of excellence. In my vision, we must achieve our potential in three key areas: preparing extraordinary students; increasing our faculty's excellence, productivity and research advancements; and strengthening support for the College of Agriculture statewide." More: http://www.ag.iastate.edu/news/agweek.html
INTERIM SENIOR ASSOCIATE DEAN COLLETTI: RESEARCH TO SERVE IOWANS
"Today, as in the past, some of our research has a very applied focus, with results that inform decisions in the short-term. Some may have a more fundamental focus, providing new knowledge we can build on for the future. Now we are working in the most exciting scientific areas of agriculture that offer new opportunities for discovery, answers to serious challenges and opportunities for Iowa to grow." More: http://www.ag.iastate.edu/news/collettiagweek.html
ASSOCIATE DEAN DAVID ACKER: GOOD NEWS FOR CAREERS IN AGRICULTURE
"A report from our career services office recently crossed my desk. It once again confirmed that the outlook continues to be positive for graduates from ISU's College of Agriculture. Of the more than 600 students who graduated during the 2004-2005 school year, 98 percent have jobs or are working on advanced degrees. Two-thirds stayed in Iowa." More: http://www.ag.iastate.edu/news/ackeragweek.html
ASSOCIATE DEAN GERALD MILLER: AGRICULTURE OFFERS ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES
"More than ever, agriculture offers economic opportunities for the state of Iowa. Successful economic development has been a combination of Iowa's rich natural resources, productive people, viable communities and a strong agricultural industry. A key resource is the science-based information provided by ISU's extension faculty and staff statewide." More: http://www.ag.iastate.edu/news/milleragweek.html
SIGN OF SPRING: LAWN MOWER SERVICE DAYS
The Agricultural Systems Technology Club’s Lawn Mower Service Days starts Friday. The service will be 1 to 6 p.m. Friday, March 24, and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 25. Lawn mowers can be dropped off in the Davidson Hall courtyard or picked up. Delivery is available by calling 4-0462. Service includes oil change, new spark plug, air filter cleaning, blade sharpening and washing. The cost is $35 for push mowers and $40 for riding mowers. Delivery and pick up cost $15 per push mower and $20 for riders. The club does not do repairs and requests that only mowers that were in running order last fall be serviced.
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE DISTANCE EDUCATION FORUM MARCH 21
All College of Agriculture faculty and staff are encouraged to attend a distance education forum on Tuesday, March 21. The College and the Brenton Center for Agricultural Instruction and Technology Transfer are sponsoring the Ag College Distance Education forum from 4 to 5:30 p.m. 13 Curtiss Hall. The forum will provide an opportunity to take a fresh look at College of Agriculture distance education strategies, particularly getting faculty involved, incentives, support from the Brenton Center, marketing, evaluating, and the development of a new strategic vision to function under the proposed university budget model. Refreshments will be provided. For more information: 4-1862.
AGCOMM WORKSHOP DEALS WITH SHARING INFORMATION
The next AgComm workshop April 4 will feature Kathryn Atkinson Overberg, the associate university counsel. She will be presenting, “Could’ve, Would’ve, Should’ve: Avoiding Regrets (and Liability?) When It Comes to Sharing Information and Warnings.” The workshop will be discussing the background and legality of sharing information with the public, including where warnings might be necessary and why. It will also explore what makes an effective warning or disclosure of information. It will be noon to 1:15 p.m. in Room 8 Curtiss Hall. The workshop includes a light lunch. RSVP Cheryl Abrams at 4-5872 or cabrams@iastate.edu.
BLOCK AND BRIDLE CAKE AUCTION MARCH 30
The Block and Bridle Club Cake Auction will be March 30 beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the Farm Bureau Pavilion. You can buy a cake, enter a cake or both. Cakes need to be entered by 4:30 p.m. Judging begins at 5 p.m. The money raised helps support scholarships. A cake entry sign-up sheet is on the door to the Block and Bridle office, 120 Kildee.
THINK TANK TO DISCUSS ETHANOL
Ethanol is the discussion topic at the next Think Tank on Animal Agriculture. Allen Trenkle, animal science, will discuss the consequences of increased ethanol production and Jim Penney, Lincoln Way Energy Project, will talk about the Nevada ethanol facility March 27. Social time begins at 6 p.m. with dinner at 6:30 and the program at 7 p.m. in the Cardinal Room, Memorial Union. RSVP by Friday, March 24, with Julie Roberts at jrober@iastate.edu. Cost of the buffet will be $17, which is payable at the door.
IOWA MASTER FARMER CLASS OF 2006 HONORED
Last Thursday, Dean Wintersteen gave remarks at the 2006 Master Farmer Awards ceremony in West Des Moines. The 2006 awards marked the 70th class recognized by Wallaces Farmer Magazine. The 2006 honorees included ISU alums Don and Marylou Ahrens of Osage (Don, three degrees in agricultural education; Marylou, B.S., dietetics), whose daughter Lisa earned a double major in agronomy and agricultural business; Howard and Velma Keitzer of Mediapolis, whose son Dan has a bachelor’s degree in farm operations; David and Diane Petty of Eldora, whose daughter Dresden currently is an animal science major; and Ernest and Virginia Sage of Dunkerton, whose son Eric has an ISU farm operations certificate. A total of 406 families have been honored since the program began in 1926. "Good farming, clear thinking, right living" is the inspiration and the scorecard to judge nominations. One of the judges is William Edwards, ISU professor of economics. The Iowa Master Farmer Association provides $3,500 each year for scholarships to ISU students in agricultural communications and production agriculture.
IOWA MASTER FARMERS HONOR BLACKMER
Alfred Blackmer, professor of agronomy, was honored posthumously with the Iowa Master Farmer Exceptional Service Award last Thursday in West Des Moines. Blackmer, who died Jan. 28, worked directly with hundreds of Iowa farmers to solve practical problems related to nitrogen management. His research demonstrated economic returns to farmers and decreasing losses of nitrogen in the environment.
MEATS JUDGING TEAM FINISHES NINTH IN TEXAS COMPETITION
The ISU Meats Judging Team finished ninth March 4 in the Intercollegiate Meats Judging Contest at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Jana Matthiesen, agricultural studies senior, was fifth individual overall, fourth in pork judging and seventh in beef grading. Dan Determan, hotel, restaurant and institutional management sophomore, was sixth in beef grading. Ben Olson, sophomore in agricultural studies, and Brandon Goehring, junior in animal science, are other team members. The team was one out of 14 teams in the contest. The team is coached by animal science graduate student Roxanne Knock.
P&S REPRESENTATIVES ON COMMITTEES RECOGNIZED
Twenty-three members of the P&S staff who serve on all-university committees as representatives of the P&S Council were honored at its March meeting. P&S staff from the college recognized at the meeting included: Cathy Good, administrative services, who serves on the P&S classification review and professional development committees; Darren Jarboe, Center for Crop Utilization Research, who serves on the P&S professional development committee; Jane Lohnes, a college retiree, who serves on the ISU retirees committee; and Brenda Van Beek, natural resource ecology and management, who serves on the university benefits committee. Committee reports are posted on the P&S Web site at http://www.pscouncil.iastate.edu/UnivCommittees.html
SIXTH PESEK COLLOQUIUM ON SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE PLANNED
The sixth John Pesek Colloquium on Sustainable Agriculture will be April 6-7. Calestous Juma, professor of the Practice of International Development at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, will be the featured speaker at two events at the Scheman Building and Grinnell College. Learn more: http://www.ag.iastate.edu/aginfo/news/2006releases/pesekcoll.html
NONFARM STUDENTS TO GET HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE IN AGRICULTURE
For some students in the College of Agriculture, visiting an Iowa farm for the first time is a big deal. Fifteen college students will learn what life is really like on an Iowa farm during the second Agricultural Weekend Experience April 7-9. Details: http://www.ag.iastate.edu/aginfo/news/2006releases/awe06.html
AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULED THURSDAY
The future of agricultural education in Iowa will be discussed beginning at 6:30 p.m. March 23 at a public hearing broadcast on the Iowa Communications Network. This meeting was originally scheduled for Feb. 16, but a winter storm forced its cancellation. Details: http://www.ag.iastate.edu/aginfo/news/2006releases/agedhearing2.html
NATURE MAPPING WORKSHOP OFFERED IN STORY COUNTY
An ISU Extension program teaches citizens how to collect information on common wildlife species. A training workshop will be held April 1 at the McFarland Park Conservation Center northeast of Ames. Learn more: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/news/2006/mar/331401.htm
FOODS THAT TELL THE IOWA STORY
To visitors as well as residents, the Iowa story may be told best by Maytag Blue Cheese, Amana rhubarb wine and K&K's Tiny but Mighty Popcorn. Iowa Arts Council Folklife Coordinator Riki Saltzman has found that these and other foods help Iowans connect to their region and heritage, and plug into a growing interest in culinary tourism. Learn more: http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/news/newsreleases/2006/foodstories_031606...
DEADLINES AND REMINDERS
March 20: Application deadline, Center for Integrated Animal Genomics Competitive Research Grants Program, more: http://www.ciag.iastate.edu/SpringGrantsProgram.html
March 21: College distance education forum, 4 to 5:30 p.m., 13 Curtiss Hall
April 6: John Pesek Colloquium on Sustainable Agriculture, 6 p.m. reception, 7 p.m. seminar, Benton Center, Scheman Building
March 22: “Embracing Sustainability: Local to Global Research Perspectives” research forum, 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Campanile Room, Memorial Union, registration: Mary Nyasimi, 4-7175 or nyasimi@iastate.edu
March 31: Administrative Internship Program applications due, http://www.provost.iastate.edu/faculty/internships.php
April 18: Biosafety Institute for Genetically Modified Agricultural Products (BIGMAP) Symposium, Gateway Center, more: http://www.ucs.iastate.edu/mnet/bigmap/home.html
April 19: "Safe and Secure Food for Public Health and National Security" symposium, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Comfort Suites Hotel, 2609 Elwood Drive, contact: Gail Stecker, 4-4781
April 28: Spencer Award nominations due, more: http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/news/newsreleases/2006/spencer_022706.htm
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COMMUNICATIONS KIOSK
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ALUMNI ASSOCIATION CALENDAR NEEDS EVENTS
The Alumni Association is looking for events to put on the next Iowa State calendar, which will be available in July. Send events happening between Aug. 1, 2006 and Aug. 31, 2007 to AshLea Anderson by April 3 at aanderson@alumni.iastate.edu. Space limitations prevent all events from being included. If some event’s dates will not be finalized by the deadline, the association can make arrangements for late additions.
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INFOGRAZING
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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS
Faculty and staff are encouraged to volunteer for the Special Olympics USA National Games this summer. The games will be on campus during the first week in July, and P&S staff may be eligible for released time to volunteer. Details of the program are available online at http://www.iastate.edu/Inside/2006/0310/volunteer.shtml. More: http://www.2006nationalgames.org
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INTERNAL VOICES
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RESEARCH’S EXCITEMENT AND FRUSTRATION
"We've shown that soy protein can be used in adhesives. Now, we're waiting for a response from industry. It's exciting and frustrating at the same time."
--Deland Myers, food science and human nutrition (Des Moines Register, March 16, http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060316/BUSINES...)
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MARGINALIA
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CONGRATULATIONS TO JOYCE SHIERS FOR 45 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE
This week Joyce Shiers is observing her 45th year as an Iowa State University employee -- and her 25th year as an administrative specialist in the College of Agriculture's administrative offices. She currently is serving her fifth dean (Kolmer, Topel, Ross, Woteki, Wintersteen). She began her ISU career in 1961 in the extension service administrative offices in Curtiss Hall, handling secretarial duties for area extension directors, associate deans and the dean of University Extension. In 1981 she began working for the College of Agriculture administration. In 2005, she received the Dean's Citation for Extraordinary Contributions to the College of Agriculture.
Next issue: March 27
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AG ONLINE
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EDITOR
Ed Adcock, edadcock@iastate.edu
Phone: (515) 294-5616 Web site: http://www.ag.iastate.edu/aginfo/
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