Stories Archives

Genetics drew Becky Weeks to Iowa State

By Barbara McBreen

Becky Weeks took genetics when she was a junior in high school and was hooked. So hooked, in fact, that she repeated the class her senior year, just for fun. Then she came to Iowa State to learn more.

“I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go into plant or human genetics, but I wanted something that kept me in the Midwest. I knew if I went into a health-related field, I’d probably have to go to a coast to get a job,” says Weeks, who is a graduate student in genetics researching ear and tassel development in corn.

Weeks began researching corn genetics as an ISU junior when her lab supervisor gave her the chance to do hands-on research. She continued the research in the college’s Science with Practice program, a course that links faculty mentors with students and provides research experience, credits and a paycheck.

“Science with Practice was great because it allowed me to become more
autonomous,” Weeks says. “I learned how to look at my results and decide the next step.”  

It didn’t take long for Weeks to decide to continue her research as a graduate student.

“I graduated on May 5 and started graduate school on May 7. I wanted to get started right away,” Weeks says. “This isn’t work to me – it’s what I want to do.”

Agricultural markets also intrigued the Kansas City native. She thought farmers sold their grain as soon as it was harvested.

“When I moved to Iowa, I started listening to AM radio and heard about December and July corn. I was confused. I wanted to know how the markets work,” Weeks says.

To find out, Weeks signed up for the college’s Agriculture Weekend Experience (AWE) program last summer. The AWE program, which also was developed by the ISU Agricultural Endowment, gives students who have never been on a farm the chance to stay with an Iowa farm family and learn first-hand about farm life.

“I don’t have any experience on a farm. Everything I do in the research field is done by hand and I’ve always wondered how it works on a large scale,” Weeks said. “I want to work for a seed company someday and my goal is to design products that make it easier for the farmer. How will I know what they need if I don’t know what they do?”

The AWE program, which is in its third year, was a great experience for Weeks. She was amazed what she learned about farm management and economics in discussions with Don and Marylou Ahrens. The Ahrens, who live near Osage, hosted the AWE students in July.

“The key for succeeding in this field is to make things easier and more profitable for the farmer,” Weeks says. “I felt it was important to learn how the farm works to gain a perspective and expand my vision for future corn improvements.”

Web Extra:
Weeks wrote an essay about her experience in the AWE program. In it she describes her daily tours, discussions and her future plans. Read Weeks’s essay on-line at: (url to come)

Sidebar:
Science with Practice and the Agricultural Weekend Experience program are both supported by the Iowa State University Agricultural Endowment, a 70-year-old nonprofit corporation that provides opportunities for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences to support students, people and infrastructure vital to the future of Iowa agriculture.