INTRODUCING PEERS TO A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITIES

Tia Sandoval has been bitten by the travel bug and she loves to share her affliction. Sandoval is a Student Travel Consultant with the Ag Study Abroad office.

Three College of Agriculture and Life Sciences travel courses to China, Brazil and Ecuador are just the beginning of her international experiences.

The senior in animal science and international agriculture spent last spring semester in Brazil. While there, Sandoval, from Kansas City, Mo., polished her Portuguese skills and completed an independent study on poultry nutrition at the Federal University of Viçosa in Minas Gerais. She also taught an English conversational course.

“It can be difficult to learn a language from books or teachers, so I came up with different topics each week and led them in conversations,” Sandoval says. “It was rewarding to see them progress in their English and become more conversational.”

In order to share her experiences, Sandoval has worked as a Student Travel Consultant with the Ag Study Abroad office since 2009. The student consulting program grew from suggestions by students in 2005 who wanted more interaction with students who had been abroad. Today there are five student consultants on staff.

“As a consultant, we share personal experiences from a student perspective so other students can relate to the program and find out more about studying abroad,” Sandoval says.

Briana McNeal, a junior in global resource systems and nutrition, will be studying abroad on the same semester exchange program to Brazil next year.

“It was nice to listen to Tia’s personal experiences rather than reading pamphlets from the school, because now I have a better idea of what to expect,” says McNeal.

Each semester, the consultants provide valuable feedback to the Ag Study Abroad staff on what their peers are interested in, helping the programming to be more effective. Last year, 220 students participated in Ag Study Abroad travel courses. Shelley Taylor, director of study abroad for the college, says the consultants play a critical role.

“Student travel consultants are insiders. Students consider the information more valuable coming from peers than from me,” Taylor says. “This program is so valuable in recruiting. It is a crucial link in staying relevant to our goals.”

Sandoval says she enjoys sharing what she has learned abroad.

“My experiences have taught me to be open minded,” Sandoval says. “When you’re in a new country or culture, it is important to keep an open mind, because they have different beliefs, cultural activities, food and ways of doing things. This gives me the opportunity to learn something new and also share what I know.”

Sandoval has been nominated for Agriculture Extension in Sub-Sahara Africa with the Peace Corps, where she

Tia Sandoval

hopes to share her passion for agriculture in an international setting.

SITTIN DOWN WITH THE DEAN – STUDENTS LEARN TO LEAD

Sharing quality time in a seminar with the dean of the college can help shape the rest of your college experience—if not the rest of your life.

Catherine Swoboda, (’08 agronomy), who works for the World Food Prize Foundation in Des Moines, says the Dean’s Leadership Seminar was a highlight of her years at ISU. “It taught me the joy of thinking analytically and rigorously and the pleasure of generously sharing ideas and knowledge. And for a freshman to have access to instruction by the deans was very impressive,” Swoboda says.

Each fall semester, a new cohort of students takes the Dean’s Leadership Seminar. The students are offered the opportunity as recipients of some of the college’s premier endowed scholarships. The seminar, co-taught by Dean Wendy Wintersteen and Associate Dean of Academic and Global Programs David Acker, introduces the freshmen to leadership qualities, problem solving on current issues, global perspectives and responding to societal needs in agriculture and life sciences.

“These students are up-and-comers who’ll be leaders in the college and in their future careers,” says Wintersteen. “It’s wonderful to follow these students as they progress through college and into careers.”

Nate Looker, a senior in agronomy and global resource systems, says the dean’s seminar substantially shaped his undergraduate experience. “Associate Dean Acker exhibits the style of leadership I hope to develop with time, empowering others with genuine, respectful communication. He introduced me to colleagues with whom he thought I’d share interests, helping me diversify my experiences.”

Rachel Owen, a senior who’ll graduate in agronomy, says she remembers Wintersteen speaking about how to respond to a critical news article. “The reason that stuck with me is because of the professionalism in which she handled the situation,” Owen says. “I try to model the same professionalism when I’m in a leadership role.”

The seminar was a great motivator, Owen adds. “Since the class, I’ve been involved in many student organizations both on campus and nationally. The issues we addressed helped me become a better leader.”

Allyson (Chwee) Dirksen (’08 agricultural business) took the Dean’s Leadership Seminar in 2004 with then-associate dean Eric Hoiberg. “Dean Hoiberg’s integrity made an impression on me. He was such an

approachable, sincere mentor,” says Dirksen, who now practices law in Sioux City.

CALS students Andrew Owen, sophomore in pre-diet and exercise, and Gail Barnum, junior in food science, are among the students who regularly visit with Dean Wendy Wintersteen as part of the Dean's Leadership Seminar.

Amy Peyton, now a senior in agricultural business, says she learned how important it was to contribute to a conversation with peers about real-world issues. “That was the best part, meeting and becoming friends with the amazing people in class, several of whom I’m still good friends with today.”

GROOMING NEXT GENERATION OF ANIMAL CARETAKERS

Ashli Jay, a freshman from Miami, called Marshall Ruble repeatedly asking for a job at the Beef Teaching Farm and a chance to prove herself alongside students with more on-farm experience. Ruble was impressed by her determination.

When Marshall Ruble started as manager of the beef teaching farm as a new Iowa State grad, he figured he’d stay three or four years. It’s now been nearly 33 years, mentoring hundreds of students to care for the farm’s herd.

The farm provides cattle for 11 undergraduate courses, industry events such as scholarship contests, livestock judging, artificial insemination schools, ultrasound training and ultrasound certification.

“If we can help promote animal agriculture we want to be a presence. We are involved in a few research projects if it doesn’t affect our primary directive of undergraduate teaching,” he adds.

Ruble (’78 animal science) is a native Iowan raised on a diversified livestock farm near Corydon. He especially loves beef cattle, although he’s taken care of sheep, swine, horses, chickens and dairy cattle.

Ruble likes to call his student-workers “projects.” His no-nonsense demeanor doesn’t hide his concern for the students under his charge.

“My success is measured if they’re successful,” he says.

More and more student workers have been added in recent years. Enrollment is at an all time record for animal science and expected to increase significantly this coming fall semester. About 11 students work each semester. Some care for the animals while others maintain machinery. In the summer, students work harvesting forages and bedding for the sheep, swine, horse, beef teaching and beef nutrition farms.

“The students are my labor,” he says, “Without them, we don’t get it done.”

Ruble has been impressed by the students coming from more urban areas, a trend that started about 15 years ago. About a third of the farm’s students are pre-vet, with most coming from animal science majors.

Ashli Jay, an animal science freshman from Miami, wanted to work with cattle in high school. For her that meant going to another school district to join an FFA program. The USDA’s Ag Discovery summer program brought her to Iowa State and she liked it so much Jay decided to apply after high school.

“She started calling me when she graduated, emailing me, wanting a job,” says Ruble.

Jay’s initiative and persistence helped convince him to hire her despite a lack of experience.

“He took me under his wing and helped me with transitioning from Florida to Iowa,” Jay says, even helping her shop for the proper footwear for working on the farm in winter. “I am so grateful for Marshall, I could not have a better introduction to Iowa.”

Ruble estimates he’s had nearly 200 students work at the farm during his 33 years as manager. Many start as freshman and continue working until they graduate.

His first crew set a standard for excellence that he strives to continue:

~Steve Johnson (’81 animal science) is the director of feedyard operations at Cactus Feeders, the largest cattle feeder in the nation

~Dave Judd (’80 animal science) is a Kansas Gelbvieh cattle breeder

~David Edge (’80 farm operation) is owner with his wife, Melanie, of the Western Edge stores, farms and raises horses

Edge still has vivid memories of that first calving season with Ruble.

“I spent a couple summers on a Montana ranch, so I’d rope calves from a pick-up while he drove. After roping, my job was to tag, weigh and tattoo calves all the while keeping as far from the cows as possible,” he says. “They would try to get into the truck. After that year, Marshall began to select for disposition in the herd.”

Edge also took away the importance of record-keeping from the experience, something he applies in his current businesses.

Ruble expects students to learn as well as earn a paycheck.

“Everybody’s going to learn,” he says. “Every job you have hopefully you learn and pick up new things. I always ask them, ‘What do you want to get out of this job today?’.”

Ruble Recognized for Excellence

Dean Wendy Wintersteen presented Marshall Ruble with the Dean’s Citation for Extraordinary Contributions Feb. 16 at the college’s spring convocation. The surprise award recognizes faculty and staff who have exceeded expectations. Maynard Hogberg, chair of the Department of Animal Science, says he nominated Ruble because he’s a dedicated staff member who is a great role model for other employees.

“Marshall Ruble continuously operates the Beef Teaching unit with a positive financial operating balance. He does this with hard work, smart buying and closely monitoring costs of his operation, including student labor,” Hogberg says.

The Beef Teaching cow herd produces genetics sought after by commercial beef producers, Hogberg says, judging by the success of the biannual “Tradition of Excellence Female Sale.” It is conducted with assistance of the Beef Marketing Class that is co-taught by Ruble and Brad Skaar. Ruble also is one of Iowa State’s main contacts for the Iowa beef industry. He has served on multiple boards and committees, including the Iowa Beef Breeds Council where he served at the president.

VOICES Big Solutions: Innovation and Collaboration at Work

By James C. Borel

The world faces a challenge—feeding 9 billion people by 2050 in sustainable ways with limited land and resources. We have made tremendous strides over the last century, but agriculture needs to continue to be more productive —to grow more on each acre of land.

We can meet the global food security challenge, but only if we empower collaboration and enhance the ability of farmers in all parts of the world to be as productive as possible.

One aspect of collaboration involves research universities and seed companies. The important research done in universities can be invaluable in finding new approaches to seed technology and crop production management. One example is a research collaboration that we, at DuPont, began in 2009 with Iowa State. We partnered to develop a new technology to more effectively develop biotech traits in plants and improve drought tolerance in corn.

We also work with the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines that brings together the Institute’s rice germplasm pool with DuPont’s capabilities in molecular analysis, commercial-scale breeding and field locations for testing hybrids.Partnerships like this could contribute to making available to rice breeders and farmers throughout Asia better advanced breeding lines and better hybrids.

At DuPont, we are a science company that believes in innovation and collaboration. We take seriously the example of the Pioneer Hi-Bred founder, Henry Wallace, who built his company by bringing innovation into the American cornfields. But we know that we cannot invent everything ourselves. So, in addition to significant research investments internally, we are also focused on how to encourage innovation more broadly.

New technology can be daunting to some, but Norman Borlaug, agronomist and Nobel Laureate, loved learning about new things. And he knew the formula: better innovation and more collaboration to improve agriculture, to empower farmers, to feed the world.

That was his formula. It is our formula at DuPont.

I think of agriculture as the “optimistic science.” Because together, with innovation and collaboration, we can help do what the world needs us to get done.

Click here for Borel’s confetti corn recipe.