ALUMNI NEWS – FALL 2012

ALUM SELECTED AS FULBRIGHT SCHOLAR

John Carlson, a professor in Western Illinois University’s School of Agriculture, has been selected as a Fulbright Scholar. He will spend August through December teaching at the Ryazan State Agrotechnological University in Russia. Carlson earned an ISU bachelor’s degree in animal science and agricultural journalism in 1974, and a master’s degree and a doctorate in 1977 and 1980, respectively, in animal breeding.

CALS ALUMNI AND FACULTY EARN NATIONAL TEACHING AWARDS

The North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture honored two CALS faculty members for their teaching ability. Curt Youngs, animal science, was presented the Central Region Outstanding Teacher Award. Mike Retallick (PhD ’05 ag and life sciences education), agricultural education and studies, was presented the Teacher Fellow Award. Other CALS alumni honored as Teaching Fellows were: Nicholas Paulson (’02 ag systems technology), University of Illinois; Antoine Alston (PhD ’00 ag and life sciences education and studies), North Carolina A&T State University; and Jennifer Bormann (’97 animal science, PhD ’04 animal breeding and genetics), Kansas State University.

EVANS HONORED FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE TO AG COMMUNICATIONS

Jim Evans (’54 agricultural journalism) was presented the Distinguished Service Award by the American Agricultural Editors’ Association (AAEA). The retired professor of agricultural communications at the University of Illinois was recognized for his work developing the Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, a collection of information on agriculture and the profession of agricultural communications. The AAEA also named a new scholarship after Evans for his “tremendous impact on the establishment and  growth of agricultural communications programs.”

OVERCOMING CANCER, TRAGEDY TO GRADUATE VET SCHOOL

CALS alumna Sarah Myers (’07 microbiology) overcame cancer and family tragedy to complete her veterinary medicine degree in May. In the five years since earning her undergraduate degree her life has hit highs and lows most others experience over a lifetime: marriage, birthing two children, caring for and mourning the death of her mother, her own cancer diagnoses and treatment and finally, completing her doctor of veterinary medicine degree.

HOIBOAR NOT THE BIGGEST, BUT STILL CHAMP FOR KIDS WITH HEART DISEASE

Paul Kruse (’80 farm operations) and John Sweeney (’80 animal science,’84 DVM) teamed up with fellow ISU alumni and fans to raise Fred Hoiboar, named after Iowa State Men’s Basketball coach Fred Hoiberg. The tubby Yorkshire weighed in at 1,079 lbs. at the Iowa State Fair Biggest Boar contest. While Hoiboar didn’t take home the gold, he did help raise funds and awareness for heart disease benefitting Hoiberg’s cause of choice Camp Odayin for kids with heart disease.

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT – Spring 2012

AGRICULTURAL WEEKEND EXPERIENCE OFFERS NEW PERSPECTIVES

The college’s Agricultural Weekend Experience (AWE) gives students majoring in agriculture and life sciences the opportunity to interact with Iowa families and the agriculture community. Participants spend the weekend as guests on a working family farm. This fall, 11 students participated in the AWE program. Carly Martin, student intern in the college communications office, coordinated the program. The ISU Agricultural Endowment Board and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences sponsor AWE. Participants say the program helped broaden their understanding of agriculture.

“I saw that farming is not as cheap as I thought it was. It made me realize that you never know how something is until you get out there and experience it, which is what this program has allowed me to do.” Khadija Brown, a freshman in animal science pre-vet from Chicago.

“The weekend answered many of my questions with first-hand examples like allowing us to use the equipment.” Chawn McGrath, a freshman in animal science from Pennsylvania.

“This program is very beneficial for any student in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Whether a student has a farming background or not, it can give someone a new perspective on how farms are operated.” Katelyn Gardner, a junior in public service and administration from Vinton.

“The AWE program showed me what a true Iowa family farm is like and it was interesting to see all the hard work and challenges that go along with farming.” Kelsey Regan, a junior in agricultural biosystems technology from Davenport.

CALS STUDENTS RECEIVE ALL-UNIVERSITY SENI OR AWARD

Four of the five student-recipients of the ISU Wallace E. Barron All-University Senior Award were from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The award recognizes outstanding seniors who display high character, outstanding achievement in academics and university/community activities and promise for continuing these exemplary qualities as alumni. CALS recipients for 2012 were: Sam Bird, global resource systems and economics; Sagar Chawla, biology and global resource systems; Scott Henry, agricultural business, finance and international agriculture; and Amy Peyton, agricultural business, economics, public service and administration in agriculture and international agriculture.

STUDENTS ELECTED TO NATIONAL LEADERSHIP POSITIONS

Danielle Hamilton, a senior in agricultural and life sciences education, was elected president of the National Postsecondary Agriculture Student Organization and Logan Lyon, a junior in agronomy, was elected president-elect at the group’s national meeting in November. Rachel Owen, a senior in global resource systems and agronomy, was elected national vice president of Students of Agronomy, Soils and Environmental Sciences at the American Society of Agronomy in October.

CALS WOMEN HONORED FOR “IMPACTING” ISU

Four women from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences were honored by the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics on the sixth annual Women Impacting ISU calendar. Molly Heintz (right), a senior in animal science; Alejandra Navarro, a senior in animal ecology; Sharon Bird, associate professor of sociology; and Shelley Taylor, assistant director of Global Agriculture Programs were selected to appear on the 2012 calendar.

SLIDE SHOW: NEW GRADUATE ENCOURAGES STUDENTS TO CONTINUE THEIR ADVENTURES

Write your story and continue the adventure you started in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences: That was the advice of convocation speaker Ashley Dermody, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in agronomy in December. Hear her complete address and see a photo slideshow online at www.cals.iastate.edu/stories

ALUMNI NEWS – Spring 2012

Fifty-seven individuals were honored with 28 awards at the 80th Honors and Awards Ceremony in October. Several College of Agriculture and Life Sciences alumni were honored by the ISU Alumni Association:

~Gerald (’53 farm operations) and Carol Hunter (’58 home ec ed) of Ames, received an Alumni Medal

~Gerald Klonglan (’58 rural sociology, MS ’62, PhD ‘63) of Ames, emeritus sociology professor and retired associate dean, received the Alumni Service Award

~Alan (’66 animal science) and Myrna Tubbs (’66 child dev) of DeWitt, received the Alumni Service Award

~Larry Ebbers (’62 ag and life sciences education, MS ‘68) of Ames, received the Award for Superior Service to Alumni

Recipients of College of Agriculture and Life Sciences awards were:

~James Frevert (’60 farm operations) of Nevada, Iowa, received the Floyd Andre Award

~Lowell Catlett (’80 PhD economics) of Mesilla, N.M., received the Henry A. Wallace Award

~Harold Crawford (’50 ag and life sciences education, ’55 MS, ’60 PhD) of Ames, emeritus agricultural education and studies professor and retired associate dean, received the George Washington Carver Distinguished Service Award

~Charles Stewart (’00 PhD ag biochemistry) of San Diego, received the Superior Achievement Award for Early or Mid-Career Alumni

VOGEL EARNS TOP HONORS FROM AMERICAN AGRICULTURAL EDITOR’S ASSOCIATION

American Agriculturist Editor John Vogel (’70 ag journalism and animal science), was honored by the American Agricultural Editor’s Association in New Orleans with the “Writer of Merit” award. He’s only the sixth person in the association’s history to attain that distinction. The award requires scoring honors in 10 of 12 writing categories, such as ag issues, on-farm production articles, technical features, economics and management, human interest, editorial opinion and blogs.

KIEFER NAMED FARM MANAGER OF THE YEAR

Ed Kiefer, vice president and office manager for Hertz Farm Management Inc., was named 2011 Professional Farm Manager of the Year by Syngenta, AgProfessional magazine and the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers. Kiefer (’75 agricultural business) has been a farm manager for 36 years and manages Hertz’s Geneseo, Ill. office.

HUTCHCROFT INDUCTED INTO NATIONAL 4-H HALL OF FAME

Theodore “Ted” Hutchcroft was inducted into the National 4-H Hall of Fame in October for lifetime achievements and contributions to 4-H. Hutchcroft (’53 agricultural journalism) was one of 15 people inducted during a ceremony held at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center. He served as the information director of the National 4-H Foundation for nine years beginning in 1959. Hutchcroft retired in 1994 after serving as interim director of communications and publications of the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines.

SCHWAB HONORED FOR EARLY CAREER ACHIEVEMENT IN ANIM AL SCIENCE

Clint Schwab (’05 MS animal breeding and genetics, ’07 PhD) received the 2012 Outstanding Early Career Agribusiness Award from the Midwest sections of the American Society of Animal Science and American Dairy Science Association. Schwab is the CE O of the National Swine Registry, a company that provides genetic evaluations, breed promotions and educational materials to the swine industry.

CHLUPACH COMPLETES IDITAROD

Bob Chlupach (’71 fisheries & wildlife biology) completed 1,000 grueling miles by dogsled in the legendary Iditarod race across Alaska in March. He entered and completed his first Iditarod, longest dog sled race in the world, in 1977. He has since entered and completed 11 Iditarods over five decades. Since retiring from his career as a fishery biologist, Chlupach has worked as a carpenter and professional sports fishing guide in Alaska.

FACULTY NEWS AND SERVICE – Spring 2012

HEARTY HELLOS

Andrew Lenssen joined Iowa State Oct. 1 as a soybean systems agronomist with teaching, research and extension responsibilities. Lenssen comes to ISU from Sidney, Mont., where he was a research ecologist and lead scientist for USDA dryland research.

Catherine Kling, economics, has been named interim director of the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development. Kling has served as the division head of CARD ’s Resource and Environmental Policy Division. Kling took over for Bruce Babcock who is now the Cargill Endowed Chair in Energy Economics and director of the Biobased Industry Center.

Angela Laury (’03 animal science, MS ’06 meat science), began work in August as an assistant professor in food science and human nutrition and extension food safety specialist. She works with Iowa producers and manufacturers to promote food safety. Laury completed a doctorate at Texas Tech University in animal science, with an emphasis in food safety and microbiology.

David Krog (‘80 agronomy, MS ‘82 economics, PhD ‘88), former CE O of AgraGate Climate Credits Corp., has been named the inaugural Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the Agricultural Entrepreneurship Initiative. Krog will support instruction in an undergraduate economics course, provide mentorship to the initiative’s Student Incubator Program and assist with the Affiliates Program.

BURRAS RECEIVES USD A EXCE LLENCE IN TEACHING AWARD

Lee Burras (‘81 agronomy, MS ‘84), agronomy professor, received the annual USDA Food and Agricultural Sciences Excellence in Teaching Award on Nov. 13 in San Francisco. The award is based on teaching quality, philosophy and methodology; service to the profession and students; and professional growth and development.

VANDERZANDEN NAMED CELT DIRECTOR

Ann Marie VanDerZanden, horticulture, has been named director of the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching. Associate director of CELT and its interim director since Aug. 1, VanDerZanden also will serve as codirector of the university’s learning communities program.

RODERMEL FELLOW OF AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE

Steven Rodermel is one of five from ISU honored by the American Association for the Advancement of Science in February at the association’s annual meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia. Rodermel, professor of genetics, development and cell biology, was named fellow “for distinguished contributions to the field of photosynthesis, particularly for understanding nuclear-chloroplast genetic coordination, and for university and (National Science Foundation) administrative service.”