FACULTY NEWS AND SERVICE – Fall 2011

Paulsen Receives Teaching Award

Thomas Paulsen, assistant professor of agricultural education and studies, was honored for his commitment to, and excellence in, college teaching and the scholarship of teaching and learning by the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture at the association’s annual conference in June.

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For Florida First Graders – Corn is Cool!

“Dear Mr. Lamkey – Thank you for taking the time from your job to make our day! We learned a lot from your letter and the book you sent us. Corn is cool! The t-shirts are awesome! It was so nice of you to give them to us. Some of us even want to be agronomists when we grow up! Maybe some of us might choose to go to college at Iowa State!” – First grade students in Kristi Hibbs Giuffreda’s class at Riverglades Elementary School in Parkland, Fla.

The students wrote a note to Iowa State asking about corn they were growing in their garden that had developed an ear in the tassel. Agronomy department chair Kendall Lamkey responded with answers and “I’m an Agronomist” gifts.  Read more

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FACULTY SERVE ON NATIONAL SCIENCE COMMITTEES

Rothschild Named Jefferson Science Fellow

Max Rothschild, distinguished professor in animal science, has been selected for a Jefferson Science Fellowship with the U.S. Department of State. Each fellow spends one year at the Department of State or the U.S. Agency for International Development for an on-site assignment in Washington, D.C.

Babcock Named to Food, Ag Policy Research Committee

Bruce Babcock, Cargill Endowed Chair in Energy Economics, director of the ISU Biobased Industry Center and professor of economics, has been named a member of the research committee of AGree, a new initiative to transform food and agricultural policy. AGree was created by eight foundations to meet pressing challenges in food and agriculture policy by working across the academic and political spectrum.

Xin Reappointed to USDA Air Quality Task Force

Hongwei Xin, professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering and director of the Egg Industry Center, has been reappointed to a two-year term on USDA’s Agricultural Air Quality Task Force. Xin’s research and extension programs have focused extensively on air quality in animal feed operations.

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HEARTY HELLOS

• Chris Mondak has been named ANR Extension assistant director. Prior to starting this position on July 6, Mondak served as the ISU Extension dairy specialist in northwest Iowa; a position she held since 2000.
• Cathy Kling has been named interim director of the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development. Kling, an economics professor, was division head of the Center’s Resource and Environmental Policy Division.
• Sue Blodgett has been named chair of the departments of entomology and of natural resource ecology and management, effective Sept. 19. Blodgett was formerly head of the plant science department at South Dakota State University.
• Steve Mickelson, inaugural recipient of the Charles R. and Jane F. Olsen Professorship in Engineering, has been named chair of the agricultural and biosystems engineering department. He was formerly associate chair of the department, director of the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching and co-director of Learning Communities.

FOND FAREWELLS

• Lloyd Anderson (’57 animal science, ’61 PHD animal reproduction), distinguished professor in animal science, retired in June after nearly 50 years at Iowa State University.
• Steven Jungst (’69 forestry, ’76 MS, ’78 PHD), professor, interim chair of natural resource ecology and management and interim chair of entomology, retired in June. He was a member of the forestry faculty at Iowa State since 1974.
• Gerald Miller (’71 MS soil science, ’74 PHD), interim vice president for extension and outreach, retired in June. He has been at Iowa State University for almost 40 years as a professor in agronomy and an extension agronomist, and most recently as an associate dean for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
• Patricia Murphy, university professor in food science and human nutrition, retired in June after approximately 30 years at Iowa State University.

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT – Fall 2011

Soy You Think You Can Cook

The Soyfoods Council, in cooperation with ISU Dining and the food science and human nutrition department, created a challenge for students to creatively cook with soy. In the “Soy You Think You Can Cook” competition, the judges were looking for unique applications of soy products within the dishes prepared. First place went to the Soy Sistas team, consisting of Amanda Pudlik, Elise Fiscus and Cassie Miller, all seniors in culinary science. Their recipes were a sweet and savory Monte Cristo sandwich that included soy cheese, soy cream cheese and vanilla soy milk, and a creamy winter squash and apple soup that included soy milk and soft tofu. Click here for recipes.

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Ag Business Club Named Outstanding National Chapter Six Years Running

The Iowa State University Agricultural Business Club has been named the National Outstanding Chapter by the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association (AAEA) for the sixth consecutive year. The Agricultural Business Club is an undergraduate student organization advised by economics professors Ronald Deiter and William Edwards. Since 1992, the club has received the National Outstanding Chapter Award 10 times and has been awarded the National Creative Club Award six times since the award was created in 2000.

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Agronomy Student Chosen as National FFA Star Finalist

The National FFA Organization has selected Vivian Bernau, a senior in agronomy, as a finalist for the American Star in Agriscience award. These awards recognize students who have developed outstanding agricultural skill and competency through their career development programs, demonstrated outstanding management skills, earned the American FFA Degree and met other agricultural education, scholarship and leadership requirements.

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Student Selected for National Collegiate Ag Ambassador Team

Brittany Jurgemeyer, a junior in public service and administration in agriculture, was selected as a member of the National Collegiate Ag Ambassador team that is comprised of 20 college students from across the United States. The ambassadors will work to help their communities better understand the value and importance of agriculture and how it is a part of their daily lives. Audiences will range from elementary students to adult community and civic groups. Topics include food safety, biotechnology, sustainability, advocacy and pollination.

ALUMNI NEWS – Fall 2011

The Bells Toll: Alumna Offers 9/11 Tribute on Carillon

On September 11 from the carillon studio in the campanile, alumna Amy Brandau played “America the Beautiful” and then rang the bells 10 times, one for each year since the attacks. Brandau earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural business in 2000 and an MBA in business administration in 2008. She is an academic adviser in the ISU College of Engineering. Brandau studied the carillon with ISU carillonneur Tin-shi Tam as both an undergraduate and graduate student. Brandau offers a quick tour of the campanile in this video:

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Lang Chosen To Lead Board Of Regents, State Of Iowa

Craig Lang, president of the Iowa Farm Bureau, was unanimously approved in July as the new president of the body that governs Iowa’s public universities. Lang replaced David Miles, who was asked to resign as president by Gov. Terry Branstad and returned to the position of board member. Lang earned a bachelor’s degree in dairy science in 1973. He has served at the farm bureau’s president since 2001.

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Newlin Receives First Iowa Corn Lifetime Achievement Award

Alumnus Owen Newlin, retired senior vice president of Pioneer Hi-Bred International, received the first Iowa Corn Lifetime Achievement award in August at the Iowa Corn Growers Association annual meeting. Newlin earned a bachelor’s degree in agronomy and a master’s degree in crop production. Read more about Newlin in a 2010 article from STORIES.

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Nunnikhoven Returns To Family Farm

Chandler Nunnikhoven was featured on the front page of the Des Moines Register in July. The alumnus repurchased his grandparents’ farmstead, tends cattle and intends to renovate one of the barns on the property. Nunnikhoven earned a bachelor’s degree in horticulture with a minor in agronomy in 2010. His day job is managing a staff of nine workers for the city of Pella. Read the complete article and view a photo essay of his farm visit: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20110724/NEWS03/107240312/1001/NEWS/?odyssey=nav%7Chead.

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IN MEMORIUM

Norma “Duffy” Lyon, better known as the “Butter Cow Lady,” died June 26. She was 81. Lyon sculpted the Iowa State Fair Butter Cow from 1960 until her retirement in 2004. She earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science in 1951. She owned and operated Lyon Jerseys Dairy Farm near Toledo with her husband, Joe. A life-size bronze cow honoring Lyon was installed when the new ISU Dairy Farm was dedicated.

Charles Manatt, former U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic, died July 22. He was 75. Manatt earned a bachelor’s degree in rural sociology from ISU in 1958. He founded First Los Angeles Bank. He was elected chair of the Democratic National Committee in 1981. In 1992, he was co-chair of the Clinton-Gore presidential campaign, and in 1999 President Clinton appointed Manatt as the U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic.  He received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Iowa State University Alumni Association and ISU Foundation.

Marvin Walter of Ames died June 1. He was 70. Walter earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in animal science in 1962 and 1964. Walter worked for the American Meat Institute, then as a commodity broker at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Over the years, he operated Carriage House Meat, Provision Co. and several affiliated businesses. Walter was involved in many Iowa State activities, serving on the Board of Governors and receiving the Order of the Knoll award for Distinguished Service. He also received the Floyd Andre award for Distinguished Service to Agriculture from the college.

ALUMNI NEWS, Spring 2011

IOWA STATE FAIR EARNS ADVANCED DEGREES FROM FFA

The entire Ronald Zelle family of Waverly was awarded American FF A Degrees at the organization’s national convention in October.  Ronald (’83 agricultural and life sciences education, MS ‘87) is the agricultural education instructor and the FFA adviser for Nashua Plainfield Schools.  He was awarded the Honorary American FFA Degree teacher award in recognition of his educational achievements.
His wife, Mary Beth (’86 agricultural and life sciences education), received the Honorary American FFA degree in the other community members division.  Their daughter, Debra, a junior majoring in horticulture,  and son, Benjamin, a sophomore majoring in agricultural business and computer science, were awarded American FF A Degrees for their participation in FFA.

YOUNG ALUM MAKES A STATEMENT AS ENTREPRENEUR

Mike Taylor (’03 agricultural studies) was among young Iowa State Alumni named “STATE ment Makers” by the ISU Alumni Association for their early personal and professional accomplishments.  Taylor says entrepreneurship is a way of life in his household.  After minoring in entrepreneurship at Iowa State, he built Taylor Companies from the ground up.  Today he and his wife, Lindsay, are partners in several businesses—including row crop and beef production agriculture, wholesale distribution, commercial real estate, property management, retail pharmacies and e-commerce retail businesses.  And, he says, his 4-year-old daughter runs a mean lemonade stand.

LISTEN UP: ALUMNI LECTURES OFFERED AS PODCASTS

James Borel (’78 agricultural business), executive vice president of DuPont, presented the 2011 Carl and Marjory Hertz Lecture on Emerging Issues in Agriculture in April at Iowa State.  Borel presented “How Agricultural Innovation and Collaboration Will Shape the Future of the World” drawing on his experience leading DuPont’s production agriculture businesses, DuPont Crop Protection and Pioneer Hi-Bred.  He sharedideas on how advances in agricultural science will play a major role in shaping the future of global society and addressing world hunger.

Charles Stewart, Jr. (’00 agricultural biochemistry), research associate at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in San Diego, offered the lecture “Fighting Hunger: A DN A Engineer’s Path to Science and Success” at Iowa State in March. Stewart was the first graduate of Science Bound, Iowa State’s program to increase the number of ethnically diverse Iowa youth pursuing science, technology, engineering and math careers.

Neil E. Harl (’55 agricultural education, MS ’65 economics), shared leadership lessons learned throughout his career as he gave the 2010 William K. Deal Endowed Leadership Lecture in October. Harl is a Charles F. Curtis Distinguished Professor in Agriculture and Life Sciences and emeritus professor of economics specializing in farm finance, taxation, estate planning, business planning and agricultural law. Harl’s presentation was titled, “Building an Enduring Leadership Platform.”

ALUMNI GIVEN TOP HONORS BY ISU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION AND ISU FOUNDATION

Two college alumni were honored at the 2011 ISU Alumni Association and the ISU Foundation Distinguished Awards Ceremony in April.  Rodney Ganey (’78 sociology, MS ‘81) of Henderson, Nev., was presented the Distinguished Alumni Award by the ISU Alumni Association.  Roger Underwood (’80 agricultural business) of Ames, received the Knoll Cardinal and Gold Award from the ISU Foundation.

1948 GRAD INDUCTED TO ISU ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME

Ray Wehde, in the white jersey (’48 dairy industry), was one of 10 alumni who were inducted into the ISU Athletics Hall of Fame in October.  He is pictured enjoying a quick pick up game with his twin brother Roy (’48 dairy industry), in the red jersey, who also played for the Cyclones.  Ray is considered Iowa State’s first NBA draftee.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame for basketball and track and field.  His name appears among the 129 Hall of Famers on the All-America Walls, a new display around Jack Trice Stadium.  “Enrolling as freshmen and going onto that beautiful campus with its buildings and everything, now that was awe-inspiring for a couple of country boys,’’ says Wehde in an interview with the Sioux City Journal.  “I remember the freshman team was open to anyone and sometimes there were 90 kids there trying to catch the coach’s eye.’’