Hello, CALS colleagues,
I hope you had a great, long weekend and paused for a moment to consider the remarkable legacy and meaning of Martin Luther King Jr. Here is a quote from his 1964 Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech that is engraved on the MLK Memorial in Washington, D.C. It contains ideas and ideals that we still pursue, and I offer to our graduates in my remarks at CALS Convocation each year: "I have the audacity to believe that peoples everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education, and culture for their minds, and dignity, equality, and freedom for their spirits."
The spring semester truly starts now, and for those among us that also taught during the winter term, it’s back to the races without hardly a break! Thanks to each of you for all you do to support our students. They are our raison d'être.
This past week, I spent time with the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association and the Iowa Beef Industry Council. These are two key stakeholder groups that support our work and represent a large share of landowners, producers and processors in the state. I also attended the swearing in for Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship Secretary Mike Naig in the state capital. Also, we had the first CALS Chat of the semester last Friday in Kildee Hall – and there was a terrific group there! (Always room for more to attend.)
Coming up in a few weeks on the evening of Feb. 1 at 5:30 p.m. in the Memorial Union’s Great Hall (reception with Carver-inspired food at 5 p.m.), is the first George Washington Carver Day celebration. Please plan to attend and let’s have a great CALS showing! The keynoter will be Dewayne Goldmon ('91 PhD agronomy), the senior advisor for racial equity to USDA Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. In addition to Goldmon’s keynote remarks, there will be remarks by:
- Wendy Wintersteen, president, Iowa State University
- Ambassador Kenneth M. Quinn (retired), president emeritus, The World Food Prize
- Marsha Kelliher, president, Simpson College
- Olga Bolden-Tiller, dean, College of Agriculture, Environment and Nutrition Sciences, Tuskegee University
- Simon Estes, F. Wendell Miller Distinguished Artist in Residence, Department of Music and Theatre, Iowa State University
A special shout-out to the Iowa State University Livestock Judging Team who had a successful showing at competitions in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and at the National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colorado, last week. See the results and follow their journey as they progress through the spring judging season on the team's Facebook page.
Have a great week! My best - Dan
Scenes from CALS
Last week on Friday afternoon in the state capital was the swearing in of Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship Secretary Mike Naig for his second term. He delivered optimistic and forward-looking remarks, and it was a great gathering of agriculture supporters. Here are three photos of the incredible building we get to have as our state capital - a building that always inspires! And who knew they have special rooms just for "consultation?!"
