Good morning, CALS,
As I wrote in last Monday's note, I spent last week in Florida visiting alumni and donors while attending ISU Foundation events, including the big events on Wednesday evening. The first of those events was a special CALS reception (see picture below) before the main ISU Foundation event, where we had a great visit with about 60 CALS alumni and family. David Acker and I made some remarks, then we went around the room and had everyone introduce themselves. There was a good deal of AGR-Farmhouse rivalry talked about, career paths explained, and family connections to Iowa State and the college over multiple generations touted! Great fun. We were privileged to have with us agronomy grad Ken Hinkley from the class of ’57, and animal science grad Glen Olson from the class of ’56! We were able to present Ken with a picture of himself out in the field as a USDA Soil Conservation Service (now USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service) soil scientist in Jackson County, Iowa from 1961 (see picture below). He was thrilled – never having seen the picture before. We knew he’d be there from the RSVP list and meeting him last year at the same event. Maybe next year we’ll be able to find a picture for Glen Olson!
Later that evening at the main Iowa State event, there were several presentations. From President Wintersteen, we received some terrific shout outs and PowerPoint pictures for the new digital and precision agriculture major under development by the departments of agronomy and ABE, the new Alliant Energy Agriculture Innovation Lab at the ISU Research Park, the new Iowa State University Kent Feed Mill and Grain Science Complex, and the CALS facilities in the U.S. Virgin Islands (the Fork in the Road Station on the island of St. John) and in Uganda (the Mpirigiti Rural Training Centre in Kamuli).
The results of these trips are found in the ideas generated, the perspectives learned, the social license and good-will built and maintained with alumni and friends of the college, and donor relations and fundraising advanced. Several new gifts were discussed, a few committed to that week, and lots more ideas found their way into the mix for future discussions and meetings. Our CALS Development team, including Sarah Roelfs, Nick Van Berkum, Gelin Gil and others on the team, making the arrangements did terrific work.
This week, on Monday, Jan. 29, at 6:30 p.m. you can hear Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship Secretary Mike Naig speak at the Department of Animal Science Think Tank at the Iowa Cattlemen’s Building. Tuesday, Jan. 30 is the celebration of the opening of the new Pivot Bio building at the ISU Research Park. Wednesday, Jan. 31, from 9-10 a.m. in 142 Curtiss Hall is the medallion ceremony to name agronomy's Walter Suza as the newest holder of the George Washington Carver Chair. Thursday, Feb. 1 in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union is the annual Iowa State George Washington Carver Day event beginning at 5:30 p.m. (please come out for this!!!!). Then on Friday, please join me at the CALS Chat in Agronomy Hall's second floor commons from 2-3 p.m. - no agenda, just informal conversation.
Have a great week, and please let me know what you’re thinking! - Dan
Scenes from CALS
Approximately 60 CALS alumni and family members joined us at a special CALS reception during last week's ISU Foundation events in Florida. Great conversation was had, and we were able to present Ken Hinkley with this photo from 1961 of his work as a soil scientist in Jackson County, Iowa. Ken, right, is pictured with Harvey Mickel holding a soil survey book to assist with farm planning (photo courtesy of the Iowa Heritage Digital Collections).
Amid the various meetings, I snapped this photo of a heron and mangroves at low tide just before sunset in Naples, Florida.
