Message from the Dean - July 29, 2024

July 29, 2024

Hello, CALS,

A short note today to wish you a great week.

Last week, I had a terrific trip to northeast Iowa with Jamie Stowe from our CALS Development Office to meet with alums and partners along the way - from Ames to Cresco, Calmar, Jesup, Hudson and Osage! They were great visits and conversations, and my most important conclusion is that we are a place that has inspired confidence and appreciation for generations. All of us are part of the continuing excellence required to extend those feelings for generations to come.

All the best. - Dan

Scenes from CALS

Bill Graves standing behind a podium as a tree trunk is shown behind him on a projector screen. — Iowa State Graduate College and professor of horticulture Bill Graves gave a presentation today at the University's annual summer research retreat. Graves focused his presentation on the compelling value of mentorship and making excellence in mentoring part of our culture. An excellent message!

Line of greenhouses with potted flowers inside and underneath the canopies. — A scene from the Plant Peddler in Cresco last week as they prepared for their annual variety trial event, with no less than 1,500 different flowering plants! A feast for the eyes.

Fallen tree limb next to The Hub on Iowa State University's campus. — Last week, our campus lost a beautiful elm tree next to The Hub due to strong winds. It was a dual stemmed tree, quite old, and had significant interior decay, as many old landscape trees have. A key culprit for interior decay of landscape trees is sometimes called LMD (lawn mower disease), which they usually contract early in life.