Hello, CALS colleagues!
Warm – cold, sun – snow, calm – wind, and more of each – it must be March! In Washington, D.C., the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, and the daffodils already passed peak. Before long, we’ll get our turn for the spring spectacular in Iowa, too – with redbuds, indigo, mallow, primrose and more!
Last week, we had several occasions to honor our own. A great university-wide retirement celebration in Kildee Hall for John Lawrence; a welcome event at the World Food Prize for their new president, Ambassador and former Governor Terry Branstad; a dinner reception by the Ames area YWCA to celebrate this year's Women of Distinction, including our very own Theressa Cooper; the medallion ceremony in NREM for Tim Stewart to be named the Harmon Family Professor; and the Secretary of Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship Ag Leaders Dinner event that included a great recognition for John Lawrence! Congratulations to all of them.
This week, some more of the same, with the Cedar Rapids area Celebration of Agriculture event at which we’ll announce the new $1.5 million of scholarships available each year to students from that region choosing to attend CALS. These scholarships are made possible by a gift of the Dolezal estate (same family that gifted the renovation of the main lecture hall in Curtiss Hall). And then the Wallace Master Farmers award luncheon that will also recognize John Lawrence and Paul Lasley from our college!
Spring is surely a time for renewal and recognition. We should also take the moments necessary to think about each of these recognitions as a form of inspiration. Ask yourself how the work and outlook of those being recognized can be held up as an example for your students, for your colleagues, for yourselves. Like reading a biography – what about these persons speaks to us, inspires us, moves us?
My very best in all you do, and please let me know what you’re thinking. - Dan
Scenes from CALS
National Ag Day was March 21. To celebrate the occasion, the CALS Student Council hosted a lunch in Harl Commons of Curtiss Hall last Tuesday. A meal of hamburgers, chips, cookies and bottled water was served to a crowd of students, faculty and staff.
