Hello, CALS,
It's impossible not to mention the beautiful weather we suddenly have, and I hope you’re getting out to enjoy it! It's also impossible to imagine that this terrific weather will truly hold. Stick around and find out.
Spring break is next week, and the anticipation of that can already be felt. For those of you getting away for the week – enjoy that as well!
Last Monday we had a terrific visit by USDA Under Secretary Scott Hutchins (see picture below), along with senior leadership from John Deere, and a day of presentations and discussions about our college and university capacities in the agriculture research and development space. Throughout the day, there were presentations by Matt Darr, Alison Doyle, Jason Henderson, Dan Grooms, Dirk Maier, Lance Baumgard and Mike Castellano. The following day, Dr. Hutchins and team, which included his Chief of Staff, and the Chief of Staff for USDA Agricultural Research Service, visited ARS labs in Ames. Our relationship with USDA is fundamental. At the Monday sessions over lunch, we were thrilled to also have a visit and remarks by ISU President Cook (on his very first day of work here!) and Provost Jason Keith, as well as Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship Secretary Mike Naig, John Deere President of Precision Ag Deanna Kovar, Cultivation Corridor CEO Billi Hunt, and others.
Today, March 9, we have our annual CALS Faculty and Staff Awards ceremony at 4:10 p.m. in 127 Curtiss Hall. I hope you’ll come out to applaud your colleagues and celebrate with us. This year, we have two awardees for the Dean’s Award for Sustained Excellence, honoring two alums who are more than 100 years young! And stick around afterward for a wine and cheese reception in Harl Commons.
My best for a great week - Dan
Scenes from CALS
