Hello, CALS colleagues,
With Thanksgiving just around the corner, it seems a time of transition and opportunity. I think we are all inspired by the changing of the seasons – enjoy the notion.
In the past couple weeks, we have had some extraordinary speakers come to the college to inform and inspire us. I have been thinking about setting up within the college a special series of “Master Classes” of especially inspiring visitors. Speakers like those we have had in recent weeks, such as Kenneth Quinn, former Ambassador and President Emeritus of the World Food Prize Foundation, and Bill Northey, current CEO of the Agribusiness Association of Iowa and former USDA Under Secretary and IDALS Secretary.
During their visits on campus, each took time to simply tell their story and inspire our students (as well as our faculty and staff). We need more of this. This week we’ll have as part of the Food Insecurity Challenge a speaker on Tuesday evening, A.G. Kawamura, and he, too, will inspire and, in essence, be giving a “master class.”
What is this thing I’m calling a Master Class? Here’s some information about what constitutes a Master Class. But I think we can invent our own approach. When I watched Ken Quinn, surrounded by 30 students in Harl Commons, as he shared life stories and lessons like an old-time story teller around a campfire, and saw the students leaning in and totally engaged, I knew I was watching a master class. When Bill Northey stood in the Dolezal Auditorium and simply told the story of his professional pathway and decisions and experiences – I saw the same kind of reaction. These were not lectures about a specific topic, but rather story-telling to inspire. We should have more of this! Watch for it!
There is also an election coming up – don’t forget to vote! And while this time of the semester may seem for many of us to be the start of the final turn toward the winter break and holidays, let’s remind ourselves that for our students, the final turn of the semester is often the start of the hardest climb. Please reach out to them, listen to them, and help them along the way.
There is also some very sad news in our college with the sudden, unexpected passing of animal science professor and alum, Kenneth Stalder. Ken was a terrific colleague - genuine, brilliant, smiling, engaged. He cared so deeply about his family, about students and agricultural producers, and about advancing and extending science. He will be missed so very, very much. Condolences to all on this sad loss from our Iowa State, CALS and animal science families.
My best in every way. - Dan
Scenes from CALS
This past Wednesday, students from the Iowa State Turfgrass Club applied fertilizer and weed control to the turfgrass at Reiman Gardens. This fundraiser helps support the club’s travels to the national turfgrass conference to compete in turfgrass knowledge competitions and represent Iowa State.
Bill Northey (left) and Ambassador Kenneth Quinn (right) each giving a Master Class in CALS.
