Hello, CALS,
It was a beautiful weekend, and I hope you all found ways to enjoy it.
Last week, an exciting event was the groundbreaking of the new Iowa State University Research Park Alliant Energy Agriculture Innovation Lab (see pics and captions below). This state-of-the-art building will house the Digital Ag Innovation Lab team led by Matt Darr and will include a large, high-bay space for their work on large agriculture machinery. This great collaborative project will help move us forward as the place to be for research and development and learning in this sector.
This week is National Farm Safety and Health Week, and there is still so much to do to promote and practice safety on farms and all kinds of related activities (ranching, fisheries, forestry, and other occupations that are among the most dangerous jobs in America). On our farms and facilities, safety is always the No. 1 priority. Safety first – always!
I’ll spend the last part of this week visiting our Montana Camp while forestry undergraduate students are there. This facility is one of our CALS Satellite Campuses and was a gift from Ron and Connie French. This camp gives us the capacity to teach, train and learn in another robust and different environment than we have here in Iowa. Like with Study Abroad, this Study USA destination, and the science with practice coursework that happens there, is a remarkable place for students to learn about a different environment, gather new perspectives and view their place here in Iowa from afar.
All the best for a great week. - Dan
Scenes from CALS
Two pics from the groundbreaking of the new Iowa State University Research Park Alliant Energy Agriculture Innovation Lab on the south side of the Research Park along University Avenue. This new facility will house the Digital Ag Innovation Lab team led by ABE's Matt Darr, and some other agricultural interests. Darr is the energy and financing behind this, using research F&A and IP returns to his program to finance this construction through the Research Park in a great collaboration between the Park, CALS, and Alliant Energy. Watch it rise over the coming months! In the pictures is Rick Sanders, ISU Research Park president, introducing Darr to speak, and then Darr in the center with his team all around to help with the groundbreaking!
The construction of a Sukup "Safe T Home" was demonstrated in front of Curtiss Hall last week. Another remarkable effort of this outstanding Iowa company!
Finally, the incredible beauty at Glacier National Park, captured in these photos by Alison Parker on vacation there earlier this month! The park is about 2.5 hours north of our CALS Ron and Connie French Conservation Camp, otherwise known as Montana Camp, directed by NREM’s Jennifer Schieltz.
