Happy Monday, CALS colleagues,
It was a beautiful weekend, and I hope you had a chance to get out and enjoy it. Maybe the Helen Hunt Jackson September poem I shared last week resonated with you? It was also great to notch a Cyclone football win as we enter the Big 12 schedule, and for those of you who pay close attention to the MLB – we are all that much closer to October!
This past week I had three occasions to interact and speak with students. It was great:
- Tuesday, Sept. 14, at the Western Research and Demonstration Farm in Castana (with Lee Burras, Morrill Professor in agronomy, Chris Beedle, agricultural specialist for Iowa State Research Farms, Joel DeJong, industry extension specialist for Extension To Agriculture-Extension, and many others) where they had a learning day for about 80 high schoolers from five different schools in the region as part of the farm’s 75th anniversary. The following day, Jay Harmon, associate dean of extension programs and outreach and director of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and others were there for more 75th anniversary activity.
- Friday, Sept. 17 at the Norman Borlaug Heritage Farm in Howard County (with Raj Raman, Morrill Professor in agricultural and biosystems engineering, David Acker, associate dean of global engagement and director of Center for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods, and Grace Reiss, Borlaug-Thomson summer intern, and many others from the foundation that operates the site) with about 300 elementary schoolers from six schools in the area. This place is worth a visit – sort of a pilgrimage site for agriculturists;
- Saturday, Sept. 18 at the CALS Family Day at the Memorial Union (expertly organized and conducted by Mary Clancy, student services specialist, Carmen Bain, associate dean for academic innovation, Andy Zehr, director of marketing and new student programs, Howard Tyler, assistant dean for undergraduate and graduate student services and success, and faculty and students from every corner of our college) to interact and speak with about 250 of our freshmen and their families as they begin their journey with us.
The wonderful thing about all those visits was the clear energy and enthusiasm of the young people – ready to go, eager to learn, determined to explore, and happy to have some fun. Their smiles always give it away, even from the corners of the mouths of the skeptical kids in the crowd. It's like reading about the future before the story is written.
Also on Saturday was the Celebration of Life for Owen Newlin, retired senior vice president and director of Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc. Known as a seed industry pioneer, Newlin earned a bachelor's degree in agronomy in 1951 and a master's degree in crop production in 1953 from Iowa State.
Please continue to keep safe and encourage COVID precautions, and stop and think about the incredible opportunities we have at Iowa State.
I'm looking forward to seeing you all later today (Sept. 20) during our CALS Chat and enjoying ISU Creamery ice cream from 12-1:30 p.m. in the Food Sciences Building courtyard. If you’ve never been in that courtyard, please take a few minutes to enjoy the classic Christian Petersen relief sculpture on the Courtyard wall – it's extraordinary! Hope to see you there. My best - Dan
CALS Snippet Story
By Nate Dobbels, academic advisor in agricultural education and studies
How fortunate am I to live every day helping and serving others? I was recently reminded that life is too short not to enjoy it. At Iowa State, we have the wonderful opportunity to wake up every morning and work at one of the best places in the world. Iowa State University, and our amazing students, make this place so incredible. Without the students, we do not exist. It’s important we remember that. When I help a student, teach them something new, solve a problem, or simply share a laugh, it brings a smile to my face. It’s important to enjoy the little things in life.
CALS Snippet Story
By Paul Lasley, professor emeritus in sociology and criminal justice
After spending 40 years on the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences faculty, I have many fond memories. While such things as being promoted or receiving awards were important, my fondest memories tend to be the less visible but genuine expressions of appreciation that continue to make me smile. Sometimes it was as simple as a colleague stopping me in the hallway to say “thanks,” or the student coming up to me after the first day of class to tell me her parents had me as an instructor 20 years ago and they insisted she take my class. The hospitality of families who opened their homes as we sat around their kitchen tables and discussed their concerns kept me grounded in the everyday lives of Iowans. Drawing upon Bob Hope’s signature song, “Thanks for the Memories.”
Nature in Focus
Mike Rentz, associate teaching professor in natural resource ecology and management, shared this image of a mountain lion, captured on one of the trail cameras at the Rod and Connie French Conservation Education Camp in Montana. He said it's something special for students interested in wildlife biology to learn in a place with a complete large carnivore community. He and the students at the camp even got a glimpse of the mountain lion’s eyes reflecting back at them from the brush while conducting late-night bat surveys!
Enjoy the image of the Willa Cather Memorial Prairie just south of Red Cloud, Nebraska, on the Kansas line, captured in late August. It's a great place to visit to learn about Cather and more.
The last images were captured Sept. 14 at the Western Research and Demonstration Farm in Castana. Joel DeJong, Lee Burras and I enjoyed interacting with those in attendance.
Please keep sharing your photos with me via email!
