2014 2015
THE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES
FOOD FOR THOUGHT OPENING UP POSSIBILITIES
SUPPORTING SCHOLARSHIP STUDENTS
IN THIS ISSUE 04
CAM’S LAMBS
10
AG SUMMIT
18
TEMPLE GRANDIN
JANINE STONE
Agricultural & Resource Economics
KAYLA CALVIN
Animal Science & Agricultural Literacy
BOB REYNOLDS
Agricultural Education & Agricultural Business
THE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES
FOOD FOR THOUGHT 2014–2015
4 Cam’s Lambs
6 A Fresh Look for a College Icon
10 Innovation Summit Puts CSU on the Map
14 Landscape Architecture Industry Professionals on Campus
16 Facilities on the Horizon
18 Temple Grandin Connects with New Audiences
20 Tool to Help Measure Agriculture’s Carbon Footprint
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21 Connecting Students to Organic Agriculture
22 Taking Equine Global
24 A New Vision for Fort Collins 26 Reducing Greenhouse Gases from Corn
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27 Faculty Members Give Back
28 Six Years of Leadership
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30 Kellie Enns’ Award-Winning Teaching and Leadership
31 FFA Leadership Role for Kristen Schmidt 32 Opening Up Possibilities
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36 Brink & Gray Scholarships 38 Global Experiences for Students 40 Doctoral Students Conduct Cutting-Edge Research
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42 Graduate Students Named International Fellows 44 Clinton Pilcher - Distinguished Alumnus
45 James Pritchett’s New Role
46 A Career Devoted to Agriculture
47 Alumni-Led Corporation Leaves Lasting Legacy
On the Cover Scholarship Students Kayla Calvin, Bob Reynolds, Janine Stone
Publishing Information Food for Thought is a publication of the College of Agricultural Sciences. EDITOR Jason Kosovski CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jim Beers, Jacqueline Chaparro, CSU Alumni Association, Jennifer Dimas, Michelle Kibler, Joanne Littlefield, Kris McKay, Dawn Thilmany, Luis Villalobos. CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Bill Cotton, John Eisele, Joe Mendoza; CSU Creative Services. DESIGN AND PRODUCTION Elias Martinez, Lauren Kroll, Darin Sanders, Adam Mendez; CSU Creative Services.
We welcome your support! To support College of Agricultural Sciences programs with a charitable gift, please contact the Development Office, (970) 491-7686. We welcome your ideas! Send comments and mailing addresses to: Food for Thought, Colorado State University, College of Agricultural Sciences, 1101 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins CO 80523-1101. Editor Jason Kosovski may be reached at (970) 491-2392 or jason.kosovski@colostate.edu. Colorado State University is an equal-access/equal-opportunity University.
Connect with Us You can find our Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn pages from our college home page, and I would encourage you to follow us on all three sites.
Dear Ag Family, We are proud to bring you this year’s issue of Food for Thought. Once again, we have had a busy year in the College of Agricultural Sciences at Colorado State University – from selling the most tickets in CSU Ag Day history in October 2014 to launching our first-ever Agricultural Innovation Summit in March 2015. One of the themes of this year’s issue is impact – the impact of scholarships on our students, the impact of new and renovated facilities on our ability to conduct groundbreaking research, and the impact of introducing our students to global issues in agriculture. We know that through the education we provide, the hands-on experiences we make available, and the research we produce, we are changing the world. I hope that this issue will give you yet another glimpse into what makes our college such a vibrant intellectual space and what we are doing to train the next generation of students who will make their own marks after leaving CSU. The College of Agricultural Sciences awards the greatest number of scholarships and the secondhighest amount of total scholarship dollars at CSU. These scholarships come from loyal alumni, friends of the college, and generous industries and corporations. We know that without these scholarships, many students would leave CSU with significant debt or might not be able to attend college at all. Giving these students an opportunity to pursue their dreams at CSU means that we are providing more access and removing at least some of the expense of higher education. As Colorado’s land-grant institution, part of our mission is to ensure the broad availability of a college education to the citizens of Colorado, and I believe that scholarships are an essential component to upholding our mission.
Craig Beyrouty, Dean, College of Agricultural Sciences
The pictures you will see of our newly renovated Animal Sciences Building are a concrete example of the steps we are taking to enhance our teaching and learning spaces. Most importantly, this reinvigorated facility represents a partnership between our college, the University, and private giving that helped provide the funds to make this renovation a reality. We will also highlight some of our other new facilities on the horizon. New buildings lead to new energy, new ideas, and new breakthroughs. This issue also features some of the international experiences that our students take part in. There is no question that agriculture is global and that the demands on agricultural systems have world-wide implications. Helping our students embrace a global perspective will make them better researchers and more thoughtful community members. We must widen the way in which our students look at the world if we expect them to tackle agriculture’s grand challenges. This magazine is only one window into the work of the College of Agricultural Sciences. If these stories resonate with you, I would encourage you to reach out to the staff and faculty members featured to find out more or to learn how you can be part of what is truly a dynamic research and educational enterprise. You are a part of our Ag Family, even if you are not here on campus, and we want to know how our work impacts you. Thank you for following along with us as we work to improve quality of life for people everywhere through agriculture.
As a leading Research-I University, our facilities must be modern and utilize the latest technology in classrooms and laboratories. In a time of limited resources, we know that we must be strategic as we look to construct new buildings or renovate existing facilities. Contact (970) 491-6274 or CAS_Deanmain@mail.colostate.edu
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CAM’S
L AMBS
For the first time that anyone in the College of Agricultural Sciences can remember, CAM the Ram has sired five lambs. Faculty members from the Department of Animal Sciences have provided expertise to produce the next CAM the Ram. CAM the Ram was bred with two ewes from Durango, Colo. that were raised by a current Colorado State University graduate student. One ewe produced triplets and the other had twins. The five lambs include two males and three females. CAM, the ewes, and their babies receive daily oversight from animal sciences Associate Professor Kraig Peel. The CSU student group of Ram Handlers take weekly shifts to care for the needs of CAM, the ewes, and lambs, which include feeding, grooming, and cleaning stalls, all of which provide invaluable hands-on experience for students.
After the lambs were born, CSU asked followers on social media channels to submit potential names for the lambs. The winning entries were: CAM Jr., Camilla, Aggie, Moby, and Lory. CAM’s name stands for Colorado Agricultural and Mechanical College, or Colorado A&M, the name of the school in 1946. In 1954, at halftime at the Colorado A&M vs. Wyoming basketball game, President William Morgan christened the ram, previously named “Buck,” as “CAM.” Members of the Alpha Zeta fraternity served as handlers and keepers of CAM. Today, CAM is a domesticated breed of sheep known as a Rambouillet, and more than 20 CAMs have represented Colorado State. CAM is supported by the CSU Alumni Association and by donations to the CAM Forever fund.
The Ram Handlers come from many majors on campus, and the work with the animals has provided them a unique learning experience. “CAM the Ram and these new lambs exemplify the expertise of the CSU Department of Animal Sciences and what we do every day with livestock,” said Peel. “CAM provides an example for the University to see and experience the best of animal care and welfare.”
“CAM the Ram and these new lambs exemplify the expertise of the CSU Department of Animal Sciences and what we do every day with livestock.” Animal Sciences Associate Professor Kraig Peel
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We needed a space where we could educate our students for industry careers and professional schools. College of Agricultural Sciences Dean Craig Beyrouty
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A FRESH LOOK
for a College Icon A LOT HAS CHANGED SINCE 1959, but until recently, that list did not include much about the Animal Sciences Building on the Colorado State University campus. Now the historic structure on the Monfort Quad has undergone a complete attic-to-basement renovation that has added state-of-the-art laboratories, smart classrooms, and a celebration of the building’s history through art and memorabilia. “We had gotten to a point where we couldn’t continue to house our faculty and students in an antiquated building with labs and classrooms that didn’t meet our needs in the 1990s, much less in 2012,” said Department of Animal Sciences Head Kevin Pond. Faculty, staff, and students moved out almost two years ago for the renovation to begin. The newly renovated Animal Sciences Building came online once again in August 2014 and a Building Unveiling Celebration was held Sept. 17. “We needed a space where we could educate our students for industry careers and professional schools,” said College of Agricultural Sciences Dean Craig Beyrouty. “Now, we have a facility that is the envy of our peers, a facility where we can focus on food safety, nutrition, and animal physiology in a way that will position our students to enter the world better prepared to tackle global challenges based on their CSU education.” The changes to the classroom and teaching spaces have been dramatic. New lab spaces have been constructed for anatomy and physiology. Where subjects such as animal dissection previously had been done through demonstrations in regular classrooms, this formative student experience is now provided in classrooms with multimedia technology where students can have a hands-on experience, not just watch instructors. (Continued on Page 8)
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(Continued from Page 7)
The building also has new spaces dedicated to teaching food safety and microbiology. Safety is a recurring theme throughout the building, both in subject matter areas and also in high-security laboratory spaces where bacteria, including salmonella and E.coli, can be studied and contained. “This is precisely the kind of laboratory that must be brought up to the latest standards,” said Pond. “Our new BSLII lab now has the highest marks for safety and security.”
That they (students) choose to come to CSU testifies to the strength of our research and teaching and the regard with which we are held by our peer institutions. Department of Animal Sciences Head Kevin Pond
Both CSU’s Department of Animal Sciences and its food safety program are among the most highly ranked in the country, often landing in the top five nationally. The program’s ranking and the new facility play a central role in recruiting new faculty members and students from around the world to CSU, according to Pond. “We know that our faculty and students can choose from a number of highly ranked programs all over the country,” he said. “That they choose to come to CSU testifies to the strength of our research and teaching and the regard with which we are held by our peer institutions.” Much of the building’s design was also created with input from students: common areas, artistic elements, and even the choice of countertops throughout the building. Countertops found in offices, shared spaces, and even in the bathrooms are made from recycled materials. Recycled materials are just one way in which the building meets new energy efficiency standards, including LEED standards. New windows have added more natural light to the space, reducing the energy costs of light and heat, and central air has been added. “The temperature in this building is much more tolerable,” said Pond. “Students will no longer need gloves in the classroom during the winter, except for maybe latex gloves for new hands-on activities.” For more information about the fundraising effort, contact Nick Lobejko in the College of Agricultural Sciences Development Office at (970) 491-7686.
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Much of the building’s design was also created with input from students: common areas, artistic elements, and even the choice of countertops throughout the building.
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The summit featured: a panel on healthy food systems (above); remarks from Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper (lower left); remarks from Denver Mayor Michael Hancock (middle); and a discussion that focused on the dairy industry (lower right).
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INNOVATION SUMMIT
Puts CSU on the Map
“IF YOU EAT, YOU ARE A PART OF AGRICULTURE.” This theme, and many others similar to it, were echoed at Colorado State University’s Advancing the Agriculture Economy Through Innovation summit held at the Lory Student Center, March 18-20, 2015. More than 400 individuals attended the summit, co-presented by CSU’s College of Agricultural Sciences and Office of Engagement, as sponsors, panelists, and attendees. Day One of the summit saw 21 agricultural leaders and industry innovators assembled at a leadership roundtable where they discussed issues such as meeting increased demand for food and educating consumers as to where their food comes from. The day ended with master class seminars focused on big data and climate-smart agriculture that were delivered to standing-room only audiences. The second day of the summit began with introductory remarks from CSU College of Agricultural Sciences Dean Craig Beyrouty who outlined some of the global challenges facing agriculture, including reducing food waste, ensuring nutritional security, and making optimal use of the land.
More than 400 individuals attended the summit, co-presented by CSU’s College of Agricultural Sciences and Office of Engagement.
CSU President Tony Frank emphasized the importance of agriculture to Colorado’s economy and that the summit was an opportunity to anticipate the future of agriculture, a future that will be impacted by CSU research and outreach. The audience also heard from Denver Mayor Michael Hancock and Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper. Hancock emphasized CSU’s strong partnership with the city of Denver, highlighting the redevelopment of the National Western Stock Show complex as an example, while Hickenlooper noted Colorado’s rise and prominence as an agricultural producer, third only to Texas (five times the size of Colorado) and California (seven times the size of Colorado). (Continued on Page 12)
Moderated conversations figured prominently throughout the summit as industry leaders discussed how their businesses have changed and what they see as agriculture’s future in the areas of:
Dairy Water use and availability Business innovation Nurturing the next generation of talent Financing the future of agriculture innovation The fast and fresh revolution Healthy food systems to guarantee safe, secure, and plentiful agriculture
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(Continued from Page 11) Lindsey Bolger, VP, Coffee Sourcing and Excellence, Keurig Green Mountain
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Not only was the summit an opportunity to hear from researchers and industry leaders, but it was a site for networking and the creation of new partnerships.
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CSU College of Agricultural Sciences Dean Craig Beyrouty
In addition to a number of CSU experts, featured speakers included: Lindsey Bolger, vice president, Coffee Sourcing and Excellence, Keurig Green Mountain; Federico Peña, former United States secretary of Energy and Transportation; Marley Hodgson, chief strategy officer and co-founder of MAD Greens; and Bill Stoufer, chief integration officer and chief operating officer at Ardent Mills. Former Fox News executive and anchor Alexis Glick moderated the event. “The list of speakers and topics at this summit testified to CSU’s power to bring together leading innovators across a number of agricultural sectors,” said Beyrouty. “Not only was the summit an opportunity to hear from researchers and industry leaders, but it was a site for networking and the creation of new partnerships.” The summit wrapped up with a discussion of possible next steps. Participants acknowledged there were many opportunities to build on the topics and themes discussed; that additional collaborative investments were needed from a variety of funding sources from traditional banks to venture capitalists; and that refining the definition of agriculture was necessary in light of the innovations and revolutionary technological advancements making food more available, accessible, and affordable. The Advancing the Agriculture Economy Through Innovation summit was produced in partnership with Colorado State University Offices of the President, Provost, Vice President for Research, Vice President for External Relations, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, College of Business, and CSU Ventures. The event was supported by the Colorado Innovation Network and Colorado Department of Agriculture.
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TRADEMARKS & ICONS
The summit’s events were documented by artist and CSU alumna, Karina Branson (B.S., ’09; M.S., ’13) (above). The summit also included an Innovation Fair (lower left and right).
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Landscape Architecture Industry Professionals Come to Campus If you didn’t think that the redesign of a waterfront could cost billions of dollars, think again. ONE OF THE WORLD’S MOST AMBITIOUS urban renewal projects – the redesign of Sydney’s Barangaroo Waterfront precinct – is projected to be a $6 billion effort, an effort that has included the design firm of PWP Landscape Architecture Inc., based in Berkeley, Calif. One of the firm’s leaders, David Walker, came to Colorado State University to speak to faculty, staff, students, and community members on April 17 to close out CSU’s annual Landscape Architecture series, LA Days, which ran from April 13-17, 2015. Walker gave a professional perspective on the Barangaroo project as well as some of his firm’s other high-profile designs including the World Trade Center Memorial and tower rebuilding efforts in New York City. PWP Landscape Architecture Inc. has worked closely with the landholders of the Barangaroo site and the New South Wales state government to help design Barangaroo Point and the harbour foreshore walk. Barangaroo is one of the world’s foremost waterfront renewal projects with an emphasis on sustainability that showcases Sydney as Australia’s gateway to the world. The 22-hectare, $6 billion Barangaroo precinct will help redefine the western edge of Sydney Harbour and be a lasting legacy for future generations. As a global reference point of design excellence and sustainability, Barangaroo will raise Sydney’s international acclaim and be a globally celebrated destination. “Our annual LA Days Lecture series has always been and continues to be one of the most effective educational tools for our landscape architecture students and the CSU community,” said landscape architecture Assistant Professor Kelly Curl, who is the faculty adviser for the CSU Student Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects. “I am always very proud of our students’ dedication and commitment in the planning and fundraising efforts for this event. Each year, success is seen when students are enthralled by and learn so much from the guest lecturers’ world-renowned and awardwinning landscape architectural projects.”
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David Walker was joined at LA Days by other industry leaders who were featured during the series.
Julia Czerniak, noted landscape theory author and associate dean of Syracuse University’s School of Architecture (April 13) Andrea Cochran, principle/founder of Andrea Cochran Landscape Architecture, winner of the 2014 Smithsonian CooperHewitt National Design award in Landscape Architecture and the 2014 American Society of Landscape Architect’s Design Medal (April 14) Ying Yu-Hung, managing principal at SWA, a designer and planner with the innate ability to integrate form with function and the vision to protect our exhaustible resources with sustainable development (April 15) Claire Fellman, a landscape architect and the director of Snøhetta’s office in New York. Designer of New York City’s redesign of Time Square, Snøhetta is an integrated design practice of architecture, landscape, interiors, furniture, and graphic and brand design (April 16)
The LA Days lectures were held in the evenings and were open to the public. The series has run for 22 years and has featured other prominent speakers including Peter Walker and Laurie Olin. For more information visit the website at http://scasla.agsci.colostate.edu.
A digital rendering of Barangaroo Waterfront (above); an aerial image showing design progress of the Barangaroo Waterfront project (below)
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New Facilities on the Horizon To ensure that our students have access to state-of-the-art facilities and that our faculty members can produce cutting-edge breakthroughs, the College of Agricultural Sciences is expanding with several new planned facilities. CoBank Center for Agricultural Education The CoBank Center for Agricultural Education will house the Agricultural Education and Agricultural Literacy Programs that reside in the CSU Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics. The new facility will include classrooms, laboratories, and conference rooms focused on educating those who will teach agriculture through hands-on experiences and research opportunities. The Farm Credit Agriculture Hall of Fame will also reside within this new building. The center is the product of a unique collaboration between the College of Agricultural Sciences and the Colorado FFA Foundation. A groundbreaking event was held in October 2014, immediately before Ag Day.
Gary and Kay Smith Global Food Innovation Center The Gary and Kay Smith Global Food Innovation Center will focus on animal-handling techniques and meat-processing methods and practices for teaching, research, and industry collaboration. The center will feature a complete livestock-, poultry-, and meat-processing center spanning harvesting and all processing; a culinary research and sensory analysis facility; an auditorium lecture hall and meat demonstration classroom; and a retail meat and dairy store and cafĂŠ. The new building will also include the Temple Grandin Animal Handling and Education Center, with Grandin-designed livestock-handling and teaching areas as well as a fully equipped livestock arena.
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Temple Grandin Equine Center The Temple Grandin Equine Center will be a space designed to train the next generation of professionals working in equine-assisted activities and therapies. Research conducted here will impact thousands of individuals and their families, improving the quality of life of those dealing with autism, other neurological conditions, veterans, and the differently-abled. This project is part of a collaboration with the CSU College of Health and Human Sciences and the CSU College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.
CSU Horticulture Center The CSU Horticulture Center and greenhouses will be constructed near the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Sugar Beet Research Unit and the popular Gardens on Spring Creek, a community botanic garden operated by the city of Fort Collins. The center will feature controlled-environment agricultural facilities and will house some of the greenhouse research currently in place at the Plant Environmental Research Center as well as future growing seasons for the Annual Flower Trial Garden and horticulture and floriculture programs, including the popular Floriculture Practicum in which students grow and sell poinsettias for the holiday season and bedding plants for spring.
For more information on these projects or to find out how you can be a part of them, contact the college Development Office at: http://connect. agsci.colostate.edu or (970) 491-7686.
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TEMPLE GRANDIN
Connects with New Audiences
CSU ANIMAL SCIENCES PROFESSOR TEMPLE GRANDIN loves talking to people. She has given numerous lectures and held many book signings where she has interacted with people interested in her animal-handling expertise and her autism advocacy. In the fall of 2014 and spring of 2015, Grandin added three new venues where she was able to connect with her audiences. In November 2014, Grandin held her first-ever Reddit “AMA” or ask me anything. Reddit is a link sharing online community that attracts millions of users each month. Its popular AMA events connect users and public figures in an open forum. Typically, users submit questions during a limited time window a few hours before the AMA event. The host then answers questions during a live chat session. AMAs allow the public to interact with interesting and knowledgeable people on a one-to-one, unscripted basis. “Social media is relatively new to me,” said Grandin. “Being able to connect with new diverse groups of people on social media enables me to talk to lots of new people.” Grandin’s Reddit session was enormously popular, and the site continues to see engagement and discussion, well after the November event. In fact, Grandin’s “Ask Me Anything” has proven to be the most popular and highest-rated “Ask Me Anything” in Reddit’s “Science” section, receiving nearly 4,200 votes and spawning more than 1,300 comments.
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She even won a prestigious “Webby” – think web-Emmy – which highlights outstanding web experiences that have occurred throughout the year. On the morning of April 13, Grandin hosted a Google+ Hangout where she answered questions live via the Google+ social media site. Users were able to submit questions to Grandin ahead of time through Facebook, Twitter, or an online form. Grandin spent an hour answering questions that covered a wide range of topics including autism, her personal interests/hobbies, and her research. More than 100 questions came in from around the world.
In November 2014, Grandin held her first-ever Reddit “AMA” or ask me anything. On the evening on April 13, Grandin gave a President’s Community Lecture Series talk to a packed Lory Student Center Ballroom with more than 800 people in attendance. The President’s Community Lecture Series presents outstanding Colorado State faculty members in talks that are free and open to the Fort Collins community. Previous lecturers have included University Distinguished Professors Stephen Withrow, D.V.M., and Diana Wall, College of Business Dean Ajay Menon, and Associate Professors Lori Peek and Professor Bryan Willson.
Much of Grandin’s talk focused on how people address problems based on different kinds of thinking. “When I learned how my visual thinking was different from verbal thinking, it gave me insight into how different people’s brains approach problemsolving,” she said. Despite what was a long day for Grandin, she sat for nearly an hour after her talk, signing copies of her book and speaking with audience members. “Very few people on the planet have the combination of both professional success and a compelling life story with the broad, inspiring, and transformative impact that Dr. Temple Grandin has achieved,” CSU President Tony Frank said. “We’re pleased to host this Presidential Lecture as a special opportunity for the community to connect with this remarkable member of our faculty.” Grandin’s accomplishments as a speaker, author and advocate earned her a place among Time magazine’s “100 Most Influential People in the World” in 2010. Her life story was detailed in the acclaimed HBO biopic, Temple Grandin. Grandin continues to speak and write about autism, most recently in her book Different … Not Less.
Being able to connect with new diverse groups of people on social media enables me to talk to lots of new people. Professor Temple Grandin delivers a lecture for the President’s Community Lecture Series in April 2015.
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BIG IDEAS
New Tool to Help Measure Agriculture’s
CARBON FOOTPRINT FARMERS, RANCHERS, AND FOREST LANDOWNERS have many management tools at their disposal – from tools that help them know when to plant and irrigate to tools that help them understand the health of their herds. In partnership with the USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service, Colorado State University is providing yet another tool – one that can help agricultural producers estimate their greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon sequestration through management practices.
Keith Paustian. Paustian, also senior scientist at the Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, is the principal investigator for COMET-Farm. One of COMET-Farm’s goals is to engage producers in helping reduce greenhouse gases by having them use the tool to evaluate their own operations. Rather than receiving the information from an external source, producers can see their impact in real time from a desktop computer or laptop. Producers can evaluate how changes in management can impact greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sequestration on their operation. Additionally, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack recently outlined a plan for “Creating Modern Solutions to Environmental Challenges” – challenges that included more severe storms, rising temperatures, precipitation extremes, and more forest fires – and COMET-Farm is one of the only tools listed among the USDA’s “solutions” to these challenges.
COMET-Farm, or CarbOn Management and Evaluation Tool, is a web-based tool that helps producers estimate their greenhouse gas footprint and evaluate alternative management practices through detailed spatially explicit data unique to each individual farming or ranching operation. COMET-Farm is the practical, web-based application of the USDA entity-level methods for greenhouse gas inventories. ”We are fortunate to have the Natural Resource Conservation Service as a partner on COMET-Farm. Reducing on-farm and on-ranch greenhouse gas emissions aligns well with so many other USDA conservation priorities, such as improving soil health, preventing soil erosion, and improving water quality. COMET-Farm allows users to assess how potential conservation practices can reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, providing important and valuable information for decisions about farm and ranch management,” said soil and crop sciences Professor
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In addition to the tool being rolled out in the Northern Great Plains, the California Department of Food and Agriculture recently requested that the tool be applied in greater abundance in that state to specialty crops such as almonds, vineyard grapes, and raisins. California’s expansive crop profile, along with the emerging carbon market, make COMET-Farm an ideal tool to allow producers the ability to assess participation in developing carbon-offset markets, in which farmers and ranchers could receive payments for reducing their greenhouse gas footprint. ”Farmers and ranchers have a critical role to play in mitigating climate change,” said Paustian. “Relatively simple conservation practices can potentially reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by millions of tons of carbon dioxide equivalents per year. COMET-Farm, and its partner tool, COMET-Planner, can help encourage and facilitate putting those practices out on the ground.” The COMET-Farm tool is free and open to the public to use, at www.comet-farm.com. Its sister tool, COMET-Planner, can be accessed at http://comet-planner.nrel.colostate.edu.
BIG IDEAS
Connecting Students to Organic Agriculture
THROUGH HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES
WHEN YOU LOOK AT ADDY ELLIOTT’S teaching portfolio, you see courses that seem like typical courses offered in a college of agriculture: Environmental Issues in Agriculture; Diagnostics in Organic Systems; and Organic Soil Fertility. But Elliott, an instructor and academic adviser in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, pushes her students and herself to think beyond the dogma that has been at the core of agriculture for generations. “My goal at CSU is to learn what students are passionate about and to find meaningful, communitybased projects for them to engage and serve in,” said Elliott. “I believe that students hold the power to make the world a better place, so investing my time with them is time well spent.” Elliott has long recognized that there are many issues in agriculture that excite her students, and she is playing a leading role in a number of projects that address the increasing number of so-called “food deserts,” reusing organic waste, and expanding the educational opportunities for students interested in learning about organic agriculture. Currently, Elliott is part of a group that includes the College of Agricultural Sciences, CSU’s School of Global Environmental Sustainability and the city of Denver that is examining the feasibility of developing an Airport Foodshed Center at Denver International Airport, a center that would help bridge the gaps, real and perceived, between urban and rural agriculture. The group is developing and implementing in-terminal displays that offer interactive and dynamic opportunities for travelers to explore the many roles of Colorado’s agriculture locally, regionally, nationally and globally. Elliott is also working with the city of Fort Collins, in collaboration with CSU’s Department of Civil Engineering, to create a feasibility study for converting dog-park animal waste into energy through anaerobic
digestion and compost for the local parks. Additionally, Elliott and her students connect with several Old Town restaurants and coffeehouses to collect and compost food waste. The final product of this food waste is used as compost throughout Old Town in planters and flower beds. “Students learn enormous amounts through this project,” said Elliott. “Specifically, they learn how to operate as part of a very dynamic team, how to troubleshoot and think critically about a biological system, how to record and interpret data, and how to make important management decisions.”
“My goal at CSU is to learn what students are passionate about and to find meaningful, community-based projects for them to engage and serve in.” In partnership with several other departments in the college, Elliott has developed the minor in organic agriculture, which focuses on adding handson curriculum opportunities for students interested in crop-based organic agriculture production. Students are placed in appropriate internships with local farmers, organizations, and agencies so they leave CSU with experience and a deeper understanding of this growing segment of agriculture. “Our students leave CSU prepared to tackle global challenges,” said Elliott. “I would like to think that my work has helped foster a culture of community engagement and will help our students enhance the places where they live, work, and thrive.”
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BIG IDEAS
BIG IDEAS
Taking Equine
GLOBAL
IN JULY 2014, SEVERAL EQUINE SCIENCE STUDENTS spent time in three European countries leading horsemanship camps as part of a grant provided by the American Quarter Horse Association. Three students and faculty mentors traveled to Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands and worked with both youth riders as well as adults on general horsemanship skills, including steering, confidence-building, and basic control. Each camp took place over three days and included lectures and hands-on demonstrations. According the AQHA, these camps were established “to help foster an environment in which people around the world can learn more about horsemanship and horse training, while gaining a greater understanding of the American quarter horse breed.” David Denniston, associate professor of equine science, was one of two faculty members who accompanied the students. “This program offers a tremendous benefit to our students who gain international experience that will be useful both in their education and in their professional careers beyond CSU,” said Denniston.
Johana Jarosova, a former equine science student, took part in one of the camps held in the Czech Republic in 2011 when she was still in high school. “I loved how easygoing these students were, combining horsemanship skills with having fun, taking their time to explain and show us everything, and they were only couple of years older than I was by then,” said Jarosova. “I knew that once I graduated high school, I wanted to be one of them.” The camps have helped CSU faculty members establish international partnerships and have led to exchanges in which students have come to CSU from European universities. Additionally, the relationships formed with these international hosts have generated several international internship experiences for other students. CSU was one of four universities that took part in 13 camps across nine European countries. The University of Findlay, Sam Houston State University, and the University of Wisconsin-River Falls led camps in Austria, Sweden, Switzerland, and Norway, among several other countries.
John Snyder, an equine science instructor who accompanied the students throughout their entire trip, noted that “these camps really do show students how they can apply their studies outside of the classroom. This kind of real-world, hands-on experience will be invaluable to them once they graduate from CSU.” The grant covered all of the students’ expenses to travel from the U.S. to Europe; many other expenses, including housing and meals, are covered by the host countries.
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BIG IDEAS
A New Vision for Fort Collins is regularly touted as one of the best places to live in the country, and a new organization at Colorado State University will help ensure the city maintains that status well into the future.
In partnership with city representatives and others, faculty members from CSU’s College of Agricultural Sciences, College of Health and Human Sciences, and the Institute for the Built Environment recently launched the Urban Lab. The lab is an open, collaborative forum in which local stakeholders (residents, businesses, design professionals, academics and city officials) can bring together a wide range of viewpoints and expertise to design, create, test, and implement urban planning and community improvement projects. The Urban Lab was created through UniverCity Connections, an innovative city-University partnership established in 2007 to help envision and spur positive change for three core Fort Collins assets: Colorado State University, downtown, and the Poudre River.
WEST
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Pedestrian Space 15 ft +
Bikeway 5 ft
Bioswale 10 ft
Traffic Lane 11 ft
Train ROW 18 ft
FORT COLLINS Revitalizing the stretch of Mason Street that runs from CSU to Old Town is the Urban Lab’s first project. Faculty members and students from CSU’s Landscape Architecture Program are taking a lead role in the effort. Graduate students recently authored an urban analysis and design study that identified issues that impact property owners, such as stormwater drainage, parking, and lack of vegetation. “The Mason UniverCity District is a linchpin in the CSU and Fort Collins community, and the Urban Lab is committed to revitalizing that space,” said Jane Choi, assistant professor of landscape architecture and one of the project’s leaders. “Moreover, the Urban Lab’s quest for innovative ways to improve our urban environment can provide a template for other places throughout Colorado and across the nation that care about healthy, livable cities.”
In December 2014, the Urban Lab sought input and guidance from the public as it shaped guidelines for a design competition. The group received feedback from the public on the proposed format of the competition as well as the specific requirements that competitors should prioritize. Topics included pedestrian and vehicular safety, sidewalk enhancement, and public art. Upcoming initiatives on the Urban Lab’s roster include railway enhancements along Mason Street, a demonstration “living wall” in Old Town, and assistance for property owners and businesses to do more with outdoor spaces.
In this rendering of the intersection of Mason and Mulberry streets, the existing roadway has been altered to better incorporate storm water infiltration, pedestrian movement, and bicycle traffic.
Traffic Lane 11 ft
Bioswale 10 ft
Bikeway 5 ft
Pedestrian Space 15 ft +
EAST
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BIG IDEAS
Study Looks at Reducing
GREENHOUSE GASES FROM CORN application rates were managed at the 150 kg/ha rate and no-till practices were used, the CSU model showed carbon sequestered at the rate of 55g of carbon per bushel of corn.
IN A UNIQUE FARM-LEVEL STUDY, researchers at Colorado State University and the University of Minnesota have shown that best farming practices can significantly reduce the carbon footprint of corn production. Detailed production data from farmers in and around southwest Minnesota were analyzed to model carbon emissions under various scenarios while maintaining high yields. The study evaluated thousands of scenarios and found that by applying fertilizer at optimal rates and using tillage practices that minimally disturb the soil, greenhouse gas emissions from corn production can be dramatically reduced. In 2011, researchers collected and analyzed detailed, three-year survey data from 40 large, family-owned farms supplying corn to a biorefinery in southwest Minnesota. The original study showed the respondents had a 25 percent lower carbon footprint than the U.S. average. In the current study, CSU used the data from these farms in its DayCent model to assess the effect of thousands of best management practice scenarios. Greenhouse gas emissions could be reduced by 46 percent simply by limiting nitrogen fertilizer application from current rates of 225 kg per hectare (ha) to the optimal rate of 150 kg. In addition, by using minimal tillage practices, carbon emissions could be reduced 65 percent compared to current practices. If fertilizer
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“A lot of studies have been done to develop recommendations for what corn farmers should do to be more sustainable,” said John Sheehan, a researcher in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences at CSU who was the principal author of the study. “For these studies, we started by asking them what they were doing and found that some farmers were already managing their land in ways that lead to greatly reduced and even negative carbon footprints. In the modeling study, we analyzed what would happen if all farms in our original survey adopted the best of these practices.” The CSU team, led by soil and crop sciences Professor Keith Paustian, included Kendrick Killian and Stephen Williams of the Natural Resources Ecology Laboratory in the Warner College of Natural Resources at CSU. A review panel included experts from the World Wildlife Fund, the Nature Conservancy and the Environmental Defense Fund. The study was sponsored by Huttner Strategies LLC with funding provided by the Coca-Cola Company. For more information on this study http://soilcrop.agsci. colostate.edu/scenarios-for-low-carbon-corn-production/.
About DayCent DayCent is a daily time series biogeochemical model used in agroecosystems to simulate fluxes of carbon and nitrogen between the atmosphere, vegetation and soil. It was developed at Colorado State University. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Agriculture are currently using DayCent to report national annual inventories of agricultural carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide emissions to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change associated with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
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Faculty Members
GIVE BACK TEMPLE GRANDIN AND GARY SMITH are both CSU animal sciences professors and respected national leaders in animal welfare and meat sciences. Now, they have both committed to help fund a new building and cutting-edge programs in the College of Agricultural Sciences. The renowned professors are each donating $250,000 to support Animal Sciences Phase II Building construction and programs within the Department of Animal Sciences at CSU. The first phase of building construction, a renovated Animal Sciences Building, was unveiled Sept. 17, 2014. Animal Sciences Phase II will be named the Gary and Kay Smith Global Food Innovation Center and will feature a complete livestock-, poultry-, and meat-processing center spanning harvesting and all processing; a culinary research and sensory analysis facility; an auditorium lecture hall and meat demonstration classroom; and a retail meat and dairy store and café. The new building will also include the Temple Grandin Animal Handling and Education Center, with Grandindesigned livestock-handling and teaching areas as well as a fully equipped livestock arena. “The second phase of the Animal Sciences Building construction will be a space for teaching both our students and the general public about best practices for animal handling,” said Grandin. “We need a facility like this and the programs within it to maintain CSU’s status as a leader in animal sciences.” Grandin, a pioneer in research related to animal handling and welfare, is also a nationally and internationally recognized advocate for people with autism and their families. In 2010, HBO produced an award-winning film about her life, Temple Grandin. Smith, a world-renowned expert in meat science and food safety, is a University Distinguished Professor Emeritus and serves as a visiting professor of animal sciences and special adviser to CSU President Tony Frank.
Smith taught in the Department of Animal Sciences and held the Ken and Myra Monfort Endowed Chair from 1990 to 2010. He also serves on the board of directors for Food Safety Net Services, IMI Global, and Nolan Ryan Tender Aged Beef, and is a member of the safety and quality advisory team for JBS-USA. “We need to maintain the connection between our academic programs and industry,” Smith said. “This building will do just that. In fact, it will enhance our existing relationships with producers as well as processors, and help our students connect with potential future employers.” Kevin Pond, head of the Department of Animal Sciences, expressed his gratitude that Grandin and Smith are setting the standard for faculty giving to the project. “We are tremendously grateful for the support of our benefactors, and we are especially touched when those donations come from our faculty members,” he said. “Both Temple and Gary are powerhouses in the field of animal well-being and meat sciences, and it really is our honor to be able to connect them to this building.” Once completed, the center will provide additional classroom and study space, add state-of-the-art laboratory and research space focused on meat and food science, and serve as a resource for students and faculty to collaborate with industry professionals through education, training, and equipment development/testing. The building will be just south of the current Animal Sciences Building, occupying a space that is now a parking lot. For more information about the fundraising effort, contact Nick Lobejko in the College of Agricultural Sciences Development Office at (970) 491-7686.
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SIX YEARS
of Leadership
OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS, the College of Agricultural Sciences at Colorado State University has garnered more visibility on and off campus, seen an increase in the number of scholarships awarded to students, and expanded the number of undergraduates enrolled in majors across the college. Much of this growth, expansion, and vision for the college has come about during the deanship of Craig Beyrouty, who took the position of dean in July 2009. Beyrouty has taken a position as dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Maryland and will join that university in November 2015. “I am proud of what we have accomplished as a college in the last six years,” said Beyrouty. “I believe that now our college message resonates across campus and around the world – more students want to come here to study, we have expanded charitable giving to our college, and we have updated and continue to update our facilities.” Early in his tenure, Beyrouty worked with associate deans, department heads, faculty, and staff to develop a set of strategic initiatives for the college. These initiatives – assuring food safety and quality;
improving food for enhanced human health; developing profitable and environmentally sound beef/dairy production systems; developing land-use strategies for sustainable agricultural and urban environments; optimizing agriculture’s water footprint – speak to cutting-edge research, innovative teaching, and community engagement taking place throughout the college. Beyrouty established a Dean’s Leadership Council composed of agricultural business leaders and successful alumni who can help convey the importance of agriculture and the work underway at the college to other thought leaders and policymakers throughout the United States. “Craig Beyrouty is an inspirational, motivational, and innovative leader who has been very supportive of the Colorado wheat industry. He has partnered with us to establish the first Wheat Vision statement at CSU, and the legacy of his impactful leadership will continue to strengthen and guide the college for many years,” said Darrell Hanavan, vice president for research, Colorado Wheat Research Foundation. In the last six years, the college has seen a nearly 12 percent increase in the number of undergraduates enrolled, a group that has seen a steady increase in the number of women and international/underrepresented students. Currently, approximately 60 percent of the college’s undergraduates are women and approximately 15 percent are international/ underrepresented students. “Dean Beyrouty was a huge supporter of the Ag Ambassadors. He not only inspired us to be passionate about agriculture but also encouraged us to be passionate about who we are as students and what we believe in. He truly cared for his students and believed that we are the future leaders of agriculture and we can make a difference,” said Aubriel Jones, a senior majoring in agricultural literacy, who is also the chair of the Ag Ambassadors.
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Dean Beyrouty not only inspired us to be passionate about agriculture but also encouraged us to be passionate about who we are as students and what we believe in. Aubriel Jones, senior majoring in agricultural literacy, chair of Ag Ambassadors
Beyrouty was also central in bringing the Advancing the Agricultural Economy Through Innovation summit to campus in March 2015. Beyrouty worked with national and state policymakers as well as industry leaders to make the summit a dynamic and vibrant space to showcase CSU’s role in the Colorado innovation economy across a number of agricultural sectors. Beyrouty provided leadership to a collaborative team that included staff from the college and the Office of the Vice President for Engagement at CSU as well as the Colorado Department of Agriculture and the Colorado Innovation Network. “It has been personally enjoyable to work with Craig as a partner for the last six years. Craig has an uncommon ability to understand the global challenges for agriculture and food systems at the farm and ranch level. He has been a valued partner for CSU Extension and the Colorado Water Institute who will apply his energy and knowledge at the University of Maryland,” said CSU Vice President for Engagement Lou Swanson. “While there is always room to expand further, I believe our college is in a good place,” said Beyrouty. “The College of Agricultural Sciences has been further solidified in the consciousness of this campus, the Fort Collins community, and the national and international dialogue on agriculture. I am confident that we are producing students who will tackle the grand challenges faced by agriculture, and our faculty and staff will produce innovations and breakthroughs that will improve nutritional security, food availability, and resource conservation. It has been an honor to serve as dean of this college, and I feel privileged to have been a member of the CSU family.”
Dean Beyrouty tours ARDEC with local third-grade students taking part in Ag Adventure in 2011 (above); speaks to the crowd at 2014 Ag Day (far left).
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KELLIE ENNS Combines Award-Winning Teaching with Program Leadership BEING RECOGNIZED WITH A PRESTIGIOUS NATIONAL AWARD … Expanding an Agricultural Education Program from the ground up … Conducting on-site visits for aspiring teachers … This is all just part of the job for Kellie Enns, assistant professor of agricultural education in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics. Enns leads Colorado State University’s Agricultural Education Program, a program that just a few years ago was new in the College of Agricultural Sciences. “Our program has at least doubled in size over the last two years,” said Enns. “We have expanded our course offerings, most notably in experiential learning and power ag mechanics. We have added an agricultural literacy concentration; our major has allowed us to collaborate with other units in our college and across campus.” Once the only faculty member in the program, Enns is now joined by Assistant Professor Michael Martin, who studies agricultural literacy, and instructor Nathan Clark. Before relocating to the College of Agricultural Sciences, the Agricultural Education Program was housed in CSU’s School of Education. Enns notes that being a part of the College of Agricultural Sciences allows students to receive “training in context” where they can connect directly with faculty and staff members who conduct agricultural research and teach undergraduates studying agriculture. One of the most tangible results of Enns’ leadership and the program’s new connection to the college was a strengthening of the relationship among Colorado State University, the Colorado Community College System, and Colorado FFA. The Colorado FFA Foundation played a key role in fundraising for the
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new CoBank Center for Agricultural Education currently under construction at the Agricultural Research Development and Education Center northeast of the CSU campus. “The Colorado Community College System, Colorado FFA, and the Colorado FFA Foundation know the impact of a strong teacher education program,” said Enns. “They are acutely aware of how our program can impact high school students and community college students, as well as the undergraduates enrolled at CSU.” Not only is Enns a passionate advocate for agricultural education, she is an award-winning teacher and scholar who has been recognized both by CSU and national organizations. In May 2014, Enns was recognized with a Jack E. Cermack Outstanding Advisor Award from CSU for work “above and beyond the basic good advising role.” In November 2014, Enns was one of only two people to win the New Teacher Award from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. This award recognizes the successes of teaching programs in agriculture, food and natural resources. “I hope that this award will further elevate our program,” said Enns. “To receive such a prestigious national award is both an honor and a recognition of the great individuals who are impacting our program. This impact will only grow with our program’s expansion and when our new building is completed.” Enns is also a two-time CSU graduate receiving her Master of Agriculture in 1996 and a Ph.D. in education and human resource studies in 2008.
A New Leadership Role at the FFA for
KRISTEN SCHMIDT BEING A LEADER IS NOTHING NEW to animal science and agricultural business sophomore Kristen Schmidt. She was a college Ag Ambassador and has served as a state officer for Colorado for the National FFA Organization, formerly known as the Future Farmers of America. Now, Schmidt has taken on a new position – as FFA central region vice president. Although Schmidt spent about nine months preparing for her candidacy, she estimates that her election is really almost six years in the making. From her earliest days as a high school freshman, Schmidt knew that serving as a national FFA officer was one of her ultimate goals in life. “I feel that everything I did has guided me to where I am today,” said Schmidt. “There is no doubt that my experiences – from my supervised agricultural experience to participating in leadership development activities – contributed to my personal growth and will contribute to my success as I serve as a national officer.” Serving as a national officer is a significant commitment and Schmidt will be taking a year off from school, just as she did when she served as a Colorado state FFA officer. “I don’t see it as leaving school for a year,” said Schmidt. “I see it as spending a year of my life investing in other people.” One can hear Schmidt’s passion for education and for FFA after speaking with her for only a few minutes. National FFA officers are based in Indianapolis but really spend most of their time traveling the country on behalf of FFA. Their time on the road consists of being invited to speak at state FFA conventions; visiting with industry and corporate agricultural partners; and, along with state officers, attending conferences such as the
State President’s Conference. When you add up all of her pending travel, Schmidt says she expects to spend only about 60 days in Indianapolis over the next year. Schmidt’s family is proud of her accomplishment, although the prospect of another year away from school and only two days home a month, present their own challenges. “My family has been extremely supportive. My dad was a member in high school, so FFA is kind of a family affair,” said Schmidt.
As I travel around the country, my goal is to encourage people and to help them feel like they matter. For Schmidt, any personal sacrifice she might make in terms of seeing her family or extending her time as an undergraduate will be worth it. “As I travel around the country, my goal is to encourage people and to help them feel like they matter,” said Schmidt. “I want to think of myself as a ‘bucket filler’ – I want to pour everything that I have learned into others.” There is still one more example of Schmidt’s unbridled enthusiasm for her new position. When it was time for her to be announced as a national officer at the National FFA Convention of 64,000 people, she quite literally ran right out of her shoes as she raced up to the stage. “I look so much shorter than everyone else in our photo – that’s because my shoes were somewhere offstage.”
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OPENING UP POSSIBILITIES There is no question that pursuing a college education is a significant financial commitment. In fact, according to the Institute for College Access and Success, 71 percent of students from four-year colleges had student loan debt – that’s a total of 1.3 million students.
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FOR STUDENTS IN COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY’S COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES, there is help for easing the expenses of a college education. In 2014-2015, the college gave out 419 scholarships for a total of more than $795,000. The college ranks first in the number of scholarships awarded and second in the overall dollars awarded across all of CSU’s colleges. In the last five years, the college has increased the number of scholarships awarded and the dollars awarded to students by nearly 30 percent.
college have been funded by the National Western Stock Show, CoBank, Stihl, JBS, American AgCredit, Colorado Horticulture Research and Education Foundation, Colorado Milk Marketing Board, and many others.
“We know that our students face many challenges,” said College of Agricultural Sciences Dean Craig Beyrouty. “To the degree that we can help reduce the financial challenges of paying for college, we strive to work with families, corporations, and individuals who are interested in donating to scholarships that help students achieve their dreams.”
“Many students pay for their educations on their own,” said Keith McCaskell, who recently graduated with an undergraduate degree in horticulture and landscape architecture and was the recipient of the Colorado Nursery Research and Education Foundation Scholarship, Ag Day Scholarship, Delano F. Scott Scholarship, and Myron Brown Ludlow Memorial Scholarship during his time at CSU. “Without scholarship support, students have two options: they can accumulate debt and work toward paying that off after college, or they can choose to leave CSU. Scholarships change lives!”
One common perception is that scholarships are designated primarily for undergraduates, but scholarships can be created to support graduate students as well. In 2014-2015, the college gave out 34 scholarships to graduate students. Sam Hagopian is a graduate student in the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture and supervising coordinator of the CSU Annual Flower Trial Garden. “As a graduate student, funding allows me to fulfill my lifelong dream of obtaining a master’s degree, publishing a thesis, and using scientific research to improve the community and world through horticulture,” said Hagopian. “While these dreams may be bold, they would not be possible without the aid of scholarships.” Hagopian is supported by the Anne Farr Floriculture Scholarship. Many scholarships come from alumni and their families who have an investment in seeing students succeed, students who face a greater financial burden than they did even just 10 or 20 years ago. Additionally, corporations often fund scholarships to support the types of students they would like to hire into their companies, and scholarships in the
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With the average debt level of $29,400 for graduating seniors in colleges across the United States in 2012, these scholarships often make the difference between being able to attend college or not.
“It is an honor to work with our many generous donors who have a sincere interest in supporting the next generation of agriculture through scholarships,” said Kris McKay, associate director of development for the College of Agricultural Sciences. “Scholarships provide immediate and long-term impacts that donors can measure through the success of students. It is wonderful that our donors establish scholarships that speak to their passions, passions that so closely align with the aspirations of our students.” There are many ways to give back to a college and a university, but few ways provide a more personal connection than supporting a student. Whether students receive scholarships based on need or merit, they remain grateful to donors who are committed to ensuring that a college education is accessible for all students. For more information about student scholarships, please contact Kris McKay at Kris.Mckay@colostate.edu or (970) 491-0909.
Kayla Calvin Kayla Calvin is a junior majoring in animal science and agricultural literacy. Calvin aspires to someday own her own educational dairy farm which would connect consumers to farmers who produce their food. In only three years at CSU, Calvin has earned: the Jim and Nadine Henry Scholarship in Animal Sciences; the Richard O. Woodfin Family Scholarship; the James P. “Tom” Camerlo, Jr. Scholarship; the Dean Homer J. Henney Memorial Scholarship; and the Stanley L. Boyes Scholarship. For Calvin, each scholarship demonstrates that “someone believes in you” and the collective support of these scholarships is what has allowed Calvin to put herself through school. “Without these scholarships,” said Calvin, “I would need many student loans and might not even be able to attend college.”
Janine Stone Janine Stone is scheduled to complete her Ph.D. in agricultural and resource economics in the summer of 2015. She has received several scholarships in her time at CSU including an Ag Day Scholarship, the Dr. Robert A. Young Scholarship in Water Economics, and the S. Lee Gray Agricultural and Resource Economics Scholarship. Stone has been recognized as an outstanding teacher by the college and her department, and her excellence in the classroom is what earned her the Gray scholarship. “This scholarship allows me to focus on my teaching and research, rather than focusing on expenses,” said Stone. In addition to teaching some of the department’s more difficult courses, Stone’s research focuses on water scarcity and how consumers respond to policy changes.
Bob Reynolds Bob Reynolds is working on a second undergraduate degree in agricultural education and agricultural business. After serving in the Marines for 27 years and earning an undergraduate degree in history, Reynolds decided to pursue a degree that combined a knowledge of working on the land with helping people understand how food is produced. “Everybody eats,” said Reynolds. “I have five kids and I want them to have a future where they understand agriculture and how food got on their table.” Reynolds is the recipient of the Glenn and Mary Jon Chandler Family Scholarship that he says helps provide him with “breathing room” as he works toward his degree while supporting his family.
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SCHOLARSHIPS
Honor Former THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF PROFESSOR KENNETH BRINK, who served as head of the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture from 1968-1995, have created a scholarship intended to support horticulture graduate students in the department. “This scholarship is an outstanding way to honor my father,” said Deb Brink, Brink’s daughter. “My father was not only dedicated to his discipline and research, but he also took a special interest in both the personal and professional success of all students, and especially graduate students.”
Professor Kenneth Brink
The scholarship will be awarded by a selection committee who will take into account a student’s need, merit, and personal character. The committee will select a recipient each year, although the previous year’s winner can apply to renew the scholarship for a total of three years. Throughout his time as a faculty member at CSU, Brink worked with students, growers, and Extension agents as they helped communicate horticulture as an applied science. His academic career focused on technical aspects of horticulture, while, at the same time, he helped industry professionals create viable business models. Brink felt that improvements in the science of horticulture would ultimately help industry and business owners, both large and small.
Professor S. Lee Gray
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Brink received a B.S., an M.S., and a Ph. D. in horticulture from Purdue University and was affiliated with the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Horticultural Society. He was also a Fellow of the American Society for Horticultural Science. He received the Distinguished Service Award from the Rocky Mountain Regional Turfgrass Association and the Distinguished Service Award for Excellence in Administrative Leadership from Colorado State University, and was named Best Friend of the Industry by the Colorado Flower Growers Association, as well as Friend of the Industry by the Western Colorado Horticultural Society.
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Department Heads “As a young professor joining Colorado State University in 1980, Ken Brink was a great mentor and true friend helping me establish a successful teaching, research and outreach career at Colorado State University that has extended over 35 years,” said James Klett, horticulture and landscape architecture professor and Extension landscape horticulturist, who worked with Brink for 15 years. Brink passed away in May 2014 and is survived by his wife of 58 years, Marise, two children, and two grandchildren.
THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL AND RESOURCE ECONOMICS established the S. Lee Gray Agricultural and Resource Economics Scholarship that supports a graduate student who is an outstanding instructor or teaching assistant within the department. Named for former department head S. Lee Gray, the scholarship is funded by faculty members in the department who created the scholarship to show their appreciation and support for Gray’s commitment to teaching excellence, particularly to support graduate students with the same passion. “As a faculty member hired under Professor Gray’s leadership, I was excited to have the opportunity to honor him by contributing monies in his name to endow this scholarship,” said agricultural and resource economics Professor Dawn Thilmany. “It was an added bonus when I found out that the monies would be awarded to a student who is committed to making a change in students’ lives through their focus on teaching.”
Gray served as the department’s acting chair from 1987-1988, and then became chair of the department from 1988-2002. He also served as associate dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences from 2003-2007. “Lee Gray served nearly two decades as department chair,” said Greg Perry, current head of the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics. “As a faculty member and the department leader, Lee imbued a passion for teaching that continues today. It is altogether fitting that this scholarship recognizes up-and-coming graduate students in our department who will carry on Lee’s legacy of excellence in the classroom.”
Anyone interested in contributing to the Kenneth M. Brink Memorial Scholarship fund in honor of Professor Brink should visit https://advancing.colostate.edu/HLA/GIVE, or mail a check payable to the CSU Foundation, with Ken Brink Memorial Scholarship in the memo line, to the CSU Foundation, P.O. Box 1870, Fort Collins, CO 80522, or contact Kris McKay, associate director of development, College of Agricultural Sciences, (970) 491-0909, Kris.McKay@colostate.edu. Anyone interested in contributing to the S. Lee Gray Agricultural and Resource Economics Scholarship fund in honor of Professor Gray should visit https://advancing. colostate.edu/DARE/GIVE, or mail a check payable to the CSU Foundation, with S. Lee Gray Agricultural and Resource Economics Scholarship in the memo line, to the CSU Foundation, P.O. Box 1870, Fort Collins, CO 80522, or contact Kris McKay, associate director of development, College of Agricultural Sciences, (970) 491-0909, Kris.McKay@colostate.edu.
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Going Global Raj Khosla, Assistant Dean for International Programs and Professor of Soil and Crop Sciences
THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT COLORADO STATE University is enhancing its reputation around the world as a leader in global agriculture. CSU College of Agricultural Sciences faculty members and leaders are invited to give talks across the globe, and college experts have brought their research to established and emerging economies to help enhance food quantity, quality, and safety, and to ensure nutritional security for people around the world. In fact, Colorado State University was recently named a “knowledge partner” at the Global Forum for Innovation in Agriculture held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, in March 2015. Another way the college has helped establish its global footprint has been to bring groups of students on trips abroad, exposing them to agricultural systems in countries such as India and China. In 2011, 2012, and 2014, Raj Khosla, assistant dean for international programs and professor of soil and crop sciences, accompanied students overseas as they visited universities, research farms, markets, and local agricultural industries. “We know we can teach students in classrooms, laboratories, and fields,” said Khosla. “But the experience they get on these trips is invaluable. Our students go on to become leaders, leaders who must recognize differences in global agriculture and must help emerging economies provide for a growing population.” For Khosla, these trips “engage, empower, and educate” students whose world view is undoubtedly influenced by what they see every day. The scale of agriculture here in Colorado is at magnitude much greater than small farms in India and China, yet those countries have populations that number in the billions. Much of the growth in the world population, expected to exceed 9 billion by 2050, will occur in places such
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as India and China, and students who graduate from the College of Agricultural Sciences will need to understand the challenges faced in those countries. Tawney Bleak, an international crop and soil sciences major who graduated in May 2015, was one of the students who took part in the 2014 India trip. “India truly opened my eyes and showed me the reality of the many issues I learned in class, but also gave me hope and the drive to do work like all those we visited,” said Bleak. “Much like the individuals we met, I know I can help those struggling in developing countries around the world.” On a number of these trips, Khosla has been joined by CSU Vice President for Engagement Lou Swanson, Vice Provost for International Affairs Jim Cooney, and College of Agricultural Sciences Dean Craig Beyrouty. On the 2014 India trip, one student experienced a significant health issue that required immediate hospitalization. Through Khosla’s quick thinking and efforts, which included making arrangements for the student’s stay at the hospital, helping pay for medical expenses, and working with the student’s family, the student was able to safely return to the United States. Khosla was among five CSU leaders recognized with the Ram Pride Public Service Award from CSU President Tony Frank for these efforts. Without exaggeration, these trips will help students make a difference – globally – after they leave CSU. “If we are going to train the next generation of researchers and policymakers to help feed the world, then they need to see first-hand agricultural systems in places like East Asia and Africa,” said Khosla. “One way to help change the world is to experience it.” These trips were largely funded by the USDA-NIFAISE, International Science and Education grant award to CSU under the leadership of Professor Raj Khosla for a period of four years 2010-2014.
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Our students go on to become leaders, leaders who must recognize differences in global agriculture and must help emerging economies provide for a growing population. Raj Khosla, Assistant Dean for International Programs and Professor of Soil and Crop Sciences
Travels included cultural enrichment at the Indo-US workshop on Precision Agriculture at Punjab Agricultural University, India (top left); visit to research farm (top right); faculty interacting with children (lower top right); a strawberry farm in China (middle); students at the Great Wall of China (lower left); and students and faculty visit to an extension demonstration site in Quzhou, China (lower right).
DOCTORAL STUDENTS
Conduct Cutting-Edge Research MICHELLE KIBLER Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics Michelle Kibler came to Colorado State University to work with Dustin Pendell, associate professor of agricultural and resource economics, as part of a USDA grant. Not long after arriving at CSU, Kibler was awarded funding to study the impact of equine disease outbreaks on canceled or compromised attendance at equine events. Her work is focused on investigating the economic impact of equine disease as it relates not just to the individual horse owner but also the equine industry and local economies impacted by equine disease outbreaks. Kibler’s research combines her lifelong involvement with the equine industry with her education in economics. This research will help fill a void in equine economic disease research, and one potential outcome of Kibler’s work will be that owners and local governments may minimize potential economic losses experienced before, during, and after equine disease outbreaks. Kibler plans to graduate in 2015.
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LUIS VILLALOBOS Department of Soil and Crop Sciences
JACQUELINE CHAPARRO Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture
Luis Villalobos is pursuing his doctorate while working with Joe Brummer, associate professor of soil and crop sciences. Villalobos came to Colorado State University as part of a cooperative agreement between his employer, the University of Costa Rica, and CSU. His research is focused on developing forage systems for beef cattle operations in Eastern Colorado. Villalobos and Brummer have been evaluating annual warm-season and cool-season forages with potential to extend the grazing season during the fall. Monoculture or combinations of forages (aka “forage cocktails”), can reduce the input costs of harvested feeds (i.e., hay and silage) for beef cattle operations. Regardless of the environment, forages can provide benefits for soil health by reducing runoff and erosion while providing nutrients to the livestock that in turn will return some of those to the soil to be recycled. Villalobos plans to graduate in December 2015 and wants to create options to strengthen the partnership between CSU and the University of Costa Rica through projects with visiting professors and students when he returns to Costa Rica.
Jacqueline Chaparro recently completed her Ph.D. under the supervision of Professor Jorge Vivanco in the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture. Her dissertation focused on the interaction between plants and the soil microbial community in an area known as the rhizosphere. The rhizosphere microbial community established through these interactions is known as the plants’ second genome and helps a plant overcome biotic and abiotic stress. Understanding how these interactions are initiated, established, and maintained will allow for the ability to manipulate them and thus use the rhizosphere microbial community to increase plant health and productivity. Currently, Chaparro is working with Assistant Professor Adam Heuberger, in the same department, as a postdoctoral scientist studying the biochemical diversity of vegetables. She hopes to combine the knowledge obtained during her dissertation and her postdoctoral position to understand how the rhizosphere microbial community could influence crop biochemical diversity to increase vegetable bioactive compounds. Ultimately, the results from these areas of research will help find solutions to not only feed the growing human population but also increase the nutritional content of these crops.
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GRADUATE STUDENTS Named International Fellows
HELPING DOMESTIC GRADUATE STUDENTS connect with and learn from international graduate students is just one more way Colorado State University is expanding its global footprint. CSU’s International Presidential Fellows Program is offered to 25 international graduate students or domestic students with strong international research interests at CSU. This year, two College of Agricultural Sciences graduate students were named International Presidential Fellows. Jillian Lang and Brad Tonnessen, both doctoral students in the Department of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management, will take part in a number of enrichment activities that are part of the fellowship program including a welcome luncheon, three to four campus events, such as laboratory tours, special lectures, and artistic performances, as well as an end-of-the-year recognition lunch hosted by CSU President Tony Frank. For Lang, the opportunity to interact with peers she might not otherwise have met is one of the program’s most exciting features. “I think it’s important for CSU to foster this type of platform to discover where mutual interests lie and what larger outcomes can be gained by our colleagues who are, quite literally, next door,” said Lang. Lang is currently in France as part of a prestigious Chateaubriand Fellowship, which has allowed her to build additional relationships with researchers overseas and is enhancing U.S.-France collaborations in molecular plant pathology. Tonnessen also sees tremendous value in connecting with other graduate students across campus. “Becoming a member of the International Presidential Fellows has helped me realize that I’m not alone, and many people share my passion for changing the global trends through empowerment and education, which, in my case, is keeping food
sources secure,” said Tonnessen. Tonnessen has developed research projects with the International Rice Institute in the Philippines, projects that inspired him to apply to the International Fellows program. University Distinguished Professor Jan Leach, professor of bioagricultural sciences, works with both Lang and Tonnessen. “Jillian has demonstrated a deep commitment to international agriculture, from focusing her research on ways to improve productivity of internationally important crops to training international scientists in the applications of techniques she has developed,” said Leach. “The honor of being an International Fellow is a great opportunity for Brad to enrich his knowledge of international agriculture,” Leach added. “This fits with Brad’s research goal – the application of his knowledge of computational biology and plant pathology to help develop rice with long-lasting disease resistance.” The 2014-2015 class of CSU International Presidential Fellows includes students and visiting scholars from 20 countries including the United States, Australia, Egypt, Morocco, Denmark, India, Mongolia, Thailand, and China among a number of other countries.
CSU’s International Presidential Fellows Program is offered to 25 international graduate students or domestic students with strong international research interests at CSU.
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CLINTON PILCHER
Recognized as Distinguished Alumnus
AN ALUMNUS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management is not only making an impact in his professional career but also continues to leave a lasting legacy on the Colorado State University campus. Clinton Pilcher received his undergraduate degree in bioagricultural sciences at CSU in 1993 and went on to earn master’s and doctoral degrees in entomology and crop production and physiology from Iowa State University. Pilcher began his career at Monsanto where he worked as a research entomologist. He is currently DuPont Pioneer’s global director for insect resistance management within the industry affairs and regulatory department. Pilcher has dedicated his professional career to developing insect control solutions created through agricultural biotechnology. His ultimate goal is to help farmers globally manage these valuable tools in a sustainable manner to meet future food production needs. “As an undergraduate, Clint was notable for recognizing and taking advantage of the valuable educational opportunities at Colorado State University,” said bioagricultural sciences and pest management Professor Frank Peairs. “This forms much of the foundation for his outstanding career of scientific creativity, leadership, and delivery with dedication to real-life problems in agriculture.” Pilcher’s many awards and recognitions include the Future Seed Giant award sponsored by the American Seed Trade Association and Seed World magazine, as well as awards for activities with the Entomological Society of America. Most recently, he was recognized as a College of Agricultural Sciences Honored Alumnus by the CSU Alumni Association.
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In 2013, Pilcher and his wife, Carol, decided to help honor an old friend and lab-mate from their time at CSU, Karl Kinney, by helping to support his memorial fund. Kinney had just completed his Ph.D. when he passed away, and the original memorial gifts funded an award in their former department for many years. The Pilchers decided that an annual contribution, coupled with a match from DuPont Pioneer, could restart the award and serve as a challenge to other alumni to endow the fund.
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As an undergraduate, Clint was notable for recognizing and taking advantage of the valuable educational opportunities at Colorado State University.
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Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management Professor Frank Peairs
Earlier this year, they reaffirmed their commitment to CSU by designating a percentage of their estate to help support collaborative research efforts in the Department of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management, funding work done by faculty members and graduate students with collaborators at other universities. This planned gift will make a difference for these faculty members and students as they deepen their professional networks and make a difference with projects and research studies that impact the larger world.
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JAMES PRITCHETT
in New University Leadership Role
COLORADO’S ROBUST AGRICULTURAL SCENE, combined with increasing consumer interest in health, wellness, local foods, food safety, and environmental issues, is the driving force behind expanded research and outreach at Colorado State University. As the newly appointed assistant vice president in the Office of Engagement, James Pritchett, professor of agricultural and resource economics, serves as a catalyst for new engagement efforts in food systems and contributes to ongoing excellence in research and Extension initiatives. Pritchett works directly with deans, associate deans, and chairs among CSU’s colleges as well as faculty Extension specialists. He works at the intersection between consumer interests and behavior in health and wellness, food safety, food security, and the availability of locally raised foods, such as urban commercial farming and community-supported agriculture operations. “Colorado’s agriculture and food systems are impressive in their breadth and complexity,” said Lou Swanson, vice president for the Office of Engagement. “With James’s experienced leadership, CSU is committed to enhancing resilient, entrepreneurial food systems with the goal of enhancing Coloradans’ healthy, affordable food and supporting the state’s farmers and ranchers.” Pritchett has extensive experience as a faculty Extension specialist. His understanding and knowledge of CSU Extension’s new bottom-up organizational structure and culture will enhance the timeliness of listening to stakeholders and facilitating new and broader engagement with agriculture and food system stakeholders. He will take an active role in facilitating CSU Extension’s recently developed Planning and Reporting Units, particularly those associated with agriculture and food systems.
“Some of CSU’s best traditions and society’s most pressing opportunities are in food production and food systems,” said Pritchett. “I’m excited to spur engagement between stakeholders and CSU professionals, and in the economic opportunities associated with consumer demands for health, wellness, environmental, and other values that shape Colorado’s agriculture and food systems.” His research has been supported by the National Science Foundation, USDA’s National Research Initiative competitive grants program, Coca-Cola, the Colorado Water Resources Research Institute, the USDA Agricultural Research Service, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Colorado’s Agriculture Experiment Station.
Other Goals for Pritchett Include: Creating pathways and synergies for campus engagement with Colorado’s agriculture and food systems. Coordinating and championing applied research, campus curricula, and student learning opportunities with external partners and constituencies. Fostering connections and collaboration among Colorado’s agriculture and food systems stakeholder organizations. Connecting consumers and other agriculture and food system end-users with production agriculture. Increasing CSU’s visibility and brand awareness among Colorado’s agriculture and food systems participants and consumers.
In 2014, Pritchett was recognized as a top teacher and received the CSU Board of Governors Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award. He was also recognized as a 2015 Farm Credit Colorado Agriculture Hall of Fame Rising Star.
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A Career Devoted to
AGRICULTURE
IN A CAREER SPANNING 35 YEARS, Howard Schwartz, professor of bioagricultural sciences and pest management, has distinguished himself as a resource for onion and bean growers in Colorado, as a mentor for graduate students, and as a researcher who truly embraces Colorado State University’s land-grant mission. Schwartz came to CSU in 1980 after serving as a research plant pathologist in the Bean Production Program at Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical in Cali, Colombia. Throughout his time at CSU, Schwartz has had a prolific publication record that includes more than 110 articles in refereed journals, more than 20 book chapters, and more than 300 pieces in Extension and trade publications. He has also advised or co-advised nearly 20 graduate students to either master’s or doctoral degrees. Outstanding community and industry engagement is another hallmark of Schwartz’s impact at CSU. He has received numerous recognitions from the University including an Extension F.A. Anderson Distinguished Service Award, an Extension Team Award, and a CSU Oliver P. Pennock Distinguished Service Award. Schwartz was also honored with several onion industry awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award, which was bestowed by a joint group that included the National Onion Association, and the Distinguished Service Award, also from the National Onion Association. Colorado Onion Association President Robert Sakata noted that Schwartz “has always wanted to find out how he could reach more growers, how to find out what they needed, and what he could do to help.”
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Schwartz is both a respected expert outside of campus and a valued colleague throughout the College of Agricultural Sciences. Thomas Holtzer, head of the Department of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management, remarked that “in addition to reaching his own personal, absolutely spectacular career goals,” Schwartz “has remained a driving force for the betterment of the department.” In May 2015, Schwartz was recognized with the College of Agricultural Sciences Lee Sommers Distinguished Career Award and presented a lecture titled “A Plant Pathologist’s Return on Investment = A Thank-You to Agriculture” at the college Spring Reception. Although Schwartz officially retired in 2015, his connection to the college remains strong.
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Alumni-Led Corporation LEAVES LASTING LEGACY BIRKO, A COLORADO COMPANY whose leaders have strong connections to the College of Agricultural Sciences and Colorado State University, has decided to give back and further solidify its multigenerational legacy by naming a space in the newly renovated Animal Sciences Building. Birko is a food safety company that focuses on solutions for the meat, produce, and brewery industries. Among its many services, Birko provides safe chemical formulations, state-of-the-art harvest and dispensing equipment, servicing capabilities, and integrated IT solutions for beef, poultry, pork, produce, and brewery applications. In an industry dominated by male-led organizations, Birko is one of the few female-led companies in the food safety sector. Kelly Green is the owner and chairman of the board. Green, CSU M.B.A. (’04), is a third-generation owner of Birko and a Colorado native, carrying on the vision for food safety started by her grandparents, Ward and Florence Smith. “It is an honor to have a partnership with CSU and the Department Animal Sciences as Mark and I are both alumni of the University. We feel strongly about supporting the food safety industry, and that includes supporting the up-and-coming leaders of tomorrow,” said Green. The connection between Birko and the Department of Animal Sciences is a natural one, as they both share a mutual interest in protecting public health and helping providing products and services that help promote sanitary food production. The company employs a number of CSU graduates as a part of its science and technical staff.
One CSU graduate is the company CEO, Mark Swanson, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural business (’86) and an M.B.A. (’04), both from CSU. In the last few years, Swanson has enhanced his connection to the College of Agricultural Sciences by serving as a member of the Dean’s Leadership Council, a small group of advisers to the dean and advocates for the college among industry and government. “CSU has laid the foundation for both Kelly and me to be where we are today with our careers. Our hope with Birko’s gift to CSU is that we can continue to increase food safety awareness as well as show our support of CSU as an institution,” said Swanson. Green and Swanson were instrumental in providing Birko’s generous gift, which will name a conference room in the glassed-in atrium of the Animal Sciences Building.
CSU has laid the foundation for both Kelly and me to be where we are today with our careers.
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Mark Swanson, Birko CEO
“Gifts like these are about so much more than naming a room,” said Nick Lobejko, director of development for the College of Agricultural Sciences. “This gift is a tangible example of our commitment to maintaining and enhancing our connections to industry – connections that will advance our faculty research and ensure that the next generation of students has access to cutting-edge facilities.”
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