Mississippi Landmarks August 2017 by Mississippi State University Extension Service

Volume 13, Number 3

AUGUST 2017

During the annual MSU-CVM Open House, children can explore scientific careers through hands-on activitiesâ&#x20AC;Ś page 12

Research, Education, and Extension in the Division of Agriculture, Forestry, and Veterinary Medicine

Mississippi State University

Contents Vo l u m e 1 3 , N u m b e r 3

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August 2017

On the Cover During the annual, 2-day MSU-CVM Open House, children can explore scientific careers through hands-on activities, including looking through microscopes.

4 6 8 10 12 14 16

Mississippi Models Youth Preparedness

Food By-Product Has Potential as Wood Preservative

Fall Flower and Garden Fest

Study-Abroad Course Takes Students to Africa

Extending Knowledge, Changing Irrigation Practices

Students Chase Lions in Study Abroad

Guatemalans Benefit from MSU Livestock Program

Marion County Profile

News Notes

Reeves Family Creates Enduring Legacy through CVM

Outreach Vet Shares Career with Underserved Students

MSU Leads the Charge Against Soybean Taproot Decline

Smarter Lunchrooms, Healthier Students

Equestrian Team Focuses on Horsemanship

Vice President’s Letter Dear Friends, Research, Education, and Extension in the Division of Agriculture, Forestry, and Veterinary Medicine

Mississippi LandMarks is published quarterly by the Division of Agriculture, Forestry, and Veterinary Medicine at Mississippi State University. PRESIDENT Mark E. Keenum VICE PRESIDENT Gregory A. Bohach DIRECTOR, MSU Extension Service Gary B. Jackson DEAN, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences DEAN, College of Forest Resources DIRECTOR, Forest and Wildlife Research Center DIRECTOR, Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station George M. Hopper DEAN, College of Veterinary Medicine Kent H. Hoblet Mississippi LandMarks is produced by the Office of Agricultural Communications. EXECUTIVE EDITOR Elizabeth Gregory North ASSOCIATE EDITORS Robyn Hearn Keri Collins Lewis GRAPHIC DESIGNER Annette Woods WRITERS Vanessa Beeson Karen Brasher Linda Breazeale Amy Cagle Bonnie Coblentz Susan Collins-Smith Nathan Gregory PHOTOGRAPHERS David Ammon Megan Bean Kevin Hudson Kat Lawrence Tom Thompson

For a subscription to Mississippi LandMarks or an address change, call (662) 325-2262.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Available on the World Wide Web www.dafvm.msstate.edu/landmarks

Summer is far from quiet for students, staff, faculty, and administrators in the MSU Division of Agriculture, Forestry, and Veterinary Medicine. From studyabroad programs to field visits to conferences, we have been busy sharing our mission and our passion all over the world. We love to showcase the exciting work going on at MSU by hosting campus visitors. In June, we were honored to welcome Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, for the annual Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation state board meeting and summer commodity conference. We also enjoyed having the Young Farmers and Ranchers on campus. Partnerships and shared values allow us to work together to advance agriculture in the state and nation, and we appreciate our relationship with Farm Bureau. The state’s promotion boards also play key roles in our work that addresses pressing issues faced by our agricultural producers. In fiscal year 2017, promotion boards funded 91 projects for a total of $4.03 million. President Mark Keenum’s vision of MSU as an international research university continues to expand opportunities for our students and faculty. In this issue of Mississippi LandMarks, you can read about three different projects in Guatemala, Uganda, and Tanzania. From researching endangered animals to offering practical outreach and information to rural producers and their Extension agents, Bulldogs are making a difference around the globe. We believe so strongly in the ability of young people to make a positive impact on the world that we are constantly looking for new ways to engage and empower them. From the Mississippi Youth Preparedness Initiative (see story on page 4) to multiple programs to share veterinary career opportunities with children of all ages (page 12), we invite children to investigate ways they can make a difference. We want them to get a good start when it comes to nutrition, which is why we are working to advance science-based strategies for increasing healthier eating through the Smarter Lunchrooms program (page 14). Even when we’re having fun, we are learning! Summer would not be summer without 4-H Club Congress and the many other camps organized by DAFVM units. Whether they are learning about our vital natural resources or discovering new foods, we hope camp participants enjoy their time at MSU. On a personal note, I would like to congratulate Dr. Bill Herndon on his retirement. He devoted 33 years of his career to MSU, first in the Department of Agricultural Economics and then as head of the North Mississippi Research and Extension Center before joining me on the division’s administrative team as associate vice president in 2012. I greatly value his wisdom and insight, and I appreciate the work he has invested in Mississippi State. I am happy to announce that Dr. Reuben Moore, who presently serves as associate director of the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, has accepted the position of DAFVM interim vice president. With thanks for your continued support of our work,

Gregory A. Bohach

MyPI National Lead CERT Instructor Dave Nichols (right), a program assistant in the MSU School of Human Sciences, trains a group of prospective instructors.

Mississippi Models Youth Preparedness

more prepared, which will minimize disaster

Success from a Mississippi youth preparedness program is propelling similar efforts in other states across the country. The Mississippi Youth Preparedness

Initiative (MyPI) has been in the state 4 years. The program model is going into seven more states by August 2018. MyPI is gaining traction as a national program as states recognize the value of reaching teen audiences, said Dr. Ryan Akers, initiative coordinator and an associate Extension professor in the MSU School of Human Sciences. “When you educate and motivate teens to

“When you educate and motivate teens to be more aware and prepared for disasters, you reach entire families and beyond.”

reach entire families and beyond,” Akers said.

Mississippi LandMarks August 2017

The MSU Extension Service and Mississippi Citizen Corps promote MyPI in communities across the state. Other states onboard with the program include Hawaii, Illinois, Nebraska, New Jersey, Tennessee, Virginia, and Washington. The MyPI curriculum is based on Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training programs, with several additions for teens. The 5- to 10-week program offers several components: CERT training, CPR and defibrillator training, an overview of other technology components, and an explo-

be more aware and prepared for disasters, you “Our goal is to make whole communities

complications and speed up the recoveries.”

Dr. Ryan Akers

ration of related career options.

This group of MyPI Hawaii instructors, who received training from Dr. Ryan Akers and Dave Nichols, will deliver the emergency preparedness/youth leadership program to teens across the island state.

Participants also learn to assemble emergency supply kits and

Dr. Ryan Akers provides training in a program designed to help enhance individual, family, and community preparedness for disasters.

“In Hawaii, we want to be prepared for tsunamis, volcanoes,

formulate communication plans for their families plus six additional

and flooding, but students will also learn about winter storms,” she

households or individuals. Akers said this “plus six” aspect of MyPI

said. “We want them to be prepared for anything they may

provides a multiplying benefit for communities.

encounter in the future.”

“In one class of 24 students, that would add up to 168 families that are better prepared for a disaster or emergency,” Akers said.

For more information, contact Akers at cra20@msstate.edu or visit the MyPI website at http://mypi.msstate.edu.

The Mississippi program earned national awards for its efforts to prepare individuals, families, and communities for disasters while strengthening youth abilities in leadership, communication,

By Linda Breazeale • Photos Submitted

decision making, teamwork, self-esteem, and civic responsibility. MSU Extension agent Mari Alyce Earnest said teens learned the importance of preparedness after a tornado and flooding hit Quitman County. “The MyPI training helps them feel safer and like they have more control in a disaster situation,” Earnest said. “Because of the class, they have disaster plans and kits and have helped other families, too.” Earnest said MyPI has goals similar to those of the 4-H Youth Development Program. “We can’t reach all adults, but young people love to go home and teach their families the lessons they have learned,” she said. “Young people especially enjoy the technology portion of the training. Even though many of them may not use a weather radio, they will download an app that can help alert them to approaching dangerous weather.” Nancy Ooki, assistant Extension agent for the University of Hawaii at Manoa and point of contact for the MyPI program in her state, described a perfect connection with 4-H programming. “4-H encourages members to assume leadership roles in their communities and also emphasizes the importance of community service,” Ooki said. “MyPI does both, too. The participants will especially enjoy the technology component.” Ooki said her background is in working with science, technology, engineering, and math curricula. MyPI is her first venture into disaster preparedness training.

FOOD INDUSTRY WASTE BY-PRODUCT

Has Potential as Wood Preservative

Dr. Dragica Jeremic examines a wooden block treated with a chitosan-based preservative.

Mississippi LandMarks August 2017

A waste product from the food industry may hold the key to a new, environmentally friendly preservative that will protect wood from fungi, termites, and other destructive organisms. Dr. Dragica Jeremic, an assistant professor in the MSU Forest and Wildlife Research Center (FWRC) Department of Sustainable Products, is looking at new uses for the nanoparticle chitosan as a

“Chitosan is produced from chitin, a

“The whole idea of wood protection is to use some kind of chemicals to either prevent attack or destroy microorganisms.”

possible protectant against pests and rot. “The whole idea of wood protection is to use some kind of chemicals to

compound found in the shells of shrimp and crabs. There are huge sources of chitin waste that can be used to make chitosan, which is known to have antimicrobial properties.” The researchers are modifying chitosan molecules into nanoparticles and using them to treat wood. They want to determine the rate at which chitosan leaches from wood and whether the new

Dr. Dragica Jeremic

either prevent attack or destroy microor-

particle sizes retain antimicrobial and fungicidal properties. The team already showed that chi-

ganisms,” Jeremic said. “The biggest problem is fungi, but, here

tosan has termite-killing properties. Its next step was to examine

in the South, we also have a lot of problems with subterranean

bacteria in termite guts that help the insects digest wood.

termites. Wood protection is aimed at diminishing these two

Researchers sought to determine if termites might develop a

major pest groups.”

resistance to chitosan.

Wood protection has traditionally involved the use of bio-

Jeremic and her collaborators—including Dr. Daniel G.

cides, chemicals that kill fungi or termites at given concentrations.

Peterson, director of the MSU Institute for Genomics,

For about 35 years, chromated copper arsenate was used success-

Biocomputing, and Biotechnology—found that there was a differ-

fully, but the industry voluntarily withdrew its use in 2004 due to

ence in the species of microbes found in termites exposed to

public concerns. Current wood preservatives are based on copper

chitosan. They also noted that another microorganism, called a

and boron, and Jeremic said both are effective.

protist, was found in much lower levels of the guts of chitosan-fed

“Copper amounts leaching out of wood are considered

termites. The presence of both of these microbes suggests that ter-

benign to humans, but, over a long period of time, it accumulates

mites may become resistant to chitosan within a short time after

in water, and it is not good for fish,” she said. “Boron is a very

exposure to chitosan-treated wood in real-world applications.

good preservative, as well, but it doesn’t stay in the wood for a

“If there are chitosan-digesting organisms in termite guts, it is

very long period of time before leaching out. Now we’re looking

possible that they will eventually become numerous or powerful

for alternatives that are environmentally friendly while having

enough to allow termites to become resistant to chitosan,”

enough fungicide or insecticide properties for wood protection.” Jeremic received a U.S. Department of Agriculture Nanotechnology Program grant through the FWRC. Her research

Peterson said. “We want to be as certain as possible that the use of chitosan as a preservative doesn’t quickly select for termites with chitosan-munching microbes in their guts.”

group is working to determine whether chitosan broken into nanoparticles can be used as a wood preservative.

By Bonnie Coblentz • Photos by Kevin Hudson

“Chitosan is a polysaccharide, essentially a sugar that is being produced as a waste of the food industry,” Jeremic said.

Dr. Margaret Khaitsa works daily as part of a global network of scientists

Today’s Students, Tomorrow’s Global Citizens:

eases that affect animal production and food security are present in east and

dedicated to helping protect the world’s

central Africa, where humans and

food supply. She has spent much of her

animals live in close proximity. These

career conducting research aimed at understanding and controlling infec-

facts make the region an excellent teaching ground for future veterinarians,

tious disease in large populations with a

researchers, physicians, and others inter-

focus on diseases that can be transmit-

ested in health-related careers.

ted between animals and humans. As a professor in the MSU College

of Veterinary Medicine, Khaitsa is introducing students to the same quest. Through her study-abroad course focused on tropical veterinary medicine

Study-Abroad Course Takes Students to Africa

erinary students to gather diagnostic samples, vaccinate animals, observe animals in the wild, and educate commu-

nities about zoonotic diseases. They visit

and its place in the One Health Initiative,

family farms, national parks, and govern-

she helps students understand the

ment-funded research stations.

importance of international collaboration

“The things we were able to do and

among animal, human, and environmen-

see while in Uganda were incredible

tal health professionals to combat

and eye-opening,” said Robert Stenger, a

emerging diseases that affect interna-

second-year veterinary student who

tional food security.

participated in the course in 2016 and is

“The study-abroad course provides

a past president of the International

a foundation for tomorrow’s global citi-

Veterinary Students’ Association. “We

zens to understand, appreciate, and

witnessed the challenges these people

experience tropical animal production,

face related to food security and the

food safety, and public health from a

problems we must tackle as veterinari-

global perspective,” said Khaitsa, a

ans and scientists.”

native of Uganda. “It gives them a

In Uganda, people can grow many

chance to see the challenges of veteri-

food crops, but they can still be mal-

nary medicine in a tropical climate and

nourished because their protein sources

the impact it has on the intricate link

are scarce. To have protein in their diets,

between the health of animals, people,

many Ugandans have to raise livestock

and the environment.” At least 70 percent of the world’s known vector-borne and zoonotic dis-

Study-abroad participants work with

local veterinarians, researchers, and vet-

Mississippi LandMarks August 2017

in the yards of their homes or hunt wild Robert Stenger (right) assists wildlife veterinarian Dr. Ludwig Siefert in taking blood samples from a tranquilized African buffalo in Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park. Also pictured are CVM students Will Alexander (left) and Anika Eidson (center). (Photo Submitted)

game. The agricultural infrastructure in Uganda is very different from the U.S.

“The study-abroad course provides a foundation for tomorrow’s global citizens to understand, appreciate, and experience tropical animal production, food safety, and public health from a global perspective.” DR. MARGARET KHAITSA

Through her study-abroad course on tropical veterinary medicine, Dr. Margaret Khaitsa helps students understand the importance of combating emerging diseases that affect international food security. (Photo by Megan Bean)

Many of their food-gathering methods

living in the area why it is important to

increase the likelihood of spreading

manage human and wildlife interactions.”

zoonotic diseases, Stenger said. During his trip, Stenger participated

abroad program is to give students

in a research project headed by a local

hands-on experiences that strengthen

group called Conservation Through

the One Health Initiative, students also

Public Health. He was part of a study of

gain positive life experiences, including

parasitism in endangered mountain

cultural exposure.

gorillas near Rwanda. The group was

“The picture most people have of

looking for patterns that might lead to a

Africa in their mind’s eye is not the

better understanding of gorilla health

reality,” Stenger said. “We learned so

and the zoonotic challenges facing them

much more than just the veterinary and

from their human neighbors.

health-related information we went for.

“This work is essential because it

Stenger worked with Conservation through Public Health in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, where he helped track mountain gorillas. (Photo Submitted)

While the main focus of the study-

International study, in Uganda or any

helps scientists better understand if the

other country, will positively impact you

current strategies for conserving the

as a global citizen.”

mountain gorilla and its habitats are working,” Stenger said. “Awareness of the issue also helps to teach people

By Susan Collins-Smith

Students Chase

LIONS

Not all students can say they spent their summers chasing lions, but Isabella Durham can. Durham, a junior in the College of Forest Resources Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture, spent May 2016 assessing lion populations in the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania alongside MSU scientists on the Serengeti Lion Project. The Prattville, Alabama, native described her first time out of the country and first foray into research as life changing.

Mississippi LandMarks August 2017

in Study Abroad

“I’ve always loved big cats, and I’ve always wanted to travel,” said Durham, who has a wildlife preveterinary concentration. “My mother is from Costa Rica, and my father grew up as a military brat. They have both traveled all over. I knew it was something I wanted to do.” Durham said the experience took her outside of her comfort zone and changed her outlook on research. “This trip made me realize how much I enjoy research,” said Durham, who has since conducted research in the

Undergraduate Research Scholar Program. Two other wildlife, fisheries, and aquaculture undergraduates, D. J. Steakley and Sandor Dibble, worked alongside Durham in Tanzania. Dr. Jerrold Beland, Dale Arner Professor of Wildlife Ecology, led the team as the study’s principal investigator. “This research is an opportunity to work with an incredible species in an amazing ecosystem and to conduct research that is of direct benefit to

D.J. Steakley (left), Sandor Dibble, and Isabella Durham, students in the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture, studied lions in the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania.

species conservation,” said Belant, who is also a scientist in the Forest and Wildlife Research Center and director of the MSU Carnivore Ecology Lab. “Our overall objective is to develop a suite of cost-effective techniques to estimate the abundance of lions and other large carnivores across large areas,” he explained. The team has conducted a series of experiments using modifications of track and call-in surveys to estimate lion abundance. During the track surveys, the

team obliterates lion tracks from a designated track road and then records new tracks the next morning. During the call-in surveys, the team broadcasts various vocalizations that attract individual lions. These vocalizations range from prey to distress calls. Researchers count the lions that approach a specific area in response to the calls. One finding is that track surveys are not suitable for estimating lion abundance, but call-in surveys can be. Belant said that the next step in the study is to apply the refined call-in survey to areas adjacent to Serengeti that use different management strategies. The team would like to also incorporate the use of cameras. “The purpose of working in areas beyond Serengeti is to ensure the efficacy of our techniques and to obtain population estimates of lions in additional areas,” he said. This year, researchers plan to work in Maswa Game Reserve, which allows hunting, as well as Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which is a protected area that prohibits hunting.

“Overall, lions have purportedly declined 43 percent globally, with declines even greater in eastern Africa,” Belant said. “Having techniques available that can produce accurate and reliable estimates of lion abundance is critical for monitoring changes in populations through time in relation to environmental conditions, as well as conservation practices that are currently implemented or may be in the future.” Other individuals on the project include Dr. Florent Bled, a research associate in the MSU Carnivore Ecology Lab; and Stan Mwampeta and Imani Mkasanga, both Tanzanian field biologists. Organizations and individuals helping to support the research include the Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute; Tanzania National Parks; Safari Club International Foundation; Dr. Robert Fyumagwa, director of the Serengeti Wildlife Research Center; and William Mwakilema, chief park warden, Serengeti National Park.

By Vanessa Beeson • Photos Submitted

Elementary-school students visit MSU-CVM during the annual open house held each spring.

Some people try to forget about the hardships they have faced once they get past them, but a recent MSU College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) graduate uses her personal experiences to reach out to young people who might be facing those same challenges. Dr. Brittany Moore-Henderson holds the newly created position of community outreach veterinarian at CVM. She spends half her time as a traditional clinical veterinarian and the other half sharing veterinary medicine career information with underserved audiences. “I’m from Holmes County, a very rural area of Mississippi, and it was difficult for me to get the guidance needed to get into the profession,” MooreHenderson explained. “I didn’t get exposure to veterinary medicine until a career discovery class in seventh grade.” Though she knew what she wanted to do, Moore-Henderson struggled to find the right opportunities to reach her goal. She felt unprepared for college, and, at one point, she withdrew from school. Then, she discovered Michigan State University’s Vetward Bound

Mississippi LandMarks August 2017

Pay It Forward

Outreach Vet Shares Career with Underserved Students

program, in which she learned the steps required to pursue her dream. With renewed enthusiasm, she finished her undergraduate degree at Jackson State University in 2012 and gained admission to MSU-CVM. Determined to help others, she launched Vet Aspire during her second year. This program shows high-school and college students the many types of careers available in veterinary medicine, including positions in government agencies, pharmaceutical companies, and the U.S. Army. It also gives them insight into undergraduate requirements and CVM’s application process. “Every month, five students from all over Mississippi and surrounding states come to campus for a day to gain exposure to the veterinary profession,” Moore-Henderson explained. “They attend presentations and participate in wet labs ranging from critical-care techniques to necropsies. They see everything we do.” As community outreach veterinarian, Moore-Henderson oversees Vet Aspire and two other K-12 outreach programs.

“Every month, five students from all over Mississippi and surrounding states come to campus for a day to gain exposure to the veterinary profession.” Dr. Brittany Moore-Henderson

Each summer, CVM hosts two sessions of Vet Camp. One is a day camp for students aged 13–17. The second is an overnight camp for those 15–17. More than 200 students from across the U.S. apply for just 65 slots. During Vet Camp, participants interact with clinicians, faculty members, and veterinary students. They form relationships that can provide guidance and mentorship, whether they decide to pursue the CVM Early Entry program for high-school graduates or just have questions about career options. Moore-Henderson also helps organize the popular, annual CVM Open House event, held for two days each spring. “We open our doors to prospective students or anyone who wants to learn about our facilities or programs,” she said. “They tour the buildings, experience a petting zoo, and enjoy the highlight—the animal show.” Veterinary students parade their pets across the stage and tell the audience about the animals. Cats and dogs dominate the parade, but an occasional guinea pig or ferret joins the fun. After the show, kids can meet and greet the animals and students. Dr. Kent Hoblet, MSU-CVM dean, said Moore-Henderson’s role is very important at the college. “Brittany’s position as our community outreach veterinarian gives her a unique opportunity to practice veterinary medicine while continuing to reach out to those in underserved communities who might not see veterinary medicine as a viable career option for them,” Hoblet observed. “In her first year in this new role, she has done an exceptional job, and we look forward to seeing the continued impact she will have on veterinary medicine at the local, state, and national levels.”

Dr. Brittany Moore-Henderson (left) is the community outreach veterinarian at the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine.

Dr. Simone Hinz (left), clinical instructor in the Department of Clinical Sciences, explains how anesthesia works to prospective students in the VetAspire program.

By Keri Collins Lewis • Photos by Tom Thompson Students bring their own pets to share with visitors at the Open House animal show, so each year’s event is different.

Smarter Lunchrooms, Healthier Students Getting children to eat more fruits and vegetables can be challenging, but a new program aims to help elementary students make more nutritious choices on their own. Child-nutrition directors in 38 school districts across Mississippi partnered with the MSU Extension Service to implement the Smarter Lunchrooms Movement. This program uses simple, evidence-based strategies, such as food placement and display techniques, to encourage children to choose fruits, vegetables, unflavored milk, and other nutritious foods in the lunchroom. “Schools offer nutritious foods in their lunch programs, but if students aren’t choosing those options or if they are throwing them away, then they aren’t benefiting from them,” said Samantha Willcutt, regional reg-

Mississippi LandMarks August 2017

“When foods look good, people want to eat them. These environmental changes are supplemented by the direct education in the classroom by SNAP-Ed nutrition educators.” SAMANTHA WILLCUTT

istered dietitian with the Extension Office of Nutrition Education. “This program offers easy changes that are either free or low cost that schools can implement to help cut down on food waste and increase intake of fruits and vegetables.” Developed by researchers at Cornell University, the program uses social and physical environmental prompts coupled with nutrition education to help influence children to make better food choices on their own. Eligible schools that choose to participate in the movement work with Extension Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) nutrition educators and Extension agents to build Smarter Lunchrooms teams. SNAP-Ed nutrition educators are

Jan Garrett (left), SNAP-Ed nutrition educator and Lee County Extension program assistant, and regional registered dietitian Samantha Willcutt work to implement the Smarter Lunchrooms Movement.

Colorful signs and friendly packaging help make fruits and vegetables more attractive to students as they select their lunches.

employees of the Extension Office of Nutrition Education who teach low-resource families ways to improve their diets and manage available food resources. Smarter Lunchroom team members vary from school to school but can include principals, teachers, parents, school-nutrition directors, lunchroom managers, and Extension agents. Together, they create a plan specific to their school’s needs, including at least one strategy intended to increase fruit, vegetable, and plain milk consumption. Strategies include placing a variety of products in highly visible areas in attractive packaging or displays with colorful and fun labels. Participating schools receive fruit and vegetable posters, fact sheets on various fruits and vegetables, and Mississippi Recipes for Success signs for serving lines. School districts also get large, clear bowls to display whole fruits near registers—a strategy that increased fruit sales in the Cornell study. “When foods look good, people want to eat them,” Willcutt said. “These environmental changes are supplemented by the direct education in the classroom by SNAP-Ed nutrition educators. They incorporate tastings into their lessons and discuss nutrients in the lesson’s featured foods and how those nutrients help the children become healthy and strong. Nutrition educators also create bulletin boards or design hallway displays that reinforce the program’s messages.” Nutrition education is embedded into the daily curriculum, with teachers and staff members using the fact sheets in classrooms or during announcements. Teachers and lunchroom workers are encouraged to engage students and use positive language to talk to them about their choices. To identify behavior changes, schools score themselves before and after implementation of the program using the Smarter Lunchrooms Score Card, which includes 60 methods the lunchroom staff can use to encourage more nutritious habits. Program implementation began in January and will continue as funding allows. Beginning in year two, program coordinators plan to expand to more schools in each participating district and conduct student surveys and plate waste studies, Willcutt said. Rosanna Miro, cafeteria manager at Saltillo Elementary School, said the program strategies are working in her lunchroom. “The kids pay attention to the signs in the serving line and the posters on the lunchroom walls,” she said. “We see them bending over and looking at them. They also get educational flyers on fruits and vegetables that are featured each month. And if we don’t have it in the lunchroom, they let us know. We are also putting our white milk in the front of the cooler, and I’m now ordering a little more.” The program is funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service and Economic Research Service. Learn more about the program at http://www.smarterlunchrooms.org.

By Susan Collins-Smith • Photos by Kevin Hudson

Simple changes, such as putting unflavored milk at the front of the cooler, lead more students to choose this healthy option.

Equestrian Team Focuses on Horsemanship

Ashley Shiffler, facilities supervisor for the MAFES horse unit, coaches the MSU Equestrian Team.

Mississippi LandMarks August 2017

Joshua Boyd and Ashley Beyer, members of the MSU Equestrian Team, practice their Western riding skills.

The horse and rider work together seamlessly as they execute tight turns and move over fences and into the flat. The rider is judged solely on his or her own performance, not the horse’s. This is collegiate equestrian riding, where each competition pairs a team member with an unfamiliar horse and equipment. There are no warm-ups, no practices—not a single dry run. Riders mount and are led into the arena where they must demonstrate their horsemanship. While the Mississippi State Equestrian Team has a longstanding history, a recent structural change has given the program a boost as a new coach takes the reins to help bring home a championship. Ashley Shiffler, facilities supervisor for the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station’s horse unit, leads the team in English and Western riding. Shiffler, a former collegiate equestrian rider, has served as coach for two National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) teams. “Previously, members of the team had to pay for private lessons from trainers in the area,” Shiffler said. “We have revamped the program, providing horses from our riding herd for students to practice with and creating more structure.” As a former member of a two-time Intercollegiate Horse Show Association championship team, Shiffler is a taskmaster, requiring student athletes to participate in mandatory practices,

workouts, upkeep, community service, and fundraising. However, students seem to appreciate the discipline. Sixty students tried out for the 2016–17 team, and 24 riders were selected. The two disciplines of competition, English and Western, differ in events and gear. The English saddle is much more compact and smaller with no horn. Riders have more direct contact with the horse. English riders participate in equitation over fences and equitation on the flat, where they are judged on how they connect and communicate with the horse. The Western saddle is much bulkier. Riders in this division participate in horsemanship and reining. Both events require riders to careen around a pattern where they are judged for position, accuracy, and connection with the horse. Riders are assigned to one of five levels of expertise, from beginner to open—the best of the best. The team competes from mid-September to March, with postseason opportunities in April and May. The MSU team is part of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association, which includes 16 colleges in Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia. This year’s team placed third in Western riding within the regional highpoint standings. The team is not limited to students in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS). As Shiffler explains, the team represents a wide swath of majors. “We have engineering, business, and agricultural students on the team this

year,” Shiffler said. “Our team members have to invest a lot of time to be ready for competition.” Shiffler, who aspires to one day have the MSU team in the NCAA, requires team members to practice for 2 hours each week and work out three times per week. For members in both divisions, the practices add up. Add the upkeep of horses and equipment, community service, and fundraisers, and the equestrians stay busy. “We are not funded by the university, so, for us to compete, we have to fund-raise every dollar,” Shiffler said. “We compete in different states, and there are travel costs, hotel expenses, and entry fees.” Team members, from beginner to open, seem to enjoy the competition and camaraderie. Joshua Boyd, a CALS agribusiness major, made the team this year as a beginning Western rider. Although Boyd has had some experience on horses, he has never competed. “I have a passion for horses,” Boyd said. “I love to travel to different places and see other teams compete. I was a walk-on, but Coach Shiffler could see that I had skills. She has an eye for people who are naturals and people who have potential. She taught me so much this year.” Boyd plans to compete for the 2017– 18 team and learn even more. By Karen Brasher • Photos by Kat Lawrence

Dr. Tom Allen worked to identify a disease-causing fungus in soybean. (Photo by Kevin Hudson)

Mississippi LandMarks August 2017

MSU Leads the Charge Against Soybean Taproot Decline

(Photo Submitted)

“The hardest part about doing this kind of research is that farmers expect answers to a growing problem. Based on our observations over the past decade, it appears we have a long way to go to determine the proper management techniques for this particular disease to limit yield losses.” Dr. Tom Allen

Soybean taproot decline (TRD) has been compromising crop yields in the Southeast for more than a decade, but researchers have now identified the fungus that causes this disease. Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station (MAFES) scientists have been part of a cooperative regional effort to make the discovery. Plant pathologists Dr. Tom Allen, Dr. Maria Tomaso-Peterson, and Tessie Wilkerson spearheaded the effort along with scientists from Auburn University, the University of Arkansas, and Louisiana State University. The researchers have placed the fungus in a group of structurally similar species in the genus Xylaria. The first report of the disease has been accepted for publication in Plant Health Progress. Research team members now hope to identify this pest at the species level. “Getting to this point took some time since we were dealing with something new that had not previously been reported in the world of soybean diseases,” said Tomaso-Peterson, a research professor in the Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology, and Plant Pathology. “The next step will be determining whether or not this is a known fungal species from this particular genus or if we are dealing with a new species altogether.”

(Photo by Kevin Hudson)

Preliminary molecular analysis has indicated the possibility of more than one species within the genus, explained Allen, an associate Extension/research professor at the Delta Research and Extension Center in Stoneville, Mississippi. “Over the past 50 years, there has been only one report of a species of Xylaria from soybean, but that observation was from seed and not from diseased plants,” Allen said. “In other plant hosts, specifically in apples, two species of Xylaria are characterized as wood-decay fungi but cause a root and collar rot of mature apple trees. The disease of mature apple trees is known as Xylaria root rot but has also been referred to as black root rot due to the black sheath of fungal stroma that develops on the surface of rotting roots.” As the disease progresses in infected apple trees, the affected trees subsequently break at the soil line as a result of the rotting caused by the fungi. One specific morphological characteristic of Xylaria-related fungi includes finger-like fungal fruiting structures referred to as “dead man’s fingers.” These same fungal signs are seen with soybean affected by TRD and are often observed on soybean residue in continuous soybean fields.

Identifying the Problem

Allen said producers and allied agricultural professionals should scout for TRD throughout the growing season, but foliar symptoms consisting of interveinal chlorosis are most often observed in late summer, especially in August. “The interveinal chlorosis that is associated with TRD is more easily observed in the upper canopy since the rest of the leaves are green,” Allen said. “Even though the symptoms associated with TRD can be commonly observed throughout the season, it is easier to observe the symptoms later in the growing season.” “We initially thought TRD could potentially be several different soybean diseases prior to when we were first able to document something that we considered to be new,” Tomaso-Peterson said. Foliar symptoms associated with TRD look like many other rootassociated diseases, making it easy to confuse with others, Allen added. Early sightings of TRD could have been misdiagnosed as sudden death syndrome, a disease that produces similar foliar symptoms. “Spreading the word about the differences in TRD and sudden death syndrome is an important step to help the soybean community diagnose the differences between the two diseases,” Allen said. “During 2014, fields exhibiting severe TRD were observed in the Delta. As a result of the severe TRD, some yield losses likely occurred in isolated situations. Observations made during 2014 in a field with severe TRD attempted to determine the yield losses associated with the disease.” The average amount of loss caused by the fungus is about 18 percent of harvestable yield.

Ongoing Research

Dr. Maria Tomaso-Peterson is helping develop strategies to control soybean taproot decline. (Photo by David Ammon)

“Getting to this point took some time since we were dealing with something new that had not previously been reported in the world of soybean diseases. The next step will be determining whether or not this is a known fungal species from this particular genus or if we are dealing with a new species altogether.” Dr. Maria Tomaso-Peterson

No fungicides are in development or currently labeled to control Xylaria. However, researchers are working to determine possible management tactics for TRD. Soybean research pathologists conducted field trials during 2016 at the Delta R&E Center to assess whether in-furrow fungicide applications and seed treatment products could help reduce losses associated with TRD. “Possible strategies may include rotation, identification of the host range for this particular fungus, and screening commercially available fungicides to determine if anything currently on the market is efficacious against the fungus,” Tomaso-Peterson said. “An integrated approach may serve best to reduce the potential yield losses associated with TRD.” “The hardest part about doing this kind of research is that farmers expect answers to a growing problem,” Allen said. “Based on our observations over the past decade, it appears we have a long way to go to determine the proper management techniques for this particular disease to limit yield losses. In the meantime, we want to provide Extension-based outreach to the farming community, county agents, and the other allied agricultural professions so they are aware of the disease and how to easily diagnose it in the field.” Tomaso-Peterson and Tessie Wilkerson, a PhD candidate working under Allen’s direction, are MAFES researchers. Allen also has a MAFES appointment and is a specialist in row-crop plant pathology with the MSU Extension Service.

By Nathan Gregory

Mississippi LandMarks August 2017

Extending Knowledge,

Changing Irrigation Practices When Dr. Curt Lacy started work as the regional coordinator for the Delta region of the MSU Extension Service in Stoneville in 2015, his mandate was clear: improve program planning and delivery at the county level. He wanted to make an immediate impact and looked for a niche. “What could we do that was important to the farmers in this area and that would have immediate impacts?” Lacy asked. “The answer was irrigation.” Many Delta producers rely on crop consultants for recommendations. But Lacy found the irrigation program needed more boots on the ground, and Extension agents could meet this need. So he and Extension irrigation specialist

Dr. Jason Krutz applied for a grant through the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program. SARE is a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant program focused on funding research and outreach for innovations that improve farm profitability while protecting land and water. It funded Lacy and Krutz for a 2-year Professional Development Program proposal designed to get training that results in a nationally recognized professional certification for Delta Extension agents and Krutz’s irrigation team. “Krutz trained our agents, and for 2 years they will go to the Irrigation Association’s national Irrigation Show and

(Photo by Kat Lawrence)

Mississippi LandMarks August 2017

Education Conference to take more classes and then take the test to become certified ag irrigation specialists,” Lacy explained. The grant also funded the equipment agents need to provide on-farm demonstrations and technical assistance, such as laser levels, flow meters, and irrigation sensors. “With this equipment, agents will be able to work with their clients to do a traditional demonstration, which involves the agent using all of the tools to time irrigation while the farmer uses his existing methods to make irrigation decisions,” Krutz said. “Or, if someone is already a believer in the process and they want help setting up their farm using the equipment or setting up Pipe Planner software, the agents can help with the computerized hole-selection process.” Delta Plastics Pipe Planner is a webbased application designed to help farmers create the most efficient irrigation systems for their row crops. Computerized hole-selection tools specify the size of holes that should be punched into polypipe irrigation to release the right amount of water into the furrow. Krutz said the goal is to decrease water use in the Delta while making the farmers’ businesses more profitable. In his role as an associate Extension/research professor, Krutz has built years of data showing the effectiveness of using technology to better inform crop-management decisions. “In soybean, we reduced water use by 28 percent while maintaining yield and profitability,” Krutz reported. “For corn, we improved yield by 7 bushels per acre, reduced water use by 41 percent, and improved profitability by $40 per acre. For rice, we maintained yield, reduced water use by 28 percent, and improved profitability by $30 per acre.” A recent United Soybean Board survey demonstrated Krutz’s effectiveness

Dr. Curt Lacy (left) and Dr. Jason Krutz promote innovations that make farms more profitable and protect the state’s land and water. (Photo by Kevin Hudson)

in sharing this data. It found that 59 percent of Mississippi producers are using computerized hole selection, 60 percent have used soil-moisture sensors, and 20 percent have used surge valves. Krutz said fewer than 5 percent of producers used this technology 6 years ago. Compared with their peers across the country, Mississippians are ahead of the crowd. Nationally, about 1.5 percent of producers use soil-moisture sensors, according to a recent USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service report. As word gets out that more Extension personnel are trained, certified, and equipped to help producers adopt these technologies, Krutz hopes those statistics will improve even more. “Water is one of our most precious natural resources, and we want to conserve it for future generations of Mississippians to enjoy,” he concluded.

By Keri Collins Lewis

Alex Deason (left), an Extension agent in Sunflower County trained under the SARE program, discusses an irrigation flow meter with client Adam Snell of Inverness, Mississippi. (Photo by Kevin Hudson)

“Something I’ll Never Forget” Guatemalans Benefit from MSU Livestock Program

Forage quality varies drastically in Totonicapán, Guatemala, and it affects livestock owners whose livelihoods depend on cattle production. When cattle lack adequate nutrition, the effects extend to the Central American country’s population as a whole. High poverty and malnutrition rates reflect the struggles of Guatemalan livestock owners, many of whom own only two to four animals. Jessica Graves, undergraduate coordinator and instructor in the MSU College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), developed a livestock-education program that specifically serves this population. She is making a series of visits to Momostenango, a city in the state of Totonicapán, to provide Extension agents and livestock owners with training to maximize their available resources. Introducing the program to the country’s agricultural industry is a key component of her doctoral studies. After an exploratory trip in September 2016, Graves returned to Guatemala in March 2017. Dr. Marina Denny, an assistant professor in the School of Human Sciences, along with 17 CALS undergraduate and graduate students, assisted Graves in delivering educational programs.

They covered primary themes of animal health, nutrition, and reproduction but delved further into specialized topics, such as scoring body condition and identifying sick animals. The MSU instructors also made recommendations on housing, water management, best practices for sustainable agriculture, and selection criteria for breeding stock. “We developed a manual that includes photos and graphics to complement the verbal training sessions on livestock management,” Graves said. “Each agent received a copy of this livestock management manual, which will be a living document, meaning we can add and modify information as needed to ensure they have the most accurate information available to share with livestock owners. The agents were very engaged and interested.” Students taught several quality-of-life programs. Rachel Holley, a graduate student in agricultural extension education, used the trip to hold youth nutrition workshops and finish the creative component of her master’s thesis. She taught children about the health benefits of eating the fruits and vegetables available to them. “I wanted them to learn how the foods they eat play a role in their health as they grow up,” Holley explained.

Kaitlyn Junkin meets a Brahman bull owned by a Guatemalan livestock producer.

Mississippi LandMarks August June 2017 2017

“Part of seeing the big educational picture is including MSU students by providing them with a study-abroad opportunity. Those experiences afford them the chance to see culture, livestock production, and the Extension system in another country.” Jessica Graves Kaitlyn Junkin, a senior majoring in animal and dairy sciences, trained Extension agents in nutritional balance for livestock. “We included the detailed, species-specific dietary requirements in the manual for the agents to look at later when needed,” she said. “It was such an encouraging experience to know we could contribute positively to their lives and that they wanted to learn about the topics we had to share with them. We also had the opportunity to build a shelter for a young livestock owner, and the smile on his face is something I’ll never forget.” Graves used the trips to conduct a process evaluation to determine if the content and educational approaches were effective enough to ensure the success of the Guatemala Livestock Extension Program, but her primary goal was to show students the benefits of studying abroad. “I would like to play a small part in alleviating the malnutrition and poverty issues that people in the Western Highlands area of Guatemala face each day,” she said. “I see animal protein as a great vehicle in combating these issues, but both Extension agents and livestock owners need to understand the basics for livestock best management practices. “Part of seeing the big educational picture is including MSU students by providing them with a study-abroad opportunity,” Graves added. “Those experiences afford them the chance to see culture, livestock production, and the Extension system in another country.”

By Nathan Gregory • Photos Submitted Many Guatemalan farms have little vegetation during the dry season to support animals (top photo). The dried corn stalks on the ground are often the sole food provided for livestock, resulting in low body condition scores due to lack of nutrients. This cow is not the mother of the calf it is feeding, but it is the only lactating cow on the farm. Poor nutrition hampers milk production. Animal and dairy science (ADS) students Lakan Guelker (bottom photo, standing left) and Tyler McMurray teach Guatemalan Extension agents about identifying body condition scores for livestock. Guinder González (right), representing Global Business Solutions Institute, translates.

Rachel Holley (above right) shares an activity with local children about the benefits of certain fruits and vegetables available to them. ADS students Hudson Thames (top photo, left) and Ben Po align galvanized sheets in preparation for the installation of a PVC gutter in a rainwater-collection system. Jessica Graves (bottom photo, left) and guide/translator Jorge Gongora distribute handmade dresses to the girls in the village after visiting a local livestock producer.

Mississippi LandMarks August 2017

1/82:

Marion County

Photo by A. Hope Evans, Celtic Creations Photography

County seat:

Columbia

Population:

26,180

Municipalities:

Columbia

Communities:

Enon, Improve, Foxworth, Darbin, Kokomo, Sandy Hook, New Hope

Commodities:

timber, poultry, beef, dairy

Industries:

Pioneer; Southern Tire Mart; TL Wallace Construction; several small, advancedmanufacturing businesses

Natural resources: Attractions:

MSU in Marion County: 1060 Hwy. 13 South Columbia, MS 39429 601-736-8251

The John Ford Home, also known as Ford Stockade or Ford’s Fort, is a historic landmark approximately 20 miles south of Columbia, near Sandy Hook. Built in 1809 by an early settler, Rev. John Ford, the home is recognized by the National Register of Historic Places.

Pearl River, timber, wildlife, oil, gas

History notes:

Mississippi’s first rodeo and the world’s first night rodeo under lights were held in Marion County. In 1935, the Bascom brothers organized and held the first rodeo under electric lights at the Columbia City Park. These cowboys helped set the tradition for rodeo in Marion County and in Mississippi.

Did you know?

Marion County is the only place in Mississippi that is home to a true white squirrel, brought to the area by Governor Hugh White. Columbia served as the state capital from 1821–22. Columbia is home to five Mississippi Business Journal top 100 businesses in the state.

Red Bluff, John Ford Home, Pearl River, Mississippi Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Game Reserve, Lake Bill Waller, Lake Columbia

True to our history, Marion County has balanced agriculture with industry. Our creative entrepreneurial and artistic spirit continues to make Marion County a hub of activity in south-central Mississippi. Amanda Woods, MSU Extension County Coordinator

Editor’s note: 1/82 is a regular feature highlighting one of Mississippi’s 82 counties.

NEWSNOTES Dr. Keri Jones is the new leader of the MSU Extension Service Soil Testing Laboratory. Jones, an Extension associate who has worked in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) Department of Plant and Soil Sciences since 2016, said her primary goal is to provide accurate soil analysis in a timely manner and that she plans to update soil-nutrient application recommendations. During her Jones 2 years with the Adams County Soil and Water Conservation District in Natchez, Mississippi, Jones assisted with surveying and helped design erosion-control structures. She also helped landowners address erosion issues on their property. Jones completed her master’s in biology and doctorate in agronomy at MSU. Her research in plant breeding and species identification includes work with the USDA Agricultural Research Service. Dr. L. Jason Krutz is the new director of the Mississippi Water Resources Research Institute, which provides a coordinated research and development program to find solutions to water and water-related landuse problems in the region. Krutz previously served as an irrigation specialist, Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station (MAFES) scientist, and H2O Initiative executive director. He conKrutz ceived and directed the Row-crop Irrigation Science Extension and Research Program (RISER), which has increased adoption of profitable irrigation best management practices for cotton, corn, soybeans, rice, and peanuts across the state. He also formulated strategies to facilitate the adoption of RISER techniques throughout Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, and Tennessee for participants in the H2O Initiative. Krutz received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in agronomy from the University of Arkansas. He holds a PhD in agronomy from Texas A&M University. An MSU vegetable expert is part of a project designed to support and strengthen organic farming in the Southeast. Dr. Casey Barickman, an assistant professor of horticulture with MAFES and the MSU Extension Service, is working with colleagues from Tuskegee University, Auburn University, North Carolina State University, Oregon State University, and the Alabama Sustainable Agriculture Barickman Network to help organic growers develop efficient production systems. This project, funded by a $2 million grant from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, will provide research and Extension support to increase the development of a sustainable organic agriculture industry. Barickman, who has been at MSU for 3 years, studies a wide range of issues that impact local growers, including cover crops, organic-based fertilizers, and irrigation efficiency in organic vegetable-production systems. He is based at the North Mississippi Research and Extension Center in Verona, Mississippi.

Mississippi LandMarks August 2017

Dr. Cary W. “Bill” Herndon retired from MSU after 33 years of service to the university. Herndon, who spent 25 years in the CALS Department of Agricultural Economics, is an authority on dairy industry economics. He served as the departmental graduate program coordinator, Cochran Fellows program manager, and interim department head. Herndon became Herndon head of the North Mississippi Research and Extension Center in 2008 and joined DAFVM as associate vice president in 2012. He also served as interim director of the Office of International Programs, interim associate vice president of the MSU International Institute, and interim director of the Mississippi Water Resources Research Institute. Herndon has contributed his expertise to professional organizations, including serving as president of the Southern Agricultural Economics Association (SAEA) and the MSU chapter of Gamma Sigma Delta. In 2013, he received the SAEA Lifetime Achievement Award. Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation recently honored Herndon for his service to agriculture. Dr. Glover Triplett, a MAFES researcher known as the “Father of No-Till Farming,” was honored by the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation for his pioneering work in zero-tillage production. Federation President Mike McCormick made the presentation at the organization’s annual Summer Commodity Conference at MSU. The production system pioneered by Triplett and Dr. Dave Van Doren in 1963 has Triplett now spread to millions of acres around the world. It has allowed farmers to increase yields while using less labor and drastically reducing soil erosion. Established at Ohio State University, the original no-till research plots are still in operation. Triplett, who grew up on a 2,000-acre farm in Noxubee County, Mississippi, earned his undergraduate and master’s degrees at MSU. In 1982, he joined the faculty at Mississippi State. Triplett, now 87, is still doing research at MSU. The Kemper County Board of Supervisors renamed the county’s Farmers’ Market Building in DeKalb, Mississippi, in memory of Ruby Rankin in a ceremony on July 17. Rankin, who passed away at the age of 57 in May 2017, served 33 years with MSU Extension, with her last role as county coordinator and Extension agent in Kemper County. Rankin dedicated her professional life to serving her community, mentoring Rankin new agents and growing leaders through 4-H. Ruby served on numerous regional and state committees that supported the work of MSU Extension and Mississippi State. Additionally, she was active in Kemper County, serving as chair of the Friends of Children Interagency Council and coordinator for the Mississippi Cattlemen’s Association, Forestry Association of Kemper County, and Coalition for a Healthy Kemper. She was cofounder of the Kemper County Relay for Life and an active member of Mississippi Homemaker Volunteers.

NEWSNOTES Dr. Janice Chambers, a William L. Giles Distinguished Professor of Veterinary Medicine, was among the winners of the 2017 Southeastern Conference Faculty Achievement Award. Chambers, a longtime member of the College of Veterinary Medicine Department of Basic Sciences, holds major international commendations Chambers as a Diplomate of the American Board of Toxicology and Fellow of the Academy of Toxicological Sciences. She directs the Center for Environmental Health Sciences, an interdisciplinary research unit in CVM that seeks to understand and combat the toxic effects of potent nervous system poisons. Chambers is recognized as a global expert in organophosphate toxicology, and she has served on the Environmental Protection Agency Scientific Advisory Board. The California native earned her doctorate in animal physiology from MSU. Over her distinguished career, Chambers has been principal investigator of about $30 million in federally funded competitive grants. Dr. Caleb Lemley, an assistant professor in the CALS Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences and a MAFES researcher, received the Outstanding Young Animal Scientist in Research Award from the Southern Section of the American Society of Animal Science. The award recognizes notable contributions by scientists under 40. An animal physiology specialist, Lemley has focused Lemley his research on pregnancy in cows, specifically how supplements of melatonin help increase blood flow between heifers and unborn calves. Lemley said calves receiving melatonin were larger than those in a control group, and his team currently is in the process of replicating the research in beef cattle. In the past 4 years, Lemley has mentored four graduate students and seven undergraduate students. As a testament to his preparation of tomorrow’s scientists, Lemley’s students have been recognized for several poster and oral competition awards. Dr. Henry Wan, a professor in the CVM Department of Basic Sciences, received the 2017 Ralph E. Powe Research Excellence Award, MSU’s top research honor. Wan has seven active grants totaling more than $4.5 million—most of which are highly competitive, including a National Institutes of Health R01 grant. Wan has published 105 peer-reviewed papers and developed 14 software programs, including widely used Wan antigenic cartography software. He has presented more than 100 posters and almost 150 oral presentations around the world. He has mentored 69 trainees, ranging from high-school students to visiting faculty members. Wan is known for his innovative laboratory and computational approaches to understanding and developing more effective approaches to prevent and treat influenza. The Powe Award is a memorial to the MSU alumnus and longtime research vice president who died in 1996.

MSU President Mark E. Keenum was elected to chair the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) Board of Directors. In April, Keenum accepted the gavel from Dan Glickman, outgoing FFAR board chair, former U.S. secretary of agriculture, and executive director of the Aspen Institute Congressional Program. Glickman cited Keenum’s leadership experience at Keenum MSU and with the USDA on Capitol Hill as an attribute that makes him uniquely qualified to lead the board. FFAR builds partnerships to support innovative science addressing today’s food and agriculture challenges. Leveraging public and private resources, FFAR will increase the scientific and technological research, innovation, and partnerships critical to enhancing sustainable production of nutritious food for a growing global population.

Obe

Two MSU graduate students won major research recognitions at the 2017 International Poultry Scientific Forum. Tomilola O. “Tomi” Obe and Mohit Bansal, who are pursuing master’s degrees in the CALS Department of Poultry Science, were presented with awards of excellence. Obe, a native of Nigeria, studied whether salmonella resistant to antimicrobials may also be resistant to pH, heat, or antibiotics. She received a 2013 summa cum laude MSU poultry science degree with a business management focus. Bansal, a native of India, studied the ability of antimicrobial-resistant listeria and salmonella to resist antibiotics, and he examined the components of biofilm—the coating that pathogens create when they come into contact with antimicrobials.

Bansal

Crawford

Urvina

Two CALS biochemistry majors are among five MSU students named to the Mississippi Rural Physicians Scholarship Program. Created in 2007 by the Mississippi Legislature, the program provides $30,000 per year for recipients to attend medical school. Junior Cailey Crawford of Randolph, Mississippi, and sophomore Austin H. Urvina of Booneville, Mississippi, earned the scholarships. The program provides undergraduate academic enrichment and support, plus clinical experience and mentoring from practicing physicians. Students who then complete all medical school requirements are directly admitted to the University of Mississippi Medical Center. After medical school, scholars enter residency programs in pediatrics, family medicine, medicine-pediatrics, obstetrics/gynecology, or general internal medicine. They must provide 4 years of service in a clinic-based practice in rural Mississippi.

DEVELOPMENT

CORNER

Dr. Ryan Kennedy and Dr. Brittany Thames examine a dog in the College of Veterinary Medicine intensive-care unit. (Photo by Tom Thompson)

Reeves Family Creates Enduring Legacy through CVM There are as many different reasons people choose to support universities as there are ways to assist these institutions. For Dr. William “Bill” Reeves and Dr. Betty Reeves of Guin, Alabama, their love for Mississippi State University and the remarkable companionship of a furry friend inspired their strategic gifts to the College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM). Unlike many outright gifts, the couple’s investments are able to deliver beneficial outcomes not only now, but also well into the future. Since 2012, the Reeveses have established six charitable gift annuities for the CVM Small Animal Critical Care Unit Fund. While the annuities are helping to grow resources for future laboratory space where students can Dr. Betty Reeves and Dr. William “Bill” Reeves established charitable gift annuities for the CVM Small Animal Critical Care Unit Fund. (Photo Submitted)

Mississippi LandMarks August 2017

learn important medical concepts in intensive- and critical-care delivery, the investments are also providing the couple with significant charitable tax deductions and annual fixed payments.

“Interest rates at the bank had fallen so low that we were gaining very little income on our savings,” said Bill Reeves. “Knowing that we wanted to give to Mississippi State, the gift annuity was a very attrac-

For More Information

tive option to us, not only because of the tax deduction, but also because we were able to get a larger return.” A native of Columbus, Mississippi, Bill Reeves enrolled at

鵻鵼

Mississippi State as a veteran under the Korean G.I. Bill. He arrived on campus only 3 days after being discharged from the U.S. Navy. He graduated from the MSU College of Education in 1961, followed by a master’s degree from the University of Mississippi and a Doctor of Education from the University of Alabama. Betty Reeves received a bachelor’s and two master’s degrees from the University of Alabama. However, the Double Springs, Alabama, native later joined her husband’s alma mater, graduating with a doctoral degree from the MSU College of Education in 1975.

Jud Skelton College of Agriculture and Life Sciences/Real Estate Giving (662) 325-0643 jud.skelton@foundation.msstate.edu http://www.cals.msstate.edu/

Both served as members of the MSU faculty for several years before Bill Reeves became president of East Mississippi Community College.

Jeff Little

The couple later relocated to north Alabama, where they retired as dis-

College of Forest Resources

tinguished educators from the Winston County School District. It was during retirement that Bill Reeves decided he “needed something to do.” On a visit to a local flea market, he found just the solution he’d been looking for—a short-legged Feist that would earn the name Rocky. Although the couple had owned several dogs over the years,

and The Bulldog Forest (662) 325-8151 jlittle@foundation.msstate.edu http://www.cfr.msstate.edu/

none were able to offer the companionship that Rocky provided. “After we were retired, we just had more time to spend with Rocky than we ever did with any other pets,” Betty Reeves explained. Following Rocky’s death, the Reeveses knew they wanted to do something meaningful in his honor. That’s when they began looking into ways to support CVM, thus assisting others with their beloved pets.

Jimmy Kight College of Veterinary Medicine (662) 325-5893 jkight@foundation.msstate.edu http://www.cvm.msstate.edu

“Mississippi State gave us the foundation we both needed for our careers, and we’re happy to be able to give back in a way that means so much to us,” Bill Reeves said. In addition to their annuities, the couple also designated CVM as the benefactor of their estate. Through their planned gifts, the Reeveses

Will Staggers College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and MSU Extension Service

are further enabling the college to provide quality educational experi-

(662) 325-2837

ences for ambitious students and top-notch care for patrons and their

wstaggers@foundation.msstate.edu

beloved pets.

http://www.cals.msstate.edu

The couple’s generous support is part of Mississippi State’s ongoing Infinite Impact capital campaign, a multiyear endeavor that furthers the university’s mission and reach nationally and globally with private gifts.

Charlie Weatherly

Alumni and friends can learn about various ways to contribute to CVM

Director of Development Emeritus for

through the campaign by contacting Jimmy Kight, director of develop-

Agriculture, Forestry, and Veterinary Medicine

ment for the college, at (662) 325-5893 or jkight@foundation.msstate.edu.

(662) 325-3471

More information on planned giving and supporting MSU through gift

cweatherly@foundation.msstate.edu

annuities can be found at www.msugiftplanning.org.

http://www.cals.msstate.edu/

By Addie Mayfield

Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 290 Tupelo, MS 38801

Box 9625 Mississippi State, MS 39762

Mississippi State and the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) cohosted leaders of the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) for a tour of university research and Extension facilities across the state in June. MSU President Mark E. Keenum (center) and other officials met with AFBF President Zippy Duvall (second from right). The meeting also included Bill Herndon (left), DAFVM associate vice president; Lynne Finnerty, AFBF director of executive communications and projects; Gregory Bohach, DAFVM vice president; Ted Kendall IV, MFBF vice president for central Mississippi; and Justin Ferguson, AFBF national affairs coordinator. (Photo by Russ Houston)