Cultivate - Winter 2023

LETTER FROM THE DEAN

Any year is a good year in the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences, but 2022 was an outstanding, record-setting year for the college.

When the university’s fiscal year ended in June, CAAS faculty had collectively been awarded $55.22 million of external funding, besting our previous record by two-fold and accounting for more than 31% of all research funding for the year at Utah State University (excluding the Space Dynamics Laboratory)

That money supports research focused on big issues. We’re proud to be at a land-grant university where this funding also supports many students who are paid as research assistants and who learn to make discoveries and share knowledge alongside faculty mentors.

It was also a record-setting year for donations to the college, with 1,391 donors whose gifts totaled $55.3 million. That is an incredible investment in our students and programs and amounted to more than half of the total of donations to all campus entities. Many of you contributed to this milestone achievement and partnered with us to make a difference in countless people’s lives. We cannot thank you enough.

Kenneth L. White

Dean, College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences; Vice President, Extension and Agriculture

Fall semester, enrollment in the college continued to rise. I believe the growing number of students who entrust us with their education reflects our faculty’s efforts to excel as teachers and mentors. They work creatively to keep long-time core programs current and relevant while also responding to USU’s mission of serving the people of Utah with opportunities that prepare them for meaningful work. And students are doing that work at campuses statewide and learning online in places around the world.

It’s an exciting time in the college and I hope you will enjoy this look at some of the great things going on and see more stories on our website: caas.usu.edu �

@utahstate.ag

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack (third from left) with (left to right) Brandon Willis, professional practice associate professor of applied economics, John Ferry, USU Board of Trustees vice chair, and College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences’ Dean Ken White. Vilsack was the university’s 2022 Commencement speaker, and he also met with CAAS graduates and faculty. See more about his messages on page 19.

Featured

Welding Student Wins Bronze Medal at WorldSkills

After training 60 to 90 hours a week, Jordan Packer became the most recent star in USU Eastern’s welding program. He faced off against competitors from 20 other countries and brought home the bronze medal in welding from the international WorldSkills 2022 competition and the Best of Nation Award from among the U.S. competitors in all events.

Veterinary Medicine is USU’s Newest College

USU’s former School of Veterinary Medicine is now the university’s newest college. Work is underway to transition the program to a four-year program that will grant doctor of veterinary medicine degrees and admit more students in the coming years.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack

U.S Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack’s 2022 Commencement address focused on resilience, defined by a belief and faith in something better and building the capacity to make it happen. He later spoke to CAAS graduates and faculty about some of the challenges and opportunities in agriculture.

Ram Chaudhari – Quest for Learning Brings Global Success

Alumnus Ram Chaudhari’s hard work and passion for learning took him from a small village north of Mumbai to boarding school and to graduate school at USU. The food scientist went on to work in industry and launched a company that became a world leader in developing nutrient systems.

Horses and Heroes

The late Robert Adams rode horses on his family’s ranch long before he piloted airplanes in Vietnam. Part of his legacy is the newly opened Robert A. Adams Equine-Human Science Arena where students learn and military veterans come to ride and heal some of the emotional scars of war.

Dean: Kenneth L. White

Executive Director of Development:

Brandon Monson

Director of Marketing:

Mike Whitesides

Editor:

Lynnette Harris

Graphic Designer:

Mike Wernert

Copy Editors:

Julene Reese

Ethan Brightbill

Shelby Ruud Jarman

SEE CULTIVATE ONLINE

caas.usu.edu/cultivate

Cultivate is published by the dean’s office of the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences and distributed free of charge to its alumni and friends.

Submit story ideas, comments, and unsubscribe requests to Jean.Edwards@usu.edu or 4800 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322-4800.

In its programs and activities, including in admissions and employment, Utah State University does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title IX, or any other federal, state, or local law. The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or USU’s non-discrimination policies: Executive Director of the Office of Equity, Alison Adams-Perlac, alison. adams-perlac@usu.edu, Title IX Coordinator, Hilary Renshaw, hilary.renshaw@usu.edu, Old Main Rm. 161, 435-797-1266. For further information regarding non-discrimination, please visit equity.usu.edu,or contact: U.S. Department of Education, Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 800-421-3481, ocr@ed.gov or U.S. Department of Education, Denver Regional Office, 303-8445695 ocr.denver@ed.gov.

USU’s Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water, and Air just celebrated its first year with the release of a second report to Utah’s governor and policymakers. The institute is an interdisciplinary initiative designed by President Noelle Cockett that seeks to bring USU researchers focused on Utah’s natural resource challenges together with state, county, and city governments. The institute and the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences welcomed alumnus Brian Steed as the institute’s director and a member of the Department of Applied Economics’ faculty. More than a dozen CAAS faculty members contributed to the report, which is available to view online at ilwa.usu. edu.

Grosvenor’s Arch in Kane County, Utah.

Photo by Dennis Hinkamp

CAAS Alumnus Chad Warnick is Utah’s Teacher of the Year

It’s tempting to say that great teaching is just part of Chad Warnick’s DNA. After all, being honored as Utah’s 2023 Teacher of the Year came 32 years after his father, Waldo Warnick, won the same award. But saying it all comes naturally discounts the tremendous amount of effort and care that Chad has invested in the thousands of young people he has taught during his 17-year career.

When Chad arrived as a freshman at Utah State University, he knew he wanted a career in youth development with agriculture. An academic advisor helped him chart a course in agricultural education, and he earned a bachelor’s degree in 2006 and a master’s degree in agricultural systems and technology in 2009. In the classroom and through leading FFA opportunities, Chad knows he can make a positive difference in the lives of his students and share the importance of agriculture.

His broad training at USU helped prepare him for a myriad of teaching roles — currently in agriculture, biology, leadership, and communications at the Delta Technical Center (DTC) in Millard

By Lynnette Harris

story about his award, Chad was nervous when administrators told him his career and technical education courses would include teaching a floral design class. When he said he didn’t know how to do floral design, the response was that he’d better learn. He took that advice, and former students have since thanked him because they were confident enough to create bouquets and other pieces for their weddings.

He involved students in planning and proposing the creation of facilities where agricultural education is a hands-on experience. Encouraged by his father, who was teaching wood shop in Delta at the time, Chad and his students developed plans for a school farm which was approved by the school board. The result is a barn for goats, pigs, and cattle, and a greenhouse at the DTC. Work is underway this school year to establish an orchard.

Waldo, who earned his master’s degree in industrial education at USU in 1975, continues to cheer on his son’s efforts to teach skills that former students thank him for years after they graduated. Chad’s other supporters include his wife Traci, who

teaches in the Tintic School District and earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education at USU in 2005.

Beyond his family, Chad said his primary motivation remains his students. “It’s the little things that keep me motivated,” he said. “It is a student winning a contest, a text telling me they got a job due to their job interviewing skills. It’s the thank-you notes from students, and seeing a student grow as a person.” �

By Marcus Jensen, USU Marketing and Communications

Jordan Packer, a welding student at Utah State University Eastern, took third place at the WorldSkills Special Edition welding competition in October. In addition to winning a bronze medal for the United States, Packer also won the “Best of Nation Award” by achieving the highest score of any US WorldSkills contestant in their respective competition.

Packer, a welding major from Provo who has been a competitive welder since his sophomore year in high school, faced off against 20 other competitors representing their countries over the 20-hour contest that took place over four days. Each participating nation is allowed to enter a single contestant.

“I have been training for this competition since August of 2021,” Packer said. “Before that, I had to win the state competition and do well at nationals to even be invited to compete in the trials process. The trials process is invitation only and is what selects the sole competitor to represent the United States at WorldSkills. It’s an eight-month-long process to even get to represent the U.S.A.”

Packer’s bronze medal finish marks the first medal won by a United States welding competitor at WorldSkills since 2013. He scored 726 of a total of 800 points, placing just seven points out of first place – a difference of less than one percent.

WorldSkills is the technical-skills equivalent of the Olympics, and Packer is the second USU Eastern welding student to represent the United States at WorldSkills. Chandler Vincent of Roosevelt, Utah, placed fifth at WorldSkills 2017 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Just 16 welding contestants have qualified to represent the United States at WorldSkills since 1991.

Having seen Packer progress in the welding program and been among the coaches to prepare him for competition, instruc-

Welding Student Wins Bronze Medal at WorldSkills

tor Austin Welch is extremely proud of the program’s most recent award winner.

“I think any teacher’s dream is for ‘the student to exceed the master,’” said Welch. “That’s very obviously the case with Jordan. His welding skills are literally world-class, as is his work ethic, dedication, humility, and patriotism.”

Packer put his life on hold to fully dedicate himself to ensuring that he performed at his highest potential, practicing between 60-90 hours per week in preparation for WorldSkills.

“I put in an average of 90-hour weeks, and in the few weeks leading up to the competition, 18-hour days were normal for me,” Packer said. “This competition is for the best welders in the world, and you have to train harder than regular Olympians. Unlike Olympic athletes, welders only get one shot to compete on the world stage. All the training and years of work come down to 20 hours in a welding booth by yourself. If you mess up, there aren’t any second chances.”

“I would not be here without the incredible staff at USU Eastern,” he said. “Especially Austin, Jake [Clement], and Jeremiah [Garcia]. They have pulled many late nights working with me and have gone above and beyond to ensure that I had everything that I needed for my success. Your inner circle determines your success, and these three have been my inner circle since day one. They have stuck with me through all the hurdles, and I attribute much of my success to the incredible welding instructors and program at USU Eastern. USU Eastern is what higher education is about and I am extremely proud to call it my school.” �

By Lynnette Harris

College LEADERSHIP CHANGES

It has been a busy and exciting year in the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences as leadership changes were made to adapt to changing and growing degree programs.

Dirk Vanderwall, Interim Dean, College of Veterinary Medicine

Professor Dirk Vanderwall, who served as head of the Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences (ADVS) for nearly nine years and as associate dean of USU’s School of Veterinary Medicine, is now focused solely on his role as interim dean of USU’s newest college: the College of Veterinary Medicine. Vanderwall is leading the transition from USU’s collaboration with the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

“It's a tremendous opportunity to work with faculty and staff to transform the school into a new, standalone, four-year College of Veterinary Medicine," Vanderwal said. "The 10 years of experience we have with our partner institutions in the Washington-Idaho-MontanaUtah Regional Program in Veterinary Medicine has placed us in a strong position to pursue this extremely exciting, yet daunting, undertaking.”

Abby Benninghoff, Interim Dept. Head, ADVS

Professor Abby Benninghoff stepped into the position of interim department head in ADVS from her former role as the CAAS associate dean for research and graduate student services. In that role, Benninghoff developed training tools in science communication, data management, and effective grant writing. In the past fiscal year, CAAS researchers were awarded a record $55.22 million in external research funding, more than 31% of all research funding for USU for the year. Some faculty in the department have responsibilities in the College of Veterinary Medicine, but the department includes faculty who specialize in areas commonly thought of as traditional animal agriculture, such as dairy science, equine science, reproduction and development, and animal nutrition. There are also molecular geneticists focused on genetic engineering and biomedical research, including scientists in USU’s Institute for Antiviral Research.

“Shared governance is a priority for me, and it takes time,” Benninghoff said. “But I believe we will move ahead and come through the challenges with a new and robust College of Veterinary Medicine and a more robust department as well.”

Greg Cuomo, Associate Dean

Professor Greg Cuomo is CAAS associate dean of research and graduate student services. He joins us from the University of Minnesota where he served in a similar position for more than 20 years. He has a Ph.D. in agronomy and master’s and bachelor’s degrees in range science and management. Arriving just before the fall semester, Cuomo’s first few months at USU have been invested in listening to faculty and staff to learn about their professional strengths, challenges, and goals.

“The college addresses society’s grand challenges,” Cuomo said. “How do we feed a growing world population? How do we use water in the best way possible? How do we sustain our natural resources? Through the innovation that comes out of the very bright people in this college, we have an opportunity to shape our world going forward.”

Brian Warnick, Interim Dept. Head, TDTE

Professor Brian Warnick is interim head of the college’s new Department of Technology, Design and Technical Education. Warnick served as CAAS associate dean for academic programs and student services during the past several years. His role included overseeing scholarships, supporting the college’s excellent advising team, and shaping many degree programs in the college, including the expansion of career and technical education (CTE) programs. Warnick’s new responsibilities include the technology systems and the outdoor product design and development degree programs as well as the broad portfolio of CTE courses. Programs are often tailored to community and regional workforce needs and opportunities.

“I see these programs as important components of USU’s land-grant mission to create accessibility whether that‘s geographically or academically,” he said. “Our mission is to provide education and opportunities for everyone, including in rural communities. Our Blanding, Price, and Moab campuses have great faculty who are making big impacts in people’s lives and communities and I think we’re just scratching the surface of the positive impact we can have working with the Navajo Nation. We’re making it possible for people to gain education, get better jobs, fill needs in our workforce, and stay where they are, in communities where they want to live.”

Mateja Savoie-Roskos, Associate Dean

Mateja Savoie-Roskos, associate professor of dietetics and director of the master of public health program, now serves as CAAS associate dean for academic programs and student services. Savoie-Roskos is an outstanding educator, having been named the 2018 CAAS Teacher of the Year and the 2020 Outstanding Dietetic Educator in the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ Western Region.

“I am honored to have been appointed as an associate dean in the college,” she said. “I strongly believe the opportunities, resources, and environment we create for our students play significant roles in their success, well-being, and overall experience at USU. My experiences as a student, and more recently as a faculty member, give me a great appreciation for the impact one mentor can have on an individual’s education and career. I am delighted to serve in a role that gives me opportunities to provide that mentorship while also supporting the efforts of our incredible faculty, staff, and students. This is a very exciting time in our college and I am thrilled to be in this new role!" �

By Ysabel Nehring

The American Society of Horticulture Science (ASHS), recognized worldwide as a leading organization for horticulture science and technology, honored Assistant Professor Youping Sun with its Early Career Achievement Award primarily for a sustainable landscape horticulture program he developed.

Sun was invited to give a presentation on the program at the ASHA’s annual meeting after being selected to participate in the society’s Early Career Competition this year. He was honored with the ASHA’s Outstanding Ornamental Publication award in 2018 and was the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences’ Faculty Researcher of the Year in 2021.

“Water conservation has become critically important throughout Utah and the Intermountain West, one of the driest and fastest-growing regions in the U.S.,” said Sun.

Honored for Research and Sustainable Landscaping Program

He notes that Utah set a statewide goal of using 35% less water per person by 2050 as compared to water used in 2000. A significant portion of the decrease must come from reducing irrigation in urban landscapes which accounts for 50-65% of current urban water demand. Sun also studies landscape plants’ reactions to saline irrigation water, important work as water supplies in many places in the world have rising salinity levels.

Sun’s sustainable landscapes program has two major objectives:

1) developing understanding of plant responses to environmental stressors such as drought or salinity;

2) promoting the use of native plants for water-efficient landscaping by developing more efficient propagation methods and sustainable management practices.

The program’s goal is to help people create aesthetically appealing landscapes

that utilize research-based maintenance techniques and incorporate native plants.

Plants, Soils and Climate Department Head, Professor Paul Johnson, attributes Sun’s success to his talent, hard work, and enormous energy.

“Youping really strives hard to give students a good, hands-on experience, and his students can feel that,” said Johnson. “He is very important to our Center for Water-Efficient Landscaping group, connecting well to other universities in the West and Utah-based companies. He is an excellent scientist and an asset to the Utah nursery industry.”

“Working in landscape horticulture with an emphasis in water conservation is an exciting research program with many challenges,” said Sun. “As a passionate researcher in this field, I enjoy addressing these challenges and finding ways to support growers and landscapers and positively impacting the environment.” �

New Agreement Links USU and Fort Valley State University

In the spring of 2022, leaders representing Fort Valley State University visited Utah State’s Logan campus to explore opportunities for cooperation and collaboration between the two land-grant universities. Fort Valley State is a historically black college and university in Fort Valley, Georgia, and its President, Paul Jones, and his wife, Sylvia Jones, are USU alumni.

President Jones and USU President Noelle Cockett, signed a formal agreement in October to promote faculty and student exchanges, collaborative training for students, research, and public education programs in

both states. Research, courses, and facilities in USU’s College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences (CAAS) and the new College of Veterinary Medicine were of particular interest to FVSU representatives since the schools have several programs that complement one another. Ahead of the agreement, three FVSU students participated in a USDA-funded summer research internship program at USU, hosted by CAAS.

“Our universities share many of the same research interests and educational

By Lynnette Harris

goals, as well as our experience as landgrant institutions for our respective states,” President Cockett said. “We anticipate this being a very fruitful and rewarding relationship, with both institutions reaping benefits. Most importantly, people of diverse backgrounds, cultures, and experiences will become true and lasting friends.” �

Administrators and faculty from Fort Valley State University visited the Logan campus and facilities to begin building collaborations and envisioning opportunities for students and faculty at both universities.

Recipes for Success

Nathan

Food science graduate students Nathan Pougher, Chandler Stafford, Mackenzie Taylor, Melissa Marsh, and Annalisa Jones conquered three national product development competitions, securing two first-place wins in contests sponsored by Ocean Spray and the National Dairy Council and a third-place award in the Institute of Food Technologists competition.

Marie Walsh, professor of food science at Utah State University, served as the team’s faculty advisor.

“It takes months of dedication by the students to become a finalist in a product development competition,” said Walsh. “The students work diligently and complete reports, sensory evaluations, and presentations. The department as well as others support the students in these endeavors by providing financial and facilities support.”

Dessert “Tacos”

The students’ winning entry in the Ocean Spray competition was “Crocos,” customizable cranberry dessert tacos. The snack box includes cranberry fruit leather cut into rounds to make a tortilla-esque

outer wrap, brownie crumbles to mimic a ground meat filling, dyed coconut that resembles lettuce, and small crunchy meringues to stand-in for cotija cheese.

In addition to making a snack that was healthy for kids and adhered to USDA guidelines, the competition included a sustainability challenge to incorporate one or more components that are wasted in current food production. The students incorporated cranberry press cake (fruit solids leftover from the juicing process), cranberry permeate, and ground cocoa shells.

Dairy for Gamers

The team also developed a beverage for the National Dairy Council’s competition. Participants were challenged to create an innovative dairy-based product for gamers. Among young people in the U.S., 94% report playing some video games and 48% drink soft drinks while they play, making gamers a large potential market for a new kind of drink.

The team developed a dairy-based, pineapple-flavored energy drink made from acid whey and whey phospholipid protein concentrate with high-protein coconut-flavored boba gummies.

Graduate students

Pougher, Chandler Stafford, Melissa Marsh, Makenzie Taylor (left to right) and Annalisa Jones (not pictured) won or placed in the top three finalists in three national food product development contests in 2022.

By Ysabel Nehring and Lynnette Harris

By Ethan Brightbill

Honored with Mid- Career Educator Award

Associate Professor Dr. Arnaud Van Wettere received the 2022 Mid-Career Educator Award from the American College of Veterinary Pathologists. Van Wettere teaches in USU’s College of Veterinary Medicine and is a diagnostic pathologist at the Utah Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.

“I try to present the material in the context of where students are going to see it,” said Van Wettere. “I want to show them that we’re not learning this material just because it exists, but because it’s pertinent to their life as a veterinarian. When we teach them something, it’s because they need to know it, even if it’s a rare disease.”

His diagnostic work means Van Wettere has no shortage of experience with rare and common diseases alike — and that makes a difference.

“It’s easier to teach a material you live every day rather than teaching out of a book you don't practice,” Van Wettere said. “I can show them cases in class I’ve seen before that are relevant to what they’re learning. I wouldn’t conceive of teaching a material I don’t practice. I wouldn’t feel good about teaching it." �

The drink’s name “MOBA Boba” a nod to gamer slang for Multiplayer Online Battle Arena games. It also has 130 mg of caffeine, which is comparable to other energy drinks.

Marsh said acid whey has been a challenge for dairy companies to upcycle because its high mineral content makes it difficult to dispose of and its acidic flavor is not very palatable. But they hit on a formula they feel will resonate with gamers because of its taste, nutrition, energy and sustainability components.

Hatching a Smart Cookie

As a smaller team, Marsh and Annalisa Jones competed in the Institute of Food Technologists’ Smart Snacks for Kids Contest. They began work on “Saurus Snacks” in early 2021 but were not selected to compete as a finalist in that year’s competition.

After a year of improving their product, Marsh and Jones came up with the final version of Saurus Snacks, an interactive snack comprised of a lightly sweetened meringue “eggshell” enclosing one of three dinosaur cookies, and were invited to compete as finalists. �

Read more about the winning products online at tinyurl.com/FoodScienceWins

Veterinary Medicine IS USU’S NEWEST COLLEGE

Work is underway to transition Utah State University’s program in veterinary medicine to a four-year, doctor of veterinary medicine (DVM) degree-granting institution. Since Utah legislators approved funding that paves the way for the new program in early 2022, USU’s School of Veterinary Medicine has officially become the university’s ninth college, separate from the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences (CAAS).

Dr. Dirk Vanderwall is the interim dean overseeing the tremendous team effort to develop and staff the new college. Vanderwall is the former head of the Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences and associate dean of Utah’s portion of the Washington, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah Regional Program in Veterinary Medicine. In the current program, USU admits up to 30 students each year, 20 of whom must be Utah residents. Students complete two years of foundational study at the Logan campus and then move to Pullman, Washington, to complete their final two years of training at Washington State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

“For years, Utahns interested in veterinary medicine were forced to go out of state for training,” Utah Governor Spencer Cox said. “That’s why we’re so excited and grateful that the legislature funded the College of Veterinary Medicine at Utah State University. This investment is a long time coming and the new program will serve would-be veterinarians and the public for generations to come.”

By Lynnette Harris

There are just 33 accredited schools of veterinary medicine in the country. By contrast, there are 192 schools in the U.S. offering MD and DO degrees. USU President Noelle Cockett noted the new college will provide educational opportunities for Utah students who otherwise would not be able to pursue a doctorate in veterinary medicine due to limited seats in veterinary medical schools.

“We also anticipate significant growth in research and technology development in the areas of veterinary and biological sciences, thereby providing another economic boost for the state,” President Cockett said.

Connections with animal science researchers at USU have helped fuel the development and growth of biomedical technology companies that are important economic drivers and create jobs in northern Utah. Data from other institutions indicate that every $1 the state invests in a school of veterinary medicine attracts an average of $2.50 of research funding.

CAAS Dean Ken White notes that while care for companion animals is the limit of many peoples’ experiences with veterinarians, expert care for large animals and wildlife are crucial facets of public health and food safety. Animal agriculture in Utah is valued at more than $1 billion a year, with 25 of the state’s 29 counties reporting

livestock operations as the dominant facet of their agricultural economy.

Rather than build and continually staff, operate, and update a large veterinary hospital, USU will use a model pioneered by other veterinary schools in the country. Fourth-year students, supervised by qualified faculty veterinarians and working with board-certified specialists, will receive clinical training at veterinary practices throughout the state. Participating veterinarians will be compensated for hosting and mentoring students, and their patients will have access to visiting specialists’ expertise.

“Utah Veterinary Medical Association (UVMA) members are excited about legislators having funded the new school and look forward to seeing how it develops because it will have an important impact on veterinary medicine in the state,” said UVMA President and USU veterinary pathologist Dr. Jane Kelly. “Our members will be integral to the program as they host fourth-year students and faculty members in their clinics and hospitals. The new school will be an important asset for veterinarians throughout the state, many of whom are overwhelmed by the numbers of patients and clients they work so hard to serve.”

Before that can happen though, the new college is developing curriculum, facilities,

and plans that must be approved by the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Council on Education. The council limits how many programs are evaluated each year, so USU anticipates that fall semester of 2026, a class of 80 students will be admitted to complete all four years of their DVM training in Utah. Until then, the USU College of Veterinary Medicine continues training future veterinarians as a partner in the WIMU program. �

College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences Awards

Agriculture and Water at USU Research Landscapes

Associate Professor Matt Yost was invited to present his work on optimizing water use in agriculture at 2022 USU Research Landscapes, a series that connects state and community decision-makers with work going on at USU to address some of Utah’s most critical issues.

Irrigation accounts for more than 70% of water use in Utah, and farms provide both food and jobs and contribute to the state’s economy. But there are ways to use water more efficiently. Yost discussed research and field trials with recent advances in irrigation systems, drought-tolerant crops, and soil management.

See his presentation online at research.usu.edu/landscapes

Utah State University’s Top Doctoral Student Researcher

Food science Ph.D. student David Dang was named USU’s 2022 Doctoral Student Researcher of the Year. While pursuing his doctoral degree, Dang presented his food and meat science research at national conferences, was part of winning product development teams in the Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Sciences, and was a teaching assistant in three upper-division and graduate-level courses. Dang’s research resulted in six research publications, and he was an outstanding mentor to many undergrad and graduate students.

Leading the Way in Ag Ed

Professor Rebecca Lawver, head of the Department of Applied Sciences, Technology and Education, was elected president of the American Association for Agricultural Education. Lawver was also named a fellow of the association, an honor given to just four members of the association each year in recognition of exceptional contributions to the profession and the organization. Lawver is a self-described “city kid” who discovered her love for agricultural education when she was in college. She is proud to apply her knowledge and belief in the profession’s importance to preparing future high school agriculture teachers whose skills are in demand across the country.

Isaac and the Chocolate Factory

There’s a lot more involved in making chocolate bars than most people realize, and students from Butler Middle School in the Salt Lake City area got a hands-on experience with the process at the Aggie Chocolate Factory. It might seem an odd field trip for students in an English class, but it was a special follow-up to having read Roald Dahl’s beloved Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Students were assigned to create a new chocolate-based candy bar, slogan, and marketing label. Students voted for their favorites, and Isaac Ison emerged as the winner with Campfire Crunch — milk chocolate with mini marshmallows and graham cracker bits. The students also learned the process from bean to bar as they made Isaac’s chocolate bar dream come true.

Plants in Space

Doctoral student Chihiro Naruke was awarded first place for her research presented at the American Geophysical Union’s annual conference, which brought together (in-person and virtually) more than 25,000 participants from over 100 countries. Her work on how root growth affects the pore spaces in soil/growth media aims to help design ideal plant growth systems for microgravity conditions. Faculty mentor Professor Scott Jones

said the award is more appreciated and remarkable because English is Naruke’s second language. She is now working on a NASA-funded research project and completing her Ph.D.

Top Educators Honored

CAAS faculty members Dave Anderson and Heloisa Rutigliano were recognized as being among the best teachers in the nation by the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture organization.

Anderson’s introductory course at USU is the highest-attended landscape architecture course in the country. In the 2021-22 academic year, he taught more than 1,000 students. He also oversees the Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning’s senior capstone course in planning and design leadership. His teaching interests focus on water-conserving landscapes, regional identity, sustainable design, and environmental education. Students describe him as a “professor and friend who can encourage you to keep going, even on the hardest days.”

Rutigliano teaches veterinary physiology, immunology, endocrinology, and ethics in the College of Veterinary Medicine. During her career at USU, Rutigliano has also been involved in research to identify mechanisms underlying pregnancy loss in livestock species. While she

was not initially drawn to teaching at the start of her academic career, Rutigliano was a teaching assistant while earning her graduate degrees and found the work exciting and fulfilling. In addition to her teaching, she is also helping to develop the new college’s curriculum, a task that will ultimately serve hundreds of students and their future patients for decades to come.

Notable Research

Understanding the conditions that combine to create extreme weather events is crucial to being able to predict them. That requires careful analysis of measurable but complex interactions of the atmosphere, land, and water. USU climate scientist Professor Simon Wang coauthored a paper with an international team of scientists that appeared in the prestigious journal Nature Communications examining greater summertime midlatitude waves in the atmosphere and the role of changing sea surface temperatures. The research emphasizes the need to better predict sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific as a tool to project summer weather extremes.

Find the paper online at tinyurl.com/JetStreamWavinessNature

Professor Zhongde Wang and scientists in his lab were recently part of a COVID-related study published in Nature. Since 2020, Wang and his colleagues have been involved in more than 10 studies related to SARS-CoV-2 and its variants that have been published in top-tier scientific journals. Understanding how any virus infects and affects cells is a crucial step in developing treatments. Using genome engineering tools such as CRISPR/ Cas9, Wang’s lab was the first in the world to produce golden Syrian hamsters that react to disease challenges in ways that are more like humans. Studies with these hamsters require fewer animals and produce clearer findings that help in developing disease treatment and prevention.

Five mammarenaviruses in the western hemisphere cause lifethreatening diseases that affect many organs in the body and often cause severe bleeding.

These hemorrhagic fever viruses are the focus of much of the work done by virologist Brian Gowen and scientists in his lab. Gowen and collaborators recently demonstrated how a specific antibody may inhibit infection from mammarenaviruses. Their work, published in Nature Communications, provides the basis for developing a new treatment to block infection and treat hemorrhagic fever viruses.

in brief

Continued Collaboration in Taiwan

In the years since Utah State University and Taiwan’s National Chung Hsing University (NCHU) began exploring ways to work together— beginning in 2011 and formalizing an agreement in 2018—faculty and students at the two universities have developed collaborations and friendships.

Leaders from NCHU, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in San Francisco, and USU met in March to extend the collaboration and explore more opportunities for students and faculty at both universities. Collaborative research and student activities thus far have focused on plant, soil, environmental, and climate sciences. NCHU Vice President Chun-Liang Lin represented the university at the signing and noted that both universities began with agricultural sciences and work on understanding and solving similar problems in different parts of the world.

Printing the Future in Price

What began as a career pathway in Carbon and Emery counties and new economic opportunities in Eastern Utah has become a successful business and education partnership with USU Eastern’s Price campus and Merit 3D. The program trains people in additive manufacturing, aka 3D printing, and now offers hands-on training and certification that is completed in one semester. Industry partner Merit 3D provides lab space, and students get hands-on experience from the start of the course. Blake Merrell, one of the company’s founders, said additive manufacturing is at the “bleeding edge” of industry, allowing manufacturers to bypass overseas suppliers, and it can be used to produce everything from a simple phone case to medical equipment.

Aviation Maintenance Team

Braden Kunzler, Ryan Ritchie, Josh Carling, Frank Mattiaccio, and Trace Hadley, students in USU’s aviation maintenance program, competed in the 2022 Aerospace Maintenance Competition in Dallas, TX. The team, coached by Professional Practice Assistant Professor Chris Bracken placed second in the electrical wiring and antenna troubleshooting events. Ritchie was honored with the Charles E. Taylor Professional AMT Award. Named for the Wright Brothers’ first aircraft mechanic, the award recognizes a student for professionalism demonstrated in the competition’s 26 events.

Up to the Challenge, Again

For the second straight year, a team combining the skills of students from Utah State University and the University of Utah won the Utah Real Estate Challenge with the first place $20,000 prize. The annual contest invites teams of students at Utah universities to blend creative architectural and landscape design with real estate development business skills and build a proposal for a potential project. This year’s challenge was a 20-acre mixed-use plan to accommodate a biomedical research facility, affordable housing, and retail development on 300 South in Salt Lake City near Rio Grande Station.

This year’s winning team was comprised of USU landscape architecture and environmental planning students Cooper Parson and Bailey Johnson, USU interior design student Kenley Roberts, and U of U business students Luke Littlefield and Austin Taylor �

Professor Jeanette Norton Named Fellow of the Soil Science Society of America

By Shelby Ruud Jarman

Jeanette (Jenny) Norton, professor of soil microbiology and ecology has been named a fellow of the Soil Science Society of America (SSSA).

This is the highest recognition bestowed by the SSSA, with members of the society nominating worthy colleagues for this acknowledgment based on their professional achievements and exemplary service.

“The award from the Soil Science Society America means a lot to me because it is a sign of respect and support from my colleagues, including some of the former mentors from throughout my career,” Norton said.

Norton’s research focuses on the roles and impacts of diverse soil organisms.

“The soil is alive with fascinating organisms and their processes – the soil microbiome,” she said. “This living skin of the earth is essential for crop growth.

Agriculture feeds the world’s eight billion people currently, but we need to prepare to feed more people while adapting to a changing climate that disrupts agricultural systems. We are hopeful for a future where we can manage the soil microbiome to maintain and improve crop production while building soil organic matter.”

These are timely topics as scientists around the world work to address soil health and agricultural sustainability in the face of global change. New and emerging technologies have made it possible to study the soil microbiome on a deeper level.

“As a soil microbiologist, I feel incredibly fortunate to have worked through the last three decades at a time when we could use molecular tools such as DNA sequencing and the polymerase chain reaction to open the ‘black box’ of the soil microbiome,” Norton said. “These advances have been amazing, and I have been able to be a part of applying these tools to understand the belowground ecosystem”

Her lab group's research focuses on microbes in soil nitrogen and carbon cycling on different levels; from individual organisms to ecosystem services. Working toward understanding soil health and agricultural sustainability requires finding new ways to interact and collaborate with colleagues and students to address the many challenges of global change. Understanding the roles and impacts of diverse soil organisms remains a challenge and one of her inspirations.

Norton also serves as a graduate program coordinator in USU’s Department of Plants, Soils and Climate. She is dedicated to mentoring both graduate and undergraduate student researchers, with the ultimate goal of promoting diversity in the scientific workforce.

“I really enjoy working with students on research projects in soil health and microbiology,” she said. “Working in the environmental sciences continues to challenge me to find new ways to interact and collaborate with colleagues and students to face the many challenges of global change.” �

Photo by Bronson Teichert

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack

By Lynnette Harris

When Tom Vilsack urged Utah State University’s class of 2022 to seek opportunities for public service, it came from a place of personal experience and commitment. Vilsack is currently serving his second appointment as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, and is a former mayor and member of the Iowa Senate, and was the state’s 40th governor. His definition of public service is not restricted to political office or work in government, though he did urge graduates to consider working in government agencies.

“What is most important in my view, is that you adopt a mentality of public service,” Vilsack said. “This means that whatever you do, you think about how that single act, or the summation of all those acts, may prove beneficial to the greater good. From the small daily acts to the larger life decisions you will face, look for ways to serve. If we all take on this mentality together, we can lift the collective tide in our country and leave this world a much better place than we found it.”

Vilsack noted that he had been invited to speak about resiliency and that it seemed a good topic for a group of new college graduates who persevered through a pandemic and COVID variants, shifted quickly to all online courses, and who are emerging from college at a

time marked by “inflation, supply chain challenges, climate change, and the unprovoked invasion of a free and democratic nation.”

“True resilience, whether in a person, a community, or a nation, requires a belief and a faith in something better and the confidence and capacity to make it happen,” Vilsack said. “Your generation has the capacity to make America stronger and more resilient, through the experiences, knowledge, and challenges of growing up in this time of great disruption.”

Framing his invitation to public service, Vilsack pointed out that there are a growing number of public service opportunities at every level of government that enable people to contribute to a more resilient America. At USDA, just 7% of the workforce is under the age of 35 and more than 50% is at or near retirement and other federal agencies have similar demographics. In meeting with CAAS students following commencement, Vilsack pointed out that the coming wave of retirements means great opportunities for rapid career advancement for young professionals now and in the next several years.

He noted many kinds of important work new graduates can be part of as they build careers and said the generation of most of the graduates has to be smarter and faster than any previous

generation to sustainably grow crops, make products, transport goods, and power homes and businesses. His hope is for people to become community builders.

“During this nation’s history, we have faced widespread disruptions in becoming a nation, and one nation,” he said. “Surviving a civil war. Emerging stronger from an economic depression and saving the world from unimaginable evil. In each case, we discovered the importance, significance, and power of acting together in community to confront the challenge. We again face a time of disruption, but this time we do so as a divided nation. What President Lincoln said so long ago is still true today, ‘A house divided against itself cannot stand.’” �

Sec. Vilsack Shared Thoughts with CAAS Grads and Faculty

Meeting after commencement with CAAS graduates and guests, Vilsack discussed some challenges and opportunities that working in agriculture presents now and that are critical to the country’s future. Here are some of the issues he addressed.

When you talk about agriculture, talk about food. Too many consumers still don’t connect agriculture with being the source of their food and clothing.

Building more robust local food systems that include growers and processors is important, as is putting more resources behind small and mid-sized processors.

He noted that COVID-caused shutdowns of processing facilities pointed out that the food production system the U.S. currently has is highly concentrated, highly efficient, highly productive, but not resilient or flexible. Regional food systems of producers and more local/ regional small and mid-sized processing facilities will mean food is consumed closer to its sources. Vilsack added that regional food hubs will keep more money in rural communities and producers should receive help to better understand changing markets and pricing so they work from knowing the true market value of their products.

Climate adaptation is imperative and could present opportunities for farmers and ranchers to earn money for natural resource conservation work. Carbon credits for growing certain crops may be a part of that effort.

With big challenges ahead, Vilsack said, “I’m not interested in the status quo. We need bright, creative enthusiastic people who understand what farmers and ranchers contribute to the world.”

Nutrition security is vital, not just food security. People can be fed, but still have nutrition deficits. More money was spent in the U.S. last year to treat diabetes and its attendant health problems than there is in the USDA’s budget. Education about simple, wiser food choices is vital. SNAP benefits could incentivize healthier food choices by charging less for them.

“True resilience, whether in a person, a community, or a nation requires a belief and a faith in something better and the confidence and capacity to make it happen.”

- Tom Vilsack

alumni corner

Dietetics

RAM CHAUDHARI

Quest for Learning Brings Global Success

By Julene Reese

At the age of nine, Ramjibhai (Ram) Chaudhari left his remote Indian village north of Mumbai to get an education. Dindrol, his tiny village, lacked electricity, running water, sanitation infrastructure, and a school.

Though just a boy, Ram was strongly encouraged by his grandfather, who was head of the village, to attend the boarding school 35 minutes from his home. His grandfather couldn’t read, write, or even sign his name. No one in his family had attended school in three generations, and his grandfather was passionate about the next generation getting an education. That was the starting point for Ram, and he left his village for what would become a lifelong quest for learning.

Ram was the only son in his family and was used to farming and working hard. At

boarding school, he learned to cook, clean, and spin cotton to make his clothes. He cleaned streets for 2 cents an hour. And he learned to study.

His grandfather passed away before Ram graduated from high school, so he didn’t get to share that milestone with him. But his deep respect for his grandfather’s wishes spurred him on to college, and he attended the Anand Agricultural University 300 miles away. He studied nutrition and food sciences, a field that had always interested him, so he could help improve communities and lives. Ram was the top student in his class every year. He knew if he didn’t study, he would have no future. After graduating with his bachelor’s degree, he was offered a teaching position at the college, but he turned it down so he could move to a foreign country.

“I knew I wanted to study nutrition somewhere else,” he said. “I went to the library and searched for schools. USU looked very good to me. I was accepted there with a small scholarship. It was a larger university, similar to the one back home, and looked like a nice, quiet, peaceful place. I didn’t know anyone there, but they wanted me, and I was willing to work hard.”

Ram had to save for a year to travel to the U.S. and was finally able to buy a one-way ticket for $87 on a ship from Mumbai to San Francisco. He bunked at the bottom of the ship for the 37-day trip and arrived in the U.S. in 1967 with $6 in his pocket. He didn’t know English as he began his master’s degree in food science.

“I studied so hard, and I cried some nights because many concepts were so difficult for me to comprehend,” he said. “I got a $200 stipend for 6 months, and I knew if I didn’t maintain a B average, I wouldn’t be able to stay at USU.”

Ram took 16 credits his first semester in a competitive grad school in a new country where he didn’t speak the language. He got all A’s.

He continued to excel academically and earned his master’s degree in food sciences in 1968. He felt fortunate to have outstanding professors and mentors, including Tony Ernstrom, Dee Morgan, and Gary Richardson. Beyond the classroom, Richardson’s family accepted him as part of their own. Ram once broke his foot in the snow, and the Richardsons took care of him with compassion. He greatly admired their family values and appreciated their kindness, and he still considers them dear friends.

After completing his master’s degree, Richardson encouraged Ram to continue in the food sciences program through a scholarship.

“It was a fantastic experience for me,” he said. “I stayed and worked hard in a field I loved and earned my Ph.D. in 1972. I made many great connections with USU that have benefitted me throughout my life.”

Left: Nutrition,

and Food Sciences’ Department Head Heidi Wengreen with alumnus Ram Chaudhari.

Ram promised his mother that as soon as he finished his education, he would return to India to marry an Indian girl, and he kept his word. He met his wife, Panna, through a family friend, and they wrote letters regularly and talked on the phone when Ram could save for the $1.27-a-minute phone call. After six months, they finally met one afternoon. They got married the following morning, and his mother was delighted with his choice. After a short honeymoon, he returned to his work in the U.S.

“Even though the marriage happened quickly, I wouldn’t change a thing,” he said.

surance, regulation, product development, and customer support/technical services.

Ram’s career was going well until Milupa surprisingly closed the operation. He was living in Connecticut at the time, and Panna and their baby boy, Romie, were in upstate New York while she worked on her Ph.D.

“I was on the top of my career, then it was gone,” he recalls. “We were in terrible shape financially. In addition, Panna’s brother was killed in a car accident, and her mother had passed away a year before. We had all that added to my job loss.

“But I’m stubborn, and I don’t give up. I believed in those products I had spent seven years of my life working on. I also felt I could do things to improve on them, and I didn’t want to leave that.”

Ram moved to New York to be with his wife and son. He had no job and no savings, but he had a desire to make a difference. He and a coworker met at Friendly’s Ice Cream in Troy.

They talked at length and agreed they both had the right education and experience to start their own business. They signed a simple, one-page document right there. The two men felt they needed a third partner –someone with “grey hair” and experience. They found someone 20 years older than Ram who was a perfect fit.

“We all had tremendous faith that we

requirements so babies everywhere were safe and healthy. We wanted to protect people from bad products.”

Their company, Fortitech, was born in 1986 out of a garage. The other two partners had money to put into it; Ram did not, so he borrowed his share. For three years, the men drove 300 or 400 miles at a time, in a car that wasn’t always reliable, to meet with potential customers.

“We couldn’t fly because we had no money. We shared one hotel room when we traveled. We couldn’t afford McDonald’s. We didn’t have a paycheck. We couldn’t even give gifts at Christmas or on birthdays. But we were crazy, kind of out-of-the-box thinking people who had something new to offer.”

They finally got a bank to back them –Norstar Bank, now Bank of America.

“We said, ‘If you trust us, you will never regret this in your life.’ They believed us.”

Panna had been working in immunology for a company in New York as their business was launching. She soon became part of their team.

Together, the Chaudharis and their partners forged cutting-edge research and became world leaders in developing nutrient systems for the food, beverage, infant nutrition, and dietary supplement industries.

“People thought a husband and wife could not work together,” Ram said. “But

“Panna is my gift and my best friend. We have been the happiest people for over 50 years in good times and bad.”

Ram’s food science career began in the dairy division at Safeway, where he served as manager of new product development. He later joined Miles, Inc. as a research scientist. He then moved to German-based Milupa, an infant formula and baby food manufacturer. He was head of the technical department there and oversaw quality as-

could do it,” he said. “We felt that unless you try something, you don’t know how good you will be.”

Ram and his partners shared the same concerns about companies selling nutrients, but not being judicious about quality control. They were especially concerned about baby food because they saw babies who were getting sick.

“How would I feel if that was my baby?” he asked. “We wanted to do everything possible to ensure the product met health

she was so wonderful, and we surprised everyone! She was in charge of global product development. I was in charge of new product presentations worldwide.”

Business picked up quickly after just a few years, and it never stopped. They had a solid team.

“We never had an issue with who did what, never pointed fingers,” he said. “We each made mistakes, but nobody questioned that. We were all very sensitive about that.”

“Whatever job I did, my family taught me to do it as if I was the owner of the company. My first job was working at McDonald’s for 60 cents an hour, and I worked as if I was the owner. Not that I am so special, but my family instilled in me to give it all I had.” - Ram Chaudhari

Above: The Chaudharis have traveled to Calcutta, India, with a group doing humanitarian work at a hospital where free cataract surgeries are offered to people in need.

From 1988 to 1990, Fortitech was in Inc. Magazine’s list of the 500 fastest-growing companies in America. Ram became a sought-after authority on food fortification and manufacturing and was a member of multiple professional organizations. He was widely published in nutrition trade and scientific journals.

“We had so much fun making our products available worldwide,” he said. “We traveled to 80 countries and had factories around the world.”

Their customers included Beechnut, SlimFast, Bristol Myers, Abbott, Nestle, Coca-Cola, Kraft, Pepsi, Power Bar, Gerber, and Dannon, among others. Their company was based in Schenectady, New York, with production sites in New York, California, Brazil, Malaysia, Denmark, and Poland, and sales offices in China and Mexico.

“The last factory we did was in India,” he said. “I got to give back to the country where I was born and raised. That gives me great joy.”

With approximately 600 employees, the partners sold their company in 2012 for nearly $700 million.

“It was the right time for us,” he said.

“We were getting older. We had a good life. There is a right time to end, and it was then. We made the buyers promise to keep all 600 employees because they are part of the company family, and they did.”

The Chaudharis are now enjoying retirement in Laguna Niguel, California. They live as humbly as ever, still flying economy class and occasionally upgrading with sky miles.

“You can have a big place, but it will

had.”

When asked what advice he would pass on to USU students, Ram said to go with your gut feeling, work hard, and stay in harmony. Failure is not an option.

“USU is a wonderful place to get your education. It’s a great community. Don’t give up because of adversity, no matter what it is.”

The Chaudharis received a Distinguished Service Award from USU at Found-

only collect dust,” he said. “It’s not just for show. You need human beings to enjoy life.”

Ram enjoys going for walks, Panna enjoys playing bridge, and they love going on cruises and socializing. They have also participated in philanthropic work that supports eye health, hospitals, and scholarship programs for students. Their son Romie manages their assets and works in real estate, manufacturing, and investing in the L.A. area.

“Romie and his wife and baby live in Santa Monica, so we see them often,” he said. “Being a grandparent is the best! It brings us such joy!”

Ram said because of USU, he is where he is today.

“Without USU, I don’t think I had any chance at all. I met some wonderful people in professors Ernstrom, Morgan, and Richardson. They were so good to me personally and such good mentors, all of them. I really enjoyed the USU community.”

Ram believes the key to success is giving it all you have.

“Whatever job I did, my family taught me to do it as if I was the owner of the company. My first job was working at McDonald’s for 60 cents an hour, and I worked as if I was the owner. Not that I am so special, but my family instilled in me to give it all I

ers Day last April for their significant impact on USU, their communities, and the world. They created a generous endowment in the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences to give scholarships to students studying nutrition and food sciences. They desired to give back to ensure the success of future generations of Aggie food scientists.

“Giving is the greatest thing, in my opinion,” Ram said. “If it is for a good cause, don’t hesitate, and don’t expect anything in return. As long as I am alive, I want to continue giving. And God bless those who benefit from it.” �

Top: Panna and Ram Chaudhari in India, praying at the banks of the Ganges river in a holy place called Varanasi.

Bottom: The Chaudhari family.

Right: Ram Chaudhari with granddaughter, Kira.

“We all had tremendous faith that we could do it. We felt that unless you try something, you don’t know how good you will be.” - Ram Chaudhari

By Lynnette Harris

Horses and Heroes

The late Colonel Robert A. Adams (U.S. Army Retired) rode horses while working his family’s ranch well before he flew airplanes in Vietnam or during his long career with Western and Delta airlines. Veterans and people with physical, cognitive, and emotional therapy needs are now able to participate in therapies that include horses at the Robert A. Adams EquineHuman Science Arena.

The new arena, dedicated in August, provides the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences’ (CASS) growing equine science and management and equine-human science programs a new home at the USU Animal Science Farm. The arena provides muchneeded space to give students hands-on experiences that prepare them to become equine-assisted therapy specialists.

In their careers, graduates will work with horses in partnership with mental, physical, and speech therapists, and educators who work with people who have physical and cognitive disabilities. USU programs serving veterans and military families already have served many people at the farm and on trail rides across the state.

In 2019, USU’s equine-assisted therapies program began work with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in a pilot program to help veterans with substance use disorders and mental health

The riderless horse is symbolic of a fallen soldier and was part of the event dedicating the new arena that will serve veterans with equine-therapy and other riding opportunities. Robert A. Adams (right) served his country and the college and leaves an important legacy.

challenges. Since then, the program has been renewed and continues with more than 100 veterans involved this year.

In addition, Dr. Karl Hoopes, DVM and USU Extension equine specialist, launched Ride Utah!, which provides trail rides in locations throughout the state for veterans and military families. Each ride includes a shared meal and time for a mental health professional to moderate discussions that focus on helping people make more successful transitions from the battlefront to the home front.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness reports that 11-20% of veterans experience episodes of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In the general population, the number is less than 4%. In addition to PTSD, some veterans now battle anxiety and depression, and some are recovering from traumatic brain injuries.

Though many of the veterans in the programs fought in recent conflicts in the Middle East, many who served in earlier conflicts need opportunities to overcome the tolls that war takes.

At the arena’s dedication, USU Equine-Human Science Director Judy Smith said the building is more than a horse arena. For the men, women, and children who participate in programs there, it is a sanctuary and a refuge. The Adams arena was built primarily with donations, gifts from individuals and several local companies that provided many of the building materials at cost.

The new arena’s namesake, Bob Adams, graduated from USU and received his Army ROTC commission in 1968. By 1971, he had flown 766 combat hours in more than 325 missions. He served with distinction then and later in the Utah National Guard and earned many medals and military honors. In addition to his career as an airline pilot, Bob served on the CAAS Alumni Council and as its president. He loved the mountains of Utah and Idaho, and his family describes him as a rancher, horseman, soldier, pilot, commander, friend, gentleman, grandpa, and caretaker. �

You’ll have an immediate impact on students in the college.

Your gift can satisfy all or part of your required minimum distribution.

You don’t pay income tax on the gift amount (even if you don’t itemize your deductions).

Your gift can reduce your annual income, which may help lower your Medicare premiums and decrease your taxable Social Security.