College of
Agriculture
Alumni Newsletter Fall 2011 Alumni News
Donors Making a Difference By Evan Millsap
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very night around 10 p.m., after her daughter has been put to bed and the dishes are done, Angela Miller starts her homework. She’s a single mom majoring in pre-veterinary studies, and without the scholarship she received, she would not be here at Utah State University. “I cross my fingers every semester, praying that I will be able to scrape up the money for tuition,” she said. Angela has a 3-year-old daughter, Mya, and when her husband left her a few years ago, Angela knew that she had to go back to school to give Mya a life without financial worry. “I’m 32 and a mom, and it’s really hard for me to be away from my daughter for so long—I’m in classes from eight in the morning until five in the evening— but it’s worth it. I need to prepare us for the rest of our lives,” Angela said. When Angela originally applied for scholarships she was not awarded one due to the large number of applicants. Without a scholarship, Angela knew it would be impossible for her to attend college. One donation changed everything. One alumnus came forward, wanting to help a student with a significant need. As a result, Angela was given enough money to help her enroll. Another student, Michael Gottfredson, applied for a scholarship about the same time as Angela. Originally, he did not think he needed the money, he said. That was before he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
“My plan was to work during the summer and save up for college,” Michael said. “But the shots I had to take were $6,000 a pop. Chemo was not cheap either.” Michael is majoring in landscape architecture and is currently working on research in energy exploration. There are about 180 scholarships awarded every year by the College of Agriculture to students like Angela Miller and Michael Gottfredson, said Janet Anderson, Associate Dean. Around $163,000 was awarded last year, but that number has been shrinking. Fewer people are donating while fewer college students are finding the
means to pay for school themselves— just as lab costs are increasing. Still, giving a little helps a lot, Anderson said. In fact, $500 could make it possible for someone who could not otherwise attend. “Words cannot describe how thankful I am,” Angela said regarding her modest stipend. “I only wish I could have met my donor. That small donation changed my life.” To make a difference in a student’s life please visit usu.edu/campaign or call Brandon Monson, College of Agriculture Development Director, at 435-797-2208.
Angela Miller, an animal and dairy science major, is one of the many students who says her life has been changed by agricultural scholarships.
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Aggie Alum Uses Education to Serve a Nation By Brandon Monson
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e have all heard that “Education is the key to success,” but Tweesackdi Sesaweech, a native of Thailand, has seen this first hand. As a young man he decided to come to what was (until 1957) called, the Utah State Agricultural College in Logan, Utah. At that time 65% of all Thai people worked in agriculture and farming, particularly in the rice fields. Thailand was also the second largest exporter of rice in the world. Sesaweech saw an opportunity to make a difference, and earned his degree in agronomy from USU in 1959. He took the knowledge and experience he had gained back to Thailand where he worked for the Ministry of Agriculture. Sesaweech said, “The farmers were a poor people and I wanted to help them increase their productivity in the rice fields, which would also improve their way of life. Educating the farmers was so important. As they learned a better way to grow and harvest their crops they also earned more money and expanded their production.” Sesaweech soon became the Director General of Agricultural Extension for the Country of Thailand, a position he held for six years. While serving in this position he began Thailand’s first Farmers Association in which farmers would get together regularly and share their knowledge with each other to help increase production. “I knew how important education is, and I wanted the farmers to have a way to
bring all of them together and discuss ideas,” Sesaweech said. “I felt that people needed to be educated to cut out the middle man. Those who were educated were able to make a lot more money than the poor working farmers who did not have the same education.” The Farmers Association is still a resource for Thai agricultural producers today. It’s known as the Visiting and Training Program, and continues to help solve farmers’ problems and advance marketing and productivity. Another great accomplishment during his time as Director General of Livestock came when he saw the problem of foot and mouth disease and its impact on the country’s meat industry. The beef, pork and poultry industry was suffering greatly from this disease and most meat
had to be imported to the country for consumption. Sesaweech called an international meeting to discuss the problem with other foreign leaders. The outcome of that meeting was a new vaccine that Sesaweech helped create and implement. This helped the meat industry immensely and allowed beef, pork and poultry producers to make a much better living. When asked what advice he would give to students and alumni to help them be successful he said, “Learning is not enough, you need to take what you have learned and use it. To be successful in life you first need a vision then you must work hard with diligence, be honest, be disciplined and be brave.” Sesaweech made such an impact on his country that he was soon appointed by the king of Thailand, King Rama IX,
Alumni News Clockwise from top left: View of the Tweechol Botanical Gardens; the Horizon Village Resort; tending the gardens; Lanna House; photo of Tweesackdi Sesaweech and his wife Chalarng; one of the many plants at the gardens.
to be the Secretary of Agriculture. In this position he represented the king himself to the public and continued to improve agriculture throughout Thailand. Sesaweech has a great love for the land and now, in retirement, spends much of his time working in and overseeing his botanical garden and Horizon Village Resort in Chiang Mai, Thailand. He provides
hundreds of jobs for workers from the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and Thailand. He has created a place of learning in his gardens to teach school-age children in a “hands on” way about world geology, horticulture, history and culture. Thousands of people come from all over the world each year to enjoy the peace, tranquility and joy that prevail in such a From left to right: Workers in a rice field at the resort who receive employment through the support of Sesaweech; aerial view of the gardens and resort; a hot fire balloon used as part of a celebration at the resort.
beautiful setting. Sesaweech is currently expanding his resort to accommodate more people and to bring in more earnings so he can give raises to his employees because, “I want them to be happy with their work and proud to be one of the company,” he said. Sesaweech has truly distinguished himself as one of the greatest advocates of agriculture and education from the College of Agriculture at Utah State University. He is a cancer survivor, and a generous employer who cares about his employees. He received an honorary doctorate degree from Utah State University in 1997 in recognition of his outstanding accomplishments. You can reach him by email, chalarng@gmail.com or you can see his lastest accomplishments at www.tweecholbotanicgarden.com or www.chiangmaihorizon.com. We are proud to have him as an alumnus of the College of Agriculture.
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Following the Aggies
2011-2012 College of Ag Ambassadors Launch Into New Year By Rachel Kenley
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eptember was College of Agriculture Month, and the College of Agriculture Student Ambassadors were busy—very busy. At Party on the Patio, you could smell the delicious results of their frantic activity. It smelled like shish kebabs! “We spent about four hours assembling these last night,” said Tiffany Maughan, a student ambassador. In between classes, the dedicated ambassadors cooked and sold shish kebabs as one of their yearly projects. These
projects range from helping at the Utah Agricultural Products Barbecue to giving university tours to teaching the public about agriculture at Aggie CARE Day. “They do a variety of odd jobs,” said Lisa Allen, student services coordinator for the college. “We keep them very busy.” The ambassadors’ main focus, however, is to get high school students from across the state and beyond excited about coming to USU and enrolling in
the college. Ambassadors visit four high schools each to present a 15-minute workshop. They strive to live up to the college’s slogan by helping prospective students “Discover the Ag Advantage.” Jarvis Pace, a two-year ambassador and this year’s College of Agriculture Senator, said enthusiastically, “I love being an ag ambassador! I love recruiting because high school students are always so excited for college. It’s fun to help them catch that excitement.” This year there are 19 student ambassadors, who collectively represent the six departments in the college. The students are diverse and bring different strengths and viewpoints to the table, but they all are passionate about the College of Agriculture and what it has to offer. The 2011-2012 College of Agriculture Ambassadors.
Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning Department is Busy By McCarty Amy
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n July, the Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning (LAEP) Department celebrated the first anniversary of its merger into the College of Agriculture, this merger has proven successful for expanding funding support and vital connections with colleagues in allied disciplines. But that is not the only thing LAEP is celebrating this year. After receiving accreditation reports from the Landscape Architecture Accreditation Board (LAAB), LAEP was given full reaccreditation for both its Bachelor of Landscape Architecture and Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) programs. According to the LAAB, “[LAEP’s curricula is] very strong, very well organized, very thoughtfully put together.” The accreditors added that the department is “like a family”, with great collaboration between faculty and students. Another accomplishment for the department is its collaboration with the
American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) Utah Chapter’s Catalysts Committee to instigate the ASLA Student Mentor Program. This program will expand in 2011–2012 to establish one-on-one mentors for second-year MLA candidates and juniors. The Student Mentor Program will help support and connect students with professional practitioners. Department head Sean Michael is optimistic about the upcoming year. “For all the buzz surrounding these changes, I am even more enthusiastic about what we have brewing for the academic year,” he said. “Alumni can look forward to a host of exciting announcements in the autumn InSites newsletter as we highlight new initiatives within the oldest and most influential landscape architecture program in the Intermountain West. Until then, Go Aggies!” To view the InSites newsletter visit: laep.usu.edu/htm/works-publications.
LAEP student sketching at Villa Medici in Fiesole, Italy, as part of a May 2011 faculty-led field trip to fulfill the departmental travel requirement.
Campus News
Restructuring Allows Students a Broader Base of Degree Options By Paige Morgan
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he Utah State Board of Regents approved an administrative restructuring that creates the School of Applied Sciences, Technology and Education within the college’s Department of Agricultural Systems Technology and Education (ASTE). The new school encompasses degree options within the ASTE Department and two units at USU Eastern; the Professional and Technical Education Division and Workforce Education Division. This merger did not dissolve any programs or degrees, but added opportunities and students to the ASTE department. The School of Applied Sciences, Technology and Education will advance education and research through science, technology, engineering and math initiatives, and career and technical education programs. It will also offer additional delivery methods and interactive centers for career and technical education and allied education programs originating from all USU
campus locations, including online and distance-delivery options. Bruce Miller, ASTE department head and Career and Technical Education Director for USU, was additionally named Assistant Dean of the School of Applied Sciences, Technology and Education. “The combination of knowledge, skills and abilities within the new school allows USU to offer cohesive and coordinated programs that will prepare students for higher paying, high-demand jobs in career and technical fields while also providing related undergraduate and graduate degree opportunities, including the training and licensure of teachers for career and technical programs,” Miller said.
The new School of Applied Sciences, Technology and Education will provide a variety of degree options and opportunities for students interested in science, technology and education.
Recognition of the Department of Applied Economics By Kennedy Speirs
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he Department of Applied Economics has seen a year of success, resulting in awards won by its students and faculty. The Utah State University Agribusiness Club placed third overall and first in the “Product Most Likely to Succeed” category in the western division of this year’s Western Collegiate Food Marketing Competition held March 12 at Cal State Fresno. The Agribusiness Club won $200 in prize money for the marketing plan students created for Yogonnaise, a food product developed by USU food science students. Yogonnaise is a mayonnaise substitute with a yogurt base which has one-third the calories of regular mayonnaise. The Rural Tax Education program in the Department of Applied Economics received the 2011 Western Agricultural
The USU Agribusiness Club placed third overall in the western division at the Western Collegiate Food Marketing Competition at Cal State Fresno.
Economics Association Outstanding Extension Program Award. Ruby Ward, USU Extension economist, co-chair of the National Farm Income Tax Extension Committee and lead for RuralTax.org, accepted the award June 30 at the Canadian Agricultural Economics/Western Agricultural Economics Association meeting in Banff, Alberta, Canada. Rural Tax Education is a joint project of Extension specialists from 15 land-grant
universities around the country. A $50,000 grant was awarded from the U.S. Department of Agriculture— Risk Management Agency. The grant was used to create RuralTax.org, which was launched in the fall of 2010. The project’s goal is to provide farmers, ranchers and other producers with a source for agriculturally related income and self-employment tax information that is current and easy to understand.
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Campus News
College of Agriculture Gets New Piece of Art By Dawn Otterby
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n the middle of campus is a new “sculpture.” Designed to be functional yet artistic, Utah State University’s new solar-powered Environmental Observatory is one of a kind. The Plants, Soils and Climate Department began work on this project during the winter of 2010.
The observatory was dedicated on April 22 in a ribbon cutting ceremony. Much of the funding for this project came from Campbell Scientific, a Cache Valley company that invested time and knowledge to make this project exceptional. Campbell Scientific will continue to work with USU to keep the observatory updated with the latest technology. What sets this observatory apart? One thing is its design; the observatory is a sculpture. The biggest difference, however, is the amount of data that this machine records. Above ground the sculpture measures temperature, solar radiation, wind speed and direction, humidity, atmospheric pressure and visibility, CO2 and leaf wetness. Below
ground it transmits levels of moisture, oxygen, CO2, temperature, salinity, leaching ground water and heat flux in the soil. According to Bruce Bugbee, professor of plant science, USU’s observatory provides accurate temperature readings for Cache Valley. Currently, news organizations look to the Logan Airport for this information; however, temperatures are often cooler at the airport than in the rest of Cache Valley. The new observatory provides a more accurate report of Cache Valley’s temperature. To follow campus weather on the Environmental Observatory, visit weather.usu.edu.
Utah State University’s Environmental Observatory is located on the lawn between the E.G. Peterson Agricultural Science building and the Glen L. Taggart Student Center.
Honoring the Aggies
Faculty Award Highlights Agricultural Systems Technology & Education • Undergraduate Faculty Advisor of the Year – Luella F. Oaks • Outstanding Early Career Member of the American Association of Agricultural Education – Brian K. Warnick • 2011 American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences Leadership Award – Lindsey Shirley Plants, Soils & Climate • Faculty Researcher of the Year – Jiming Jin • Graduate Research Mentor of the Year – Corey V. Ransom • Journal of American Pomological Society, Shepard Award for best paper published in the journal – Brent Black, Dan Drost, T. Lindstrom, Jennifer Reeve, G.L Reighard
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Landscape Architecture & Environmental Planning • Distinguished Professor of the Year – Michael Timmons • Fellow of the Center for Persons with Disabilities – Keith Christensen Applied Economics • 2011 Western Agricultural Economics Association Outstanding Extension Program Award – Ruby Ward Animal, Dairy & Veterinary Science • International Professor of the Year – Kamal A. Rashid • Al Hay Award – Justin Jenson • 2011 William Prusoff Young Investigator Award from the International Society for Antiviral Research – Brian Gowen
Michael Timmons was awarded the Distinguished Professor of the Year at the 2011 College of Agriculture Awards and Honors Banquet. Pictured here with Noelle E. Cockett, Dean of the College of Agriculture.
Nutrition, Dietetics & Food Sciences • Undergraduate Research Mentor of the Year – Silvana Martini • Most Cited Award from the Journal of Dairy Science – Don McMahon
� . . . t a h T r o f p p A n a I have College of Ag Month at Utah State
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action/ equal opportunity employer
Surprise for the President
New Scholarship Named for USU’s President By Evan Millsap
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tah State University President Stan L. Albrecht was invited to present an award to students on Sept. 22, but was surprised to find out that the purpose of the gathering was not an award for students at all. “I am very, very pleased to announce the creation of the ‘President Stan L. Albrecht Scholarship in Agriculture’,” said Noelle E. Cockett, Dean of the College
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of Agriculture. The new scholarship was created with a lead gift from the president’s wife, Joyce Albrecht. Cockett said Albrecht has kept the university moving forward in a time of huge budget cuts. He has expanded facilities at the Animal Science Farm, Equine Education Center, Matthew Hillyard Animal, Teaching and Research Center and many other facilities, despite financial restraints. Ken White, head of the Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences, said the gift is more than just a scholarship; it is recognition of Albrecht’s selflessness and leadership. On behalf of the College of Agriculture, White presented Albrecht with a brass plaque that will be mounted at one of the horse stalls at the Equine Education Center, recognizing the President’s support.
Albrecht said he could value nothing more than a scholarship to help hardworking students. “Every day I walk out and see the new building for the College of Agriculture, and I think of the history and heritage of Utah State University,” he said. “I hope that everyone who truly desires to go to college will have the opportunity to attend, and I want you all to know that I am here for the students.” After the announcement of the scholarship, Albrecht tested a new custom saddle presented to him by the college. He mounted a horse from the equine program and led a group of students on horseback around the Quad, pausing for a moment in front of the new College of Agriculture building.
President Albrecht took a horse ride around the Quad after he was notified that a scholarship and a horse stall were named in his honor.
Newsletter prepared by: USU Agricultural Communication Club, acc@aggiemail.usu.edu