News

Friday, April 29th the Department of Animal Science hosted a Graduate Student Scholarships and Awards Ceremony in the Ensminger room at 1204 Kildee Hall.  The Ceremony was a chance for students to be recognized for their achievements and presented an award by Professor and Department Chair, Dr. Don Beermann.  Below are those students who received awards.  

Duane & Shirley Acker International Fellowship

The 72nd Annual Block and Bridle Horse Show took place at the Jeff and Deb Hansen Agriculture Student Learning Center this past weekend.  The show was for exhibitors to bring their horses and be evaluated by a judge.  Some of the classifications were showmanship, halter, English performance and Western performance.  Some of the breeds that were represented were American Quarter Horse, American Paint Horse, POA, Appaloosa, and Miniature with over 175 entries.   Exhibitors of all ages attended, with a large showing of youth participants!   

There is a new piece of artwork in the Jeff and Deb Hansen Agriculture Student Learning Center.  The art piece is the second of two murals installed in the main entrance atrium at 2516 Mortenson Road in Ames.  Hansen Center Manager, Marshall Ruble says “The artwork brings a lot of character to the Hansen Center and both pieces capture the essence of animal science.  I am proud to showcase these fine pieces of art in our center.”  Former Iowa Pork Producer’s CEO, Rich Degner, is featured in the piece as well as swine and the ties of Animal Science to 4-H and technology.&n

Dogs of all breeds could be heard barking this afternoon in the Farm Bureau Pavilion of Kildee Hall.  They were part of a class, AnS 224 Companion Animal Science that is offered every year in the Spring.  Associate Professor of Animal Science, Dr. Matthew Ellinwood, said the students were learning about dog showing and the definitions of conformation, obedience and agility shows and test.  Members of the Cyclone Country Kennel Club, a dog club in Ames that’s been around since the 1960’s, donated their time to help students learn the importance of dog obedience.

Bill Larson, long-time supervisor of the Iowa State University Poultry Farm, was named the 2016 recipient of the Poultry Science Association Tyson Foods Inc. Support Personnel Award. This award is “given annually to a farm worker, laboratory technician, or extension assistant, in recognition of outstanding support of poultry science research, extension, or teaching programs.”  Bill will be presented his award in the Awards Ceremony at the annual meeting of the Poultry Science Association in New Orleans in July. 

As part of the AnS 229 sheep science class, students are given the opportunity to visit the ISU sheep teaching farm and learn about sheep shearing, skirting fleeces and wool evaluation.  Animal Science Professor, Dr. Curtis Youngs says “The importance of what they are learning relates to the preparation of a high quality wool clip for subsequent manufacture of high quality woolen goods (such as sweaters).  It also relates to increasing profitability of sheep production.” 

Cake Auction

The Block and Bridle annual Spring Cake Auction will be tomorrow, April 5 in the Farm Bureau Pavilion Classroom.

The Jeff and Deb Hansen Center will be awarded the Impact Award later this year.  The Iowa State University Alumni Association Board of Directors established this award in 2000 to recognize individuals, businesses, organizations, or units whose programs or accomplishments brought broad recognition to the university and increased the involvement of ISU constituents in the life of the university during the year prior to being nominated.

This past weekend SGI and Block and Bridle held the Proven to Win Pig Sale.  The event was held at the Jeff and Deb Hansen Agriculture Student Learning Center and was the most productive sale yet with 138 hogs averaging around $322/head.  According to Block and Bridle Pig Sale Co-Chair, “This is an event where breeders can spotlight their hogs to potential buyers. Many purchase these hogs for 4-H and FFA events. Block and Bridle is involved to give students and alumni the opportunity to gain experience in the pig business and network with others in the swine field.

The Iowa State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences awards the following Graduate students with scholarships!  

Farm Bureau Graduate Fellowship, Cayla Iske

Paul and Candace Flakoll Scholarship, Nichole Huntley

Print and Grace Powers Hudson Scholarship, Wes Schweer

Print and Grace Powers Hudson Scholarship, Amanda Robinson

Print and Grace Powers Hudson Scholarship, Taylor Wolfer

Congratulations to this year's winners of the C. Boyd Ramsey RMC Scholar Award! This award is co-sponsored by the C. Boyd Ramsey American Meat Science Association (AMSA) Mentorship Recognition program and the AMSA Student Membership. We had several talented and qualified applicants this year. With the addition of the Ramsey funds, four undergraduate and two graduate awards of $540 were awarded.

The Jeff and Deb Hansen Agriculture Student Learning Center hosted the ISU’s Block and Bridle Cyclone Classic and Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity Spring Showdown this past weekend with over 375 head of cattle and 500 people taking part in this annual event.  Exhibitors traveled from all over the Midwest to participate and ranged in ages from 5 to 21.  The event began with check-in on Friday, March 18^th and the first-ever Cyclone Classic Skillathon!  The Skillathon included 5 stations consisting of feed identification, heifer class to judge, beef cattle anatomy, breed id