Alumni News – Spring 2016

WEBER ELECTED NATIONAL PORK PRODUCERS COUNCIL PRESIDENT

John Weber (’71 animal science) was elected president of the National Pork Producers Council. Weber is a pork producer near Dysart, Iowa, and manages Valley Lane Farms, Inc., a livestock and grain operation with his family. He also serves on the board of directors for the Iowa Pork Producers Association.

PETERS NAMED AMONG TOP WOMEN IN GROCERY   

Rita Peters (’77 horticulture), assistant vice president of floral operations for Hy-Vee, Inc., has been named to Progressive Grocers Top Women in Grocery. Peters over-sees all retailer floral operations and the customer education program for the company.

ROWES EARN ACCOLADES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP

Glenn (’71 animal science) and Bev Rowe (’88 ag business), farmers near Lorimor, Iowa, were honored by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association as Region III nominees for the environmental stewardship award program. They were honored for making improvements to benefit the land and sustainability of their cow-calf operation.

UNDERWOOD SPEAKS AT HERTZ LECTURE

Roger Underwood, entrepreneur and co-founder of crop-technology company Becker Underwood, Inc., presented the 2016 Carl and Marjory Hertz Lecture on Emerging Issues in Agriculture April 7 at Iowa State. Underwood’s (’80 agricultural business) presentation “Your future is short. Don’t waste it working for someone else.” is available online at www.stories.cals.iastate.edu.

ACCUGRAIN NAMED RURAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR

Ryan Augustine’s (’12 ag studies) Rose Hill, Iowa, based agricultural technology startup, AccuGrain, was named the Rural Entrepreneurship Initiative Challenge winner at the American Farm Bureau Annual Convention. AccuGrain uses X-Ray technology to provide real-time grain inventory management for farmers. Augustine (center) developed the concept for the company as a student in the Iowa State Agricultural Entrepreneurship Program.

DODDS NEW ISU ASSISTANT VP FOR EXTENSION AND OUTREACH

Robert Dodds (’77 ag and life sciences education, ’85 MS), a 30-year veteran with Iowa State Extension and Outreach, has been named the organization’s assistant vice president for county services.

CALS ALUMNI, FRIENDS RECEIVE TOP HONORS FROM IOWA STATE

CALS alumni and friends were among those honored by the ISU Alumni Association and the ISU Foundation during the annual Distinguished Awards Celebration April 15. Former CALS dean David G. Topel and distinguished professor Jay-Lin Jane-Topel (PhD ’84 biochemistry and biophysics), received the Order of the Knoll Faculty and Staff Award from the ISU Foundation. Delbert “Hank” Harris (’63 pre-vet med, DVM ’67, PhD ’70 veterinary microbiology), with Harris Vaccines, was presented with the Distinguished Alumni Award from the ISU Alumni Association.

CALS GRADS NAMED STATEMENT MAKERS BY THE ISU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

Three recent graduates of the college were honored by the ISU Alumni Association for their personal, service, entrepreneurial, business and scholastic statements reflecting the spirit of an Iowa State education.

  • Justin Saenz, (’11 public service and administration in ag), 4-H and youth development agent, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Bryan, Texas
  • Andrew Lauver (’12 ag studies), farmer and seed sales professional at DuPont Pioneer, Lake City, Iowa
  • Colin Hurd, (’13 ag studies), founder and CEO of Agriculture Concepts, Roland, Iowa