You’ve heard of robotic vacuums, but have you heard of robotic mowers? Adam Thoms (’06 horticulture), associate professor of horticulture and turfgrass management specialist, is researching robotic mowers, focusing on how they affect the quality and performance of turfgrass.
“Everyone remembers that friendly face in college. Be that friendly face for someone else,” says Ryan Wolf, a junior in animal science.
José González-Acuña knows the value of networking. Connections established while living and working in Costa Rica brought him to Iowa State University, where he’s collaborating on projects to develop new plant disease management tools and support effective fungicide use.
Abby Wing ('25 ag communication) always joked she had known she was going to Iowa State since she was born. Find out who positively impacted her time on campus and who was always around for "an awful dad joke."
Armed with real-world experience and practical knowledge, plus teaching at an alma mater of four generations of her family, Kate Gilbert (’07 food science) is on a mission to grow students’ networks and set them up for success.
When he's not busy teaching, Shawn Dorius, professor of sociology, can be found fly fishing, skiing, biking or hiking. He says that "almost any problem in the world has its answer and parallel in a clean, cold creek full of brook trout."
Walter Moss has a unique ability to visualize the structures of biomolecules. An associate professor in the Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Moss uses this superpower to harness the most basic structures of life to fight disease in new ways.
Iowa State researchers are working alongside farmers to discover the optimum rate of nitrogen to apply to fertilize fields and to develop a new tool to aid in that process.
Gail Nonnecke estimates she has built strong connections with more than 4,000 students over the course of her career at Iowa State University. As she prepared for retirement this past spring, she reflected on her 40-plus years in Ames.
“This is a conservation program all about farming and farmers,” says Adam Janke, ISU Extension and Outreach wildlife specialist, about the Land Stewardship Leadership Academy he helped develop.
Ed Zaworski (’14 MS plant pathology), plant extension specialist, hosts “I See Dead Plants,” a podcast on integrated pest management (IPM). He welcomes expert guests to discuss research-based topics like fungicide, disease modeling and historical plant pests. “I See Dead Plants” episodes are posted Wednesdays at 7 a.m. CST. Find other ISU Extension and Outreach Agriculture and Natural Resources podcasts online.
Sterling (Schnepf) Meyer (’14 animal science) and her husband, Tyler (’14 ag studies), have a passion for connecting younger generations to agriculture. From farm tours to bringing lambs for show-and-tell at school, they see the value in opening northwest Iowa youngsters’ eyes to ag opportunities.
Elycia (Ahl) VanVacter (‘17 animal science) didn’t envision herself working in the poultry industry, but after being recommended for a hatchery position at Hy-Line International, she was hooked. Today, VanVacter works as the director of health and education at the North Central Poultry Association, helping Iowa State students find their way into the poultry industry.
Mike Taylor (‘03 agricultural studies), co-founder and partner with Midwest Growth Partners in West Des Moines, Iowa, was the spring 2003 CALS Convocation speaker and featured in the spring 2011 STORIES magazine.
As an Iowa State student, C.Y. Stephens (1925 dairy industry) formed many connections and friendships with fellow students who would later become his business partners. Learn about this alum who, along with his wife, pledged $1 million in 1961 to go toward the construction of the Iowa State Center.
The Ag 450 Farm and class look different today than when they were established in the 1940s. Dale Weber (’52 farm operation, ’70 MS animal science, ’74 PhD) is capturing memories from those early days into the present through a new display.
The late Milton Weller had a way of bringing students together. That legacy has continued inspiring professional relationships – and gatherings – over decades.
Snap a photo and share it with us. Your keepsake(s) may be featured in the next edition of STORIES magazine.
