Alums Stories

Four Lab-tested Tips for Entrepreneurial Success

Name: Aaron Blakely

Title and company: Research and Development Scientist at Johnsonville Foods

Hometown: Alleman, Iowa

Name: Kaitlyn Bonzer

Title and Company: Agriculture Instructor and FFA Adviser at West Fork High School

Hometown: Nashua, Iowa

Steven Brockshus knew he had a good idea.

Last September, Iowa State University kicked off the public phase of Forever True, For Iowa State, a campaign to raise $1.1 billion for the university.

Harlen Persinger received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Agricultural Editors Association (AAEA) at the organization’s annual meeting last July.

Before Alan Barkema became senior vice president for the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, he used to hang out at the coffee station on the third floor of Heady Hall.

When Stephanie Carlson walks into the room to lead a discussion on federal policy she’s well equipped to protect more than 6,200 Iowa hog farmers representing $7.5 billion in annual economic activity.

Her ace in the hole? Science.

During her 32-year farming career, nothing has stopped Hemmes, known as an assertive, outspoken, ebullient ag leader who’s more likely to wear a “Well behaved women rarely make history” shirt than a seed corn cap.

CALS Grads Named Statement Makers by the ISU Alumni Association

Name: Karin Jokela

Title and company:

Farm Bill Pollinator Conservation Planner, Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation

Farmer-Owner and Native Plant Producer, Sogn Valley Farm

It is an epic journey. The monarch’s annual migration over multiple generations spans from southern Canada to central Mexico. Monarch populations have been declining over the past two decades.

Colin Hurd noticed a problem. It was June of 2010 and he was working for Summit Farms in Alden, Iowa, as an intern following his freshman year at Iowa State.

During his 30 years serving farmers in agricultural policy and economic and trade development, Chris Novak says he’s seen a fundamental shift in how farmers perceive themselves.

Jacquelyn Jackson (PhD ’08 genetics) is a research assistant professor of molecular biology and genetics in the Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at Tuskegee University.

CALS ALUMNI, FRIENDS HONORED BY COLLEGES, ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

CALS graduates were honored by Iowa State for service to the college and agricultural and life sciences industries during Homecoming events in October.

Name: Simon Shumao Ye

Hometown: Wenzhou, China

Degree: ‘15 Dietetics

Honors with graduation:

Name: Ellie Weiss

Title and Company: Account Executive, Meyocks

Hometown: Ames, Iowa

Major and Graduation Date: ’13 agricultural studies

Marcella Szymanski is on the front lines of the global trade war surrounding genetic engineering. To her, it’s really more of a trade wreck.

This story starts with two dairy farming brothers and ends with a herd of 50 Iowa State University alumni-- and counting.