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ELABORATE EXPERIENCES Family ties led Danner to her beef placement Supervised Agriculture Experience (SAE). “Cattle have had a long history in my family with my grandpa and dad exhibiting across the nation,” Danner says. The family had shifted focus to crops and market hogs until cattle returned to the Danner farm as she started her SAE. She currently manages 30 Maine Anjou, Chianina and crossbred cows. As part of her SAE, Danner also works for a producer who owns and sells mostly crossbred show cattle. “I enjoyed learning about the marketing aspect associated with a larger producer,” Danner says. For her project, Danner focuses on the changes in genetics and the quality of her herd. Most of her personal research has been with genetics and she is certified in artificial insemination. “I’m very interested in the expected progeny differences,” Danner says. “I enjoyed using the Maine Anjou digital beef database to cross compare EPDs to make better breeding decisions.” Danner is responsible for understanding the needs of her cows and making the breeding decisions with the advice of her father. Together, Danner and her father increased the herd from three to 30 cows. “The most rewarding aspect is that it is a family operation that I can go home to,” Danner says. While Danner concentrated on the breeding aspect of cattle, Koehlmoos worked to create a different way to feed them. Koehlmoos’ four-year comparison study for his SAE in agriscience looked at ways to utilize common grasses to feed livestock by increasing ethanol yield and byproduct protein percentage. “I compared switchgrass and prairie cordgrass to corn the first year and to wheat straw the second year,” Koehlmoos says.
KANSAS STATE AGRICULTURIST
spring 2019
In the third and fourth years, he studied the effects of calcium hydroxide and sulfur, respectively, on ethanol yield. Koehlmoos had the opportunity to present his research findings to then President Barack Obama on the White House lawn in 2015. He was picked by the National FFA headquarters to represent the organization. “It was cool to say the least,” Koehlmoos says. “As somebody producing ethanol in their basement, it was interesting and weird to be at the White House and see how many security guards there were.”
PATHWAY TO PURPLE Danner credits the mentorship and encouragement of her FFA adviser, Zach Morris, for leading her to K-State. Danner was drawn to the university because of the College of Agriculture. “I loved my visit and have my whole life to go back to Iowa,” Danner says. “This was an opportunity to step outside my comfort zone and meet new people.” Danner says K-State has broadened her scope as to what she can do in agriculture and the beef industry. “My classes sparked my interest in trade and policy and gave me that global interest,” Danner says. Over spring break, she travelled to Ecuador with the agronomy department to study different crops and biomes. At K-State, Danner is involved as a College of Agriculture Ambassador and is in the Sigma Alpha Professional Sorority, where she currently serves as the philanthropy chair. “These two organizations have allowed me to grow professionally and also meet other individuals across the College of Ag that are in many different majors,” Danner says. Koehlmoos was not originally intending to come to K-State, but he decided to stop for a visit on his way to Oklahoma State University.
“I fell in love with K-State,” Koehlmoos says. “It was the right fit, I connected with the advisers and decided that purple looked better than orange anyway.” Koehlmoos has continued to conduct research at K-State, but with a different focus. Working with Gaea Hock, assistant professor in agricultural education, Koehlmoos is analyzing the perceptions of agriscience research to find ways to increase participation in the state agriscience research fair. The duo is looking at what is prohibiting Kansas teachers from conducting research with their students. Koehlmoos’ experiences at K-State contributed to his achievement of being selected as a finalist. His research with Hock has allowed him to present papers at two American Association for Agricultural Education conferences. He was able to coronate the state agriscience fair in May 2018, which added to his resume. His participation on the K-State meat judging team helped improve his communication and writing skills, which assisted in the application writing and interview process.
ENTHUSIASTIC REACTIONS Koehlmoos says he was excited about being selected as a finalist. “It was good to get that phone call and get the answer after waiting three months.” While being selected as a Star award finalist is prestigious in itself, this is not Danner’s first time to be nationally recognized. She was a national finalist in the beef production proficiency award area in 2017. “It was such an honor,” Danner says. “Beef aren’t a typical SAE in Iowa, so having a smaller project and being a national finalist in the beef proficiency area and now this, it’s an honor.” Editor’s Note: During the 2018 National FFA Convention, Koehlmoos was named the American Star in Agriscience.
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