@ColoradoStateU / www.coloradoan.com/colostateu
September 2014
U e t a t S o d a r o l o C @
September 2014, Volume 1, Issue 11
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Special Advertising Section created by Coloradoan Media Group Custom Publishing
AG DAY 2014 What began 33 years ago as a small beef barbecue has grown into what we now call Ag Day, a giant tailgate featuring food from Colorado commodity groups, music, and interactive demonstrations from College of Agricultural Sciences faculty, staff, and students.
2014 AG DAY Saturday, Oct. 4, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Outside Hughes Stadium For BBQ tickets: agday.agsci.colostate.edu or (970) 491-6274 or at the event. Ram football vs. Tulsa immediately following; kickoff at 1 p.m.
The first Ag Day was created by “Fum” McGraw, a CSU football legend who also served as athletics director from 1976 to 1986. At the suggestion of Professor of Animal Sciences John Matsushima, a pioneering beef nutritionist who is now retired, McGraw asked the Colorado Cattle Feeders Association to donate a steer for a pre-game barbecue. The steer was processed by the CSU Meat Laboratory. Utensils, buns and other supplies were donated by Safeway Stores and the beverages were supplied by Coors. Soon, McGraw and his crew were roasting beef in an underground pit for Ram boosters and ag supporters. Ag Day debuted in 1981 with 10 commodity groups. About 300 Rams fans and “aggies” perched on straw bales under the Aggie “A” at Hughes Stadium to enjoy the Colorado-grown fare. Proceeds from the event supplied one scholarship. The event has grown dramatically through the years and now annually draws some 3,500 people for a football-day feast of Colorado-grown food. Ag Day showcases many commodities that have blossomed in Colorado with knowledge gained from CSU research. The menu, which started with beef as its primary feature, now includes a number of other Colorado commodities such as lamb, pork, beans, potatoes, onions, wheat and dairy products, green salad, watermelon, and more. “He would think it’s wonderful to see
SMART CHOICES Over the last five years, CSU has invested in the academic side of the University in unprecedented ways. • 76% of CSU students complete their program of study in 4.5 years or less • Even with boom in enrollment, CSU’s student-faculty ratio has remained steady at 16:1 for the last 5 years • Scholarship and need-based air is up 51% overall, driven by at 129% increase in institutional aid during a time of state and federal cuts.
how it’s grown. He’d be tickled pink – no, he’d be tickled green and gold,” Beryl “Brownie” McGraw said of her late husband. McGraw was a longtime Ag Day volunteer herself and recalled serving beef alongside the Larimer County Cowbelles, now the Larimer County Cattlewomen. Ag Day proceeds also provide critical funding for scholarships granted to deserving students in the College of Agricultural Sciences. Each year, the event typically funds between 12 and 15 student scholarships amounting to $2,000 each. Since 2000 alone, Ag Day has funded more than 160 scholarships totaling more than $300,000 for agricultural students. In addition to live music, interactive exhibits will also feature some of the cuttingedge research taking place in the College of Agricultural Sciences. Student organizations will also have booths at the event and a number of farm implements will be on display. Students and faculty members from the environmental horticulture program will be showcasing techniques used for integrating sustainability into residential landscapes as well as urban agriculture. Demonstrations will include the latest technology to reduce outdoor water consumption, methods to integrate recycled materials, composting and plant selections. The Gillette Entomology Club will also have a variety of insects available to look at and will host the always popular cockroach races. EXPLORING THE VALUE OF VETERANS SYMPOSIUM
Lori Peek, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Sociology Katrina to Colorado: How Children of Disaster Change Lives Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014 • 6:30 p.m. Lory Student Center Theatre
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advancing.colostate.edu/PresLectureSeriesSept14 Free and open to the public. Tickets are required since space is limited. Please reserve your tickets no later than September 24.
Come celebrate veterans, and learn more about the value they bring to our campus and living and working communities Oct. 30-31 at the Lory Student Center. Keynote speaker is D. Wayne Robison, President and CEO of Student Veterans of America. Breakout sessions focusing on topics of campus, community and career are planned throughout each day. For For information and registration: supporting.colostate.edu/veterans-symposium.com
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September 2014
Colorado State University’s Annual Flower Trial Garden
The Animal Sciences Building
Monfort Quad reopens with new facade, state-ofthe-art learning spaces
Colorado State University’s Annual Flower Trial Garden has been established to evaluate the performance of flower varieties under the unique Rocky Mountain environmental conditions. The goal of the garden is to define superior annual flower varieties based on plant vigor, uniformity, floriferousness, uniqueness, and ability to cope with environmental and biotic stress. The garden is a wonderful exhibit of beauty available to the public, while promoting Colorado State University’s mission of outreach, teaching, and research programs. Seed companies and plant growers from across the globe compete with their unique plant varieties in hopes of being named a “Best Of” at CSU. For further information visit: flowertrials.colostate.edu
A sight that was both new and old greeted students as they returned to the Monfort Quad this fall – the renovated Animal Sciences Building was once again open for business. The building, which had been off line for nearly two years, was once again buzzing with students, faculty, and staff who found a building designed with state-of-the-art labs, smart classrooms, and an atrium that encourages students to use the building as a study and meeting space. “The renovations on this building were long overdue,” said Animal Sciences Department Head Kevin Pond. “Now we have a space that is inviting to guests, has cutting-edge equipment, and will help us attract top-notch faculty and students from across the country and around the world.” Built in 1959, the 41,000-square foot building had not seen any significant revisions in many years. The entire building renovation project was budgeted at $15 million, with nearly $3 million coming from private donors, many of whom have named spaces throughout the building. On Sept. 17, the college hosted an official building reopening attended by alumni, donors, and students as well as faculty and
staff from the department and the College of Agricultural Sciences. Other attendees included representatives from the campus administration including Colorado State University President Tony Frank and members of the Board of Governors. After a brief speaking program, guests celebrated a ribbon-cutting and took self-guided tours of the building. “As we position our students for success beyond graduation, buildings like this will set us apart from our peers and keep us competitive in recruiting and retaining faculty and students,” said Dean Craig Beyrouty. “This building is a shining example of the ways in which our college is at the leading edge of teaching, research, and engagement across agriculture.” The Department of Animal Sciences is the largest department in CSU’s College of Agricultural Sciences with approximately 800 undergraduate students and 50 graduate students as well as 31 faculty members. The department has nationally and internationally recognized programs in food safety and meat science; beef cattle breeding and genetics; ruminant nutrition; equine science; and animal handling and well-being.
Agritourism in Colorado: Q&A with Dawn Thilmany Dawn Thilmany is a professor of agricultural and resource economics in the College of Agricultural Sciences.
visit Colorado anyway, so agritourism can complement visits to Colorado for other key destinations.
Lacking a formal definition, agritourism can be summarized as anything that connects consumers with the heritage, natural resource or culinary experiences unique to the Dawn Thilmany agricultural industry, or a particular region of the country’s rural areas. The list of agritourism activities continues to grow, and includes a variety of participant, educational, and spectator experiences including outdoor recreation (fishing, hunting, wildlife photography, horseback riding); educational experiences (farm and cannery tours, cooking classes, wine tasting, cattle drives, or help work the ranch); entertainment (harvest festivals or corn mazes); hospitality services (farm and ranch stays, guided tours or outfitter services); on-farm direct sales (u-pick operations or roadside stands); and, offthe-farm direct sales (farmers’ markets, county and state fairs, special events).
This number is difficult to measure, but last time CSU estimated, the economic contribution of agritourism to the state was $1.26 billion (in 2006). You can find more information on the College of Agricultural Scienes website at agsci.colostate.edu.
How do you define "agritourism"?
Oct. 4, 2014 Hughes Stadium
Make our tradition your tradition For more information: agday.agsci.colostate.edu
How does agritourism in Colorado differ from other states?
From our research on travelers, it is clear this state leverages its connection with natural amenities (ranches that are adjacent to forests and public lands having great scenery, wildlife and fishing) and its heritage (the rodeos, dude ranches and festivals that celebrate the Western cowboy, native cultures and unique foods of our region). Plus, there are many tourists looking to
What is the economic impact of argitourism?
Who is the typical agritourist?
There is no typical agritourist, but those most loyal to making agritourism part of their travel are returning based on past experiences or connections to agriculture (family history, met producers through farmers markets). Some want their families to be exposed to the heritage of agriculture and how food is produced, others want a deeper connection to where their food comes from, and others want a different twist on access to our great natural resources and scenery (camping, photography, birding, hunting and fishing on producer-owned lands).
What do you see as the future of agritourism here in Colorado and around the country?
The US Ag Census reported a marked increase in agritourism activity nationwide, and Colorado saw one of the greatest increases. And those numbers are likely dwarfed when one considers the revenues and activity such tourism brings to the rural communities surrounding farms and ranches that host visitors. The continued interest in reconnecting with our food source, recreating in more experiential ways and investments in the natural resources of our state would suggest that agritourism will continue to grow in Colorado.
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September 2014
Tracy Lowery feeds families, helps farmers with Foraged Feast Food banks are always searching for more fresh produce to meet the needs of the communities they serve. Foraged Feast, a Denver-based nonprofit founded by Colorado State University Master of Agriculture student Tracy Lowery and her sister, Maisie Roberts, collects and harvests locally grown food that would otherwise go unused and delivers it to food banks across Colorado. “Helping Colorado’s underserved communities connect with nutritious food while reducing food waste will always be our main focus,” said Lowery. In their first season, a short 29 weeks, Foraged Feast collected approximately 60,000 pounds of fresh produce. More than 20 Colorado farms participated and contributed fresh produce to Foraged Feast. The largest donor was Miller Farms, in Platteville which contributed nearly 40,000 pounds. Local farmers find enormous benefit in working with Foraged Feast. According to Joe Miller, owner and operator of Miller Farms, “Miller Farms and Foraged Feast have an amazing partnership. We are like family. They really care about our family and farm. They always show up, are fun to work with, and dedicated to getting the food to the people who need it. They make my day a little easier by taking a task off my plate. I feel good knowing all our hard work isn’t going to waste, and our produce is helping local families in need.” Foraged Feast isn’t just limited to producers. The group also works with individuals who can register fruit-bearing trees for contributions. “If
Bugs Rule!
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Colorado State University Agricultural Sciences graduate student Tracy Lowery, right, and her sister Maisie Roberts collect unsold vegetables from the Miller Farms table at the Old South Pearl Street Farmer’s Market as a June thunderstorm passes through.
you have an apple tree in your yard that produces more apples than you can use, we want to hear from you,” Lowery said. “We can help get that fruit to families who really need it.” Luckily, many local stores already have solidified contracts for distributing excess produce. Foraged Feast is always willing to help any store that does not already have a solution in place. Word of mouth has also helped drive Foraged Feast into its second season. The group has a website (foragedfeast.org), a social media presence on Facebook and Twitter, and an e-mail list for those interested in volunteering or contributing.
Whitney Cranshaw in his lab with one of his creepy, crawly friends.
“Bugs Rule!” is the mantra of renowned CSU Professor of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management Whitney Cranshaw. In fact, Cranshaw has never met a bug he didn’t like, with the possible exception of the western yellowjacket. As a child growing up in Massachusetts, what would become Cranshaw’s illustrious career was fueled by a fascination with praying mantises he found in a field near his house. When asked, “How do insects benefit us?” his response is swift and sure. “Without insects, our world would fall apart,” says Cranshaw. “Insects are responsible for our food supply, pest management and handling decomposition in our ecosystems. They make our ecosystems work.” Beside the critical role insects play in the ecosystem, Cranshaw thinks they are just the most captivating creatures. “They look like aliens on the earth,” says Cranshaw. Everything from “What’s this year’s miller moth forecast?” to “Tell me more about the great Colorado tarantula migration,” Cranshaw knows it all. Well-known in entomology circles across the nation, and relied on by state agencies, commodity groups, media and community members throughout Colorado, Cranshaw’s expertise is highly respected. He came to CSU more than 30 years ago. In 2013, he was honored by the Entomology Society of America with the Distinguished Achievement Award in Horticulture Entomology. In 2006, he was named a Best Teacher at CSU. Cranshaw’s research interests include the impact of insects on all horticultural commodities in Colorado, particularly vegetables, shade trees, turfgrass and specialty crops. Cranshaw also responds to new insect problems in Colorado, such as thousand cankers disease and emerald ash borer. With a CSU Extension appointment, his outreach activities focus on diagnosing and managing insect pests, as well as working with local county Extension agents, staff and volunteers to communicate about how best to handle the issue. Cranshaw, with his colleagues in plant pathology, has just released a new edition of the book Insects and Diseases of Woody Plants in Colorado, a helpful resource for Coloradans interested in both plants and insects. It includes full color photographs, charts and descriptions and can be purchased at csuextstore.com/store/pc/home.asp. For questions or concerns about insects in your home or yard, contact your local County Extension Office. For Larimer County, visit larimer.org/ext/.
Faces: College of Agricultural Sciences Matthew Stermer, Senior, Soil and Crop Sciences
With tons of support from his wife, Matthew Stermer returned to school after working at a local car dealership for seven and a half years. He chose his major because of one of the prerequisites, Introduction to Soil Sciences, helped Matthew Stermer him discover his interest in soil and plants. Stermer wants to be a part of the future of agriculture, and he feels that the College of Agricultural Sciences will help position him for a successful and impactful career. “All of the faculty and staff are amazing and they truly care about students reaching their goals,” said Stermer. “I am very excited to have so many options to continue to study soil and crops sciences.” Stermer will graduate in December and plans to enroll in a master’s program at CSU. “I believe that the College of Agricultural Sciences will prepare me for a career in which I will better the lives of people and improve the environment for future generations,” he said. Aubriel Jones, Junior, Ag Literacy and dual minor in Organic Agriculture and Global Environmental Sustainability
Growing up on an organic farm, Aubriel Jones appreciated the holistic approach of CSU and the College of Agricultural Sciences. A key factor that brought Jones to Aubriel Jones the college was the teachers and staff who she found to be inviting, helpful, and passionate. Jones is convinced that the faculty and staff in the college truly support her dreams and aspirations and are genuinely interested in her future. Jones’ interest in CSU dates back to her early childhood. “When I was little my family and I
would visit Fort Collins and I would see the A up on the Foothills,” she said. “I would always say to my mom and dad ‘That A stands Aubriel, so I have to go to college here.’ ” Jones is chair of the Ag Ambassadors, a college student organization, and is working with professors Gene Kelly and Mike Martin in creating an Ag forum/panel that will bridge the gap in agriculture and discuss alternative/sustainable solutions with farming techniques. After graduation, Jones hopes to work for a nonprofit organization focused on agriculture or a company that sells sustainable/ healthy products. Morgan Gaither, summer 2014 graduate, Bachelor of Science in Animal Science
Morgan Gaither was drawn to the College of Agricultural Sciences because she is passionate about individual health and animal welfare. She began her university career in biology as a pre-med student but began to realize over time that Morgan Gaither our food is at the core of improving human and animal health. Gaither recently completed an internship with Colorado Senator Michael Bennet that she received through the American Society of Animal Science. “This exciting opportunity opened my eyes to many opportunities in agriculture-related fields – both foreign and domestic, government and non-government,” said Gaither. “This experience heightened my interest in public policy and continuous improvement.” Gaither hopes her work will encourage people to come together to solve the pressing global issues faced by agriculture across the United States. She is confident that her education will take her around the world and ultimately propel her into to a position where she can continue to learn and also be a leader in sustainable, innovative agriculture and education, both personally and professionally.
CSU wins $10 million grant to study beetle-killed wood as biofuel Vice President of External Relations Tom Milligan Content Editor Kathy Phifer Division of External Relations
Contributing Writers: Jennifer Dimas, Jennifer Eyden, Jason Kosovski
Copy Editor Kate Jeracki
Photography: CSU Photography Dean, College of Agricultural Sciences: Craig Beyrouty colostate.edu
Custom Publishing President/Publisher: Kathy Jack-Romero 970.224.7885 kathyjackromero@coloradoan.com
Advertising Director: Tyler Kidd 970.224.7709 tylerkidd@coloradoan.com
Trees killed by beetle infestations are a continued and growing problem in Colorado and the western United States. A team led by Colorado State University and funded by a $10 million US Department of Agriculture grant is partnering with industry to look for new ways to utilize “beetle-kill” wood, wood that has the potential to serve as a new fuel source. There are many benefits to using beetle-killed wood for renewable fuel production. It requires no cultivation, circumvents concerns over using food for fuel, and likely has a highly favorable carbon balance. However, there are some challenges that have been a barrier to widespread use. Beetle-kill trees are typically located far from urban industrial centers, often in relatively inaccessible areas with challenging topography, which increases harvest and transportation costs. In addition to technical barriers, environmental impacts, social issues, and local policy constraints leave the use of beetle-kill wood and other forest residues largely unexplored. CSU researchers, together with other scientists
from universities, government, and private industry in the region, created the Bioenergy Alliance Network of the Rockies to address these challenges. “Utilization of the beetle-kill wood and other waste biomass from forest thinning and firehazard reduction has great potential for biofuel production,” said Keith Paustian, CSU professor of soil and crop sciences and BANR project director. “However, we need to carefully assess both the economics and environmental impacts to maximize the benefits to local communities and the country as a whole.” The project is working with Cool Planet Energy Systems, based in Greenwood Village, Colo. The company’s prototype system can be tailored to the amount of feedstock available and thus can be deployed in close proximity to stands of beetlekilled timber. This localized production leads to significantly lower costs related to wood harvest and transportation. Their distributed scalable biorefinery approach is a key element in making the use of insect-damaged trees as feedstock plausible.
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September 2014
Earning hands-on agricultural degrees online? CSU makes it work When you think about learning from the experienced agricultural faculty members such as Colorado State University’s Associate Professor of Animal Science Kraig Peel, you may think of students working side-by-side, rolling up their sleeves, and getting dirty. But agricultural degree opportunities, such as CSU’s Integrated Resource Management program, now extend much further than just to individuals within driving distance of the university’s northern Colorado agricultural facilities. Educational technology allows agricultural managers across all types of industry – professional land and ranch management; animal and cattle production; wildlife and forest; local, state, and regional agencies dealing with land and resource management (think the Bureau of Land Management or the Forest Service) – access to Colorado State
University’s extensive agricultural knowledge — online. “The integrated resource management graduate online program is unique; it’s the only one like it in the United States,” said Peel, who is also director of the online program. “We take disciplinary faculty in animal science, range, ag business, land and resource management, and human resources, and we bring their expertise to bear in each individual course. These are full professors who work full time at the University doing cutting-edge agriculture work as well as research.” While many people may think online learning is primarily bookbased, this program is an example of how CSU’s hands-on degrees translate very well into the online environment. CSU currently offers over 30 degrees online. Peel cites CSU’s feed management facility
just one example of the bridge between face-to-face and online learning. “We have a feed efficiency managing system at CSU, and we’re able to share that information with our students in an online format almost as quickly as that information becomes available.” To see how that’s possible, and to watch CSU’s new video highlighting the work, visit www.CSUanywhere.com. ABOUT THE PROGRAM The integrated resource management online master’s program has been offered since 2008 and has enrolled students from 38 states. It, along with other programs offered through CSU OnlinePlus, supports the University’s land-grant mission of expanding access to education by connecting students who cannot or choose not to come to campus with Colorado State’s renowned faculty, research, and academic curricula. For more information, please visit CSUanywhere.com or call 970-491-5288.
CSU helps Coca-Cola bring the prairie to Denver Associate Professor of Landscape Design and Contracting Zach Johnson recently completed a landscape plan for the CocaCola bottling facility in Denver that greatly reduces the consumption of water while at the same time bringing natural beauty to the area surrounding the facility. “We based our design on the prairies of the Great Plains found along the Front Range of Colorado,” said Johnson. “Our intention was to reintroduce native plants and grasses to the site. By doing this we were able to increase the aesthetic of the landscape as well as reduce maintenance and water consumption.” This design concept also provides a strong learning opportunity for visitors to the facility. Included in the design is a space which will be used as an outdoor teaching area. In that teaching space, Coca-Cola representatives will describe the original landscape found in the area as early settlers began to call Denver home. This native landscape demonstrates Coca-Cola’s commitment to sustainability by reducing water consumption as well as the carbon footprint involved in maintaining a traditional landscape. A key component of this project included the latest water management technology, such as a small onsite weather station working in conjunction with a smart irrigation controller. This technology ensures
water is only used when actually needed and delivers water consumption reports and sends text messages or emails if water is delivered outside of expected parameters. The alerts call attention to leaks and ensure necessary repairs are immediately brought to attention. Through the newly installed landscape and water management techniques, water use should drop by more than 75 percent. Coca-Cola and Johnson are exploring possible opportunities to expand this model into additional facilities throughout the nation. Johnson was assisted on this project by Ryan Larscheid, a recent graduate of both the Landscape Design and Contracting program and the Landscape Business program.
Mike Bartolo is a manager and researcher at the Arkansas Valley Research Center.
Agricultural Experiment Station The Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station, an integral part of Colorado State University, was established in 1888 after the Colorado General Assembly ratified the provisions of the Hatch Act. The Morrill Act of 1862 provided for public higher education by establishing colleges in every state and territory endowed through grants of public lands — thus, land-grant institutions. In 1887, the Hatch Act provided research at these institutions by authorizing a
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state agricultural experiment station for each state to undergird the educational mission. State agricultural experiment stations are located in every state and territory, covering all the ecological, environmental and socioecomomic regions of the nation. The Agricultural Research Station supports seven off-campus research centers which conduct agricultural research specific to the region of Colorado in which they are located.
at Altitude