INAG News Winter-Spring 2022

INAG News

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES | INSTITUTE OF APPLIED AGRICULTURE | WINTER/SPRING 2022

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CONTENTS Environmental Stewardship

4 New Scholarship

5 UMD Routines

6 IAA Student News

8 Mathias Scholarship Endowment

10 Alumni News

11 Cover: Geoff Rinehart teaching students at the Community Learning Garden.

Glori Hyman Director Rebecka Jones Graphic Designer

Instagram and Twitter: @iaa_umd Facebook and YouTube: /iaaumd INAG News is published twice a year by the Institute of Applied Agriculture. You, the reader, are encouraged to share comments, alumni updates, and agriculturerelated news at iaa@umd.edu.

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From the Director’s Desk

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o you remember the children’s story Henny Penny? A chicken named Henny Penny gets bopped in the head with an acorn that has fallen from the oak tree above. Not knowing what hit her, Henny Penny thinks the sky is falling and the world will soon end. With an urgent sense of impending doom, she embarks on a journey to warn the King. Along the way she meets other feathered friends, convinces them the sky is falling and creates a frenzied flock that flutters about squawking of imminent disaster.

“The sky is falling!” “The sky is falling!”

While I enjoy this story, I am no Henny Penny. More like her antithesis.

The other day, IAA faculty member Eric Dunning joked, “Glori could be standing on Mount Kilimanjaro while it erupted and she would still be telling everyone not to worry, everything is going to be fine.” Well, maybe he wasn’t joking.

Being an eternal optimist enables me to do my job. As educators, we prepare and inspire students to launch careers, start businesses, feed the world, and lead others. If we thought the world’s demise was just around the corner, what would be the purpose of preparing students for the future? If we continually anticipate a doomsday scenario, how could we lift students up to dream and set goals?

Yes, the past two years cast some long shadows and dark skies upon us, but the sky is not falling. The future looks bright. In this issue of INAG News you’ll read about the two new scholarships we’ll award for fall 2022, you’ll see photos of IAA students actively engaged in hands-on

learning, you’ll learn about our newest track in environmental stewardship, and you’ll note that our turf students are again competing in person and doing well. Even now that we are back in person, our foray into virtual education provided opportunities to teach with and learn new technologies, some of which we have kept. Students are improving their digital fluency by participating in virtual job interviews and by creating videos to showcase their internship experiences. The technology allows us to reach a wider audience and to invite our alumni from all over the country to mentor students and offer expertise. Connecting our alumni and students has proven invaluable, and I want to again thank our alumni for your continued support.

Unlike Henny Penny, we at the IAA can identify the fallen object as an acorn.

Even better, we know we can plant that acorn and grow a mighty oak.

With great optimism and blue skies, enjoy this issue of INAG News.

Glori D. Hyman

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IAA WELCOMES NEW FACULTY By: Rebecka Jones

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s the Institute of Applied Agriculture (IAA) resumes “business as usual” after 18 months of handling the COVID-19 pandemic, it is also pleased to welcome three new faculty members.

David Gormong holds a B.A. in Music Theory from Asbury College and two M.A. degrees in Spirituality (St. John’s University) and Communication (Wheaton College Graduate School).

With an M.A. in Communications, he has a passion for preparing students to serve others through effective speaking, empathic listening, and an appreciation for our human diversity. Gormong has joined the IAA as an Oral Communication Lecturer.

What is he most excited about? “President Pine's emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion excites me. I look forward to seeing how I can contribute to creating a culture of respect and inclusion at UMD and in the wider community.”

Tom Mazzone is welcomed back to the University of Maryland campus this time not as a student (UMD ‘13 Agriculture Science and Technology/Secondary Science Education) but as the IAA Agricultural Technology Lecturer and Advisor. In 2021, Mazzone graduated from the University of Florida with an M.S. in Agriculture Education and Communication. He will be teaching Agricultural Mechanics and Power and Machinery.

What is he most excited about? “I am most excited about developing a new curriculum that aligns with cutting-edge agricultural technology and putting it into the hands of our students. For the first time ever in agriculture history, UAV's or drones have granted producers the ability to monitor plant health of every single plant, every day, at every point of the growing season. This is fascinating to me, and something that I believe will hold a strong place in the future of agriculture. My hope is to develop a course that permits students to get hands-on with this technology and use the collected data in a variety of

“I’m excited to work with our new faculty; along with their decades of classroom teaching experience, they bring fresh ideas and perspectives to Jull Hall that benefit all of us faculty and students.“ GLORI HYMAN

different scenarios to make educated, proactive, and environmentally friendly agronomic decisions.”

Lori Sefton joins the IAA as an Oral Communication lecturer after serving Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIUC) for nearly 15 years as an instructor and administrator along with several other colleges around the nation. Sefton holds a B.S. in RadioTelevision, an M.S. in Speech Education, and a Ph.D. in Organizational Communication, all from SIUC. What is she most excited about? “Definitely being in the classroom full-time after being an administrator and a teacher at my last college.”

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IAA Launches New Track in...

By: Heather McHale

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lue crabs. Wetlands. Mountains. Green space.

Timber. From the Chesapeake Bay and its wetlands to the mountains of western Maryland, our state is full of precious natural resources and ecosystems. This fall, the IAA will launch a new track, Environmental Stewardship, which will prepare students for careers in managing and protecting those resources.

The Environmental Stewardship track, which is part of the IAA’s concentration in Ornamental Horticulture and Landscape Management, prepares students for a wide range of careers with environmental focus. Ken Ingram, the IAA’s horticulture and landscape management advisor and lecturer, says, “This certificate prepares [students] for some great jobs. All environmental and engineering firms, as well as government agencies, need trained people to collect field data, inspect field work, and manage projects.

Tree and landscape companies need plant health care technicians who inspect landscapes for pests and other problems. Utility providers need trained employees to schedule maintenance and conduct tree inventories.

Municipalities need urban foresters and arborists, park and property managers, nutrient management specialists. Most parks and fine gardens need educators to give tours and talks or run camps for kids.” Ingram adds, “These aren’t cubicle jobs—you can get outside. It’s a chance to make the world a better, safer, and more beautiful place.”

This track will also be a useful foundation for students who wish to pursue further education in environmental science or sustainability. Environmental Stewardship students will take courses in plant science, soil science, insects, agricultural mechanics, pesticide use and safety, and arboriculture. This curriculum provides a solid basis for students with an interest in earning degrees in Plant Science, Landscape Architecture, Environmental Science and Policy, or Environmental Science and Technology.

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Because students in the Environmental Stewardship track may choose numerous electives to round out their curriculum, they can deepen their understanding of soil science, hydrology, wildlife management, environmental health or policy, or any other part of the Agriculture and Natural Resources discipline that applies to their career goals. These students also have a more customizable business and leadership curriculum: in consultation with their advisor, they choose the courses that will prepare them for their desired career, whether they plan to pursue commercial business, advocacy, or nonprofit work.

Many IAA students join the program knowing that they want to support sustainability, whatever their focus may be. IAA Director Glori Hyman—who says she is “super excited” about the new track—explains, “Over a third of recent high school graduates who are admitted into the IAA express an interest in studying the environment.

We’ve created a major that will make them feel welcomed into the IAA and help them reach their goals.”

As Hyman notes, although the new track focuses specifically on environmental studies, sustainable practices are part of every track offered at the IAA. Hyman observes, “I believe the IAA is well-suited to teach students to care for natural environments through sustainable practices. At its basic level, environmental stewardship deals with our relationships to water and land and the plants and animals that grow on it. The IAA’s been teaching those subjects for nearly six decades.”

She adds, “I’m looking forward to seeing how the next generation of IAA alumni apply environmental stewardship to their careers and lives.”

Environmental Stewardship will be open for enrollment for Fall 2022. We look forward to admitting our first cohort in this exciting new track!

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New SCHOLARSHIP for the IAA

Pictured above is Lorraine Wallace at Maidstone Harvest.

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orraine Wallace is the New York Times bestselling author of Mr. Sunday’s Soups, Mr. Sunday’s Saturday Night Chicken, and Mr. and Mrs. Sunday’s Suppers. Inspired by her passion for cooking with local, organic, seasonal ingredients she started Maidstone Harvest on her property in Annapolis, Maryland.

Under an acre in size, Maidstone Harvest is a small no-till, organic practicing market garden. Due to the growing demand for produce, herbs and vegetables that provide high-quality yield for both chefs and restaurants alike, the garden is expanding. The plan is to add other exciting venues to absorb the increased volume for this year.

Because of her desire to learn more about food and farming, she decided to establish a scholarship for an IAA student who plans to pursue a career in sustainable agriculture. Wallace’s $15,000 scholarship will cover the tuition and fees for an in-state student to attend the IAA. Additionally, Maidstone Harvest can provide the required internship and hands-on learning in the field. A typical task could cover propagation, planting, and field maintenance. The micro-green production, harvest, and client relations provide other aspects of involvement. Combined, the scholarship, classroom learning, and hands-on field experience will provide an ideal opportunity for students to gain the knowledge needed to launch their careers in sustainable agriculture.

The Wallace scholarship will be awarded for the first time this Fall 2022! Prospective students interested in applying should contact the IAA by calling 301-405-4686 or e-mailing iaa-request@umd.edu.

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IAA Terps FALL Back to UMD Routines

“As a first year IAA Terp, my experience has been amazing! I love the teachers within the IAA and I know I can count on them for anything.“ HAILEY POOLE, AG BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

1 1, The IAA hosted "Pizza & Plants" to kick-off the Fall 2022 semester pictured are Kate Farmer and Arunima Kohli.

2. 2021 IAA Early Career Alumni award winner, Brian Hogan speaking to the incoming and returning students about his career path and experience. Lynn Batdorf, the 2021 IAA Outstanding Career Alumni award winner, was also in attendace to share his knowledge.

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3. Each year, lecturer and advisor Ken Ingram hosts a Plant Giveaway for all UMD students. Pictured is Jonah Webb with the plants he secured for his dorm room!

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4. One field trip in agricultural marketing is to visit the University of Maryland Farmer's Market. Pictured are Hailey Poole, Connor Koch, and Alyssa Chiascione with their purchases from local vendors.

5. Students in agricultural entrepreneurship participate in Terp Marketplace hosted by the Dingman Center for Entrepreurship to showcase and sell their innovative products. Brandon Carbury is pictured explaining his template for DIY landscaping.

6. Scott Godfrey, Shelby Gore, Esther Feron, Bryce Holt, and Hailey Poole after their final business pitch to a panel of five judges in agriculture entrepreneurship.

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Fall 2021 IAA SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS Alyssa Steele Turf Equipment and Supply Turfgrass Scholarship

Olivia Blucker Edward M. Bowman Family Scholarship

Alyssa Chiascione Makayla Kret Mara Wolfe Ariel Andrade Telly Barnes Olivia Blucker Shields Memorial Scholarship

INDUSTRY SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS Mason Hofmeister MAAGCS Turf Scholarship

Josh Baker Zack Baker

Maryland Ag Education Foundation Dr. Ronald J. Seibel Scholarship

Mason Hofmeister (center) receiving the Mid-Atlantic Golf Course Superintendents Turf Scholarship from IAA alumni Chris Fernandez, MAAGCS President (left).

PHOTO CONTEST WINNER BRETT WILCOM Turfgrass Management “For my summer internship I worked as a grounds intern at PB Dye Golf Club in Urbana MD. In the photo I am mowing greens using a Toro Triflex. This machine makes mowing greens a lot faster rather than using a hand mower.”

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Faculty Accolades

Turf Terp’s Place 6th Congratulations to IAA’s Sustainable Agriculture Advisor and Senior Lecturer Meredith Epstein and her husband Guy Kilpatric on the birth of their son. Paul David Kilpatric was born at 12:52 PM on September 24 weighing 8.1 pounds and measuring 20 inches long.

Pictured Left:The “Turf Terps” earned 6th place at the 2022 SFMA Student Challenge. Pictured from left to right are Jake Hess (PLSC), Mason Hofmeister (IAA), Brandon Carbary (IAA), and Geoff Rinehart.

By: Geoff Rinehart

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fter winning last year’s online virtual Sports Turf Managers Association Student Challenge in both the 4-year and 2-year categories, the Turf Terps have had high hopes going into the winter as they look forward to the STMA (now SFMA) and GCSAA intercollegiate competitions. Coaches Geoff Rinehart and Alex Steinman worked with the students during the fall semester to prepare them for this year’s competitions.

This year’s Sports Field Managers Association (the name change occurred during the conference) competition took place on January 20 in Savannah, GA. For this team,

the Turf Terps had two students (Jake Hess [PLSC] and Brandon Carbary [IAA]) from the 3rd place in-person team in 2020 and the squad was rounded out by Mason Hofmeister (IAA). However, due to a last-minute illness, one student was not able to participate and the team entered the competition with only 3 students.

The Turf Terps earned 6th place out of 16 4-year teams. However, as is to be expected with the fierce competition, only 3 points separated the 3rd and 6th place teams. The SFMA Student Challenge covers contestants’ knowledge of agronomic programs, synthetic field maintenance practices, and equipment used in sports turf management.

IAA's Agricultural Technology Lecturer and Advisor Tom Mazzone received the 2020 National Outstanding Early Career Teacher award with NAAE. The conference to accept this award is November 29th December 2nd in Louisiana.

GIFT Day–each January, IAA faculty gather for a teaching retreat to share Great Ideas For Teaching. This year, IAA Oral Communications Lecturer Sam Rubin treated the group to his musical rendition of “I’m an IAA Believer.”

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Mathias Scholarship

ENDOWED

By: Glori Hyman

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ou did it! Thanks to the generosity of IAA Alumni, professional organizations, supportive businesses and friends of the IAA, the J. Kevin Mathias Scholarship has been endowed and will be awarded for the first time in Fall 2022.

The scholarship fund, which was established in 2017 when Dr. Mathias retired from the IAA after 38 years, had a 5-year window to reach an endowment level of $25,000 and it did.

“I’m so pleased with the support that was given by our turfgrass professional associations, our turfgrass vendors, and especially our IAA alumni on reaching and surpassing our endowment goal of $25, 000,” said Mathias from a construction site where he is building another house.

“Kevin is always building something,” laughs IAA Director Glori Hyman. “I credit Kevin with building the IAA’s golf turf program and our national reputation as formidable Turf Bowl contenders. And now he’s built an endowment for a scholarship that will live on forever.”

Carolyn Fernandez, Assistant Dean, Office of External Relations, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Maryland, worked closely with Mathias to help raise scholarship funds. She praises Mathias’s dedication to his former students and the turf/golf industry.

“We are extremely grateful for the time and leadership Dr. Mathias has given in his fundraising role,” she says. “He was instrumental at leveraging his experience and partnerships with the turfgrass and golf industry by securing much needed resources in support our IAA students. Our students are the future talent pipeline for the turfgrass and golf industry.”

The hope is that the Mathias Scholarship fund will continue to grow and provide aid for IAA students. Fernandez says, “We will continue to recognize and honor Dr. Mathias by pursuing additional funds for our students.” Contributions to the Mathias Scholarship can be made online at go.umd.edu/dr-mathias-fund scholarship or by check payable to University of Maryland College Park Foundation Inc. In the memo line, please write, the “Dr. J. Kevin Mathias Scholarship Fund (Account 21-31411)" please mail to Office of Gift Acceptance, P.O Box 49013, Baltimore, MD 21297-4913. If you have any questions on how to make a contribution to the Dr. J. Kevin Mathias Scholarship Fund, please contact Carolyn Fernandez at cfernanc@umd.edu or 301-755-7068.

Pictured Right: Melissa Dornan representing Mid-Atlantic Sports Turf Managers Association.

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Class Notes SEND US YOUR NEWS! We’d like to hear about your personal and professional life.

SEND MAIL TO:

Institute of Applied Agriculture Jull Hall, Room 2123 4196 Stadium Drive College Park, MD 20742

EMAIL:

iaa-request@umd.edu

WEB:

iaa.umd.edu/points-pride/alumni-spotlight

Congratulations to father/son alumni Mark, LAND ‘97, and Ben, AG BUS ‘20, Beaven. In October, the Beaven’s farm was recognized as the Talbot Soul Conservation District’s 2020 Cooperators of the Year, along with their neighboring farm owned by the Shortall family. Additionally, Ben recently earned his private pilot license for low-level agricultural flying for aerial applications.

Emily Richardson, AG BUS ‘18, is Quality and Consumer Safety Manager at Bowery Farming, an indoor farming operation in Baltimore, MD. Congratulations to Ryan Higgins, TURF ‘15, and his wife on the birth of his daughter Molly on September 15, 2021.

Congratulations to Luke Santerre, LAND ‘15, on his marriage to Olivia on September 25, 2021.

Jimmy Halley Jr., GOLF ’15, is the Golf Course Superintendent at the Golf Club at South River in Edgewater, MD.

John Critzos, GOLF ‘15, is the Sales Development Representative for SingleOps, in Atlanta, GA, a cloud-based software product designed to help the green industry.

Andrew Wolcott, TURF ‘11, is Manager of Field Operations for the Baltimore Orioles spring training facility in Sarasota, FL. Nicole Shannon, GOLF ‘07, recently joined Meadia Heights Golf Club in Lancaster, PA, to head up their golf course master plan under new ownership. The course is scheduled to open this spring.

Courtney O’Neil, LAND ‘94, is the head horticulturalist at Kings Creek Country Club in Rehoboth, DE. Jeffrey McMillan, HORT '82, passed away on January 28, 2022. Jeff started his horticulture career at Behnke Nurseries; then he expanded into landscaping and environmental installation and inspection.

Seeking Nominations for Alumni Awards The Institute of Applied Agriculture is seeking nominations for our two 2022 awards: Distinguished Alumni and Early Career Alumni. Our 2021 winners were Lynn Batdorf and Brian Hogan.

The IAA Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes alumni who, over their careers, have accomplished significant achievements of enduring value to their professions and society. Nominees should have attained notable achievements or made enduring contributions through their professional, philanthropic, or voluntary endeavors.

The Early Career Award honors IAA graduates who have earned a certificate in within the past 7 years and have made significant progress in their career and/or have shown outstanding service to their industries and/or the IAA. The Institute of Applied Agriculture’s alumni are extraordinary individuals who contribute to their professions, the IAA, and society. Let’s recognize and celebrate your accomplishments.

Nominations are due by March 31, 2022. For the criteria and to nominate,

please visit go.umd.edu/alumni-awards. Self-nominations are encouraged and welcomed.

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Jull Hall, Rm. 2123 4196 Stadium Drive University of Maryland College Park, MD 20742-2525

Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage PAID College Park, Maryland Permit No. 10

Change Service Requested

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