INAG News
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES | INSTITUTE OF APPLIED AGRICULTURE | SUMMER/FALL 2024
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND / FEARLESSLY FORWARD
CONTENTS Student Life
5 Graduation
7 Impromptu
9 Do Good Innovators
10 Class Notes
11 Cover: Juan Bajana, Samuel Burke, and Nicholas Bradford participate in the annual arbor day tree planting on campus.
Heather McHale Director Rebecka Tetter 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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’m very pleased to be starting my first year as the IAA’s permanent director–I love this job and my wonderful team. This issue of INAG News seems like a good time to introduce myself more fully and share a bit about my hopes and plans for the IAA’s future. I am a lifelong product of the land-grant university system. I grew up on a farm in southwest Michigan as a 4-H kid, earned a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University, and moved to Maryland to earn a master’s degree and a Ph.D. here at UMD. I started my teaching career as a teaching assistant in 2002, and I have been teaching writing ever since. I have taught all kinds of audiences, from college freshmen to employees of the National Wildlife Service. I am married with two children, the oldest of whom is about to start her first year as a Terp. I’m an avid knitter, gardener, and Doctor Who fan. I came to the IAA in 2018 to teach academic writing and other communication courses and to advise the students in our Ag
Forward program, and I loved it immediately. The program is warm, friendly, and energetic; faculty and staff spend a lot of time together and with the students. I am surrounded by amazing teachers every day, and it is my privilege to help enable them to do their best work. My outlook on leadership–and indeed on life–is fairly simple, though not always easy: try something. It is very easy to see obstacles, potential pitfalls, and reasons not to change things. But worrying that you might fail is a terrible reason not to try something, and the cost of doing nothing is often higher than you think. My high school friend, Kevin, has a regular question that he poses whenever someone complains about how hard or impossible a task is going to be, or how helpless they are to improve their situation. He’ll listen while a friend explains that they can’t start their own business, or create a community group, or whatever it is that they want to do, and then he’ll inquire, “Have you tried trying?”
partway through that I didn’t like the way it looked, so I changed it. Sometimes it looks exactly like I expected, but I had to do something My philosophy is: take the time to unexpected in order to get that consider options, listen carefully to people, and foresee possible negative result. The same process applies to any area of life. I strive to be openconsequences, of course…but then try something and see what happens. minded, observant, and flexible in figuring out what to do next; just There are only a few situations like our students, we learn by doing. where failing is a permanent or catastrophic condition. I don’t This is why an IAA education is so recommend this approach for a powerful. Trying out lots of different neurosurgeon or a pilot, but in skills (doing market research, the realms of higher education designing a golf course, building and agriculture, there are plenty of a prototype, writing a letter of opportunities to experiment and advocacy to a lawmaker, assembling test out a course of action. Waiting an engine) in the safe context of to come up with a perfect solution their classes helps students see that often means doing nothing at all, there is seldom any such thing as and in many situations, there is no “perfect,” but there are many, many single perfect solution to be found. routes to “good.” Different solutions by different people can be wildly I like to think of this in terms of divergent and all work. knitting. Because I like a knitting challenge, I’m often learning a new The IAA leverages a network of skill, adapting a pattern, or creating alumni and committed industry something original. As a result, the partners to give the students a wide first attempt often fails. When that range of real-world experiences. happens, I don’t (usually) throw Collaborative projects like the out the project altogether, and I Community Learning Garden and don’t just keep knitting and live Terp Farm allow us to give students with a sweater that doesn’t fit well. more hands-on opportunities than I unravel it and start over, using I have seen anywhere else. As a the knowledge gained in the first result, IAA graduates emerge feeling attempt to help me get a better confident in their ability to try result. Is it frustrating to start over? things and learn from the things that Sure, of course, sometimes. But I don’t work, which is an essential like yarn, and I like knitting, and element of success. I do not like ill-fitting sweaters, so I remind myself, “It’s just more I have a number of goals for the knitting! You like knitting.” And I IAA. We are in the middle of an start over. Sometimes the finished enrollment boom–our incoming product doesn’t look the way I class has doubled in size over the expected, because I discovered It’s a little humbling to realize that the answer is often “no.”
past five years!–so I am focusing on sustainable growth, making sure that we can provide the same highquality education that we’re known for. Cultivating a sense of belonging for all of our students, faculty, and staff is very important to me, and as we move from our current home in Jull Hall into a new space in Symons Hall (more on that in our next INAG News!), we are working hard to create spaces to support that. We’re developing more options for students from other departments who want to take IAA courses or complete a certificate, and we’re launching an updated recruitment plan to reach agriculture-focused students across the state. I’m excited to see what works; adapt or rethink the things that don’t; and keep fostering resilient, creative decision making in our students.
Heather McHale Director
INAG News | SUMMER/FALL 2024
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IAA Terp Life
SPRING 2024 SNAPSHOT 2 1
1. The "Turf Terps" converted the IAA computer lab into The Master's viewing room while studying for upcoming assignments.
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2. Students enjoy picking the perfect plant for their Valentine at the annual IAA Valentine's Day Plant Giveaway. 3. Esther Feron shares their experience at the UMD Arboretum with guests at the annual AGNR Discovery and Innovation Night.
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4. Students in INAG205: Analyzing Alternative Enterprises with the zucchini pickles they learned how to make as a value-added product. 5. Geoffrey Rinehart and Roy Walls demonstrating a surveying lab to students in INAG235: Irrigation and Drainage Practices for Turfgrass. 6.Veda Puranik and Adara Brown in discussion with elected officials at the State Capitol as part of INAG131: Introduction to Agricultural Policy and Communication.
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INAG News | SUMMER/FALL 2024
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Honoring IAA ALUMNI Celebrating IAA GRADUATES Written By: Rebecka Tetter
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he Institute of Applied Agriculture (IAA) is proud to celebrate the accomplishments of its August 2023, December 2023, and May 2024 graduates. This year, we also have the distinct pleasure of honoring two exceptional alumni who have significantly contributed to the turfgrass and agricultural industries. The IAA continues its tradition of excellence by graduating a new cohort of skilled and knowledgeable professionals. These graduates have demonstrated dedication, hard work, and a commitment to advancing the agricultural and environmental industry. We are confident that they will go on to make significant impacts in their respective fields and communities.Our alumni award winners have already done that. We are thrilled to announce David Cammarota (Turfgrass '67) for the Distinguished Alumni Award. His early career saw him excel as the assistant superintendent at Sparrows Point Country Club, where he honed his skills and built a reputation for excellence. Cammarota later transitioned into the sales sector, where he specialized in selling fertilizer, chemicals, bunker sand, and top dressing to the golf industry. His expertise and dedication have made significant contributions to the field, benefiting countless golf courses and agricultural professionals. Cammarota’s career is a testament to the high standards and professional achievements that the IAA aims to inspire in all its students. It is our pleasure to announce Grant Joseph ("Joe") Shaffer (Ag Business '15) for the Early Career Alumni Award. Shaffer came to the IAA in 2013 with several years of experience on livestock farms and a background in FFA. As an IAA student, he was a member of Alpha Gamma Rho (serving as Vice Noble Ruler for Alumni Relations) and the UMD Shotgun Club.
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After completing his Certificate, he returned to his family’s Blue Heron Farm with new ideas to implement sustainable practices such as rotational grazing. As these plans succeeded, Shaffer looked to expand the business. He partnered with another landowner to launch Hidden Waters Farm, a regenerative livestock farm and market in Pikesville, Maryland. Shaffer has already accomplished much in his years after graduation and the IAA looks forward to seeing what more is in store for him. As we celebrate the achievements of our August 2023, December 2023, and May 2024 graduates, we also honor the distinguished careers of alumni like David Cammarota and Joe Shaffer. Their contributions exemplify the excellence and impact that the Institute of Applied Agriculture strives to foster in all its students and graduates. Pictured Below: Distinguished Alumni Award Receipient, David Cammarota, and Early Career Alumni Award Recipient, Joe Shaffer.
Pictured Below Left to Right: Kyle Thompson, Harry Lengenfelder, James Heffley, Nicholas Bradford,Telly Barnes, Arianna McCottrell, Austin Smith, Jason Lee, Parker Miller, Chase Thompson, Lorenzo Gonzales-Ysern, and Esther Feron.
JASON LEE Outstanding IAA Student Jason is a star student at UMD where he completed a Certificate of Applied Agriculture in Agricultural Leadership and Communication and is completing a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Resource Economics. He currently holds a 3.59 GPA and is a regular on the Dean’s List. Jason has taken on a new role as an AGNR Peer Mentor for IAA and AREC students in which he holds office hours in both Jull Hall and Symons Hall and is eager to talk with current students. He is a regular presence in our buildings which creates a warm and inviting environment for students. Jason’s passion for agricultural policy and government affairs is clear, and he is heading toward a successful career in the field. Ashley Fennell (AG BUS '18) received an award for Outstanding Service to Community in AGNR!
Pictured Above: Fennell and Lee with their awards at the annual awards reception at the UMD Golf Course. INAG News | SUMMER/FALL 2024
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BREAKING GROUND INAG248 PALS Project
The Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability (PALS) is administered by the National Center for Smart Growth at the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD). It is a campus-wide initiative that harnesses the expertise of UMD faculty and the energy and ingenuity of UMD students to help Maryland communities become more environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable. PALS is designed to provide innovative, low-cost assistance to local governments while creating real-world problem-solving experiences for University of Maryland graduate and undergraduate students. This year, the IAA participated in a PALS project through Meredith Epstein's INAG248 Topics in Sustainable Agriculture course. We partnered with Prince George's Community College, where Amanda Sames, an AGNR alumna and former volunteer at the Community Learning Garden, is just wrapping up a year of service as an AmeriCorps VISTA. Her job at PGCC was to implement a community garden where there has never been one before. INAG248 students did research and engaged in a design process to come up with a landscape design and site plan for their garden. We also used our PALS budget to purchase start-up materials for PGCC and broke ground with them in place of a final exam in the class. In June, Epstein got to bring this year's UMD campus food garden interns to one of PGCC's garden volunteer hours. It was great to see the garden growing!
Pictured Above: Amanda Sames (AmeriCORPS Vista), Meredith Epstein (IAA Principal Lecturer), Juan Bajana (IAA Student), Bridget Duffy (IAA Student), and Laura Miller (PGCC Professor). Pictured Right: Adelaide Phillips (Garden Intern), Amanda Sames, Meredith Epstein, and Ellie Dugan (Garden Intern).
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WINNER, WINNER, Chicken Dinner!
Written By: Lori Sefton
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ell, we didn't have chicken, but we had some winners! The 2024 IAA Impromptu in the Garden public speaking contest is complete. Our 23 contestants spoke on a variety of topics connected to the contest theme: spring! This year's winners were: 1st place/$100 Croix Harris, Student of Sam Rubin 2nd place/$75 Stella Colantuno, Student of David Gormong 3rd place/$50 Noora Ghahremani, Student of David Gormong
QUICKLY narrowed the pool down to the top three students. That's a BIG job! We are grateful for their help. A big thank you to Heather and the IAA for sponsoring the competition with the prize money, snacks, and IAA merch for each participant. The students were very happy! In addition, the Department recognized the instructors of the winning students (Sam Rubin and David Gormong) with a basket of seasonal treats from Heyser Farms, Inc. in Silver Spring, MD. Fun fact: Heyser Farms is the family market of Daniel Heyser (Ag Business '20). These days, Daniel oversees mechanical maintenance at the family farm and also works as an Ag Tech at Hoobers Case IH Dealership in New Windsor, MD.
This year's Impromptu judges were our own Lindsay Barranco; AGNR's Assistant Director for Communications, Andrew Muir; and 2023 IAA graduate, Franz Stuppard. In the span of about 35 minutes, they heard 23 impromptu speeches and then
Thank you to ALL the people who helped plan, gather supplies, set up, work, and tear down this year's Impromptu. See you in the garden next year! Pictured Above:Winners Croix Harris, Stella Colantuno, and Noora Ghahremani and Judges Franz Stuppard, Lindsay Barranco, and Andrew Muir. INAG News | SUMMER/FALL 2024
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DO GOOD INNOVATORS
Meredith Epstein & Alex Steinman Do Good Innovator Award The first-ever Provost’s Do Good Innovator Awards will recognize and celebrate the staff and faculty across UMD’s Do Good Campus who have been hard at work tackling the grand challenges of our time. Meredith Epstein (and Alex Steinman (Director of Grounds) received this award. Epstein has been managing the UMD Community Learning Garden since 2013. It is THE place on campus for students to engage in producing fresh vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers. The garden empowers students to learn about food access, environmental stewardship, agricultural sustainability and mental and physical wellbeing.
Pictured Above: Espstein and Steinman at the inaugural awards ceremony with Provost Rice to recongnize their awards.
As the assistant coach for the UMD Turf Bowl Team, Steinman mentors students and provides them a unique opportunity to extend their studies beyond the classroom. Composed of students from the university's two year and four year turfgrass management programs, Alex's teams have won national championships with both the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) and the Sports Field Management Association (SFMA).
Do Good Campus Fund Provost Rice and the Do Good Institute, in collaboration with the Do Good Campus Strategic Leadership Council, awarded more than $450,000 in Do Good Campus Fund grants this spring. It supports substantial efforts happening across University of Maryland, aimed at reimagining learning and serving humanity both inside and outside the classroom. Esptein is a Co-PI for "Food for Thought: Combating Food Insecurity on College Campuses." This project builds on a decade of work to establish a hunger-free campus through a multi-pronged approach: providing fresh produce from three campus food gardens and Terp Farm, fostering student experiential work-learning opportunities, and developing a survey instrument to demonstrate the ongoing need for services and sustained funding. Over 28,800 students, faculty, and staff have used the Campus Pantry since 2014, indicating that this is a much needed program and has proven to have a profound impact on this campus. The project will employ a team of students to support nutritious food production, emergency food distribution, nutrition education, and communications that spread information about this model to other universities.
CONGRATULATIONS! LINDSAY BARRANCO for graduating with her Master's in Entomology from UMD and CHRIS SLACK for graduating with his Master's in Innovation, Leadership, Entrepreneurship from UMBC in December 2023. MEREDITH EPSTEIN, Principal Lecturer (Sustainable Agriculture) and CHELSEA MAYSWILLIAMS, Senior Lecturer (Oral Communication) on their recent promotions. KENNETH INGRAM for the Maryland Day 2024 Success with the Annual Herb Giveaway.
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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
Matthew Miller (GOLF '23) began a new position as a Lawn Care Technician at Prograss Lawn Care where he is identifying and treating weed, insect, and disease damage to home lawns. Brandon Writt (AG BUS '21) started as a Specialty Services Manager at Shorb Landscaping, Inc. He oversees the installation, integration, and service of autonomous mowers.
Jeffrey Bynaker (GOLF '15) manages landscaping and athletic field maintenance teams as Park Manager I, Northern Parks at Montgomery Parks. We are remembering Geoff Brittingham (TURF '14) who passed away suddenly in May 2024.
EMAIL: iaa@umd.edu
WEB: iaa.umd.edu/points-pride/alumni-spotlight
MD AG HALL OF FAME Willard Family Governor Wes Moore and Maryland Agriculture Secretary Kevin Atticks today announced the Willard Family of Montgomery County as the 2023 inductees into the Governor’s Agriculture Hall of Fame. It honors agricultural leaders who exemplify high standards of achievement and commitment to the industry and their communities. The company stands as a beacon of precision agriculture, offering farmers access to the HighQ decision support system. The Willard farming operation, initiated in 1871, remains vibrant today under the leadership of Scott Poffenberger, Billy Willard Jr. (AG BUS '08), and Joe Sayer, with approximately 900 acres of corn, 600 acres of full-season beans, 400 acres of sorghum, and 600 acres of wheat.
INAG News | SUMMER/FALL 2024
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