INAG News Winter-Spring 2017

INAG News COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES • INSTITUTE OF APPLIED AGRICULTURE • WINTER/SPRING 2017

University of Maryland Introduces New Undergraduate Concentration in Applied Agriculture start-up, management and consulting; or management of agriculture-related associations and nonprofits.

“Students who earn a Certificate in Applied Agriculture are well-prepared for successful careers,” added Hyman. “That’s why more than 90% of our students have jobs in their fields of study by the time they graduate from the program.”

The IAA was established in 1965 to meet Maryland’s need for a post-secondary, hands-on, career-oriented education program that was less time consuming than a baccalaureate program.

Pictured at left: Jessica Dumsha, Cedric Nwafor, and Brian Galvez present a startup business model during the INAG102 Agricultural Entrepreneurship course.

By: Larisa Cioaca

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he Institute of Applied Agriculture (IAA) has expanded its Certificate in Applied Agriculture program by introducing a new concentration in Agricultural Leadership and Communication. Housed in the Institute of Applied Agriculture (IAA), the new concentration is accepting incoming freshmen for the Fall 2017 semester. This new academic track is part of a revered certificate program that boasts a job placement rate of more than 90% for program graduates.

“True to our land-grant mission, we focus on meeting the needs of today’s agriculture industry in Maryland,” said Glori D. Hyman, Director of the Institute of Applied Agriculture. “The Agricultural Leadership and Communication concentration was

created in response to the many students who wanted to be involved with and promote agriculture and natural resources, but couldn’t picture themselves on the production side.”

The new concentration is designed for students who want to develop their leadership and communication skills in addition to learning how to manage various agricultural enterprises and ecosystems. It brings together knowledge from multiple disciplines, including animal science, plant science, business and communication.

Over the course of two years, students complete 60 credits that prepare them for careers in agricultural public relations, advocacy or marketing; agribusiness

Contents From the Director

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Roy Walls

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Big Ten Video

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IAA Opens Doors

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Student Files Alumni News & Notes

Around the ‘Tute

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From the Director’s Desk “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.”

These words from my childhood have echoed in my head for five decades.

I heard them so often that they are permanently tattooed on my brain.

In an effort to keep peace among her five children, my mother frequently used this phrase, reminding us that words have power and that name-calling would land our bottoms in the “time-out” chair.

But I now wonder if this is good advice. At first thought, yes, of course it is. How can saying something not-nice be better than silence?

For those of you who have taken my classes, you know I believe in the power of communication and stress the benefits of using positive words. Positive words create positive energy whereas negative words drag us down.

But can negative words be avoided completely?

And, if you don’t have anything nice to say, should you remain silent? Is it the best thing for our employees, or are we denying them an opportunity to improve? Many of you reading this are supervisors, managers, and leaders. You have no doubt struggled with determining the best practices to motivate your employees.

Everyone is different and therefore motivated in different ways.

Imagine you are an athlete training for a big event. Your coach gives you positive feedback or says nothing at all. You show up on game day only to realize you are not well-prepared for the competition, and you lose big time. Which is worse: the feeling of being unprepared, or the feeling of getting critical feedback from your coach during practice?

Leadership and communication skills are critical to successful careers, which is why we expanded our Certificate in Applied Agriculture to include a new concentration in Agricultural Leadership and Communication, beginning Fall 2017. As with all of our concentrations, this new multidisciplinary track prepares students for jobs immediately following graduation, and will help our alumni who want to enhance their managerial skills. See our front page to learn more.

The rest of this issue is filled with exciting initiatives at the ‘tute, and we invite you to enjoy and share our story—but only if you have something nice to say. Otherwise, remain silent.

Of course, I’m kidding. I invite you to share your ideas, insights, and suggestions with us. Email me anytime at gdhyman@umd.edu or call me at 301.405.4684. I want to hear from you; do not remain silent.

Positively yours,

Glori D. Hyman

You’re Invited!

Retirement Celebration for Dr. Kevin Mathias Thursday, June 8, 2017 3:00 p.m.

Riggs Alumni Center College Park, MD The IAA’s Good Doctor Kevin Mathias is retiring from the University of Maryland in June. Join us to celebrate his remarkable career, share stories, and wish him well. Visit iaa.umd.edu for more details leading up to the event.

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Walls Recognized for Outstanding Service By: Rob Ballenger

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n November, instructor Roy Walls had what his Institute of Applied Agriculture (IAA) students could consider an excused absence that was more than four decades in the making. He was thousands of miles from College Park, receiving national recognition for outstanding service to agricultural education.

The National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE) awarded an Outstanding Service Citation to Walls, who has been teaching at the IAA since 1990. The NAAE recognized the veteran instructor for his achievements at its annual convention in Las Vegas. Walls was among this year’s recipients of the award; one is given to an outstanding educator in each of the organization’s six regions that span the country.

“Walls is a shining example for agricultural educators everywhere,” according to the NAAE. “His impact on students is immeasurable.” The timeline of those students stretches back to Walls’ first teaching position at Linganore High

Roy Walls demonstrates how to cut steel with a blacksmith’s chisel during an Agricultural Mechanics class.

Roy Walls (third from left) receives his Outstanding Service Citation from the National Association of Agricultural Education (NAAE). school in 1975. He began his current IAA position as Agricultural Mechanics Instructor fifteen years later. Walls’ courses include Fundamentals of Agricultural Mechanics, Landscape Construction and Computer Applications.

instructor knew he’d eventually have to tell them about the distinguished award.

“I’m sure my students will think it’s well deserved,” Walls said at the time. “I work hard to try to make them successful.”

The skills that Walls teaches in his courses have empowered generations of working professionals to maintain their agricultural equipment and facilities. In Walls’ campus workshop, students have broadened their skill sets – from welding to GPS and beyond.

Introducing IAA students to such unfamiliar and complicated skills can be challenging, but Walls goes the extra mile for his up-andcoming agricultural professionals.

“Roy will help you do anything you ask of him,” says IAA student James Thomas.

“He is a great hands-on teacher. He’ll help you learn until you feel comfortable with a certain task down in the shop.” Walls says he gives one-on-one instruction when a student has difficulty mastering particular skills.

Walls’ success in teaching is embodied by 26 years’ worth of IAA alumni who put their education to work across myriad agricultural professions. That success is now similarly embodied in Walls’ new NAAE plaque, which will hang in his Jull Hall office. In the weeks before flying to Las Vegas to receive the citation, Walls did not reveal to his students why he was leaving town. However, the humble IAA

INAG News INAG News is published twice a year by the Institute of Applied Agriculture (IAA). You the reader are encouraged to share comments, alumni updates, and agriculture-related news.

Contact the IAA: iaa.umd.edu gdhyman@umd.edu Follow us on social media:

Instagram and Twitter: @iaa_umd

Facebook and YouTube: /iaaumd

IAA Director: Glori Hyman Graphic designer: Randie Hovatter

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Behind the Scenes: Making of a Big Ten Video

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s the heat index inched toward 110 degrees, Meredith Epstein felt beads of sweat trickle down the side of her face as she moved concrete blocks and pulled weeds in the IAA’s teaching garden.

Why choose the hottest day of the year to complete such tasks? When a Big Ten Network (BTN) opportunity knocks, the University of Maryland responds.

The BTN video featured UMD Sustainability Fund projects, including the IAA’s Teaching Garden. In 2011 the IAA received $15,460 to “support a student teaching garden project.”

Five years and an additional $26,756 grant later, the garden has expanded into the UMD Community Learning Garden which fosters six projects:

architecture students designed the garden, and IAA professional development students designed and constructed the rain barrel stands,” says IAA Director Glori Hyman.

Each year, the garden hosts hundreds of hands-on learners from all ages. Rental garden plots provide space for members of the campus community to test their green thumbs. The garden has also hosted music, yoga, and speech contests.

“Dollar for dollar, the Community Learning Garden may be the best educational investment the Sustainability Fund has

made,” comments Hyman.

Naturally, the University wants to showcase the garden, but looking behind the scenes is fun, too. Garden preparation fell to the IAA’s Sustainable Agriculture advisor, Meredith Epstein, who called on two IAA summer employees: Deion Dorsey and Julie Shin.

“Deion and Julie were a huge help as we scrambled to take care of a few big organizing projects. The filming was just the kick in the pants that we needed to get it done,” said Epstein. Throughout the day, other regular garden volunteers assisted in the cleanup, including IAA students Brandon

• IAA Teaching Garden • Community Learning Garden • Pollinator meadow in partnership with the Apiary Club

• Orchard of apples, pears, and figs • Rain research garden designed and

monitored by the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

• Native pollinator research by the Department of Entomology

“The garden is a multi-disciplinary teaching lab. Students learn soil science, crop production, weed and insect identification, and more. Landscape UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND / FEARLESS IDEAS

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McIntyre, Ryan Snell, and Lilli Kahl.

By the end of a very long day, Epstein smiled, “Not a weed in sight, grass neatly edged, blooms tumbling from flower beds, signs freshly painted – the garden looks the best it ever has. Though it’s usually in a – shall we say – more ‘functional’ state, the garden is always looking great this time of year when it is bursting with vegetation.”

Epstein, who oversees the garden year-round, planned a few weeks before the video shoot to have a new succession of squash and beans in the ground so that not a square inch of bed space would be bare.

In tiptop shape, the garden awaited its film debut. Yet Epstein worried, “Even though we irrigated, I was worried that when the film crew arrived many of the plants would be wilting to preserve water in the heat.”

Luckily, everything was perky when the Big Ten Network’s contracted production crew arrived the next day with a boom mike, tripods, one too-heavy-to-carry camera, small hand-held tablet cameras, tripods, and a carbon fiber slider.

A crew of eight regular garden volunteers came out for usual work hours while the film crew captured it all—sometimes two or three times. “If you are about to finish your harvest and the camera hasn’t filmed you yet, just stop,” said the production manager.

“Wave us over. Let the camera capture the final harvesting and your full basket.”

And so it went for two hours. Then came Epstein’s big moment. With the camera focused on her, she gave relevant information about the extraordinary work accomplished in the Community Learning Garden.

The UMD Community Learning Garden is only one of the grant-funded projects to be included in the video. Other projects to be featured include a green wall, swimming pool, and solar panels.

“It may literally be 15-seconds of fame,” said Hyman, “but the IAA is proud to contribute to campus sustainability efforts and do our part to promote UMD.”

Golf Course Management ‘16 alum Marvin Martinez (pictured at far right) provided valuable expertise and assistance throughout the event.

IAA Opens Doors for Latino Professionals By: Randie Hovatter

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n January 11, 2017, several dozen Latino professionals from the landscaping, horticulture, and golf course industries gathered at the Institute of Applied Agriculture (IAA) to attend an innovative workshop titled Launching Successful Careers for Latino Professionals.

Although the Latino community is a pillar of Maryland’s agriculture industry, there is a shortage of bilingual English/ Spanish professionals who are qualified for middle management jobs in the green industries, such as assistant golf course superintendents and landscaping account managers. The workshop demonstrated how professionals in these key industries can benefit from completing formal education in the field.

The day began with a turfgrass short course from Golf and Turfgrass Lecturer Kevin Mathias. The course was followed by a practice lab test with Ornamental Horticulture Lecturer Ken Ingram and bilingual Golf Course Management alum, Marvin Martinez.

After a hearty lunch, the workshop participants toured the educational facilities, including the agricultural mechanics laboratory and the University of Maryland’s Turfgrass Research Facility.

“This workshop will launch successful careers for Latino professionals, and it will help us recruit a diverse student body at the University of Maryland, College Park,” stated Agricultural Business Management Lecturer Larisa Cioaca. Workshop participants were eligible to apply for grant money to cover all fees for completing a Pesticide Use and Safety course at the IAA during the Spring 2017 semester.

Through its ongoing collaboration with the D.C.-area branch of the Professional Grounds Maintenance Society (PGMS) and the Mid-Atlantic Association of Golf Course Superintendents (MAAGCS), the IAA looks forward to hosting more programs to benefit the green industries and develop their workforces.

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- Student Files Baby Livestock and an IAA Student’s Burgeoning Career By: Rob Ballenger

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or 10 days leading up to Labor Day, labor was on the minds of many Maryland State fairgoers who crowded into the birthing center for an up-close look at the miracle of life. IAA student Becky Remsberg (pictured) had a better-than-front-row seat; she was getting hands-on experience helping birth the calves, piglets and chicks that the crowds eagerly waited to see.

Becky Remsberg cradles a brand-new baby piglet at the Maryland State Fair’s birthing center.

Remsberg says the experience will help her toward her professional goal of transforming her family’s 17-acre hobby farm into a profitable business. Her practice with pigs at the birthing center will play a role because she eventually wants to add those animals to the farm. Remsberg’s vision for the family farm is to scale back the size of its existing sheep flock, acquire more land, build new facilities, and add a

pastured pork enterprise, pastured broilers, and fruit trees.

Her path to that goal is being paved in large part by studying Agricultural Business Management at the IAA. Most of Remsberg’s farming knowledge was handed down to her, but how to run a farm as a business was not part of that informal education. “Lots of courses at the IAA have to do with finance,” Remsberg says, “it’s incredibly helpful.”

Marketing coursework can also help her generate future profits on a revamped farm.

She foresees initially marketing its products through CSAs and farmers markets.

Remsberg is scheduled to graduate from the IAA in Spring of 2017. Her next step will be to apply to a degree program at the University of Maryland to study livestock management.

That continued education, along with plans to work as a UMD Extension agent, will bring Remsberg closer to her childhood dream of taking over the family farm. Despite her busy academic schedule, Remsberg plans on another stint at the birthing center. “I learned so much,” Remsberg says. “I’ll be doing it again next year.”

New Tractor Operations, Maintenance, and Safety Course

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n a warm day in September, students from AGNR programs including the IAA, Plant Science and Landscape Architecture (PSLA), and Environmental Science and Technology (ENST) geared up for our brand-new course, INAG 199D: Tractor Operation, Maintenance, and Safety.

Students earned one credit for their participation in the two-day course, which was held at the Central Maryland Research and Education Center in Upper Marlboro.

There was something for everyone to master, whether this was their first exposure to tractors or they grew up driving them.

Clockwise: Class photo after a successful weekend, instructor Shane LaBrake explains the components of an engine, IAA student Marco Carlucci applies his new skills.

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- Student Files Financing College the Smolinski Way: Advice from an IAA Graduate By: JoEllen Barnhart

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or 10 years, Meg Smolinski worked as an executive assistant with Smithsonian Associates. Working for the largest museumbased education program in the world put Smolinski in an environment where a career in art history could thrive.

Although Smolinski “loved, loved, loved, art and history,” something was missing. That something, it turns out, was horticulture.

How does one blend a career in art history to include horticulture? Smolinski sought her answer at the IAA, in the concentration of Ornamental Horticulture. “Art and science come together in horticulture,” claims Smolinski.

But, changing careers can be costly, so Smolinski set out to find a way to finance her academic endeavor. The result of her efforts yielded an impressive list of scholarships, internships, and work experiences with minimal impact on her personal bank account.

With a handful of scholarships, Smolinski landed enough award money to finance her studies at the IAA. The largest of her awards was given by the Professional Grounds Management Society (PGMS), a national organization that provides scholarships to students in horticulture or related fields. As a recipient, Smolinski

Smolinski (pictured third from left) with a group of fellow U.S. National Arboretum interns enjoyed the opportunity to weed and harvest at The White House vegetable garden. was invited to attend two national events, the annual PGMS conference in San Antonio last June, and the GIE+EXPO in Louisville last October.

scholarships during her studies. “TESCO is a Maryland-based company and a big advocate for the IAA,” states Smolinski. “I am so grateful for their support.”

The Maryland Nursery Landscaping and Greenhouse Association (MNLGA) provided Smolinski with another merit scholarship, as well as the chance to attend and network with more than 11,000 horticulture enthusiasts at the Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show (MANTS) in Baltimore last winter.

Additionally, Smolinski’s financial planning included helpful hints from IAA faculty and staff. “The emails and social media posts directed me to many scholarship and internship opportunities,” she says.

PGMS sponsored Smolinski’s visit to Louisville, Kentucky for the GIE+EXPO.

Lastly, the Turf Equipment and Supply Company (TESCO) maintains a scholarship fund specifically for IAA students. Although Smolinski already holds a B.A. in Art History, her desire to pursue horticulture earned four consecutive TESCO

“The IAA was what I needed to make a career change,” states Smolinski. “I had a four-year degree and I didn’t want to go further into debt with a master’s degree.

I knew I needed specialized education in horticulture, and at the IAA I discovered it was affordable.”

In addition to garnering scholarships, Smolinski also took on several internships: she worked for Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, the University of Maryland’s Research Greenhouse, and the U.S. National Arboretum.

In December, Smolinski joined the graduating class of 2016. But, she is not leaving UMD. Instead, she is launching her new profession as the Volunteer Coordinator for the University’s Arboretum and Botanical Garden.

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- Student Files Fall Harvest Festival Blooms at Terp Farm By: Randie Hovatter

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he second annual Terp Farm Fall Harvest Festival was held at the Central Maryland Research and Education Center (CMREC), in Upper Marlboro. A free shuttle ferried members of the UMD community back and forth between the campus and Terp Farm, located at CMREC. At the festival, over 500 visitors enjoyed food from the UMD Green Tidings food truck, live music, hay rides, and pumpkin painting.

To greet visitors, Sustainable Agriculture students Rebecca Remsberg, Lillian Kahl, and Joyce Drake staffed an IAA information table complete with candy and fresh-cut flowers harvested at Terp Farm. The three also assisted guests in the process of picking their own bouquets to take home.

Kahl, an apprentice at Terp Farm, had managed the quarter-acre plot all summer long, including zinnias, celosia, rudbeckia, gomphrena, yarrow, statice, and sunflowers. The pet project has since bloomed into a future career path for the talented young grower. She has spent this school year mastering crop planning, marketing strategies, and propagation for specialty cut flowers. Kahl hopes to start a cut flower CSA at the University of Maryland’s Farmers Market at Maryland next summer.

Terp Farm offers four-season vegetable production; veggies are provided to campus dining halls, catering, UMD’s Green Tidings food truck, and donated to food-insecure members of the campus and College Park communities.

At left: Remsberg, Kahl, and Drake at their beautifully prepared IAA information ttable. Guests enjoyed creating their own bouquests at Terp Farm.

STMA Student Challenge in Orlando

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fter losing several team members to graduation, the “Turf Terps” quiz bowl team found itself in a rebuilding year. But that didn’t stop the team from excelling at this year’s Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA) Student Challenge competition in Orlando, Florida.

Coaches Dr. Kevin Mathias and Alex Steinman drilled students to prepare for this year’s competition, held in January. The University of Maryland’s team consisted of first-year students Keaton Klee (IAA) and Brendan Keane (PSLA), and experienced team members Bobby Blake (IAA), Andrew Small (IAA), and Brock Campbell (PSLA).

The teammates came together and performed well. In a field of 26 collegiate teams, the Turf Terps scored 120.5 points, missing a fifth place finish by a single point.

Teammates Bobby Blake and Brock Campbell agreed that preparing to compete

Student competitors enjoying a much-needed break at the ESPN Sports Center during the Pro Bowl. From left to right are Brendan Keane, Bobby Blake, Alex Steinman (coach), Andrew Small, Brock Campbell, and Keaton Klee. reinforced the connection between course work and the real-world application of sports turf management skills.

The annual STMA Student Challenge

covers contestants’ knowledge of agronomic programs, synthetic field maintenance practices, and equipment used in sports turf management.

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- Alumni News & Notes IAA Graduate Has Olympic Experience agronomists charged with preparing the new Olympic course for tournament play.

Schilpp is no stranger to championship golf.

He worked for several years at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Va and was on staff for the 2005 Presidents Cup. He interned at Adam Schilpp (pictured at right) poses with Rickie Fowler, a Congressional Country member of the 2016 U.S. Olympic Men’s Golf Team in the Club and is currently an Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Assistant Superintendent at the Tournament Players Club (TPC) Potomac; both located in Bethesda, Md. By: Ken Ingram

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he return of golf to the Summer Olympic Games after a 112-year hiatus provided a unique experience for IAA alum Adam Schilpp (GOLF ‘10). Schilpp served on a task force of PGA Tour

With TPC Potomac, he has worked for several PGA Tour events nationwide. In Rio de Janiero, Schilpp assisted England native Neil Cleverly, Superintendent of the new Olympic golf course.

There were many obstacles to overcome; most notably, the fact that golf was practically unheard of in the host country of Brazil. Of the few golf courses, none were suitable for an Olympic event. An entirely new facility had to be constructed.

The project needed a fast track: conception to completion in four years. No one in Brazil was knowledgeable of golf course construction, so there was a huge international effort involved. “Morning assignments were given in four different languages,” according to Schilpp. “The club staff consisted of 15 Brazilians with no prior golf experience. Imagine never seeing a golfer before and the first ones you see happen to be the world’s best.”

Ultimately, the team was successful in preparing an Olympic-ready course.

Considering the 13 hours of travel each way from Maryland to Rio, perhaps Schilpp deserves a medal. The event was a tremendous success and preparations are underway in Japan for Olympic golf in 2020.

Alumni Updates Michael Perise (SUSTAG ‘16) is the Lead Agriculture Technician at the USDA’s Beltsville Agricultural Research Center.

Lindsay Barranco and Bob Borkowski (both SUSTAG ’16) are keeping the bee population buzzing by presenting workshops throughout Maryland.

Shaun Clark (GOLF ’16) has been an Assistant Superintendent at Woodmont Country Club since June 2016.

John Critzos (TURF ’16) is now an assistant at Chevy Chase Club, in Chevy Chase, Md. Tim Burkhart (GOLF ‘15) just celebrated his 1st anniversary as Assistant Superintendent at Fair Way Hills in Columbia, MD. Cody Cashman (AGBUS ‘13) graduated from the Institute of Fair Management at

the Las Vegas IAFE Convention. He is a sales manager at the York Fair Expo Center

Kurt M. Long (LAND ‘99) has been a DC firefighter for the past 12 years.

Shaun O’Connor (GOLF ‘12) hosted Ken Ingram’s Golf Design class at Timbers of Troy this fall. Thanks Shaun!

Michael Spieler (GOLF ‘99) became Grounds Manager at Texas A&M Prairie View in Dec. 2016.

Sean Whiston (GOLF ‘12) is now the North Course Superintendent at Wilmington Country Club in Wilmington, DE.

Mark Kingora (GOLF ‘94) retired as Golf Course Manager of Bethesda Country Club after 25 years of service.

Thank you for your contributions to the industry, Mark.

Hannah Temple (EQUI ‘12) is now the Client Service Coordinator for Banfield Pet Hospital in Bethesda, Md. Matt Jolly (GOLF ’11) earned a B.S. in Sports and Event Management from Johnson & Wales University, and interned as a golf tournament organizer with the Tiger Woods Foundation.

Matthew Yingling (TURF ‘11) passed away on Sun., August 28, 2016. He was a resident of Bel Air, Md.

Rebecca Long Chaney (AGBUS ‘86) announced the 8th book in the Chaney twins’ series, Ranching—It’s All About Family. Learn more at rebeccalongchaney.com.

Congrats to Chip Councell (FARM ‘79) who received the Maryland Grain Producers’ Dr. James R. Miller award.

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Around the ‘Tute Beekeeping Workshop Connects WWP and IAA

By: Randie Hovatter

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onnecting military veterans with agriculture is a cause that is close to Institute of Applied Agriculture (IAA) alum Robert “Bob” Borkowski’s (pictured at right) heart. As a military veteran and retired University of Maryland, Baltimore police officer, Borkowski puts the skills he learned as an Agricultural Business Management student to regular use with his Beekeeping 101 workshops.

Beekeeping is a passion that he has followed since first discovering the hobby through a youth 4-H project with his son, Bradley, several years ago. Since graduation, Borkowski has led several free community apiculture workshops and has begun to establish his own beekeeping business.

When Borkowski expressed an interest in hosting a beekeeping workshop specifically for Wounded Warrior Project veterans,

alumni manager Coleman Brooks and outreach coordinator Joe Alotto graciously provided textbooks and gathered almost 30 attendees. Other participants included prospective IAA students and members of The Universities at Shady Grove’s USG Veterans Club.

The IAA was happy to provide a venue and lunch to keep the workshop free for participants. Burgeoning beekeepers came from as far away as southern Delaware; several brought spouses and family members who were also interested in learning the tricks of the trade.

Borkowski opened the workshop with a presentation on the basics of apiculture, followed by Dr. Kirsten and Michael Traynor, who captivated everyone with stories of international travel and cultural nuances in the practice of beekeeping across the globe.

The Traynors are the authors of Two Million

Blossoms: Discovering the Medicinal Benefits of Honey, as well as Simple, Smart Beekeeping. The necessary basic materials for beekeeping were also discussed. Emphasis was placed on not falling into the “trap” of expensive start-up materials. To paraphrase Dr. Kirsten Traynor, “Duct tape has endless uses for a beekeeper.”

Borkowski and the Traynors agreed that with a little bit of guidance, beekeeping can be a very affordable, relaxing, and rewarding hobby with great potential to evolve into a full-time business.

After lunch, the group traveled to the North Campus Dining Hall to visit the active beehives on the roof. The rooftop hives are tended by the University of Maryland Beekeeping Club. Everyone admired the sight of bees buzzing around their colorfully painted box dwellings as Borkowski described the advantages and disadvantages of the rooftop arrangement.

The event concluded with a Q and A session, during which participants reflected on all that they had learned throughout the day. Needless to say, after the success of this inaugural event, the IAA looks forward to hosting more hands-on workshops with the Wounded Warrior Project!

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Around the ‘Tute Collegiate Farm Bureau Comes to University of Maryland

Faculty Notes Larisa Cioaca now represents the IAA on a newly formed AGNR faculty committee called AGNR Innovation to Commercialization (AgI2C).

The mission of the committee is to explore opportunities to enhance AGNR’s efforts and results around innovation, entrepreneurship and commercialization.

Edward Priola attended a workshop of the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science on Oct. 28.

Student leaders of the Collegiate Farm Bureau at the University of Maryland (left-to-right): James Thomas (Vice President), Becky Jones (President), Gabrielle Cory (Treasurer) and Emily Solis (Secretary).

The workshop, offered through Stony Brook University, helps members of the scientific community communicate complicated research in plain terms through storytelling.

By: Larisa Cioaca

Traveling Terps

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he first-ever Collegiate Farm Bureau chapter in Maryland was established Nov. 8 to help students build professional networks, understand the legislative processes, promote agriculture as an industry, and gain experience in agricultural leadership and communication.

IAA students Becky Jones and James Thomas are the chapter’s President and Vice President, respectively. IAA Lecturer Larisa Cioaca provides coaching as the chapter’s faculty advisor.

Less than a month later, Collegiate Farm Bureau members competed in the Collegiate Discussion Meet held during the 101st Maryland Farm Bureau Annual Convention in Ocean City, Md. The Discussion Meet is a competition that engages farmers ages 18-35 in analyzing agricultural problems and possible solutions. Through simulated committee meetings, participants develop their critical thinking, speaking, listening and problem solving skills.

The winner was Gabrielle Cory of Leonardtown, Md., a sophomore majoring in agricultural education. “It was a great experience,” said Cory. “Discussing key issues affecting our industry with other young farmers was good practice for my future career as an ag educator.”

The runner-up was Emily Solis of La Plata, Md., a junior majoring in animal care and management. By placing first and second at the state level, Cory and Solis qualified to participate in the national Collegiate Discussion Meet held February 10-13, 2017 during the American Farm Bureau’s FUSION Conference in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Mike Salvio ran into fellow alum Joel Ratcliffe (both GOLF ‘79) at Floratine University in Las Vegas last December.

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

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

Congratulations, recipients!

Shields Memorial Scholarship: Eric Spalt TESCO Scholarship: Meg Smolinski Cecil Massie Scholarship: Joyce Drake Garrett Waller Edward M. Bowman Family Scholarship: Rebecka Jones Pictured clockwise: Eric Spalt, Meg Smolinski, Rebecka Jones, Garrett Waller, and Joyce Drake

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