We Want You Here, Fall 2016

Pe r C spe A c L S ti v M es ag is az n in ow e

We want you here.

THE ACCESS ISSUE

I AM CALS Growing up in one of North Carolina’s poorest counties, Brooklynn Newberry knew her high school’s shortage of Advanced Placement courses and extracurriculars would make college applications a challenge.

“I really had to be motivated to go to college on my own,” she said. ”I don’t have parents who went to college to provide me with that kind of guidance.”

The oldest of six, Brooklynn wanted to be the first in her limited-income family to get a degree. When her first application to NC State’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences was deferred, she chose an alternate path to CALS through a local community college. She also threw herself into volunteer work with organizations focused on environmental cleanup and ending hunger.

Her second application was accepted.

Since arriving on campus, Brooklynn has worked as an assistant in a plant molecular biology laboratory. She spent 10 weeks in Brazil investigating the interplay of vegetation, climate and fire.

She is now a senior plant biology major, on track for December 2016 graduation. She has two goals: pursuing a career in conservation biology and becoming a role model for other rural students.

“I like to encourage students – especially if they’re from the same background – and tell them how I got here,” she said.

Watch the full story online www.cals.ncsu.edu

NC State’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

*the access issue

ONLINE EDITION cals.ncsu.edu/news/magazine

4 THE

ACCESS ISSUE

6 The

One Who (almost) Got Away

8 ACCESS TO 10 Challenge: 12 ACCESS

DECISION-MAKERS

Student Access

TO EDUCATION

14 It’s Not

Where You Start, It’s Where You Finish

15 So You

Want to Go to CALS...

16 Paths

to CALS

18 ACCESS

TO SOLUTIONS

20 Extension 22 Food

Safety – In Virtual Reality

24 ACCESS 26 From

TO OPPORTUNITIES

Dream to Reality

28 Juntos

Means Together

30 ACCESS 32 The

Connections, Big Results

TO IMPACT

Gift of Education

34 Distinguished

Alumni

2

Dean’s Letter

35 #AgPackFacts

3

CALS News

36 #AgPackStrong

THE ACCESS ISSUE 2016

1

Changing Perspectives

Greetings to our great CALS alumni and friends, and welcome to the inaugural issue of CALS Magazine – a fresh new take on our beloved Perspectives Magazine.

Based on reader feedback, we have renamed and redesigned our biannual magazine to share stories that highlight our students, our faculty and staff, their teaching and research, and our Extension services that help solutions take root.

With this information, we hope to show you how we are making a difference in North Carolina, our country and the world. We want you to be proud of our work!

Each issue will now be tied to a specific theme, and we will integrate more in-depth magazine content on our newly redesigned website, online at cals.ncsu.edu.

Living our mission. Our mission is to transform challenges into agriculture and life sciences opportunities that benefit our state, the nation and the world, and we put that mission to work everyday. Here are a few highlights from the past year:

> Through your generosity, we raised $150 million for key initiatives. This includes a $45 million grant from the Golden LEAF Foundation, helping make the N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative a reality.

> We hired Dr. Rich Bonanno to serve as N.C. Cooperative Extension Director, and he hit the ground running.

> Our faculty secured over $70 million in grants and contracts to support cutting-edge agriculture and life sciences research.

> We graduated 123 students from our Agricultural Institute and 646 students in our 4-year degree programs ready to help feed, fuel, clothe and heal a growing population.

FROM THE DEAN

Student access is an important issue. Gaining access to NC State is increasingly challenging for students. In fact, student access is a top priority for the CALS leadership team and for the university as a whole. That’s why our inaugural CALS Magazine spotlights what we are doing to create paths to CALS for all qualified students. We share the stories of a few special students who found and followed their path to our college.

CALS also provides people access to opportunities and solutions that create economic, intellectual and societal prosperity. In this issue, we tell these access stories as well.

Thank you for your continued passion and support for CALS. You are an important part of our college.

Go Pack and go CALS!

Richard Linton, Dean College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

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CALS NEWS N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative Blossoms

A Publication of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences The Access Issue 2016

Managing Editor Art Director Design/Layout Writers

Photographers

Videographers

Chelsea Kellner Mike Quinlan Patty Mercer Chelsea Kellner Dee Shore Suzanne Stanard Marc Hall Becky Kirkland Roger Winstead Ken Ellzey Chris Liotta

Following a statewide bond referendum that approved $85 million in funding for the Plant Sciences Initiative in spring 2016, the Golden LEAF Foundation granted the project $45 million – the largest single investment in CALS ever made. This was in addition to $3 million in planning money from Golden LEAF. When added to money already raised from over 40 commodity groups and farm organizations, 90 percent of funding is now in place for the new Plant Sciences Research Complex to be built on Centennial Campus, allowing CALS to proceed with early design and planning. A consortium led by Flad Architects was appointed in September 2016. The target opening date is summer 2021.

Prestigious World Food Prize Won By Alums Two of the four winners of the 2016 World Food Prize are CALS graduates: Maria Andrade and Robert Mwanga of the International Potato Center were honored for breeding vitamin A-enriched, orange-fleshed sweet potatoes that are resistant to sub-Saharan Africa’s pests, drought and heat.

Dean and Executive Director for Agricultural Programs Richard Linton Senior Associate Dean for Administration Sylvia Blankenship Associate Dean and Director, N.C. Cooperative Extension Service Richard Bonanno Associate Dean and Director, N.C. Agricultural Research Service Steve Lommel Interim Associate Dean and Director, Academic Programs John Dole Assistant Dean for College Advancement Keith Oakley Director of Alumni and External Relations Celeste Brogdon Chief Communication Officer Richard Campbell NC State University promotes equal opportunity and prohibits discrimination and harassment based upon one’s age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation and veteran status.

Send correspondence and requests for change of address to CALS Magazine Editor, Campus Box 7603, NC State University, Raleigh, NC 27695 -7603.

24,500 copies of this public document where printed at

a cost of 56¢ per copy. Printed on recycled paper.

THE ACCESS ISSUE 2016

3

*the access issue This is at the core of who we are: providing access to the education North Carolinians need to solve the challenges of tomorrow.

But we know that gaining access to NC State and our college is harder now than it ever has been.

In 2016, NC State received 26,000 applications – roughly 10,000 more than just six years ago. From that applicant pool, 44 percent were accepted. About 1,300 of those were accepted into CALS. We take pride in our land-grant charter. We are honored to deliver the teaching, discovery and extension of knowledge that helps our citizens thrive and grow.

We know that the path to CALS for many of our students is not as direct as it used to be. But for those passionate, qualified students determined to join the Wolfpack, we are committed to helping them find their path to our campus.

That’s why we’ve dedicated this edition to examining the issue of access: to research, to opportunities beyond the classroom and, most of all, to a CALS education. Keep reading to learn about our innovative programs, insider advice and CALS success stories from North Carolinians of all backgrounds.

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44%

of all applicants were accepted to NC State in 2016

“ The most common question I’m asked when I’m out in the community is about student access to CALS.” — Dean Richard Linton

“CALS is a leader in providing alternate paths of entry to the university.”

— Thomas Griffin, Associate Vice Provost and Director of Undergraduate Admissions

40%

of those were from rural North Carolina

25%

or more of NC State students transfer in from another college or university

THE ONE WHO (almost) GOT AWAY

By Chelsea Kellner Now a junior double-major in poultry science and agricultural education, Susan Jones is an honors student and CALS Ambassador representing the college to alumni and prospective students. And we were one paragraph away from losing her.

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“You will not be admitted into the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at NC State University.”

Discouraged and upset, Susan Jones stopped reading after the first sentence of her admissions letter.

She was an honors student and FFA president, with a long list of extracurriculars ranging from softball center fielder to snare drummer in the marching band. CALS had been her goal since sophomore year of high school.

Just a few paragraphs down was her ticket to CALS: an invitation to the second-ever class of an innovative new program called “STEAM,” short for Student Transfer Enrollment Advising and Mentoring. The first program of its type at the university, STEAM is an invitation-only alternate admissions pathway for students from rural North Carolina.

But Susan was too crushed by that first sentence to keep reading.

It was the first in a series of unfortunate miscommunications, each nearly toppling Susan’s dream of a CALS education – and the college’s chance to nab a stellar student.

Stories from students like Susan have been inspiring change at CALS. Administrators are currently revamping the communications sent during the CALS admissions process to better frame all available paths to CALS. Admissions is broadening its view of what makes a great CALS student to include factors like grit and passion for the field.

“This is a very important issue, and we have a lot of smart, dedicated people working on it,” Dean Richard Linton said.

“We’re letting students know that if you get that letter saying you haven’t been accepted, don’t forget your dream.

There is a way to get here.”

“I feel like I’m home.”

After her first letter from CALS, Susan began considering other schools. It wasn’t until six weeks later that her mom convinced her to read the rest of the letter. When she got to the invitation to join STEAM, she thought it was a misprint for “STEM,” the educational acronym for “science, technology, engineering and math.” Inspired by two of her FFA teachers, Susan had her heart set on an agricultural education major, not a STEM field.

“That’s not for me,” she thought.

Luckily, Susan spotted a social media post from a friend excited about his own STEAM acceptance letter. “What’s STEAM?” she texted.

Her friend explained. Susan had a decision to make. At first, she was still leaning toward another school. She felt there was a stigma around staying home for a year in rural Sampson County. And she wanted to dive straight into her four-year degree.

“But my agriculture adviser said, ‘It’s not where you start, it’s where you finish,’” Susan said.

After a summer program on campus and a year at Sampson Community College, Susan is now in her junior year at CALS. She’s a recipient of the Roy R. and Alice Barber Bennett Scholarship and the M.B. “Dutch” Gardner Memorial Scholarship. As a member of the CALS Honors Program, she’s planning to research the impact of hands-on learning.

Susan is well-prepared and ready to speak up in class, said poultry science professor Ken Anderson.

“What I see in STEAM students is confidence and focus,” Anderson said. “They come in with a greater appreciation for the program because they had to come at it from a different angle.”

Outside the classroom, Susan volunteers as a CALS Ambassador, representing CALS students to faculty and alumni – and mentoring prospective students, some of whom have a familiar story.

Read Susan’s discussion with the dean on page 10.

“ I’ve wanted to go to State all my life.

I knew I would be challenged here,” Susan said. “I feel like I’m home.”

THE ACCESS ISSUE 2016

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* access to DECISION-MAKERS In September 2016, CALS Dean Richard Linton gathered representatives from industry, faculty, staff and students to ask crucial questions about student access: what it is, why it’s important and what CALS can do to ensure North Carolina’s national and global future.

“ Thank you for all of you being here today to talk about a very important issue: student access, the opportunity for a student to live out his or her dream of a degree from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. That dream has become increasingly difficult, because it’s harder to get into North Carolina State University.

What I want to talk to the group about today are the solutions we’re working on toward providing many opportunities for a student to follow their dream.”

— Dean Richard Linton

THE ACCESS ISSUE 2016

9

Access to DECISION-MAKERS

CHALLENGE: STUDENT ACCESS Dean Linton: What is the importance of a strong land-grant university that has research, teaching and extension as part of its mission?

Adrian Percy: What the United States is doing through land-grant universities is really fantastic. It’s not just about meeting the challenges U.S. agriculture faces, but also more global challenges. CALS students can really step up to the plate and have an impact in the U.S. and in other places as well.

Peter Daniel: This university was founded to build on our economic strengths of agriculture and manufacturing. We can’t leave that today, because that is still our strength.

The value of a CALS education is that it’s North Carolina-centric.

Deborah Johnson: I have the opportunity to talk with people from all over the country, and if they don’t have access to a land-grant university, they don’t have some of the opportunities to reach their counties that we do.

Dean Linton: Remind me, what’s the number one economic engine in North Carolina today?

Peter Daniel: Agriculture and agribusiness. It is almost $80 billion annually. Through this university, through this college, we’re going to grow this to $100 billion annually in the next few decades.

Dean Linton: What is the value of our graduates to your industry, and to agriculture and life sciences as a whole?

Dan Weathington: They are extremely important, because we’ve got all these people to feed. We’ve got to have the sharpest minds to come up with the best varieties that have disease and insect tolerance. Demand on us is going to be much greater than it ever has been before.

Adrian Percy: The United States is very advanced in agricultural research, really ahead of the curve, and I think we really need that to continue. The danger is that there will be an even bigger dearth of people in agriculture in the future.

Dean Linton: What characteristics do you look for in a CALS graduate?

Adrian Percy: We’re looking for diversity of thought. People who come in with different perspectives and backgrounds – people from urban environments, people from rural environments, people with different types of expertise...What will distinguish one biologist from another, for example, are behavioral things like the ability to lead, to communicate, to work with others in teams.

Dan Weathington: We look for graduates involved in agriculture in their community. We look for a well-rounded education in high school. What they’ve been involved in, their desire to stay in agriculture and be part of another generation of farmers.

Dean Linton: What are some of the challenges you have seen around student access?

Peter Daniel: Student access is extremely important to many rural families and those who have a legacy of parents and grandparents attending NC State University. Over the past 10 years, the popularity of this university has them competing against a lot of different pools within the state. It’s difficult when you’re in a rural school district competing against some of the best high schools in the nation.

Dan Weathington: Some of these poorer counties don’t have the funds for honors classes and don’t have the large graduating numbers in their classes when the college is only taking the top 20 percent. I really praise you for some of these programs that you’re working on because I think that’s going to help those kids that really had that desire to carry on the generational heritage of family farms.

Participants: Peter Daniel, Assistant to the President, North Carolina Farm Bureau

Deborah Johnson, CEO, North Carolina Pork Council

Jeff Mullahey, Head, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences

John Dole, Interim Associate Dean and Director, CALS Academic Programs

Susan Jones, Junior Poultry Science and Agricultural Education Major

Adrian Percy, Head of R&D, Crop Science division of Bayer

Alexandria Graves, Interim Director, CALS Office of Diversity Affairs

Richard Linton, Dean, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Dan Weathington, Executive Director, N.C. Small Grain Growers Association

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Dean Linton: Why is it important to provide access to CALS? Alex Graves: We are the university for the people. When I think of my own history, I wouldn’t qualify as a student at NC State right now – and that doesn’t represent my passion, my drive, my ambition. We need to make sure that we provide that access for those students who have that passion – who want to go back into their communities and develop their farms, and contribute to the North Carolina economy and the global economy.

Deborah Johnson: We need to make sure we have young people who are trained here and who are prepared for these future challenges...I live in a rural area, and every year, I’m watching kids apply, and some get in and some do not...Some have done very well in their coursework, but maybe not on the standardized tests. We’ve got to start earlier identifying students who may be candidates for CALS. It’s heartbreaking when you know they’ve worked hard in school and have the work ethic to do well in CALS. Dean Linton: Susan, you’re the reason we’re here. Students are the reason this university exists. You had this tenacity, this passion for CALS. Why here? Why this college?

Susan Jones: I knew that I would be challenged here. With the other options, I felt like, yeah, I could get a degree there, but I don’t think I’d be challenged. I’ve also wanted to go to State all my life. I wanted to be challenged, and I think I have challenged myself while being here.

Dean Linton: If you could rewind the past and suggest how we could make the alternate admissions process better for students, what would you recommend?

Susan Jones: Making sure that the information about the programs is out there, because I didn’t know anything about the program, which was fairly new then. I didn’t know the benefits of it until I actually contacted [the head of the program].

Dean Linton: If you could give a one-sentence message to students or parents, what would you like them to know?

John Dole: NC State is open. We need students, and we want to get them into NC State. There are a lot of ways into NC State, a lot of pathways.

We’re helping them get in as freshmen, and we’re helping them get in through a variety of other methods.

Jeff Mullahey: One thing I like to tell students is that it doesn’t matter where you start. It matters where you finish. I’m a classic example of this.

If you look at my diploma, it says NC State University – it never mentions the university where I spent my first two years.

Dean Linton: It’s like a map on your cell phone –­ when I type into my cell phone where I want to go, I can pick four or five different options of how to get there. At the end of the day, I may get there differently than you, but I’m going to get there.

Watch the rest of the story online www.cals.ncsu.edu THE ACCESS ISSUE 2016

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*access to EDUCATION Grit. Passion.

Hands-on experience.

It takes more than stellar scores and a lofty GPA to make a standout CALS student. Our holistic admissions process recognizes this. We understand that leadership experience, an agricultural background or participation in NC State pre-college programs are strong indicators for student success.

CALS has been a leader at NC State in creating alternate paths to admission, from our STEAM transfer program – the first of its kind at the university – to our ACT preparation program ASPIRE, and the new spring admission and fall gap-semester experience option.

Demand for CALS grads is greater than ever. Our industry partners and stakeholders need access to a welleducated workforce ready to solve the challenges of tomorrow.

Our goal: harvest and cultivate great students from a variety of backgrounds eager to solve the grand challenges we will all face in the years ahead.

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Many fields have more jobs than we have graduates:

> Agricultural business

management and economics

> Agricultural education > Animal science and production > Crop science and production > Food science and processing > Horticultural science and production > Plant biology > Poultry science and production > Soil science and land use

80% 95%

of CALS students with high-demand degrees like these have jobs when they graduate – with salaries above the state’s median income.

of all CALS graduates and

91%

of AGI graduates have jobs in agricultural and food industries.

“Students need to be aware that there are a lot of career opportunities in agriculture in addition to the farm.”

— John Dole, Interim Associate Dean and Director, Academic Programs

“This is a great time if you’re looking for a job in agriculture.”

— Adrian Percy, Head of R&D Crop Science division of Bayer

161

students enrolled in ASPIRE in the 2015-2016 academic year

75

students have participated in STEAM since the first class in 2013

Access to EDUCATION

IT ’S NOT WHERE YOU START, IT ’S WHERE YOU FINISH When Jeff Mullahey graduated from high school, he was an unlikely candidate for future head of the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences. His grades were mediocre, and he wanted to be a veterinarian.

His first CALS application?

Rejected.

Today, two NC State diplomas hang above Mullahey’s desk as he leads the largest department in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

How did you get into CALS despite that first rejection?

Jeff: My path was a little different. I had to go to another university first because I didn’t get admitted to NC State, which happens to a lot of students today.

Transferring in as a junior gave me the maturity and focus I needed to get my grades up and figure out what I wanted to do in life.

Why did you want to go to CALS at NC State, specifically?

Jeff: I didn’t grow up on a farm and no one in my family has ever been in agriculture, but I lived near one of NC State’s research stations growing up – a sheep farm near where we used to play sandlot football. I got a taste for agriculture, and I really liked it. Who better than CALS in terms of being educated about agriculture and then moving on to a successful career? We have a national and international reputation.

How did your alternate path to CALS shape you as a leader?

Jeff: My path taught me that I needed to be persistent in order to achieve my goals. It also taught me what it means to be a leader. My advisers taught me about integrity and honesty, which is critical in research. But if I had to say one thing that stood out: NC State and CALS gave me confidence in myself. Once you have confidence in your abilities, the sky’s the limit.

Why is it important to provide access to CALS? Jeff: Because there are a lot of grand societal challenges in agriculture and life sciences. We need people with all different perspectives and backgrounds to shape solutions for tomorrow. The training you get here prepares new leaders to answer those complex, difficult questions. Multiple pathways to admission enable us to attract the diverse students we need.

What advice do you have for students who want to come here?

Jeff: You can get here. If your first pathway doesn’t work out, recalculate.

Your route to CALS might take you through a community college or internship first. You just need to be persistent and you need to be a good student. You’ll get here eventually, and you will be able to achieve your career goals.

Watch the full story online www.cals.ncsu.edu 14

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SO YOU WANT TO GO TO CALS...

As interim associate dean and director of academic programs, John Dole is CALS’ go-to guy for all things admissions – so we asked him to tell us the best way to get here. Turns out there’s more than one.

“

Student access is a relatively new problem for CALS, and one we take seriously. Rural students may not have the same range of opportunities as schools in urban and suburban areas.

As NC State becomes increasingly competitive, even small differences in GPA or test scores can result in fewer students being admitted.

This has reached a critical stage.

Throughout this issue, you’ll learn about programs providing paths to CALS. Too few prospective students know about these programs – so we’re working double-time to get the word out. We don’t want to lose students who can succeed – and who need to succeed to ensure the bright future of our state and nation.

What’s new: Nominate a student! Tell us who should be here. We will contact the person you nominate to make sure he or she knows about the opportunities we offer and provide guidance on the application process. Go online to go.ncsu.edu/nominate to learn more.

Spring admissions is another new focus for us. Students apply as usual but are admitted for the spring rather than the fall. Until they start at NC State, they can gain experience through a job or internship, do volunteer work, or attend a community college.

We’re also changing how we talk to prospective students. We’re going to reach out sooner and make our message clearer. We’re going to help students navigate some of the tricky aspects of the application process.

Check out our existing programs too. This isn’t a new effort for us. Turn the page to learn more about boosting your ACT score in high school through ASPIRE, about two-year options with the Agricultural Institute and transfer options through STEAM and our community college partners.

“

“ Get the message out: There are multiple paths to CALS.” — John Dole, Interim Associate Dean and Director of Academic Programs, CALS

THE ACCESS ISSUE 2016

15

Access to EDUCATION

PATHS TO CALS I’m at a small high school with few AP or standardized test prep classes.

I’m ready to start my career. I need some skills, but not a four-year degree.

The ASPIRE Program is right for you.

Check out the Agricultural Institute.

“ ASPIRE makes the dream of attending State a possibility for a group of students who are sometimes forgotten.”

“The smaller size of the Ag Institute meant you could really connect with your teachers and classmates.”

Montana York credits ASPIRE as a “crucial reason” she is now a Dr. Garnett B. Whitehurst Farm-to-Philanthropy Scholar attending CALS with a double major in agricultural science and political science. With little standardized test preparation at her school, Montana drove 40 miles twice a week to attend ASPIRE classes. She went into her senior year with strong scores. “When I found out I was accepted, the first person I sent an email to was my ASPIRE instructor.”

Durham native Roman Lawrence’s high school graduating class was just 17 students. When it was time for college, the smaller class sizes and tight focus of AGI were a good fit. He has since transferred into the four-year program as a poultry science major, a recipient of the H. Bradford Craig Scholarship for Excellence. “The Ag Institute was the most helpful college experience I’ve had – it got me more integrated into campus.”

What is ASPIRE? ASPIRE provides ACT prep classes

What is the Agricultural Institute? AGI gives

featuring 30 hours of ACT course instruction, study manuals and practice exams with score analysis and breakdown.

career-specific training with a two-year associate of applied science degree in six majors. You can even continue your studies at CALS after you graduate.

Regular Admissions The most common path to CALS is freshman admission. We use a holistic admissions process and consider more than test scores and GPA. We understand that leadership experience in organizations like 4-H and FFA, an agricultural background or participation in NC State programs are strong indicators for success.

Which route is right for you?

We are committed to helping all qualified students find a pathway to CALS. We want you here – and we’ll help find the right route for you. For more information: cals.ncsu.edu/students/my-path-to-cals

I would like to prepare a little more for CALS after high school graduation.

I would like to start college somewhere else and transfer in.

Look into the STEAM program.

Our community college partners are here for you.

“STEAM allowed me to jump-start my classes and has given me many networking opportunities.”

“I was determined to come to CALS. Two years at community college sharpened my focus.”

Susan Jones almost gave up on CALS after her first application was not accepted – but luckily, she kept reading. Because of the invitation to join the STEAM program, she decided to keep pursuing her dream of a CALS education. She accepted our invitation, starting out with a summer on NC State’s campus – “one of the best summers I’ve ever experienced” – before taking classes for one year at a community college while living at home.

Taylor Craig always knew she wanted to attend CALS. She grew up working on a farm, and she was a lifelong NC State fan. When her first application was denied, she took two years of classes at a community college, determined to transfer in. “The second time applying, I wrote: I am going to do big things, and I would like to have NC State on my wall when I do them.” She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural science in May 2016.

What is STEAM? STEAM is an invitation-based

What is Community College Partnership? Many

program that combines a summer session at NC State with a year of classes at a community college or other institution.

community colleges partner with us to provide admissions paths to CALS. We provide personalized advising support for students while they attend community colleges to ensure a smooth transition.

New: Spring Admissions This new initiative targets our under-enrolled degree programs in crop and soil sciences, poultry science and others.

Students who apply during the fall of their senior year may be accepted for spring admission and start classes the spring following graduation. Learn more: http://go.ncsu.edu/springadmissions.

*access to SOLUTIONS What if?

That’s the question that drives our researchers. We challenge unknowns to help us turn the real-world challenges of our communities into agriculture and life science opportunities.

CALS isn’t just in Raleigh. We’re in 18 research facilities around the state. We have Extension offices in all 100 counties and the Cherokee Reservation. We get to know our communities and their challenges, so our research isn’t performed in a vacuum – we listen, and we tailor our research to find solutions for our partners and the people of our state.

NC State Extension puts our research into the real world, offering a wealth of resources and programs that address public health issues, improve economic well-being, and help people make healthier, better informed decisions. We provide vital connections to research and crucial training that allows people to translate research into practice.

In the following pages, you will find examples of how our solutions expand agricultural diversity, boost yields and improve food safety.

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+ 1.8M face-to-face interactions between NC State Extension agents and the public in 2015

$

+ 992M in CALS research and grants from 2000 to 2016

+ 500K

North Carolinians trained by Extension agents in areas ranging from pesticide application and Master Gardeners, to beekeeping and food safety

“We don’t just conduct ground-breaking research at NC State. Our Extension professionals deliver our research-based solutions directly into the hands of North Carolinians.”

— Richard Bonanno, Associate Dean, CALS, and Director, N.C. Cooperative Extension Service

“We have faculty who are cutting-edge researchers and leading educators.

In some cases, they’ve written the textbook you’re using in that class.”

— Jeff Mullahey, Head Department of Crop and Soil Sciences

Access to SOLUTIONS

EXTENSION CONNECTIONS, BIG RESULTS

By Chelsea Kellner There’s a direct connection between Assistant Professor Benjamin Reading’s bass research and the tremendous early success of an Aurora fish hatchery – thanks to Aquaculture Extension Agent Mike Frinsko.

When Jones County farmer Scott Deal bought his first fish hatchery, he had a challenge: He needed to produce the maximum number of high-quality hybrid striped bass – and he’d never run a hatchery before.

Just 18 miles down the road, a man he had never met had the solution: Assistant Professor Benjamin Reading

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of the Department of Applied Ecology examines the genetics and spawning process of the striped bass males that are used to breed hybrids. His work produces healthy genetic stock available to any farmer who asks.

It’s a global challenge – how to connect cutting-edge research with the cultivators and business owners who need it. NC State Extension Service agents are CALS’ bridge to farmers like Deal. They find the most up-to-date solutions for realworld problems, then provide the technical training to help farmers put that research to use effectively.

This ensures that CALS’ research results make a quick leap into practical application.

Deal contacted Aquaculture Extension Agent Mike Frinsko, who immediately thought of Reading’s research at the Pamlico Aquaculture Field Laboratory in Aurora. He connected the two men via phone and worked with Deal through the following year to provide training and support in hatchery methods.

The result? The hatchery’s highest production numbers yet: about 10 million hybrid striped bass fry in 2016, 6 million more than average.

“I’m able to help Scott get more fish, and Ben is able to help Scott get better fish,” Frinsko said. “The net result is that Scott is more competitive as a producer.”

1. The Researcher > Dr. Benjamin Reading In 2015, Reading’s lab was able for the first time to spawn mass numbers of striped bass without the hormone induction procedures that had been standard for decades. His genetic research has also produced higher-quality domestic broodstock that outperform wild broodstock for hybrid striped bass farmers.

1

2. The Connector > Extention Agent Mike Frinsko Later that year, aquaculture farmer Scott Deal contacted Frinsko for information on how to get maximum yields from his new hybrid striped bass hatchery. Frinsko immediately thought of Reading. Frinsko helped Deal implement Reading’s methods, then provided technical training and assistance through the spawning process in spring 2016.

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3. The Result > Economic Opportunity for the Hatchery In 2016, the fishery was able to hatch about 10 million fry – about 6 million more than average. Thanks to Reading’s genomic research, those fry reached market size faster than average, helping Deal become a competitive producer in his second year of hatchery operation.

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Watch the full story online www.cals.ncsu.edu

“ Research is meaningless if you don’t help people apply it. This is benefiting the farmers, the taxpayers and economic development in eastern North Carolina.”

— Extension Agent Mike Frinsko THE ACCESS ISSUE 2016

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Access to SOLUTIONS

FOOD SAFETY – IN VIRTUAL REALITY

By Chelsea Kellner

“The most common reaction is “wow!”

—Assistant Professor Clint Stevenson

NC State University food scientists harness the power of virtual reality to keep contaminants off your dinner plate – and to give our students the same training as the experts.

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Watch the full story online www.cals.ncsu.edu

CALS food science researcher Clint Stevenson and his team have developed virtual reality training sessions for students and professionals, who can now scout virtual versions of real-world food manufacturing facilities for safety violations.

The team’s work is used in an online course for the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, which has also given Stevenson permission to repurpose the course for college and continuing education students.

This means that CALS students will receive the same training as government food safety inspectors. Since many students seek those positions after graduation, Stevenson’s work gives them an edge in the job market.

“We can bring the factory itself inside the classroom, which is amazing,” said Stevenson, assistant professor and distance education coordinator in the Department of Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences.

Stevenson foresees a workforce shortage of food safety professionals as baby boomers retire. He is researching the extent to which virtual reality can enhance expertise in food safety – behavior, skills, knowledge or all of the above.

The team, whose work was partially funded by the NC State Office of Outreach and Engagement, includes virtual reality specialist Elias Clarke Campbell and instructional designers Bethanne Tobey and Julie Yamamoto.

Here’s how it works: Pop on a virtual reality headset (any commercially available brand will do), and you’ll find yourself standing in the middle of a bustling seafood restaurant or the factory that makes Howling Cow ice cream. Look up, look down, turn around – the environment developed

by Stevenson and his team is a 360-degree experience. The tools are compatible with standard tablet, mobile or desktop screens.

“It creates that ‘Aha!’ moment for students as they experience what it’s like to be there – not just sitting in a classroom listening to technical jargon,” Stevenson said.

“This all looks really cool, but we’re not doing it to play with gadgets — what matters is keeping unsafe food out of your fridge,” Stevenson said.

* access to OPPORTUNITIES The CALS experience is more than books, classes and laboratories for students on campus.

We create unique learning opportunities for a cross-section of communities across our state and nation.

The scope of these opportunities ranges from specialty education programs like the Master Gardeners, to the hands-on experience available at our research center field days, to outreach and support for young immigrants who are planning for college.

Our experts empower North Carolina citizens through shared knowledge, like understanding nutrition and the importance of a healthy lifestyle. Our youth programs train the leaders of tomorrow, while NC Farm School gives hopeful new farmers access to the business and technical training they need to find success contributing to our agricultural economy without having to go back for a full-time degree.

Your education here isn’t limited to the undergraduate or graduate experience. When you want to learn, CALS is here for you.

“NC State was founded to open up educational opportunities to the people of North Carolina, and we’re still committed to doing that in every way we can.”

— Thomas Griffin, Associate Vice Provost and Director of Undergraduate Admissions

13K

participants nationwide in Eat Smart, Move More NC ’s free holiday healthy eating challenge

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4,478

Extension Master Gardener volunteers in North Carolina

“We’re interested in growth and in providing better opportunities, greater opportunities, more diverse opportunities to our students and to the people of North Carolina.”

— Richard Linton, Dean College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

+ 150

CALS faculty involved in international activities with more than 60 current projects on 6 continents

+ 239K North Carolina 4 -H participants

Access to OPPORTUNITIES

What is NC Farm School?

A seven-month program of business-planning seminars, farm visits, agriculture classes and mentoring for new farmers. Participants must either have or be in the process of acquiring farmland. To complete the program, participants must finish at least 75 percent of a working business plan tailored to their property.

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FROM DREAM TO REALITY

By Chelsea Kellner Twice a month for six months, Obalaye Macharia drove 17 hours from northern Oklahoma to Raleigh. That was his one condition when his wife got her dream job out west: They would move there together – but he was not going to miss NC Farm School.

Macharia graduated from Farm

Formerly empty land becomes an

School in August 2016. He and his

economic engine. Those who are

wife have since started plotting out

drawn to agriculture are provided the

greenhouses for strawberries and

opportunity to pursue that dream – in

lettuce on their acreage in nearby

a sustainable way.

Wake Forest. NC Farm School has been instrumental in kick-starting

“A lot of people have a dream of

their dream of a self-sustaining

farming, but it’s a vague concept,”

family farm, Macharia said – well

Bullen said. “We take this from that

worth the monthly journeys of more

idea into very practical steps.”

than 2,000 miles.

The amount of planning required “Farming is a science, and they had

for a successful farm was the

a wealth of information for us – and

biggest surprise to recent Farm

visiting working farms was priceless,”

School graduate Robin Stromberg.

Macharia said. “Anybody serious

She and her husband work in the

about farming will find the program

pharmaceutical industry in the

very beneficial.”

Research Triangle Park region.

They hope to retire to their newly

The first NC Farm School started

purchased farmland on the North

in 2012, a partnership between NC

Carolina border.

State’s Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics and the

After completing a business plan,

NC State Extension Service. The

the couple plans to start small: one

program received early funding from

acre of pecan trees instead of 10,

the Golden LEAF Foundation, the

maybe some shiitake mushrooms.

North Carolina Association of County

The chickens and beef cattle will

Commissioners and the Southern

come later.

Risk Management Education Center.

Since then, more than 300 farmers-

“I was overwhelmed when I started,

to-be have completed the program.

because I wasn’t sure where to

Each Farm School location usually has

begin or how to collect my thoughts,”

a waiting list.

Stromberg said. “Farm School took it from being overwhelming

The program benefits everyone, said

to something that made sense for

Gary Bullen, the program director:

us individually.”

Want to try it?

Three locations of NC Farm School are planned for 2017. For more information, email NCFarmSchool@ncsu.edu.

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Access to OPPORTUNITIES

JUNTOS MEANS TOGETHER

By Dee Shore

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The Juntos program brings Latino parents and students in 8th through 12th grade together as they learn to navigate the school system, increase high school graduation rates and prepare for college.

Milca Jarquin always wanted to go to college, but until she took part in CALS’ Juntos Program, she wasn’t sure how she’d get there.

Through Juntos – Spanish for “together” – Jarquin learned how to fill out financial aid forms to get the resources she needed to realize her college dream. Today, she’s a junior studying mechanical engineering at NC State, in hopes of one day creating better prosthetics and bionics for people who need them.

“Juntos overall served as a resource to help my family understand the requirements for college,” Jarquin said. “And it helped make the transition from high school to college easier.”

The 9-year-old program operates under the leadership of Dr. Andrew Behnke, Cintia Aguilar, and Diana Urieta of NC State’s Department of Agricultural and Human Sciences. It serves more than 600 young people and parents in multiple counties in North Carolina and has even spread to six states.

The program has earned national recognition because studies show that it works: Juntos students report

that their grades go up, they feel a greater sense of belonging and they are absent less often from school.

Not only that, 87 percent say with confidence that they’ll continue with education after graduating high school.

That’s remarkable, given that the vast majority – 98 percent – have parents who didn’t go to college.

Juntos helps unify schools, families and communities to promote access to higher education. The program starts with a series of workshops that brings students and parents together to practice strategies and gain resources that will help them reach their academic goals.

After the workshops, students participate in other aspects of Juntos: 4-H clubs focused on academics, tutoring, life-skill development and community service; one-on-one success coaching and mentoring; and educational summer programs.

One of those programs, Juntos Academy, gives students the chance to spend a week learning and living the college experience at NC State. It was Jarquin’s favorite part of Juntos, and one reason she serves with the program at NC State.

“It’s a great feeling to give back, because Juntos has been like a family,” Jarquin said. “We are all connected through our roots, and together we share a common goal: higher education.”

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*access to IMPACT We think and do the extraordinary, with extraordinary impact.

True to our land-grant charter, our mission is to transform challenges into agriculture and life science opportunities.

We do this by putting partnerships first. We actively work to find grants, develop strong public-private partnerships and be good stewards of our state and federal funding. Our alumni and friends help our mission grow by supporting student financial need and cutting-edge research, as well as endowing professorships that help us attract the best faculty from around the world.

In return, more than $1 billion in economic impact is created by our agricultural research and extension each year.

CALS graduates like this year’s Distinguished Alumni Award winners make a difference not only in their fields of employment, but in the everyday lives of their neighbors. Their commitment to the future of our state shines in programs like the Dale and Genia Bone Scholars, providing education to high-achieving students from rural North Carolina.

Keep reading for stories of extraordinary impact from our extraordinary donors.

“There are a lot of people who want to be educated but who don’t have the funds. I am very glad to be able to help those who are in need.”

— Genia Bone, Donor The Dale and Genia Bone Scholars Program

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endowed professorships support CALS faculty

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$

+ 70M in CALS research contracts and grants in fiscal year 2016

“Golden LEAF’s investment in the Plant Sciences facility is about supporting the agricultural infrastructure of knowledge, talent and skill to benefit North Carolina.”

— Dan Gerlach, President Golden LEAF Foundation

+ 340

scholarships worth more than

1M

$

a year are available to CALS and AGI undergraduates

Access to IMPACT

THE GIFT OF EDUCATION

By Suzanne Stanard

“My goal is to try to carry on what Dale would have done.”

The late Dale Bone believed in the power of a college education. Especially for those who couldn’t afford one. That’s why he established a scholarship for the migrant workers and their families who worked on his successful farm.

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A 1964 CALS graduate with degrees in agronomy and agricultural economics, Bone farmed thousands of acres of produce, tobacco and cotton. Under the banners of Dale Bone Farms Inc. and Nash Produce Co., his operation was once the largest producer of cucumbers in the United States.

Bone was one of the most successful agricultural businessmen in North Carolina, and, according to his wife, Genia Tyson Bone, he recognized that his employees were a big part of the reason why.

“Dale valued his employees, always stressing the importance of education,” Genia Bone said. “His employees were all offered the opportunity to be educated. They could go to a two-year community college or a four-year institution, and he would support them.”

Bone (pictured above with Bone Scholar Aaron Becerra and NC State Chancellor Randy Woodson) also paid tuition plus hourly wages to employees who attended English classes at Nash Community College. His generosity – along with his determination to create access to education – also extended to the children of his employees.

In 2009, the Bones established the Dale and Genia Bone Scholars program at NC State to provide scholarships to migrant farm workers and their families. These funds can be used for tuition, books, supplies or other educational expenses. The students also receive specialized academic and career mentoring.

Four Bone scholars have graduated to date, including Aaron Becerra, 26, who worked as a teenager alongside his family on Bone’s farm.

Becerra logs more than 1,000 miles on his truck each week traveling throughout eastern and central North Carolina to ensure that the company’s egg producers are in compliance with regulatory standards.

Working with eggs is a world of difference from row crops, he said, but his experience on Bone’s farm and the knowledge he gained in college prepared him well.

He’ll always be grateful, he said, for the chance to receive an education.

“Dale was one of a kind,” Becerra said, overcome with emotion that made it difficult to speak. “He’d always say, ‘If you want to help yourself, I’ll help you.’ And if you worked hard, he would always be there to help you better yourself.”

With support from the Bones, he attended Nash Community College, then transferred to NC State. Becerra returned home nearly every weekend to work on the farm and learn from the man he describes as a “great mentor.”

Affectionately referring to the Bone Scholars as “my kids,” Genia said, “I share Dale’s firm belief in education.

There are a lot of people who want to be educated but who don’t have the funds, and I am very glad to be able to help those who are in need.”

“Dale was always encouraging me to get an education,” Becerra said. “So I earned a degree in agribusiness management...and now I’m the layer supervisor for Braswell Foods.”

That’s why she broadened the scholarship criteria to include all children from North Carolina farm families.

Two new scholarship recipients entered NC State this fall.

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Access to IMPACT

DISTINGUISHED GUESTS The Distinguished Alumni Awards are granted each year to outstanding graduates of the college to recognize decades of stellar achievement and an ongoing commitment to giving back to NC State University.

Visionary Veterinarian

>

Dr. Joe Gordon’s impact extends far beyond the successful network of animal hospitals he has established across the Triangle. A veterinarian by trade and a philanthropist at heart, Gordon works hard to support those in need – animals and fellow human beings alike.

His CareFirst Animal Hospital organization partners with local animal rescue groups, enabling them to expand critical services. This work has inspired other practices to follow suit, creating even more opportunities for animals in need.

Outside the veterinary world, Gordon and his wife, Debbie, have made a huge investment in the lives of North Carolina’s youth with a $3 million gift to establish the Farm to Philanthropy program at NC State. Through two initiatives – ASPIRE and STEAM – the program expands rural students’ access to an NC State education.

This award honors the Gordons’ passion for students and philanthropy, Dean Richard Linton said.

< Pioneering Partner Agricultural pioneer John C. Howard Jr. took a chance when he enrolled in the inaugural class of the Agricultural Institute 56 years ago. Since then, he’s been a state leader in pursuing new farm markets and new technology. An early adopter of precision agriculture, Howard’s farm has changed dramatically since he graduated from the Ag Institute in 1962, growing to include swine, row crops and equipment sales. Howard served on the North Carolina Board of Agriculture and was appointed by President Ronald Reagan as a member of the National Commission on Agricultural Policy.

This honor recognizes Howard’s years as an integral partner to CALS, Dean Richard Linton said. Howard has hired many CALS graduates and opened his farm to Dr. Billy Flowers, a professor of animal science, for swine research that can only happen on a large-scale operation. He and his wife, Scarlett, are also faithful supporters of the regional 4-H livestock program.

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AGPACKFACT

Big Boost for Banishing Obesity A $1.5 million grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gave a big boost to a multi-agency charge to cut down obesity rates in Eastern North Carolina. The project is led by Extension specialists Dr. Annie Hardison-Moody and Dr. Lindsey Haynes-Maslow, assistant professors in the Department of Agricultural and Human Sciences.

Corpse Flower Puts Up A Stink In September 2016, the Department of Horticultural Science was able to bring the signature stink of the rare titan arum – also known as the corpse flower – to campus. Owned

by Brandon Huber, a horticulture student pursuing his master’s degree at NC State, the plant took 13 years to bloom for the first time. The olfactory spectacle attracted a steady stream of visitors for its three-day blooming period.

High-Yield, DroughtResistant Soybeans Tommy Carter of the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences leads a research partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture that has resulted in the first droughtresistant soybean cultivar. Researchers identified a genotype with an unusual response to drying air: conserving water. The new cultivar is a nonGMO variety, so it is available as both commercial seed and parental stock.

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“Before, only my county felt like home to me. The whole state feels like home now.”

#AGPACKSTRONG: AGI Graduate Jacob Tarlton Owner, Tarlton Helicopters, Union County “When I was about 16, I was working on my family’s farm when I heard a loud helicopter, diving in and out of a field close by. I didn’t know what he was doing, so I got in my truck and drove. When I got there, I saw the helicopter spraying a soybean field...I was very excited watching it. It sparked something in me.

“I graduated from the Agricultural Institute back in December 2015. I majored in agribusiness, field crop technology, livestock and poultry management, and general agriculture. The two and a half years I spent at NC State tremendously changed my life, not only from the education and hands-on experience, but the relationships. It showed me just how connected farmers are throughout North Carolina. It also showed me how diverse agriculture is in North Carolina.

“Even though I am a graduate, I still feel like I am connected. I have talked to several of [my professors] about my real-life experience on my farm and my flying business to get advice. It is amazing to see the same enthusiasm in them now as when I was a student sitting in their office.”

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Be an Extraordinary Part of CALS’ Future SePRO® CEO Bill Culpepper is a forward-thinking man. That’s why he became CALS’ Chair of NC State’s Think and Do the Extraordinary Campaign.

He knows CALS can solve the grand challenges of a complicated world. And that your support will help give CALS the power to do the extraordinary.

Join us at campaign.ncsu.edu

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RALEIGH, NC PERMIT No. 2353

Access Knowledge for Disaster Recovery.

CALS is is working hard to help North Carolina recover from Hurricane Matthew.

For Extension fact sheets, videos and more on topics from safety at home to agricultural issues, visit NCDisaster.com

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