WESTERN T h e m ag az i n e f o r A l u m n i o f W est er n I l l i n o i s U n i v ers i ty | FA L L 2 0 1 9
Celebrating 100 years of Agriculture at Western Illinois University
Western Magazine Fall 2019 Vol. 71, No. 2 Managing Editor
Alisha Barnett Looney MA ’13
Magazine Designer Shanee Plate ’00
Contributing Writers
Kathy Nichols ’89 MA ’94 Jodi Pospeschil MA ’15 Darcie Dyer-Shinberger ’89 MS ’98 Alisha Barnett Looney MA ’13
Director of Alumni Programs Amy Spelman MS ’98
Executive Director of University Communications Darcie Shinberger ’89 MS ’98
Executive Officer WIU Foundation
Brad Bainter ’79 MS ’83
Western Illinois University Interim President Martin Abraham
Letter from the President Dear WIU Alumni & Friends, Since starting as president at Western Illinois University July 1, I’ve had the opportunity to meet several alumni and friends at events across Illinois and Colorado, at programs on our Macomb and Quad Cities campuses and, most recently, at our 2019 Homecoming celebration. I look forward to meeting many more of you in the coming months at alumni events across the country and when you return to your alma mater. I have enjoyed hearing your stories about your time at Western and learning more about you. As we continue the Fall 2019 semester, we’re beginning to make great strides in our action items and goals for WIU’s immediate and long-term future, and I’m happy to be a part of it. I’d like to thank our alumni and friends for your continued support as we move this great University forward. Recruitment, enrollment, retention, diversity and inclusion and building relationships are among my key initiatives, along with ensuring access to the excellent academic programs offered at WIU. One of my immediate actions since being named our institution’s acting president this summer was forming four teams to develop aggressive action plans for enrollment, retention, graduate and international enrollment and distance learning. A top priority is to increase recruitment and retention efforts and to have greater alumni involvement as we undertake these efforts. I’d like to thank those alumni who have already volunteered to meet with prospective students and take part in Admissions events. We have also implemented new and enhanced scholarship programs, such the new Alumni Legacy Scholarship. To recognize and honor our graduates’ contributions, the children and grandchildren of WIU graduates, who are accepted and enroll at Western for Fall 2020, will receive a $1,500 annual award, which will be renewable for up to three years. Students must complete the admissions application, which will be updated in the near future to reflect the Legacy Scholarship, to confirm their connection to a WIU graduate. In addition, we have revised our admissions standards to better align with retention and student success, and we are working for greater involvement with community leaders and area residents, both at the University and within the community. Recently, in partnership with our community leaders, we’ve established the Moving Macomb Forward initiative, and to date, have hosted six community dialogues focusing on ensuring an inclusive environment in the community and at the University, with more discussions and events planned. With your support and involvement, we are on the right track to ensure a bolder and stronger University. Western is an incredible school, with outstanding academic programs and extracurricular opportunities, along with terrific alumni, and I am honored to serve as your interim president.
Printed by the authority of the State of Illinois 11/2019 • 114,574
Best wishes, Martin Abraham Interim President
WESTERN FA LL 2 0 1 9
Features 9 Leatherneck Country Meats
The WIU School of Agriculture opened a new pork sales operation, run from the University Farm, to teach students business skills and raise money for the program.
16 Allison Organic Research Farm
WIU students practice organic farming on the Allison Organic Research and Demonstration Farm, an 80-acre pesticide-free farm.
18 Pioneering Alumnae Twins Honored by FFA
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Twin sisters and WIU alumnae were the first two women in the state to earn Illinois State FFA degrees.
20 A Crop Worth Millions
Ag Professor Win Phippen’s alternative crop research is rewarded with federal, state and University grants.
23 Federal Grant Boosts Tomato Research
What began as a cross-departmental collaboration resulted in an in-depth look at cancer prevention.
26 Agronomy in Africa
Alumnus Todd Steinacher has traveled to Zambia twice for a project to infuse updated agriculture methods into African farmers’ current farming methods.
30 Farm Fresh Beef at Ernst Family Farms
Alumnus David Ernst took over his family farm and transformed it into a farm-to-table business using conservation and organic practices.
Departments 2 8 10 14 24 28 32 34 36
University News Giving Back to Western Blast From the Past What I Know Now Student Spotlight Athletics Straight From a Student Alumni Calendar Alumni Class Notes
Have tips, questions or comments for the Western Illinois University Alumni Magazine? Email AA-Looney@wiu.edu. To send us your news, see pg. 41.
26 facebook.com/WesternIlUniv instagram.com/WesternILUniv twitter.com/WesternILUniv snapchat.com/add/WesternIlUniv bit.ly/WIULinkedIn
University News
WIU: U.S. News Best Midwestern University for 15 Years Running For 15 years running, Western Illinois University has been recognized as a “Best Midwestern University” by U.S. News and World Report. In the U.S. News and World Report 2020 rankings, of the 33 Midwestern public universities in the top tier, Western is ranked 11th in the 2020 Midwestern rankings. Western is also listed 61st of 162 public and private colleges and universities on the top tier list of “Best Regional Universities.” Western is one of just three Illinois public universities appearing in the top 70. Along with the “Best Midwestern” ranking, Western has been acknowledged by U.S. News as a “Best for Veterans School” (Midwest
- #38), Best Value School” (Midwest - #49) and “Top Performer on Social Mobility” (Midwest - #49). Western is also recognized in rankings for being a top public school, graduation rates (six-year), freshmen retention rates, undergraduate business programs, undergraduate engineering program, least debt (class of 2017), highest proportion of classes under 20 students, most international students, economic diversity and campus ethnic diversity. “I’m happy that Western has once again been highly ranked by U.S. News for the terrific academic degree programs, resources and support that we provide our students,” said WIU Interim President Martin
Abraham. “Our faculty, staff and administration are dedicated to ensuring our students’ success. They believe in our students and are there to provide the guidance and knowledge necessary to flourish after they graduate from WIU.” The institutions appearing on the U.S. News Best Colleges ranking represent a full range of undergraduate majors and master’s programs. The rankings are based on several diverse measures: graduation and retention rates, social mobility, faculty resources, expert opinion, financial resources, student excellence and alumni giving.
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WIU Anthropology Degree Program Ranked Among Top 20 Most Affordable Online Bachelor’s Degrees The Western Illinois University anthropology degree program has been ranked among the top 20 most affordable online anthropology degree programs in the nation, coming in at number two, by Great Value Colleges. According to greatvaluecolleges. net, the rankings are determined by using data collected from College Navigator regarding tuition, as well as program information from each institution’s official website. Western’s program was selected not only for the program’s affordability, but also for
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the institution’s overall outstanding reputation, faculty excellence and its commitment to providing nontraditional students access to a quality degree program. The Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology at WIU is available on campus, as a hybrid degree (online and in person) and online. The undergraduate anthropology program debuted the online degree option in Fall 2017, and it is the first of its kind in the state, and one of only a few in the nation.
The online program provides both live and recorded lectures using Zoom technology, which allows faculty to interact with students during the lecture or at a later time. In addition to the online anthropology degree, this fall the department began offering an online sociology degree. Like anthropology, WIU is the first public university in the state to offer an online Bachelor of Arts in Sociology degree and is one of only a few programs in the nation.
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WIU LEJA Ranked Best Criminal Justice Degree Program Western Illinois University’s School of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration’s (LEJA) online degree is ranked sixth out of 50 schools across the U.S. as the best online criminal justice degree program by Study. com. Western is the only Illinois institution included in the rankings. Students majoring in LEJA can obtain their degree by taking classes on WIU’s main campus in Macomb or the Quad Cities branch campus, online or a combination of both. WIU’s School of LEJA began offering it bachelor’s and master’s
degree programs online several years ago to accommodate working criminal justice professionals, actively deployed military students and non-traditional students. In addition to the online degree opportunities, WIU’s School of LEJA also partners with the Illinois Department of Corrections and community colleges to offer a seamless transition toward their degree and career success. For the online criminal justice degree ranking, Study.com analyzed such data as type of degree or degrees
offered, career possibilities, available financial aid and online support services. Study.com’s online degree rankings emphasize accessibility, affordability and quality of education. According to Study.com, WIU makes it high on the list because it offers both an online undergraduate and an online graduate degree in law enforcement and justice administration. Western also offers an integrated BS/MA criminal justice program that allows students to apply undergraduate credits toward a graduate degree.
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WIU Livestock Judging Team Named High Team Overall in National Barrow Show The WIU Livestock Judging Team was awarded the High Team overall in September at the National Barrow Show in Austin, MN. The 73rd annual show was a competition between 18 universities from across the country. “Members of the WIU livestock judging team put in countless hours preparing for national competitions with practices most evenings and on weekends,” said team coach and Associate Professor of Agriculture
Mark Hoge. “It is great to see all of the hard work pay off for these talented undergraduate students. The WIU livestock judging team works very hard to represent WIU on a national level by fielding competitive teams each year and recruiting some of the best talent in the country.” Individual results among WIU students include: Logan Hebert, a senior agriculture major, of Mattoon, IL: 10th in Reasons; Drew Lamle,
a senior agriculture major, of Fort Wayne, IN: 6th in Reasons and 6th overall; Adam Gradert, a senior agriculture major, of Geneseo, IL: 5th in Reasons and high individual overall; and Devon Boyer, a senior agriculture major, of Blandinsville, IL: 11th overall. The team will continue competing at other contests throughout the fall, ending with the national contest in Louisville, KY, in November.
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Fall 2019 | Western Magazine
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Viadero Elected for Prestigious Environmental Engineers and Scientists Certification Roger Viadero, director of WIU’s Environmental Science Ph.D. Program, has been elected for membership in the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists (AAEES) and recognized as a Board Certified Environmental Engineering Member (BCEEM). The Academy’s Board of Trustees conferred Viadero’s certification by eminence with a specialization in hazardous waste management and site remediation. Viadero is one of only 220 board-certified AAEES members to hold this specialization. Viadero is senior member of the American Institute of Chemical
Engineers, is past president of the Aquacultural Engineering Society and serves on the editorial board of Elsevier Scientific’s Journal of Aquacultural Engineering. He is also an Ecological Society of America Certified Senior Ecologist. Viadero uses his diverse academic and professional background to better understand the ways in which humans impact natural aquatic systems. He integrates extensive field investigation with laboratory studies and modeling to develop remediation approaches that create lasting improvements to the quality and resilience of natural aquatic systems.
AAEES plays an active role in the accreditation of environmental engineering and science curricula. The Academy also organizes multi-disciplinary teams of Board Certified Environmental Engineers and Scientists to participate in concept study groups. These groups seek solutions to major environmental problems. Once developed, the Academy provides these solutions to key policymakers in industry and government. The Academy’s certification program is accredited by the Council of Engineering and Scientific Specialty Boards.
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Celebrate 50 years of the School of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration at Western Illinois University Join current and retired LEJA faculty, alumni and friends in reminiscing about the last 50 years of the law enforcement program. Hear about the direction of LEJA in the next 50 years! Feb. 27, 2020 • 6-8 p.m. - Alumni Social at Engrained Brewery, 1120 W Lincolnshire Blvd., Springfield, IL April 7-8, 2020 (TBA) - Alumni Social in Normal, Women in Criminal Justice Conference, Marriott Hotel & Conference Center, Normal, IL April 23, 2020 • 6-8 p.m. - Alumni Social at The Riverhouse, 1510 River Dr., Moline, IL All events are free. Registration is preferred, but not required. Email S-Woodward@wiu.edu to register. Cash bar and hors d’oerves will be served at each event.
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WIU Mega Reunion Planned for 2020 By Darcie Dyer-Shinberger ’89 MS ’98 From small towns to bustling metropolises, from educators to Fortune 500 business professionals, from farmers to stay-at-home parents, if an individual attended college, chances are she or he remembers that time with great fondness. From the "townies" met at social outings to favorite professors to campus haunts, lifetime friendships and memories were made. And a movement from a Western Illinois University student from the early 2000s brought well over 19,000 of his former classmates and WIU alumni together in less than a month. Chris Foltz, who works in research and development in the Mojave Desert, attended WIU in the early 2000s. He started thinking about what WIU means to him, and how his experiences at Western shaped his life, so he started the Facebook group, WIU Mega Reunion 2020, where his classmates and friends from that era could post memories and ideas for a possible "mega reunion." He expected maybe a few hundred responses.
"I was blown away by the next morning. There were more than 2,000 people who responded overnight, sharing photos and memories, and talking about how we can make an impact at WIU and Macomb next year," Foltz said. "I had to travel off-grid for two days, and when I returned, the group had already doubled in size and it was clear to me the interest was far beyond my era, so I opened it beyond my years and it hasn't stopped growing since." In addition to the Mega Reunion proceeds and philanthropic initiatives benefiting WIU and the Macomb community, the WIU Foundation has established the Mega Reunion 2020 Fund (wiu.edu/megareunion2020). The scholarship fund was established to help eliminate barriers and often overlooked financial hurdles for both current and future WIU students. To date, over $7,000 has been donated. Foltz wants this event not only to be something for people to join together, but for those involved to commit to making an impact on the University they love. In addition to
programs and give-back opportunities being developed both on campus and in Macomb by Foltz and the committees, the WIU Foundation has set up a giving page at the request of the group so individuals can donate to a WIU Mega Reunion scholarship intended for current Western students. "I would not be who I am today without my time in Macomb and at Western Illinois University. Looking at over 350,000 interactions between alumni in the group that may have never happened without it, it's clear I'm not the only one who feels the same about WIU," Foltz said. "Imagine what we all can and will do by coming back to Macomb and working together to move WIU forward. That's what it means to be a Leatherneck." A website with information, committee forms and sponsorship opportunities can be found at https://wiumegareunion.com/ getinvolved/. The official Facebook group link is available at the reunion's main page at WIUMegaReunion.com.
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WIU Alumnus Named Master Artist in California By Jodi K. Pospeschil MA ‘15
There is a commonality to the mediums used by master artist and Western Illinois University alumnus Dane Goodman ‘69 which, he says, was initially sparked during a 1960s life drawing class in the basement of Sherman Hall. The Lincoln, IL, native and California resident recently received the master artist designation for his body of work from the Ventura, CA, based Focus on the Masters Archive and Library, an organization which preserves and honors the work of California artists. In the years since Goodman was an art education major in the classrooms of WIU, he has evolved into an artist who works with numerous themes, sometimes incorporating political and social justice issues and begins with unusual bases, ranging from re-used paper grocery bags from Trader Joe’s and bars of Ivory soap to empty cereal bags and discarded Christmas trees. While it’s the materials and surfaces that make Goodman’s art unique, they also make it familiar and impactful, particularly when uncovering the messages he has hidden inside. “The materials I use are not out of anyone’s realm,” he said. “While I use traditional art materials, I often prefer working with common, household materials. When I arrive at a concept for a project, no matter the material, and then proceed, it may not look like any of my other work—and I’m fine with that.” Some of Goodman’s more regarded pieces include carvings from bars of soap, paintings on bed sheets and handkerchiefs and layered paintings on the inside of cereal bags, usually from boxes of shredded wheat. Goodman’s techniques enhance the items to transform them
into idiosyncratic, striking art. He works in painting and drawing, in addition to sculpture, photography and three-dimensional projects, with materials such as colored cellophane, duct tape and Polaroid film. Recent works have included themes from his opinions on current-day political happenings to incorporating things from his own life, such as a series of paintings and a sculpture about the passing of his father-in-law. Much of Goodman’s art has a common theme added in, such as a snowman figure that shows up frequently as an “alter ego,” or a log cabin, which is a nod to his childhood in Illinois. “I was making a Christmas list for my daughter and I drew a snowman on it,” he said. “It struck me all of the sudden that it’s a wonderful common image, like the log cabins, which are central to America, but also to me and to who I am.” In addition to being a solo artist, Goodman has also collaborated on exhibitions with other noteworthy artists, including the late Keith Puccinelli. Goodman and Puccinelli worked together on numerous drawing projects and created the exhibit “Tug” at the Westmont Ridley—Tree Museum of Art in 2015. The title of the show has several meanings, which the artists highlight and explain through their work. Goodman’s art has been shown throughout the country and is featured in numerous museum and private collections, and he has been a lecturer and artist-in-residence at universities, colleges and museums. He is a recipient of the County of Santa Barbara Individual Artist Award and has been nominated for the National Award in the Visual Arts and the Fellows of Contemporary Art (FOCA) Award in Los Angeles.
He has twice served as a panelist for the National Endowment of the Arts and has worked to promote and nurture Ventura and Santa Barbara artists. While he was the director of the Atkinson Gallery at Santa Barbara City College, he curated solo and group exhibitions of artists from Los Angeles and New York, as well as the Santa Barbara region. As Goodman was wrapping up his WIU undergraduate degree in arts education, he needed more summer school credits to graduate. “I was an okay student, but it was not like I was at the top of my class. I was, however, deeply interested in art,” he said. In the summer school schedule, Goodman found a listing for a graduate-level life drawing class, taught by then WIU faculty member David Sucec, which piqued his interest. Goodman said Sucec routinely brought in a large box of various drawing and painting materials to use in his own drawings. “Drawing the model was just the beginning of the artwork, not the final goal. Seeing him work with a range of materials really opened the door for me,” Goodman said. “I was not the best figure study draftsman, but I was good at being inventive. During a critique of our work, Sucec singled out my work for praise, which surprised me because the other students were doing graduate work. I had never had that kind of praise before and it confirmed my art interest.” At WIU, Goodman was president of his class for two years, was a member of the Theta Xi fraternity and belonged to a folk music jug band called “The Eight Founding Fathers.” After graduation from WIU, Goodman became an art teacher
in Dundee, IL, for one year, before moving to Niles, IL, to teach. He soon realized he would be drafted into the military service for the Vietnam War. While other art teachers who were reviewed by other draft boards were granted waivers, Goodman’s draft board wouldn’t allow it. “My draft number was 10, so I was for sure getting drafted,” he said. Goodman applied to be classified as a conscientious objector and serve for three years, but it was refused by his draft board. To take his case to court, Goodman had to refuse induction into the military. “After refusing induction I was arrested by the FBI and it totally altered the course of my life. I have mixed feelings about it … history has verified that the war was unjust, but I regret not giving some time to national service as I have a deep belief in America.” When his future path cleared a bit, Goodman earned his master’s degree at Cal State Sacramento. He then moved to New York while his wife, artist Marie Schoeff, finished her Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree at Hunter College. The couple later relocated to Santa Barbara, CA, where he was hired by the Santa Barbara Museum of Art. “I started their painting walls and then I was hired full time,” he said. “Soon, I was helping to install the exhibits and became the head of packing and crating. Eventually, I became the exhibition coordinator and designer, doing 17 or more shows a year.” It was during this work when Goodman realized he wanted his work to be shown and collected by museums because they would preserve the pieces. He said he
also had experience at the museum handling priceless work by artists, such as Claude Monet. “I was at my desk having lunch one day and there was a Monet painting on a cart,” he said. “I pulled it over and had lunch with the Monet painting. I realized I was having a highly-rarefied experience very few people get to have in the world. I was fortunate to have had a career in the museum world.” Goodman said he credits WIU for setting him on his career path and toward a life in the arts. This year marks the 50th reunion for his graduating class. “Western shaped who I am,” he said. “The people I met at WIU, faculty and students, were inspiring to me.” For more information about Goodman and his work, visit estradafineart.com/art-gallery/ dane-goodman.
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Fall 2019 | Western Magazine
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Giving Back to Western Exceeding Goals and Breaking Records
For the third consecutive year, The Western Challenge—held in conjunction with Western Illinois University’s Purple & Gold Day in April—broke a fundraising record AND exceeded its goal. Leatherneck pride was in full force April 24 as this year’s event set a record, raising $188,759, with 897 donors. Last year’s 24-hour online giving event set a record, raising $153,679, with 851 donors. Gifts streamed in for a variety of
departments, programs, resources, scholarships and special projects, from the wee hours of the morning to the evening’s end. “This event shows the incredible pride and support that our alumni and friends have for Western Illinois University. We are so deeply appreciative of the 897 individuals for the opportunities they have created for our students and faculty, as well as their continued commitment to
WIU,” said Annual Fund Director Tim Hallinan ’95. This year’s event included 12 challenges and matches, which increased donor involvement for specific areas and departments on campus, such as academic colleges, University Housing and Dining Services and the Mascot Memorial Project. For more information on how to donate to WIU, visit wiu.edu/giving.
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Thank you!
WE SURPASSED OUR
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Western Illinois University’s Leatherneck Country Meats Adds Value for Students and WIU Ag Program
By Jodi K. Pospeschil MA ‘15
A new venture by the Western Illinois University School of Agriculture is adding value to its academic experience and raising money for the department’s animal programs. Leatherneck Country Meats—The Purple and Gold Standard of Western Illinois University, is a new pork sales operation that is being run from the University Farm on the north edge of campus. The new business is offering students a chance to learn business skills while using hogs raised at the University Farm instead of selling them. The new business opened in late 2018 and offered customers a variety of pork bundle options, including: • The Rocky Bundle - $120: Two roasts or hams, sixeight pork chops, three pounds of bacon and eight pounds of sausage. • The Purple and Gold Bundle - $310: Three pounds of rack spare ribs, four two-pound Boston butt roasts, two shoulder roasts, eight pounds of bacon, 10-12 bone-in chops, five pounds of sausage, two packages of brats and a whole ham, halved. • The Whole Hog - $400: The meat is processed to the buyers’ specifications. The processing cost is not included in the package. (Approximately 150 pounds). WIU School of Agriculture Instructor Jana Knupp ’02 MBA ’04 said seven hogs were sold during the first sale. “We want to add some new offerings and bundles this year,” said Knupp. “Our ultimate goal is to eventually raise Berkshire hogs on grass.”
As the business develops, Knupp said, a website is being formulated and there is hope that a shipping process can be set up to gain additional sales outside the area.
The hogs are raised as part of the University’s academic offerings, including classes on swine science and as part of WIU’s nationally-successful Livestock Judging Team. The meat is processed by a new Hancock County meat locker, Farmhouse Meat Co. in Carthage. The new locker is a business started earlier this year by 10 area residents who saw a need after a previous locker closed. Two of the owners are WIU alumni, John Carroll ‘02 MBA ‘03 and Kristin Huls ‘02 MS-ED ‘09. Knupp said Carroll has a strong connection to the program, also raises hogs on his own farm and serves as a consultant to the WIU School of Agriculture. “When we knew they were opening the meat market, we saw this as another avenue for our product,”
said Knupp. “Our alumni always support our program, so it’s nice being able to return that support to the local community.” According to Jay Pittman ’85, an assistant research technician at the University Farm, seven WIU students are employed by the University Farm to handle animal care, from feeding to farrowing. Prior to starting the business, most of the hogs raised at the farm were sold to processing plants, while others were sold to individual buyers to raise for 4-H and FFA judged events. The majority of Leatherneck Country Meats is run by students, who are advised by several WIU School of Agriculture faculty. “The money all goes back into the swine program,” said Knupp. “In addition to offering the meat, it’s a good connection to the program. We are always looking for ways to add value to the swine program and we have a lot of alumni who support our program.” Knupp said the animals are raised in a humane manner and the pork is of the highest quality. WIU senior Paige Skinner, an agriculture science major from Roseville, IL, said she has already learned new skills through working with Leatherneck Country Meats. “There is no change in the production side because of the new business,” she said. “This is really just finding a new way to market the product. To learn more about Leatherneck Country Meats, visit bit.ly/LCMorder.
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Fall 2019 | Western Magazine
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The Early History of Agriculture at Western By Kathy Nichols ’89’ MA ‘94, WIU Archives
From the outset, Western was given a unique purpose, which was, as the Chicago Tribune reported, “to confine its work wholly to preparing teachers for the common grades and primarily for country and village schools.” More broadly, that purpose might have been stated as the improvement of the lives of young people in west central Illinois, which was then characterized by limited economic and cultural opportunity because of its rural nature. To that end, Western’s curriculum had a decidedly practical bent, emphasizing coursework in mathematics, English, science, geography, geology, art, and other subjects essential to the development of students as they progressed from grade one through eight—and in some instances on to high school and college. Recognizing, however, that motivation might be an important issue for students coming from backgrounds without an educational focus, administrators and faculty
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wisely encouraged teachers, and teachers in training, to focus the classes they taught so that subjects would be recognized by their students as relevant to their home life. In 1903, for example, biology Professor Homer L. Roberts developed flower and vegetable gardens along the creek in the ravine, to provide experience with plants for his students and agricultural activities for the training school children. At its Spring 1907 meeting, Western’s Board of Trustees showed its support of the teaching of agriculture by directing that the school set aside a parcel of land on its campus, approximately two acres in size, on which would be located a soil experiment field with 40 experimental plots and the school garden. This was accomplished through cooperation between the University of Illinois College of Agriculture and Experiment Station and the Western Illinois State Normal School through its Department of
Biology and Agriculture. The field was located in the northwest corner of the campus. It provided students and faculty the opportunity to study such aspects of agriculture as systems of farming, methods of seeding fields and harvesting crops, and the impact of various types of fertilizers. Also in 1907, biologist John T. Johnson taught the first course in agriculture, offered through the biology department. As the Normal School Quarterly covering the second portion of the 1906-07 school year said, “This course will offer a study of the soil with reference to its origin, tillage, moisture, drainage, improvement, and as the home of the plant. A small amount of time will be devoted to the study of agricultural plants to aid the student to understand something of their structure, seed germination, and relations to the soil and climate.” In her chapter in the March 1909 Normal School Quarterly on instruction for first and second grade students,
training school teacher Bertha Bentley asserted that “the work of the school should minister to life itself and that the child’s first interests are in his environment . . . A study of the real activities going on about the child, such as carpentering, farming, and storekeeping, will lead him to a better understanding, to be enforced afterwards in the classroom . . . by free discussions. After several occupations have been studied, the child can easily appreciate the interdependence of men in a community.” A part of her plan involved the creation of a miniature farm on a sand table, complete with a house, barns and barnyards, and fields surrounded by fences made of cardboard, toothpicks and twine. Crops were sown in the sand, which, when dampened, sprouted and grew vigorously for several weeks. Farm animals, which would stand, were made and greatly enjoyed by the children. Questions of the time and methods of planting, harvesting and disposing of various crops were considered. Keeping the farm in
order, caring for stock, crops and machinery were all taken up in connection with the sand table farm as it developed. By the end of 1910, the elementary agriculture class first taught in 1907 by John T. Johnson had been modified to be a requirement for students planning to teach in country schools. By that time, an advanced agriculture class had also been developed that included instruction on livestock breeding and management, in depth work at the campus soil experiment field and excursions to area fields and orchards to observe spraying. Prerequisites for this class were one year each of physics, chemistry and biology. Also by 1910, the importance of the school garden had significantly increased so that in addition to being used by students in the first six grades in the training school it was being used by students in all eight grades. As the December 1910 bulletin said, “The head instructor in Education, in co-operation with the instructor in Agriculture, works out the details of
the plan, and with the assistance of the training school teachers directs the work of the pupil-teachers and pupils. Educative values and principles of cultivation including the economic phases are emphasized rather than the cultivation of a large variety of garden products. The plans include a variety of garden crops sufficiently large to cover the practice in the ordinary home vegetable garden.” In 1912, John T. Johnson left to assume the position of director of Science and Agriculture at the new Kent State Normal School at Kent, OH, and was replaced by Charles W. Finley, who, with the assistance of Roy Sallee and later C. W. Hudelson, continued with the program established by their predecessor. Before Johnson left for Kent State, he prepared the March 1913, issue of Western’s Normal School Quarterly, in which he said, “A large percentage of the graduates [from Western] begin teaching in the rural and village schools where previous agricultural training becomes effective in the schools, where instruction in
Comparing wheat harvest 1913
John T. Johnson
Homer L. Roberts
Harry Waggoner
Students comparing oat plots 1913
Eighth graders planting corn 1910
First grade flower garden
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Students harvesting wheat in plot
agriculture is most desired. Teachers who are prepared in the University, as a rule, seek positions in the larger cities. The Normal School, with its efficient corps of instructors, a complete laboratory equipment, soil experiment plots, a school garden and the further fact that a large part of the student body comes from the farm and after graduation returns to the country and village schools, is the ideal school in which to prepare teachers of agriculture.” In other words, as Johnson recognized, the teaching of agriculture at Western was becoming increasingly relevant. In part, the need for instruction in modern agricultural methods was met by means of a basic class offered to academy, or high school, students. In addition, a class was designed to meet the needs of students preparing to teach grades one–eight in the country schools. As President Morgan indicated in his introduction to the March 1913 bulletin, “This course deals with elements of agriculture and is based on the primary needs of the farm and garden. Special effort is made to assist the teacher who has had no training in the subject and who wishes to meet the requirements of the county superintendent and the state course of study. The school offers an opportunity to see farm crops growing on the experiment field located on the campus. As much laboratory work is given as the time permits.” Also, at this time, Western offered two agriculture classes for Normal School or regular college students. One of these was much like the class provided for the academy students, except it emphasized the teaching of the subject to grade school students. The other one focused on methods of producing profitable crops. Prerequisites for enrollment in the class were beginning agriculture and botany. Classes in physics and chemistry were recommended. In 1917, President Morgan hired Harry D. Waggoner to replace Charles Finley as head of the Department of Agriculture and
Biology. Waggoner had earned his undergraduate degree from Illinois State Normal School in 1902, and his master’s and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Illinois. A note in the March 1917 Normal School Quarterly provides the first indication in writing of dissatisfaction with the combined status at Western of agriculture and biology: “The Agricultural Department is very much handicapped by the fact that all of its work must be conducted in connection with the Biology Department, which has quarters only large enough for itself. Neither has it opportunity to do its best without a barn, farm machinery, and a larger experimental field.” The development of majors at Western began in that same year. Prior to that time, the school had been devoted exclusively to preparation of teachers to provide general instruction to primary students in rural settings. On July 1, 1917, the State of Illinois began to operate under a new Civil Administration Code, which provided for a Department of Registration and Education. That department’s Normal School Board was assigned to manage the state’s five teacher training schools, which were given the right to grant four-year degrees. In the case of Western, this meant that the school would no longer be focused exclusively on the preparation of primary school teachers but instead would develop specialized curricula so that it students could major in some particular field and, after graduation, teach in that field at a high school. Babcock milk tester
Waggoner headed the Department of Biology and Agriculture until 1920, when that department divided, and he headed the Biology Department, a position he maintained until he retired in 1946. Also in 1920, W.A. Cleveland was hired as both the football coach and the head of the newly created Agricultural Department. By that time, the Biology Department consisted of a total of seven courses in zoology and eight in botany, and the Agriculture Department had expanded so that its curriculum was composed of 11 courses. As years passed, the Agriculture Department continued to update its program to keep pace with the needs of a changing society. In 1952, it added courses in principles of soil conservation and rural electrification. As the thrust in agriculture in America shifted from subsistence farming to large-scale industrial production, Western kept pace by adding, in the 1960s, majors in agronomy, agricultural economics, agricultural mechanization, animal science and horticulture. Also, in the 1960s, Western’s agriculture department cooperated with the Agency for International Development to bring Nigerian students to campus each year to study farming as practiced in America. The first group arrived in September 1962. As the former Department of Agriculture chair Ed Breece recently commented, “Through the years, the department, its faculty, staff and students have conducted research and service activities of importance to the Students transplanting
region, state and nation. Examples of applied research conducted through the years include Simulated Hail Damage to Corn and Soybeans; Pest Management Products and Rates of Application; Probiotics Versus Antibiotics in Swine; Corn, Soybean and Hog Marketing Models and Applied Research in Soybean Production to name but a few.” He is also personally aware of the noted Ag Mech Show’s heritage. As he recalls, “in April 1970, the first Agricultural Progress Show, now called Farm Expo, was created by the Agricultural Mechanization Club and interested agribusiness representatives from the region. The show has continued to develop and expand to its present scope of over 200 exhibits.” This year Western’s agriculture department celebrates its 100th anniversary. During those 100 years, the department has grown from a handful of courses, focused on gardening and small scale localized farming, to a department producing students with a knowledge of agriculture in a global context. In recent decades, in order to continue to make itself relevant to the lives of its students, and to the people in the region and beyond, the School of Agriculture has developed a complex curriculum, featuring a host of remarkably talented professors. But it is interesting, at the time of the department’s 100th anniversary, to be reminded of its teacher-training roots.
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Students observing spraying machine at soil experiment field
What I Know Now
Rock Katschnig ‘77 Leatherneck. Husband. Dad. Big Papa. Farmer. Race Fan. Hunter. Find your people… I was a small town farm kid who found himself living on the ninth floor of a residence hall in what felt like a world away from home. I truly understood what it meant to be homesick. When I found a brotherhood at Alpha Gamma Rho (AGR), I not only found a group who would make my college experience a memorable one, but the people who I could lean on when I needed them the most. In 1973, I was going through one of the toughest times of my life after losing my brother in a car accident in 1971 and my dad to a heart attack in 1973. If it wasn’t for the 48 brothers I had gained through Alpha Gamma Rho, I could not have kept going and would never have graduated from Western. The relationships I built with them then are still just as valuable to me today. I currently serve on the AGR Alpha Tau alumni board, and every month,
when I return to 1010 N. Lafayette St. for a meeting, it seems like I’m returning from class. The years go by, but the feelings never change. I get a reminiscent tear in my eye driving by the building that once was known as the Boothill Saloon—swing doors, peanuts on the floor and Doobie Brothers playing loud!
Every day of your life you are still paying tuition… You are never too old to learn. If you live to 100 years old, you should still be learning lessons. With technology changing as quickly as it does, we cannot afford to not be lifelong learners. And we need to appreciate education. You might question the value of your education when you are young, but it is so important for the rest of your life. Dr. Robinson would say, “You don’t have to remember every answer, just know where to find it.”
Thank those who helped shape your life... My time at WIU, the people I met there and those who helped get me to college in the first place shaped me into the person I am today. My high school ag teacher, Ralph Moens; Loren Robinson; Victor Sheldon; Ed Breece; Harry Hoerner and the smart people who sat beside me all made a lasting impact on my time at WIU and the future I had before me. I appreciated everything they did for me, no matter how big or small it may have seemed to them.
We need to be the voice of reason for agriculture… I’ve enjoyed membership and involvement with Henry County Farm Bureau for many years and have been fortunate to visit Washington D.C. on several occasions with the group Leaders to Washington. The importance of being an advocate for agriculture has never been as vital as it is today. Young people need to get involved and educate those around us. If people are making decisions regarding agriculture, you need to be a part of the conversation.
You never know what doors might open…. In 2012, the President visited Wyffels Hybrids in Atkinson, IL, on his midwest farm tour. During the Q&A session of his town hall meeting I asked a question to which his response received quite a reaction by national media. As a result, I was invited to attend the State of the Union Address as a
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Katschnig family photo
guest of the Speaker of the House, served as a member on the Job Creators committee and worked with legislators on important issues facing agriculture. Through this I also met many lifelong friends and business connections, all of which have presented additional opportunities. Life is unpredictable. Be willing to embrace all opportunities presented.
Your word is still golden… Your word is who you are. If you tell someone you’re going to do it, you have to do it. The job you do has to be done right or not at all. You must have commitment and accountability to be successful.
But to be safe, get it in writing… I’ve learned over the years that not everyone honors a handshake like I do. So just in case, get it in writing. Atkinson, IL, Heritage Days Parade with the whole family
My advice to young people… Never miss an opportunity to introduce yourself with a firm handshake. It could easily shape the rest of your life. This whole world revolves around “connects” or “networking” as it is called today. I will always remember Dr. Sheldon saying, “Son, it’s not what you know; it’s who you know.” You can never have too many friends, especially in the tough times.
Recognize your blessings... I’ve had some close calls in my life. We need to live every day for the day and for what we have. Look past the small inconveniences in life and don’t let them become your focus. We think we have problems, but we really need to look around and realize all we have been blessed with and be thankful for that.
Gordon Logan, founder of Sports Clip, and Katschnig talking racing and politics in Washington DC.
Friends are for life... Four years at WIU was worth much more than a degree. Experiences and friendships for life are priceless. Although, it is a good thing we didn’t have cell phones with pictures and movies. It is a whole different world today!
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Allison Organic Research Farm Offers Boundless Academic Opportunities Public perceptions of organic farming sometimes focus on what the practice is not, instead of considering the possibilities of what it can be. Certified organic farming is practiced at Western Illinois University’s Allison Organic Research and Demonstration Farm in southwest Warren County. The facility is an 80-acre pesticide-free farm, which the University began renting from the family of Marion and Pauline Allison in 1989. The land is now owned by the couple’s daughter, Doris Foust, and is home to WIU’s Organic Research Program. The farm operations are managed by Andy Clayton, a 1996 agricultural science graduate, and research activities are directed by WIU School of Agriculture Associate Professor Joel Gruver. Organic grain farmers in the Midwest region are the main target audience for the farm’s research and demonstration activities, but conventional grain farmers interested in topics such as cover crops, soil health and crop diversification also
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benefit from work at the farm. The primary crops grown at the farm are corn, soybeans and small grains, but the farm also produces smaller amounts of more unusual crops, such as purple and gold popcorn, sunflowers and pumpkins. Gruver said there are a variety of experiments going on at the farm comparing crop genetics, nutrient management and weed control practices and cropping system strategies. “Several experiments are comparing corn hybrids and soybean varieties,” he said. “Additional experiments are evaluating methods of organic weed control, including direct control practices [tine weeding vs. rotary hoeing] and cropping system strategies [crop rotation and cover crops], organic nutrient sources and novel options for integrating cover crops with a focus on early interseeding of cover crops into crops, ‘solar corridors’ and beneficial insect habitat plantings.”
Gruver said the research he is most excited about involves “solar corridors.” “We did our first experiment investigating solar corridors last year,” he said. “Solar corridors involve a modification of normal crop row spacing to allow crops to capture more sunlight. A side benefit is that other crops or cover crops can be planted in the solar corridors without negatively—and potentially positively—affecting the main crop. This season, we are investigating the use of solar corridors in three crops: blue corn, popcorn and triticale.”
The Farm’s History With the exception of about 20 acres, the farm has always been pesticide free. The first field was certified organic in 1997, and the entire farm has been certified organic since 2009. Certified organic farming systems are the only farming systems in the United States that are required by federal regulation to undergo a rigorous annual oversight and
certification process that includes both prohibitions and positive farming system requirements (e.g., crop rotation) intended to achieve both agronomic goals and protect health and natural resources. Clayton began working on the farm in 1995 as a student worker. He was hired as a part-time manager in 1996, after he graduated from WIU with an ag science degree. He was moved to a full-time position in 2001. Gruver began directing research activities in 2007 when he joined the faculty at WIU as an assistant professor of Soil Science and Sustainable Agriculture. Gruver has an active outreach program, sharing research results through online forums and also during more than 200 presentations at farmer meetings since 2007.
The Science Behind the Research Research at the farm mainly addresses basic production issues, such as performance of organic crop varieties, weed control, nutrient management, equipment performance and effectiveness of commercial products. “We typically conduct about 10 large-scale replicated experiments each season, as well as planting some demonstration plots,” said Gruver. “Most research plots are planted and harvested using standard farm equipment, with at least three replications so statistical analysis can be performed.”
Clayton said the farm frequently gets feedback from organic and conventional farmers indicating they “appreciate the research we are doing because it’s practical and large scale.” Each August, the WIU Organic Research Program hosts a field day that showcases regional expertise and recent research results and includes plot tours and equipment demonstrations when weather permits. The free event, which typically draws 150-200, people includes a lunch featuring ingredients from local/organic farms.
Award Winning School Spirit The WIU Organic Research Program received a 2013 Salute to Illinois Agriculture Agri-Tourism Leaders of the Year Award for innovative direct marketing of purple and gold popcorn. University officials accepted the award during that year’s Illinois State Fair. The popcorn was an idea developed by Gruver and Clayton while looking for opportunities to increase awareness of the University’s organic program. After some trial and error the first year, 300 pounds of popcorn was harvested, packed and labeled to be sold during the holiday season. The popcorn was packaged into microwavable bags, or “Rocky Popcorn,” after an idea from management graduate Jason Quaglia ‘10, who identified a packager.
The School of Agriculture currently sells the popcorn in halfpound bags ($2) and in bulk ($3 per pound). Popcorn and honey from the research farm are normally available in the School of Agriculture’s main office (Knoblauch 145).
Student Opportunities In addition to the research opportunities available at the farm, the University also hires students to work on the WIU Organic Program. Two students are currently employed at the farm. Students also visit the farm for class field trips and twilight tours in the fall, and Gruver regularly discusses research results and observations in his agriculture classes. “Over the last six or seven years, the WIU Organic Program has hired a lot of agriculture education students to work on the farm” said School of Agriculture Director Andy Baker. According to Gruver, these students gained a practical understanding of the challenges and opportunities associated with organic farming that will help them communicate about organic farming with future high school students. For more information about the WIU Organic Research Program, visit wiu.edu/cbt/agriculture/farms/ organic.
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Pioneering Alumnae Twins Honored by State FFA By Jodi K. Pospeschil MA ‘15 As the Western Illinois University School of Agriculture begins celebrating its 100th anniversary of educating future leaders, it’s natural to look back on the milestones achieved during that timeline. Two of those accomplishments, by twin sisters and WIU alumni Christy (Carter) Trimble ’74 and Cathy (Carter) Musgrave ’74, were celebrated recently by the Illinois FFA. The pair were the first two women in the state to earn their Illinois State FFA Degrees, a designation that was not achievable by women until 1969. The State FFA Degree is the highest degree attainable at the state level. “At the 1969 National FFA Convention in Kansas City, they voted to permit girls as members in the organization, and it passed by only two votes,” said Christy. “I was the first girl in Illinois to receive the State FFA Degree in 1970, and Cathy was the second in 1971. At the time, only 2 percent of the applications for the degree were accepted. You had to be the very best to receive the state degree.”
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Cathy Musgrave & Christy Trimble
The sisters were members of the Carrollton High School FFA chapter. “Our school allowed us to participate in FFA starting as freshmen in 1966. There were no girls in the Carrollton chapter then, but our advisor, Mr. Arthur Eicken, came to our farm the summer before we entered high school and asked if we would like to join his agriculture class and FFA,” said Christy. “It was a natural fit for us because we lived on a farm and were active in 4-H—and we had each other to share the experience.” Christy and Cathy participated in a variety of FFA programs and contests including livestock and soil judging and parliamentary procedure. Both also served as chapter officers. This year, they each received Honorary State FFA Degrees at the 2019 Illinois FFA State Convention, which marked the 50th year of women in FFA. “Being honored at the 2019 FFA Convention was so exciting,” said Cathy. “I feel very proud to be associated with the FFA organization that taught me skills I still use today.” Christy said she was gratified at the state convention to see that 2019
marked the first year that all of the FFA state officers were women. “They were all dynamite,” she said of the women. “It was very special to see where we are 50 years later.” In 1970, the twins began their educations at WIU; both received their teacher education degrees from Western, and both minored in animal science. During their time at WIU, they were active in agriculturerelated activities. Christy served as Princess Soya for the Illinois Soybean Association, and Cathy was runnerup. Christy went on to become the National Princess Soya and was invited to accompany Representative Paul Findley to The White House. “Cathy and I had just finished class on the afternoon of Oct. 17, 1973, when we received a call to go directly to Washington D.C. I met President Nixon in the Oval Office the following morning. Two little farm girls traveling to The White House to meet President Nixon, wow,” she said. “It really was a wonderful experience related to agriculture.” After graduating from WIU, Christy and Cathy began their careers
Cathy Carter (Musgrave), second woman in Illinois to receive the State FFA Degree at the Illinois State FFA Convention in Champaign, IL, June 1971, with her ag teacher and FFA advisor, Arthur Eicken
as teachers. Christy became a licensed funeral director and co-owner of Dulle-Trimble Funeral Home with her family in Jefferson City, MO. Cathy taught elementary school for 36 years and is co-owner of her family’s cattle operation, Musgrave Angus in Griggsville, IL. Multiple generations are now involved and working in both family businesses. Cathy’s husband, Melvin, also attended WIU and majored in agriculture. Melvin earned his State FFA Degree and was a State Beef Proficiency Award winner. The twins’ brother, Dr. Jeff Carter, began his academic career at WIU, also earned his State FFA Degree, and is now a cattle nutritionist and researcher with Elanco Animal Health. The sisters’ affiliation with FFA did not end with their state degrees. Both still actively support the organization and encourage membership by new generations. “Our family supports FFA with donations, fund raisers and
projects,” said Cathy. “I’m proud to have grandsons in FFA today who represent three generations. We also host the WIU Livestock Judging Team to practice judging. Being a WIU graduate, I’m always excited to give them a great learning experience.” Christy said she actively seeks out local FFA chapters and promotes and sponsors their activities through her business. “This program produces leaders,” she said. “My experience took me in a different direction, but FFA gave me a foundation for business and leadership. I am so grateful our teacher, Mr. Eicken, sought us out to start.” WIU School of Agriculture Director Andy Baker said he met Christy and Cathy at the State FFA Convention this year, and learned about their WIU connection. “This was a monumental achievement that provided an opportunity for women across Illinois to pursue agricultural interests and careers,” said Baker. “I was ecstatic
Christy Carter (Trimble), National Princess Soya, representing the American Soybean Association at the White House Oval Office with President Richard Nixon and Illinois Rep. Paul Findley, October 18, 1973
Christy Carter (Trimble), National Princess Soya, representing the American Soybean Association in China on a Trade Trip, sponsored by Elanco (Vitasoy-a soybean based drink), March 1974
when I found out they were both WIU alums and minored in animal science. It was truly an honor to meet with them and to hear their stories and successes. They both carry a lot of Leatherneck pride and humility.” For more information about the WIU School of Agriculture, visit wiu.edu/agriculture.
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A Crop Worth Millions Ag Professor’s Alternative Crop Research Rewarded with Federal, State, University Grants By Darcie Dyer-Shinberger ’89 MS ’98 and Jodi K. Pospeschil MA ‘15 Western Illinois University School of Agriculture Professor Win Phippen has researched alternative crops for 20 years, and has often been the first in his field to set a precedent. Shortly after joining WIU’s agriculture department more than 19 years ago, he created the first domesticated Cuphea crop, as well as domesticated Milkweed crop, with most of his research taking place in WIU’s agriculture labs and fields. Phippen’s position as the director of the Alternative Crops Program at WIU is as unique as the crops he studies. He was hired primarily as a researcher rather than a teacher. While Phippen does teach agriculture classes and works closely with students, his energies are spent on Western’s emerging agriculture research program and his research projects.
$10 Million Crop On Sept. 7, the School of Agriculture announced that Phippen is the recipient of a $10 million federal grant to investigate the use of the alternative crop, Pennycress, as a new cash cover crop in the Midwest. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) grant allows Phippen to further refine Pennycress as a new winter-annual cash cover crop for use by the biofuel industry. The project title is IPREFER, which stands for Integrated Pennycress Research Enabling Farm and Energy Resilience. Researchers from Illinois State University, The Ohio State University, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and the University of Minnesota have joined
Phippen’s team to refine this highyield oilseed crop. Phippen has been growing Pennycress and investigating its uses as a biofuel alternative for 10 years. “Pennycress is unique among cover crops as it can generate income, which incentivizes farmer participation. Integration of Pennycress into existing corn-soybean rotations extends the growing season on established cropland and avoids food crop displacement, all while yielding up to two billion gallons of oil annually,” Phippen explained. The goal is to produce 50 billion gallons of biofuel in the next 25 years. The integrated Pennycress crop program will work toward commercializing the crop within five years, according to Phippen. Research will focus on improving Pennycress genetics (germplasm) for plant breeding and preservation, agronomic management, ecosystems and supply chain management for post-harvest seed control. “The integration of Pennycress as a cash cover crop will positively impact producers’ profits; decrease soil erosion and nutrient runoff, which protects water systems; support pollinating species (bees and other pollinators); suppress weeds; diversify the nation’s energy sources and contribute to rural economies,” Phippen said. “We’re very excited to further refine this powerhouse crop as an alternative for our Midwest farmers. I am most appreciative of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s faith in my research, and I look forward to leading a team of researchers with a solid background in alternative crop research.”
Phippen’s integrated program optimizes off-season Pennycress oilseed production by overcoming production and supply chain bottlenecks, with the goal of commercially launching Pennycress as a cash cover crop in 2021. CoverCress, Inc., of St. Louis, MO, is working closely with Phippen and his team for some of the breeding and post-production side of the research. Trial Pennycress planting in Illinois, Ohio, Wisconsin and Minnesota began in September, with the first harvest anticipated in May 2020. The alternative crop is planted immediately following a corn harvest. After harvest, Pennycress storage will be tested, along with the quantity and quality of oil extracted, as well as the shelf life of Pennycress oil. The oil and meal will be further studied to determine uses for fuel, feed and food applications. “This grant is a phenomenal coup for Dr. Phippen and the School of Agriculture. We were lucky to hire Win 19 years ago to lead an alternative crops program, which at the time was still relatively new,” said School of Agriculture Director Andy Baker. “His work and dedication to alternative crops is most deserving of this grant. Not only does this grant and research put our School and his program further on the map, it provides learning opportunities for our students that they will not find anywhere else.” U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Under Secretary Scott Hutchins said the $77.8 million in NIFA research grants, which have been awarded to eight U.S. universities, are aimed at integrating sustainable
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agricultural approaches covering the entire food production system. “Investing in high-value research that promotes sustainably intensified agricultural practices, while addressing climate adaptation and limited resources, ensures long-term agricultural productivity and profitability and provides unprecedented opportunities for American farmers and producers,” said Hutchins, who leads USDA’s Research, Education and Economics (REE) mission area. “USDA continues to support our nation’s farmers through investments that help strengthen our rural communities.” This research investment is part of a new program within NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative’s (AFRI) Sustainable Agricultural Systems program, the nation’s leading and largest competitive grants program for agricultural sciences. Other researchers on Phippen’s team include John Sedbrook, Bill Perry, Rebekka Darner ’00, William Hunter, Nicholas Heller and Rob Rhykerd (Illinois State University); Jim Anderson, Ratan Chopra, Katherine Frels, M. David Marks and M. Scott Wells (University of Minnesota); Alexander Lindsey (The Ohio State University); Pamela Tas (University of Wisconsin-Platteville); and Cristine Handel, CoverCress, Inc. Project advisory board members include Steve Csonka, executive director, CAAFI, Greg Haer, VP Sales and Marketing, Renewable Energy Group, Jerry Steiner, CEO, CoverCress, Inc. Anne Kinzel of IPREFER is the project manager.
“Ditch Weed” This past summer, Phippen logged numerous miles as he started to harvest and study wild hemp plants from each of Illinois’ 102 counties. Phippen has undertaken a yearlong research project to evaluate the hemp strains for THC levels. The project is funded by the University Research Council, through the WIU Office of Sponsored Projects.
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After being issued the only permit from the Illinois Department of Agriculture to harvest wild hemp, sometimes called “ditch weed,” for research, Phippen took cuttings from three-five plants in each county. Because Phippen holds the permit, he is the only person allowed to do the harvesting. “This project addresses concerns of high THC hemp being grown in the wild,” he said. “Our goal was to get plants from at least 25-30 counties.” In an effort to increase the number of cuttings he and his students are able to study, Phippen called on WIU alumni to help, seeking anyone who found wild hemp growing in their county to notify him. To date, Phippen has collected 27 samples from 13 Illinois counties, which have been brought back to the new School of Agriculture greenhouses to be planted so he can evaluate each plant’s THC level, as well as other characteristics. “We’ll eventually collect the seed, then make the ‘clean’ seed available to producers looking for seed from ideal Illinois growing conditions,” he said. The wild industrial hemp is grown for the CBD oil in its leaves and flowers. CBD oil is not an illicit drug and is available in the mainstream market. Industrial hemp was legalized in August 2018, and since permits for growing became available May 1, 421 applications, representing 15,563 acres of Illinois farmland have been approved. Those who referred Phippen to wild low THC plants will have the honor of naming the seed variety. Thus far, such names as Stephanelli, Llama Rama and Happy Hollow have been created. “We really want to introduce farmers to alternative crops and the potential these crops have,” Phippen added. “The outcome, unfortunately, doesn’t happen overnight or in a few days, but I’m confident we will create crops that will help the Illinois growers and the Midwest.”
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federal grant boosts Tomato By Jodi K. Pospeschil MA ‘15 research at wiu While a single heirloom tomato can be the bright spot of any sandwich, its effects are being multiplied by researchers at Western Illinois University who are digging into its cancer prevention qualities—a project that has been boosted by a newlyawarded federal grant. In 2018, a cross-departmental collaboration between the WIU School of Agriculture and the Department of Chemistry began looking at the possibilities contained in tomatoes by studying seven heirloom varieties. The tomatoes are grown in the University’s new School of Agriculture greenhouse facilities, located on the edge of campus, and are evaluated by students and faculty in the laboratories of Currens Hall. Last year, the project’s faculty leaders, WIU Assistant Professor of Chemistry Mette Soendergaard and Assistant Professor of Agriculture Shelby Henning, were awarded a $32,000 United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) grant to expand their research. The award will allow Soendergaard and her students to expand their laboratory study to include more tomatoes and rootstocks, and will allow Henning to buy enhanced equipment to grow the tomatoes, including pumps, fertilizer, trellising materials, the water/fertilizer solution, analysis meters and growing media. The tomatoes are produced hydroponically, meaning they are grown in volcanic rock, instead of soil. Furthermore, the high-tech system Henning is using is automated with timers and pumps mechanically watering and fertilizing the plants as many as 20 times a day. The system is high yielding, and production of more than 20 pounds of fruit per plant is common. The grant will fund the study of how the process of grafting
influences tomato production and quality. “A further part of this study is to assess antioxidants in tomatoes with the hope of studying particular compounds in tomato fruits for anticancer properties,” said Henning. “We will have a lot of plants growing this summer, and have already submitted a proposal to the Illinois Department of Agriculture to continue our research into 2020 and beyond.” The project had initially been led by chemistry graduate student Jamie Greathouse MS ‘19, of Macomb. Greathouse graduated from WIU in May and is now in medical school, so the new research study leader is Tyler Parr ‘19, a chemistry graduate student from Galesburg, IL. Greathouse wrote about the tomato research for her master’s thesis. “The aim of our tomato project in the Soendergaard lab is to determine whether or not antioxidant content can be altered in heirloom tomatoes through a combination of grafting and hydroponic growth methods,” said Parr. “Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are biologically active species that play a major role in oxidative stress, which is a major issue in many disease states. Antioxidants are part of the natural oxidative cycle, allowing them to mitigate the damaging effects of ROS. The major focus of our continued research is to utilize High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), to make quantitative determinations about the antioxidant content in the grafted tomato extracts.” Soendergaard said the goal of the research in her laboratory is to determine if grafting heirloom tomatoes onto disease-resistant rootstocks will have an impact on the antioxidant capacity of the resulting fruit. Research goals include looking further into whether
heirloom tomatoes have different disease prevention qualities than more commonly encountered, commercially grown varieties. “We want to provide farmers with the knowledge to choose the most suitable heirloom tomato and rootstock combination, so that they may increase yield and also market their tomatoes as having high antioxidant content,” she said. The cross-departmental partnership between Soendergaard and Henning developed when they were paired in a new faculty mentoring program through the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Research (CITR) at Western. When the two began talking about their research interests, they both learned they had conducted previous work with vegetables. Those discussions then transitioned into the idea to study the antioxidants heirloom tomatoes contain and whether they can help prevent cancer. In the project’s initial stages, Henning grew seven heirloom varieties, and once they were harvested they were turned over to Soendergaard’s laboratory. The tomatoes were cut into slices, freeze dried and ground into a powder. The powder is then extracted with various solvents prior to being analyzed. The focus of the research is to look at whether heirloom tomatoes can be grown efficiently and what the health benefits are from the resulting tomatoes. The hope is that the research project will last several years and include students during each step of the process. For more information on WIU’s College of Arts and Sciences programming, visit wiu.edu/cas, and for more information on WIU’s School of Agriculture, visit wiu.edu/ag.
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Student Spotlight Brandon Livingston
Junior Agriculture Major If I have learned one thing in college, outside of my academic classes, it is that one person can be the difference between academic success and being unhappy in college. At Western Illinois University, specifically in the School of Agriculture, you will find people who make a difference for their students day in and day out. If one person can make a big difference, imagine going to a university where the faculty and staff around you all can make the difference. My education and experience at WIU have been a testament to the quality of the professors, instructors and staff who have not just led me toward the path to success but elevated me to help me believe I can have as much success as I dream in my future. I am the son of Shad and Michelle Livingston, and I am the first to attend a four-year university in my family. When getting ready to go
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into higher education for the first year, I have to admit to being more than nervous. My first day, week and even semester on campus were full of trepidation—probably like almost every student on campus. However, there are people who have made my journey the best it possibly could have been so far within the School of Agriculture.
Most people who know Jana Knupp ’02 MBA ’04, know her as a kick-butt, hardworking and dedicated mom to not just her three biological boys, but practically any student in the agriculture program. Knupp, a mother figure to me on campus, has invited my recruitment team over to her home for tacos, ice cream and to make sure we were doing well physically, socially and, most importantly, emotionally. Also, we love tacos, so she really understands the “kids” she is raising in college. Dedication to students has been her greatest strength as my mentor and something I hope to bring into my future classroom as an agriculture education teacher. She has inspired me to be the best I can be for myself, as well as all my future students. I also have great respect for another faculty member within the School of Agriculture, Dr. Mark
Ag Vocator student recruitment group before an Ag Open House, where visitors get the opportunity to tour the University farm, have lunch with the School of Agriculture faculty and staff and meet with students who are in Ag clubs and organizations
rigorous and challenging, and I have experienced my fair share of failures. However, those words have shaped my next steps after those failures— setting me on my path toward success. My time at WIU has been the most life-altering, rewarding and challenging experience in my life to date, but I would not change a single second of it. In life, most people might only get one person who will help your life get set on the right path; however, for the students considering WIU for their future, know that this institution is full of those people. Imagine having a family full of those people in your corner. That is what Western Illinois University has done for me.
Hoge. Although I have yet to fit into my schedule a Hoge animal science class, I have had the opportunity to admire and listen to him speak at several events. Nothing is more clear to me than the love he has for this University and the agriculture family on campus. I once heard him say something that really stayed with me and has influenced my mindset in college, work and life. He said in an interview, “We learn so much more from defeat than we do victory, so we re-evaluate everything we do because the next time we get that opportunity, we need to be flawless.” My journey through academia and experiences at Western have been
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Fall 2019 | Western Magazine
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Agronomy in Africa
By Jodi K. Pospeschil MA ‘15
An ongoing project to infuse updated agricultural methods to farmers in Zambia, Africa has taken a Western Illinois University alumnus to the country two times to offer his expertise. Todd Steinacher ‘06, an agriculture alumnus, is a regional agronomist for the AgriGold Seed Company in west central Illinois. One of the company’s customers, who was leading an African trip, invited him to be a part of the project. “In the past, he had been a part of these types of projects across the Middle East,” said Steinacher. After first traveling to Africa in November 2018 to train a small group of farmers on modern farming and planting methods, Steinacher returned to the country in March to evaluate the crops planted with the U.S. group’s recommendations. “All of our farmers were instructed to plant half their farm our way, at no financial risk, and the other half their typical way,” he said. “Our goal was to help them understand good agronomy, with no risk. In the past, other organizations would just give farmers free seed and other supplies, but would never teach them proper methods. Therefore, once the donated resources were gone, the recipients were back where they started. Our foundational goal was to educate our farmers on new concepts, provide a risk-free trial, and once we were gone, hopefully we advanced not only our direct farmers, but the regional area.” The U.S. group also hosted two field days for the farmers and their friends and neighbors to pass along agricultural methodology.
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“At each field day, we trained one of our farmers on how to present the information about what we did, and why, so when we are gone, our farmers would be elevated as community leaders and can help spread the knowledge they received during this program,” said Steinacher. “In total, we had roughly 120 farmers attend, with most of them having to travel 10-15 plus miles on foot to be there. I spent most of the time training the groups on corn and soybean agronomy and why we recommended what we did.” Steinacher said none of the farmers had ever seen corn roots, which are important for water and nutrient uptake. He used a pic-ax to break through the country’s hard soil to be able to show the roots and explain how they help the corn plant, especially during the massive drought of the 2019 growing season. “Since they have never looked below the ground, they were blown away by the root development that the plants in our plot had compared to the traditional,” he said. “Most farmers had ‘old school’ cell phones, which use prepaid minutes and a solar panel to charge them, which allowed me to demonstrate photosynthesis and why it’s important to have strong roots, no weed compaction and good nutrient supply.” During the demonstration, Steinacher showed a solar panel connected by a cord, which was plugged into a cell phone. The farmers understood that the panel required sunlight to give the phone energy. “I then placed dark green corn leaves over the solar panel and plugged the cord into the bottom
of a big corn ear,” he said. “This helped them to understand that the leaves were very important to pull in sunlight and provide energy to the corn ear. Once I made this analogy, they fully understood our methods to growing good corn.” Steinacher has not yet received the results of the harvest of the comparative plots, which was conducted in May and June. The region had a drought this year, which deeply impacted the region, and the African farmers were excited to see how the corn plots, planted with the U.S. recommendations, performed in the field. “The farmers we were working with are not involved in commercial farming, or even small scale farming as you would think of in the United States,” Steinacher said. “These farmers are members of a village who are given long term usage of land from the territory chief. These farms use all of their corn to feed their families, with very little sold on the open market are traded regionally.” Steinacher said he and his team also made a key connection with an international grain buyer to purchase any extra corn or bean products that their farmers produce. Between increased production from new methods, along with greater marketing connections, these were two great steps to help lift the region out of the poverty cycle. The group took soil samples from each field to determine pH levels and those of other nutrients. This information would provide insight to the foundation that the crop would need to be managed. The U.S. advisers told the African farmers
Partnered Zambian farmers planted their 2019 corn crop with a new planter and new methods.
William and Steinacher co-host agronomy education for local Zambian farmers. The two discussed seed germination, the importance of root development and nutrient management.
they should hand spread fertilizer in a circle around the seeds so the roots could grow deeper and take in more nutrients. The visiting agronomists took one acre of land for each farmer and lined up all of the seed, fertilizer and herbicide. Steinacher said they also found someone to hire to custom till the plot for each grower. “We also purchased new planters for all of the growers, and we purchased one family an ox to plant and for tillage,” he said. The trip was founded by the Illinois Rotary Association, in conjunction with Rotary International and the Rotary Club in Zambia, Africa. In Africa, the traveling team was supported by Africa Vision of Hope, which is based in Edwardsville, IL, and supports schools and orphanages in the African region. The group provided transportation and translators. Steinacher has worked for Agrigold since 2015. Prior to that time, he worked at GROWMARK/FS for about 10 years, doing agronomy sales and consulting. He said he believes his WIU education gave him a strong foundation to build on. “While at WIU, I took an international ag class that helped me open my mind to other countries and cultures,” he said. “At WIU, I was also a member of Alpha Gamma Rho (AGR), and it was this organization that helped me learn the value of professional networking. It was this network that aligned me with the customer who invited me to take this trip with him and his team.” For more information about the School of Agriculture at WIU, visit wiu.edu/agriculture.
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LEATHERNECK
Athletics Courtesy of Monyae Williamson, Assistant Athletic Director for Athletic Communications
The NFL Hopeful Rookie Khalen Saunders ’18 moved from NFL hopeful to NFL rookie, becoming Western’s first draftee in the last 10 seasons and the 35th in program history
“I just want people to see that you can overcome pretty much whatever you hope to. One thing I’m always going to preach is opportunity. My life is a picture of opportunities that were taken advantage of.” - Saunders Seventy-six thousand, four hundred and sixteen screaming fans packed Arrowhead Stadium Aug. 10, 2019, and it gave Khalen Saunders chills. Lately, life has been a whirlwind for the 23-year old. Marriage, fatherhood, college graduation and the NFL Draft all occurred in the past year alone. And on that Saturday, Saunders waited patiently on the sidelines, donning a red and gold No. 99 jersey tucked crisply into white pants, just moments away from making his National Football League (NFL) debut with the Kansas City Chiefs. “As far as the atmosphere and stuff like that, it was crazy. I’ve never played anything like that,” Saunders recalled. “I was nervous, but not because I didn’t think I was going to perform. I was nervous because of how many people were there. I know the game plan, plays and stuff like that, so I knew all my stuff; it was just like ‘Wow, this many people.’ It’s just a different kind of energy.” The rookie saw playing time as Kansas City defeated Cincinnati 3817 in the preseason opener, which also
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marked his first win as a professional football player.
The Only One Imagine that 6-foot, 324-pound frame was offered just one Division I football scholarship. What others couldn’t see, Western Illinois University welcomed with open arms. “Everybody at Western ... they believed in me. That, along with being the only offer, made me want to play a little bit harder,” he said. Saunders is a naturally-gifted athlete who goes beyond the expectations of his large stature. Ask him to hoop, and he’ll display supreme ball-handling abilities with a shot to go along with it. In track and field, he was an accomplished thrower in the shot put and discus events, and just before the NFL Combine, he shocked the world with another surprise talent—double backflips.
“In the summer, the coaches like to play basketball at lunch when we can,” defensive line coach John Haneline said. “One day, [Khalen] was out there, and we needed a guy, so he jumped in on the defensive staff ’s team. I knew he was athletic but never saw him play basketball. The first three times we had the ball, he was playing point guard. He was crossing guys up with his dribble and making crazy layups and hitting 3-pointers. We easily won the game. He looked like Kyrie Irving on the court, and it blew me away and showed me why his jab counter pass rush was his best move.” Despite the successes all around him, the gridiron was always home. Football was Saunders’ first love and a relationship that began at the age of 8, when his father Kenton first introduced him to the game.
“I just want It didn’t take long for opposing teams to include Saunders in their game plan. The defensive lineman was often double-teamed but finished his Leatherneck career as an Associated Press, Phil Steele and STAT FCS All-American with 204 tackles, 18 sacks, and four forced fumbles. The sack tally ranks sixth alltime in WIU history. Saunders also moonlighted with the offense from time to time to record a pair of touchdowns. It took Youngstown State by surprise last season when he lined up as a receiver in the third quarter of a 23-10 ballgame and his first career reception resulted in a score. “Khalen is one of the most special young men I have ever been around, and that goes far beyond football,” said WIU Head Football Coach Jared Elliott. “He has an elite skill set and ability to play the game, but he is so much more than just a talented football player. People naturally gravitate to him; his personality is infectious and he can instantly light up a room with his charisma.” Saunders stockpiled several memories at Hanson Field from 201418, including his engagement to nowwife Ayanna and the couple’s gender reveal party. They met on campus— he credits Facebook’s “suggested friends” list with the introduction— but didn’t officially interact until a chance meeting on a bus. “We met in person when she was getting off the bus, and I was getting on to go to class. We hadn’t talked [on Facebook] for a few months, but I saw her and messaged her ‘I saw you today.’ She didn’t believe me until I told her what she had on,” Saunders laughed.
The message led to two and a half years of courtship, marriage, and their daughter, Kambridge.
people to see that you can overcome pretty much whatever you hope to.”
The Phone Call “You ever been to a concert and then get in the car and it’s like a constant ringing? That’s how it was. My head was kind of ringing, and I had goosebumps.” On Friday, April 26, 2019, Saunders moved from NFL hopeful to NFL rookie when he was selected the 84th overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft. “Honestly when I got that phone call, I was thinking about a lot of stuff,” Saunders recalled. “I was looking at the TV trying to figure out who it was, but then it was hard because sometimes they will call two or three picks in advance. When my phone rang, I told everybody to be quiet, and when they did, I got chills. “I was just happy. I couldn’t really do anything because I was holding my baby and trying to answer questions while trying to keep my composure. When they announced it on TV, that’s when I lost it. It was real at that point.” Instead of attending the formal event in Nashville, Saunders decided to watch the draft at home in St. Louis. He remembers chatting with the Chiefs’ general manager Brett Veach, head coach Andy Reid, and defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. And he’ll never forget the overall vibe of the room. “Obviously, my mom [Kim], brother [Kameron], and wife all hugged me because they are so emotional, but my dad was just laughing and smiling all big,” he said.
GOLEATHERNECKS.COM
“That’s how you can tell my dad is proud. I look a lot like my dad, so when I smile big, we just look like each other. There is actually a picture of me and him on draft night standing next to each other smiling and we look identical.” Saunders has several reasons to smile these days. He signed a fouryear contract with the Chiefs in June, and has won over the fan base with his charismatic personality and incredible athleticism. He made his regular-season debut for the Chiefs Sunday (Oct. 6), where he recorded a solo tackle, and earned his first career start the following week against the Texans.
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Fall 2019 | Western Magazine
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From the Fields of WIU to Sustainable Farm-to-Table Operation By Jodi K. Pospeschil MA ‘15
Armed with a world-class, wellrounded education from Western Illinois University, an alumnus is using the lessons taught in and out of the classroom in the School of Agriculture to run a sustainable farm and business in southern Illinois. David Ernst ‘05 took over Ernst Family Farms in 2006 after the death of his father. David’s grandfather started the New Douglas, IL, farm in 1945, and what began as a dairy farm has been transformed into a farm-totable business that uses conservation and organic practices to provide grassand grain-fed beef and pork products directly to local consumers. David said he began his WIU education with an eye on becoming an agronomist. After losing his mother shortly before he arrived at WIU, and his father shortly after he graduated from the University, David felt pulled back to the family farm to put what he learned at Western into practice. During his time at the University, David took advantage of the boundless opportunities the School of Agriculture offered him, including studying abroad in Russia and China, completing an internship on a Montana ranch and working at the University Farm, as well as additional academic-related offerings, including belonging to the Collegiate FFA chapter, the Hoof and Horn Club and the Ag Business Club. “It was the networking opportunities that were most
influential for me,” said David. “I didn’t go to school to come back to the farm, but the contacts I made at WIU were invaluable. I was constantly doing something ag-related while I was in school.” Outside the classrooms of the WIU campus, David worked part time for McDonough County cattle farmer Larry O’Hern ‘82. After graduation, David began working full time on the O’Hern’s Vermont, IL, farm. “I wanted to learn all there is to know,” said David. “From the time my father passed away until the time I took over our farm, it was a crash course in running a cattle farm.” It was also during that winter David met his wife, Whitney ‘08, who was studying communication sciences and disorders at Western. The couple married in 2009 and have two daughters, Aynslie, 7, and August, 4. With an academic and business background in cattle operations, David decided to start “backgrounding” calves, meaning buying weaned calves and growing them to 500-700 pounds, before reselling them. “It was a way to start a cash flow,” he said. “I started with about a dozen, and now we have about 200. We also now raise hogs.” After selling some of the finished products to friends and neighbors, the family expanded its farm in 2016 to include selling products from the processed animals, ranging from
steak and hamburger to sausage and bacon. Ernst Family Farms added a storefront to the farm with a walkin freezer, and became a staple at farmers’ markets in Edwardsville, IL, and Maryville, IL, to see if they could turn a profit selling the processed meat directly to customers. The products raised on Ernst Family Farms have developed quite a following because of the practices David uses to raise the animals and care for his land. “It was something different and it was another revenue stream,” he said. “I grew all of these animals and then sold them, and I didn’t know what happened to them; the supply chain ended there, and I didn’t get to see the end product. This has been more satisfying to raise these cows, see the end product and talk with people about my story.” With David’s interest in agronomy, he was driven to pursue the regenerative side of agriculture, focusing on the biology and soil health of farming. He not only feeds the animals on hay, corn, beans and grass he grows on his farm, he also plants a wide variety of cover crops. “I utilize as much of my land as possible 12 months out of the year,” he said. “I plant cover crops, like rye or wheat, and we’ve been adding more and more diverse cover crops.” Other cover crops David has rotated in include grass varieties, millet, radishes, buckwheat and
sunflowers. He credits WIU Professor Emeritus Ken Nimrick, who passed away in 2016, for teaching him the forage practices he uses on his farm. “I use rotational grazing; even the cows that are grain finished forage at some point,” he said. “Ken Nimrick was a pioneer in his time in grazing management.” The beef and pork products are processed at state and federally approved sites within 30 minutes of the family’s farm. A new product added to the business in 2018 is beefalo, a crossbred animal that is three-eighths buffalo bred with cows. “When we decided to try it, the closest animal we could find was in Louisville, KY,” David said. “Now we have one of the largest beefalo operations in Illinois with a dozen animals. Anything that comes from a beef cow can come from a beefalo, and it is higher in protein and lower in cholesterol.”
One of the benefits of taking his beef and pork directly to the consumer, David said, is that buyers know where the products come from. He has also partnered with the Illinois Beef Association (IBA) to provide educational materials to customers and hopes to be able to provide a shipping option for his products in the near future. “Teaching the good things about beef is one of the best things I can do,” he said. Coming from the production side of agriculture, David said he needed to learn more about the business side to benefit the sales portion of his operation. He joined an Edwardsville business networking group that meets weekly, which he said has also been valuable. “It’s made up of like-minded businessmen and it has done a lot for me,” he said. “I had no idea about being a retail salesperson.”
David credits WIU for the background he draws from for his daily operation. He still stays in touch with many people he met during his educational experiences. For more information about Ernst Family Farms, visit facebook.com/ ernstfamilyfarms.
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Fall 2019 | Western Magazine
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STRAIGHT FROM A
STuden
Leigh Hembrough, Senior Agriculture Major I transferred to Western Illinois University a little over two years ago. One of the reasons I came to WIU was because it’s my dad’s alma mater. The other reasons that convinced me were because WIU was closer to home and I attended the Ag Open House. The School of Agriculture gives me the “home away from home” feeling. I have witnessed this multiple times here at WIU, especially in the Agriculture department. My love for Western grows as I continue to
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become more involved in extracurricular activities and with the department. I’m involved with Sigma Alpha, a professional agricultural sorority, AgVocators, Ag Mech Club and others. Several of the clubs that I have been a part of have been supervised by Jana Knupp ’02 MBA ’04, an instructor of Ag Communications. Jana is the glue that holds the Ag department together. She holds many titles, including mom, instructor,
but most importantly to me, mentor. I went to her office in the middle of my first semester because I was struggling. I was struggling with classes, adapting to Western and entering a new social life at school. Jana listened to me, and she worked with me. She saw a lot of potential that I had no idea was brewing. From that afternoon, I have walked a little taller and have grown into a young woman that continues to aspire to be a part of the growing agriculture industry. Luckily, I get to continue to work with Jana with several events and organizations, including assisting
I am a firm believer that we all have to fail at least once in our lives. the judges at the first ever Food. Family. Farming. Barbecue Contest, coming up with new and improved interactive activities for Sigma Alpha and making a promotional video advertising the School of Agriculture. But my favorite has been spending several months preparing for the 49th annual Ag Mech Farm Expo. Working with Jana has made me realize how much I admire her. Even though she runs circles around me, she continues to inspire me, and
I strive to become at least half the woman Jana is. So what have I learned while being here at Western Illinois University? Several things. Use your resources. I know you hear that a lot. But seriously, talk with your professors. They want to see you succeed. They will guide you and help you choose a career path, write reference letters, and sometimes even become one of your greatest friends. Take a leap of faith. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and try something new. For me, it was taking charge of the Ag Mech show. I proudly can say I enjoy event planning. It’s okay to fail. I am a firm believer that we all have to fail at least once in our lives. This is how we learn; this is how we grow; and this is how we start to see the potential within ourselves. I’ve said it before and I will say it again,
Karissa Grave, Interim President Martin Abraham and Leigh Hembrough
the School of Agriculture is here to see you succeed. The School of Agriculture is here for all your victories and defeats. The School of Agriculture truly is a home away from home.
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Janna Knupp and Leigh Hembrough
Fall 2019 | Western Magazine
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Calendar
Meet Interim President Martin Abraham at these upcoming Alumni & Friends Events DECEMBER
FEBRUARY
4 Chicago (IL) Western Wednesdays
16 Peoria (IL) Brunch and a Show
Join WIU at International Sandwich Shop’s Chicago location for our December Western Wednesday.
JANUARY 27 – 31 Florida
FEBRUARY 3 – 6 Florida and Alabama Florida and Alabama Alumni & Friends Socials Come along on our Florida and Alabama Tour ... with several stops along the way! Exact dates and cities may be found at wiu.edu/alumni/events.
Meet us for brunch and Waitress, a broadway musical baked from the heart with music by Sara Bareilles!
19 Tucson (AZ) Alumni & Friends Social 20 Phoenix (AZ) Alumni & Friends Social
MARCH 17 Davenport (IA) Dinner and a show Enjoy dinner and another chance to see Waitress, inspired by the beloved film.
Be sure to watch our calendar at wiu.edu/alumni/events for many more Alumni & Friends events to be scheduled for the coming months!
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Connections
WIU.EDU/ALUMNI/EVENTS
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1 Macomb Winners of the 2019 Homecoming Old Stompin’ Ground 5k 2 Macomb Homecoming 2019 Grand Marshal and Athletics Hall of Fame Inductee Robert Nardelli ’71
@wiuAlumni
3 Austin, TX Great turnout of Alumni & Friends in Austin this year 4 Macomb Celebrating Purple & Gold Day 2019 5 Boston Alumni & Friends enjoying the visit from their alma mater
@WIUAlumniAssociation
6 Chicago Hundreds of Alumni & Friends celebrated Western ties in Chicago this Summer 7 Ft. Collins, CO More than 260 Alumni & Friends joined us for our pregame social before WIU vs. Colorado State
facebook.com/WIUAlumni Fall 2019 | Western Magazine
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Class Notes Jerry Forbes ’63, Port Tobacco, MD, was presented with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award by Marquis Who’s Who. Jeff Blackwell ’69 MSED ’80, Coal Valley, is a volunteer coordinator at Heartland Hospice in Davenport, IA. Joe Orchowski ’71, Plano, TX, is retired from 3M Company. Stuart Wilson ’71, Findlay, was inducted into the Livestock Marketeers Hall of Fame. Michael Bennett ’72, LaValle, WI, is semiretired from the ESL textbook industry and is also consulting part-time at Michael G. Bennett Consulting, Inc. Charlotte Jones Bixby ’72, Elgin, is a reading specialist at Elgin School Dist. Richard Brown ’72, Trabuco Canyon, CA, is retired. Michael Spoden ’72 ’78, Rockford, is retired. Marcia Stephenson Peterson ’73, Tiffin, IA, is a retired 3rd grade teacher from WACO School Dist. in Wayland. Michael Drews ’74, Aurora, was named the 2019 IL Realtor of the Year by the IL REALTORS. Dennis Hetzel ’74, Columbus, OH, was honored by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine with an official proclamation recognizing his decades of work on open government for the newspaper industry. And also received the Ohio Coalition for Open Government annual “Champion of Open Government” award. Neal McKenna ’74 MS ’78, Chana, was the recipient of the 2019 Northern IL University Dept. of Curriculum & Instruction Outstanding Alumni Award.
Patricia Donaldson Schlamadinger ’74, Columbus, IN, is an educator at Caterpillar Tractor and a college instructor and AP teacher at IVY TECH. Linda Bieschke Bensing ’75, Park Ridge, has retired after a 40 year career as a child life specialist at Advocate Children’s Hospital. Lyndell Robinson ’75, Rochester, is retired after teaching 18 years for Rochester High School and for 20 years at Lincoln Land Community College. Rodolfo Vicetti Valverde ’75 MS ’77, Lima, is an independent environmental consultant. Bruce Babendir ’76, Flagstaff, AZ, is retired. Robert Ellis ’76 MS ’94, Andalusia, is retired from Parr Instrument Co. as a CAD designer. Patricia Tiffany Radtke ’76, Plano, is a retired special education teacher from Waubonsie Valley High School in Aurora. David Campbell MS ’77, La Crosse, WI, is the regional project manager at Gundersen Health System. Jan Immel Daniels ’77, Crystal Lake, is retired from the IL Dept. of Public Health after 39 years. Bruce DeVoe ’77, Byron, works at Perks Ranch in the horse division. Joan Bonk Larsen ’77, Geneva, is a retired Superintendent of Finance & IT. Douglas Smith ’77, Westfield, IN, was inducted into the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Hall of Fame. Charles Staples ’77 MA ’79, Spotsylvania, VA, is retired as the president of Assessment Technologies, Inc. David Foulkes ’78, Munster, IN, has retired from the Town of Munster as a police officer.
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David Godfrey ’78, Tucson, AZ, is the VP of human resources at Wholesum Harvest. Gayle Schramm Lemler ’78, Los Lunas, NM, is retired. William Pfalzgraf ’78, LaSalle, is retired as the director of court services for the 13th Judicial Circuit. Bill Sander ’78, Peotone, is a retired Master Sergeant with the Richton Park Police Dept. and now is the golf coach at Peotone High School. Melissa Martin Hammond ’79, Falling Waters, WV, is retired. Jean Kilpatrick Ruebner ’79 MS-ED ’98, Galesburg, is retired from Galesburg CUSD # 205. Todd Brown ’81, Arlington, VA, was named Director of the Diplomatic Security Service. Mark Karaffa ’81, St Paul, MN, received his CISSP and is the Chief Information Security Officer for The John Roberts Co. in Minneapolis. Lori Hooper Sternisha ’81, New Lenox, is retired from HAVI after 17 ½ years in supply chain management. Scott Christensen ’82, New Richmond, WI, is a sr. consultant at Powerhouse Consulting. Nancy Cross ’82, Marshalltown, IA, is the new elementary art teacher at Franklin & Rogers Elementary Schools in the Marshalltown Community School Dist. Lynne Bryant ’83, Austin, TX, is an asst. professor of practice at the University of Texas at Austin. Brett Coomber ’83 MA ’87, McFarland, WI, is the budget and policy director for the State of WI Dept. of Veterans Affairs in Madison. Jim Steeb ’83, Gold River, CA, is the president for smc2.
Greg Cermak MS ’84, Portland, OR, is a NASA solar system ambassador and a science writer/speaker teaching Big History and Sustainable Development. Patricia Woods ’84, Petersburg, is a teacher at PORTA High School. Jeanne Allert ’85, Baltimore, MD, is the founder and executive director of The Samaritan Women and was named in Maryland’s Top 100 Women of 2019. David Blais ’85, Chesterton, IN, is retired. Karen Gray Atkinson ’86, High Point, NC, is retired. David Johnson ’86, Peoria, is a CTCU chartered property casualty underwriter. Tina Villianatos Kahler ’86, Wilmington, NC, is VP of recruiting at Hawthorne Executive Search. William Marks ’86, Warsaw, MO, President of WLM Grocers LLC, and is the owner of the Cole Camp Fresh Market in Cole Camp. Rita Henry Marks ’87, Warsaw, MO, is the owner of the Cole Camp Fresh Market in Cole Camp. Kevin Peters ’87, San Pedro, CA, is VP of sales for government technology partners, LLC at KAPSIS Investments, Inc. Laurie Black MS ’88, Macomb, is retired from the Office of the Registrar at Western Illinois University after 32 years of service. Rich Lynn ’88, Bettendorf, IA, is the VP and comptroller at John Deere. Paul Schwartzkopf ’88, Milan, is a network administrator II at J & J Snack Food Corp/Hill and Valley in Rock Island. Jim Darlington ’89, Lacon, is a senior IT analyst at Caterpillar Inc. Michael Evans ’89, Burke, VA, is a Colonel in the US Army DoD Explosives Safety Board in Alexandria.
S ee the world with your WIU Alumni Association ! SAVE THE DATE for these 2019 trips!
SAVE THE DATE for these 2020 trips! Iceland Cruise
Summer Vistas of Alaska
Nov. 27-Dec. 5, 2019
Riches of the Emerald Isle
Italy-Verona
Legends & Legacies Rome to Athens
Grand Danube Passage
Holiday Markets Cruise
May 8-20, 2020
June 22-July 6, 2020 June 24-July 5, 2020
July 23-30, 2020
Aug. 28-Sept. 5, 2020
Hudson River Fall Foliage Cruise Oct. 3-10, 2020
Legends of the Nile Oct. 27-Nov. 7, 2020
July 7-21, 2020
We offer protection for all types of travel. Whether you decide to travel with WIU or even for trips you take on your own, the WIU Alumni Association offers protection for all types of trips. Feel free to check out our Travel Insurance Program. Visit wiu.edu/alumni/travel.php for more information, or call (800) 937-1387. Please note that all trip dates are subject to change.
Chris Kiser MS ’89, Ft Collins, CO, is the executive director for Barton Foundation in S. Lake Tahoe, CA. Thomas Lehman ’89 MA ’95, Augusta, GA, is an asst. professor of education and sociology at Georgia Military College – Augusta campus. Jade Henderson Maddy ’89, New London, IA, is the logistics coordinator for Ruan Transportation. Jeffrey Burrows ’91, Austin, TX, is the director of corporate accounts at Ferring Pharmaceuticals in Parsippany, NJ. Angela Brandon Ward ’91 MS ’93, Brandon, MS, is the VP at Trustmark in Jackson. Alissa Roessler ’93, Machesney Park, is a kindergarten teacher at Rockford Public Schools. Robert Baker ’94, Round Lake, is a 204B for the USPS. Tracy Fox Gaskin ’94, La Crescent, MN, is a sr. major gift officer for the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse.
Kirk Gravelle ’94, Macclenny, FL, is the First VP at Morgan Stanley in Jacksonville. Erica Behnke ’95, Vancouver, WA, is an email marketing specialist at HP. Christopher Garcia ’95, Des Plaines, is the sr. front end web developer Northwestern University. David Ioerger ’95, Metamora, is an educational specialist at the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Brenda Scholer Papierniak ’95, Lake Zurich, completed her PhD in clinical psychology at IL School of Professional Psychology and is a perinatal therapist at AMITA Health – St. Alexius Medical Center. Ross Bjork MS ’96, Oxford, MS, is the athletic director at Texas A & M in College Station, TX. Benjamin Boeke ’96, Oskaloosa, IA, is the Chief of Police for Oskaloosa Police Dept. Peter Lonsway ’96, Ashburn, VA, is the park manager at National Park Service.
Heath Warren ’96, Chicago, is the annual fund campaign manager for Ravinia Festival in Highland Park. Jennifer Osborn Bizarri ’97, Smyrna, TN, is the planner for the Town of Smyrna. Todd Romagnoli ’97, Palm City, FL, is a deputy sheriff/ pilot for the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. Joseph Famoso ’99, Charlotte, NC, is a bank examiner for the Office of Comptroller of the Currency. Ronnie Faraher ’99, Palm Harbor, FL, is a distribution manager for Trek Bicycle Corp. Courtney Sendzimer ’99, Chicago, is the director of technology services at The Habitat Co. Jennifer Ewing ’00, LaHarpe, is the communications coordinator at Knox College in Galesburg and also owns Jenni’s Ice Cream and Grill in Lomax. Robert Baker ’01, Palatine, is a network field assurance engineer for Verizon.
Candice Kraft Biswell ’01, Macomb, is an office administrator at Western Illinois University. Brandon Bonar ’01, Aurora, is a distribution consultant for Farmers Insurance. Spring Kuczwara Hyde ’01 MA ’04, Lincoln, has been named Dept. Chair for English and Humanities at Lincoln College. Raymond Munch ’01, Naperville, is the asst. city manager for the City of DeKalb. Bradley Stoetzer ’01, Raleigh, NC, is the project manager and special projects lead at Zebra Pring Solutions. Meghan Brooks Stritar ’01, Brownsburg, IN, is the executive director for Parks Foundation of Hendricks County in Danville. Jenelle Urban ’01, Buffalo Grove, is an associate director of marketing for the American Academy of Dermatology. Erin Huggins ’02, Honolulu, HI, is the public affairs officer and head of social media for the US Navy – Joint Base Pearl Harbor.
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Jason Tanamor ’02, Portland, OR, has written a new urban fantasy novel, Vampires of Portlandia, and will be released in 2020. Hal DeLaRosby MS ’03, Bowling Green, KY, is the director of academic advising at Western Kentucky University. Tiffany Windish Grimm ’03, Belton, TX, is a volunteer leader at Bell County Museum. Anthony Maurice ’03, Roselle, is the manager of trade development, transatlantic spirits division for Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits in Bolingbrook. Paul Bourdeaux ’04, Sammamish, WA, is the VP of IT at eFinancial in Bellevue. Trish Hammond ’04, Chicago, is the marketing manager at Hammacher Schlemmer. Michelle Versluys Edmund ’05, Woodhull, is a staff accountant at Gold Star FS, Inc. Daniel Witt ’05, W Palm Beach, FL, is an environmental specialist II for the State of FL. Lauren Weeks Gibson ’06 MS ’11, Honolulu, HI, is an English teacher at Punahou School. Christopher James ’07, Canton, is a business account executive at Pearl Insurance in Peoria Hts. Jack Jokisch III ’07, Pleasant Plains, is a sr. financial analyst for Horace Mann in Springfield. Charles Lauss ’07, Urbana, is the fire chief for the City of Urbana. Kirsten Vining Lee ’07, Batavia, is a CV tech non-invasive cardiology at Northwestern Medline in Winfield. Erin McCormic ’08, Hillsdale, NSW, Australia, is an EAL/D and specialized learning teacher at St Andrews Cathedral School in Sydney. Timothy Ocasek ’08 MA ’10, Algonquin, is a detective for the St Charles Police Dept.
Raquel Escamilla Price ’08, Milwaukee, WI, is a case manager for Southwest Key Programs. Mallory Swanson Tolley ’08 MS-ED ’14, Knoxville, was named the Outstanding Agribusiness Woman of the year from the Illinois AgriWomen organization. Patrick Downing ’09, Davenport, IA, is the director of development at Palmer College of Chiropractic. Joe Hayhoe ’09, Urbandale, IA, is a mortgage loan officer at Community Choice Credit Union. Dreeyan Spradlin Hughes ’09, Pekin, is a medical laboratory technician II at OSF HealthCare St Francis Medical Center. Brittany Story Iwaszkiw ’09, Denver, CO, is a program manager at Academic Impressions. Holly Reiter Luetkenhaus MA ’09, Stillwater, OK, is a librarian at Oklahoma State University and has co-authored a book Austentatious: The Evolving World of Jane Austen Fans. Jessica Ball Mueller ’09 MS ’11, Chicago, is the assoc. director of engagement and participation at the University of IL at Chicago. Jared Reed MA ’09, Montrose, IA, graduated with PhD in Education from Iowa State University. Christopher Somerville ’10, Mokena, is a delivery driver for Lakeshore Beverages. Jack Fischer ’11, Janesville, WI, is the guest services manager at the Ironworks Hotel in Beloit. Ashley Hoppe ’11, Elk Grove Vlg, is the asst. director of operations at the Hyatt Lodge at McDonald’s Campus and was awarded the Dept./ Division Head of the Year. Ginny Knox MA ’11, Macomb, was named the 2019 Carl Sandburg College Adjunct Faculty Member of the Year.
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Manpreet Kaur Sidhu MBA ’11, San Diego, CA, is a sr. business systems analyst at Illumina Inc. Emily Janas Bily ’12, Buffalo Grove, is a librarian at McHenry Public Library. Nicole McCarthy ’12, Chicago, is a student support specialist at Pearson. Bryan Miller ’12, Rockford, is an electrician for the IBEW Local 364. Paul Perchalski MS ’12 PBCER ’15 PB-CER ’15 MS ’17 MBA ’17, Bushnell, is a steam and power plant operator II at Western Illinois University in Macomb. Donna James Renz ’12, St Charles, MO, is a customer service representative for Royal Canin. Kacey Swainey Seabold ’12 M.ACCT ’14, Kahoka, MO, is a financial reporting manager for Titan International, Inc. in Quincy. Matthew Noxon ’13, Travis AFB, CA, works in the cardiopulmonary laboratory in the U.S. Air Force. Sophia Caban ’15, Shorewood, is a quality specialist at Nelson Labs. Holly Gloodt ’15, Macomb, works in the Behavior Health Unit at Blessing Hospital in Quincy. Kaitlyn Tucker Lemenager ’15, Elkhart, is an office specialist for the IL Dept. of Ag in Springfield. Glenn Neal ’15, Washington, is chief of police in Farmer City. KaBree Braggs ’16, Richmond, KY, is a residence hall coordinator at Eastern Kentucky University. Mason Cavanagh ’16, Galva, is an office assistant for Lake Land College in Kewanee. Chase DiBella, Dixon ’16, is a financial advisor for Mutual of Omaha Advisors in Oak Brook and received all 4 starter awards in IL. Caitlyn Westfall MS ’16, St. Louis, MO, is an asst. director of education and leadership for Sigma Sigma Sigma National Sorority.
Lacy Christison MS ’17, Knoxville, TN, is an academic advisor at the University of Tennessee Knoxville. Nicholas Fedler ’17, Ft Madison, IA, is a police officer for the Ft Madison Police Dept. Quentin Kuper ’17, Wauconda, is a police officer for Elmhurst Police Dept. Heather Monson MA ’17, Colona, is a teacher at United Township High School in E. Moline and won the Golden Apple teacher award in IL. Nicole Roseman ’17, Davenport, IA, is a research scientist II at Integrated DNA Technologies. Kyle Salz ’17, Rutland, is an adventures director for North Star Camp for Boys. Oscar Alvarez ’18, Elmwood Park, is a shipper at Chicago Hardware and Fixture Co. Devon Fisher MS ’18, Crestview Hills, KY, is an academic coach and asst. football coach at Thomas More University. Austin Kopera ’18, Kenosha, WI, is a police officer at Pleasant Prairie Police Dept. Mayra Morales ’18, Rockford, is a detention officer for Winnebago County Juvenile Detention Center. Megan Newlon Nott ’18, Carthage, is an internal auditor at Western Illinois University in Macomb. Anthony White ’18, Bettendorf, IA, is a registered dietitian and is an outpatient clinical dietitian at the University of Iowa Health Care. Zachary Cummings ’19, Lake In The Hills, is part of the marketing street team for the Chicago White Sox. Natalie Kenny ’19, Stillwater, OK, is a personal shopper for Walmart. Brian O’Keeffe EDD ’19, Plainfield, is the asst. superintendent of finance/ CSBO at Arbor Park School Dist. # 145 in Oak Fores. Tanner Picton ’19, Canton, is a retail lending underwriter at MidAmerica National Bank.
BUY A BRICK. BUILD YOUR LEGACY! Marriages & Civil Unions
Sophia Caban ’15 and Albert DiStefano ’14, Jan. 25, 2019. Nicole Capone ’13 and Matthew Frett ’13, Feb. 16, 2019. Grant Huber ’10 and Kayla Bunch ’17, Oct. 27, 2018. Donna James ’12 and Michael Renz ’12, Oct. 13, 2018. Emily Janas ’12 and Wesley Bily, May 18, 2019. Nancy Lee ’76 and Michael Grandy ’76, Feb. 16, 2019. Megan Newlon ’18 and Brandon Nott ’17, Aug. 18, 2018. Ashley Pickett ’13 and Brian Minter, Nov. 18, 2018. Ketra Russell ’09 MBA ’11 and Joe Roselieb ’07 MS ’09, June 22, 2019. Gabrielle Shaw MS ’13 and Justin Anderson ’13, May 11, 2019. Shanee Sullivan ’00 and Kevin Plate, Aug. 6, 2019. Mathi Szemplinski ’15 and Tom Powles ’14, July 5, 2019. Kaitlyn Tucker ’15 and Dillon Lemenager ’15, March 9, 2019.
The WIU Alumni Plaza Project is a unique opportunity for you to become a permanent fixture of campus and preserve your legacy as a part of our great University. ● Final Phase: Now-Summer 2020 ● Visit wiu.edu/alumniplaza or text "WIUBRICK" to 41444 to purchase. ● Small Bricks $100 ● Large Bricks $225
Births & Adoptions
Jake Brandenburg ’05 and Jessica, a son, Magnus James, Mar. 12, 2019. Anna Halligan Dixon ’12 and Cale, a son, Ryder, Feb. 7, 2018. Kelly Carter Ferguson ’09 and Nick, a daughter, Hayley Brynn, Apr. 20, 2019. Sarah Looman Gibson ’05 MS-ED ’09 and Jon, a daughter, Adelia Jane, May 11, 2019. Lauren Keithley Heaton ’08 MS-ED ’10 and Keith, a daughter, Mila Michelle, Aug.9, 2019. Mariah Baker Huston ’12 and Eric Huston ’03, a son, Miller Rhys, Apr. 12, 2019. Bryan Miller ’12 and Elizabeth, a son, Christopher, Sept. 2, 2019. Jared Pollock ’05 and Delta, a daughter, Cora J., Mar. 15, 2019. Nicole Roseman ’17 and Dustin, a son, Theodore, May 28, 2019. Kacey Swainey Seabold ’12 M. Acct ’14 and Adam, a son, Remington Ray, Dec. 31, 2018. Susan Lamberson Singley ’03 and Clint Singley ’03, a daughter, Madison Patricia, Aug. 24, 2018.
Eric Wells ’09 and Mia Martinie Wells ’09, Huxlan Clark, Oct. 28, 2018. Melissa Bishop Willock ’12 and TJ, a daughter, Kensley, Nov. 18, 2018.
Deaths
Frederick M. Adair, Macomb, Mar. 30, 2019. Kenneth P. Barclay, Macomb, Mar. 23, 2019. Doris E. Swedell Battin, Macomb, June 2, 2019. William B. Bradley, Macomb, July 11, 2019. Jane A. C. “Netta” Bingham Burlak, Williamstown, MA, Aug. 9, 2019. Margaret E. “Ella” Bugg Chenoweth, Macomb, May 21, 2019. Ronald E. Chenoweth, Colchester, June 18, 2019. Harry D. “Durlin” Clendenny, Litchfield, Nov. 4, 2017. Ruth K. “Kris” Hawley Edwards, Carterville, Aug. 20, 2019. Clyde J. Faries, Bonne Terre, MO, Mar. 26, 2019. Phyllis A. Haverty Farniok, Macomb, June 12, 2019. Damon G. “Tuffy” Featherin, Macomb, Jan. 4, 2019. Judith M. Snow Gedney, Macomb, Aug. 21, 2019.
Alvin H. Green, III, Leesburg, VA, May 8, 2019. Carla A. Harrison, Moline, Oct. 29, 2018. Neal E. Hartman, Rushville, Feb. 2, 2019. Burnell A. Heinecke, Freeburg, Dec. 5, 2018. Eleanor C. “Carrol” Henry, Blandinsville, Mar. 26, 2019. Lillian C. Hoover, Huntsville, Feb. 8, 2019. Patsy S. McClure Jared, Sun City West, AZ, May 23, 2019. William S. “Scott” Kelso, Macomb, June 13, 2019. Donald I. Kerr, Jr., Warsaw, Apr. 5, 2019. Doris M. Wood Lusk, Macomb, Jan. 26, 2019. Katherine G. Miller, Table Grove, Feb. 19, 2019. Frank R. “Red” Nelson, Macomb, June 14, 2019. Linda J. Davis O’Dean, Galesburg, June 21, 2019. Lowell G. Oxtoby, Papillion, NE, Sept. 2, 2019. Sandra K. Graham Pearce, Sciota, June 15, 2019. Gerald A. Pica, Abingdon, Sept. 4, 2019. Connie Clarke Purdum, Beverly Hills, CA, Apr. 6, 2019. Sam C. Rinella, Quincy, Jan. 7, 2018. Peter H. Robinson, Macomb, May 7, 2019.
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Kenneth S. Rutledge, Adair, Jan. 6, 2019. Robert L. Rutledge, Adair, Aug. 31, 2019. JoAnn B. Gecsy Sanders, Macomb, Mar. 3, 2019. James B. Schisler, Macomb, Jan. 24, 2019. William F. Sellers, Sterling, Feb. 16, 2017. Helen L. Carlson Sims, Galesburg, June 12, 2019. Bettie L. Daniel Sinnock, Chatham, Aug. 26, 2019. Eloise P. Thompson Staggs, Galesburg, May 9, 2019. Frances M. Ekstrand Stegall, Galesburg, Feb. 5, 2019. Gary R. Swanson, Colchester, Sept. 5, 2019. Ronald L. Vaughn, Macomb, July 21, 2019. David A. Voss, Macomb, Jan. 11, 2019. Robert E. Yager, Coralville, IA, Aug. 6, 2019. 1938 Edith M. Nesbitt, Aledo, Mar. 2, 2019. 1938 Helen E. Harvey Robison, Sun City, AZ, Jan. 10, 2019. 1940 Katherine L. Smith Kee, Princeton, Feb. 26, 2019. 1941 Berniece M. Blank Duke, Long Beach, CA, Apr. 8, 2019. 1945 Marianne Boyd Bokenkamp, Venice, FL, Jan. 6, 2019. 1947 Mildred Bollinger Maquon, Jan. 12, 2019. 1947 Mary J. Jackson Norvell, Macomb, Aug. 10, 2019. 1949 Betty A. Richmond Parrish, W. Burlington, IA, Dec. 1, 2016. 1950 Ruth E. Bauner, Carbondale, June 25, 2019. 1950 Dale E. Lober, Chillicothe, Mar. 1, 2019. 1952 Mildred P. “Polly” Butcher Hacker, Omaha, NE, July 18, 2019.
1952 Reinhold I. Martin, Flemington, NJ, Jan. 27, 2019. 1953 Kathleen A. Ippensen Morse, Springfield, May 10, 2019. 1954 Jack L. Hillyer, Macomb, Jan. 20, 2019. 1955 Doris Dowacter Bramkamp, Plymouth, Oct. 11, 2015. 1955 Erma L.Bacon Gills, Sciota, Feb. 1, 2019. 1955 John W. McCarthy, Springfield, Oct. 31, 2018. 1956 Linda J. Andre, Flowood, MS, Jan. 18, 2019. 1956 Joe L. Gilbert, Buford, GA, Jan. 18, 2019. 1956 Raymond D. Lumpp MS-ED ’58, Loveland, OH, May 14, 2019. 1957 Lawrence E. Bullard, Roseville, CA, Feb. 25, 2019. 1957 James N. Holloway, Galesburg, May 26, 2019. 1958 Wendell L. “Hep” Hepner, Hot Springs Village, AR, Apr. 15, 2019. 1958 Ruth E. Martin Parks, Macomb, May, 25, 2019. 1959 Gerald L. Logan, Carthage, May 26, 2019. 1959 Lawrence P. McCarthy, Barrington, Jan. 24, 2019. 1960 Barbara R. Rodgers Clawson, Prescott Valley, AZ, Dec. 5, 2018. 1960 Richard L. Roe, Lewistown, Sept. 5, 2019. 1960 Larry R. Schmidt, Mt Zion, Apr. 18, 2019. 1961 Donald G. Fentem, E. Moline, Jan. 31, 2019. 1961 Daniel E. Moy, Jacksonville, Mar. 19, 2019. 1961 James L. Odorizzi MSED, Pleasant Prairie, WI, Nov. 1, 2018. 1961 Gordon P. Reedy, Havana, Mar. 25, 2019. 1962 William S. Adams II, Coal Valley, Jan. 30, 2019. 1962 Robert L. Hickman MSED CAS ’69, Decatur, Jan. 29, 2019.
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1962 Phyllis O. Harris Markley MA ’66, Peoria, Jan. 16, 2019. 1962 Richard A. McClelland, Springfield, MO, Feb. 28, 2019. 1962 Sandra A. Wilson Riggins, Macomb, Feb. 2, 2019. 1963 Robert E. Logan, Burlington, IA, Apr. 15, 2019. 1963 Rita V. Baughn Nielsen, Normal, May 24, 2019. 1963 Barbara Warner Patton, Petersburg, Dec. 20, 2018. 1963 David R. Schoenbacher, Waverly, IA, Jan. 22, 2019. 1963 Linda A. Gooding Sullivan, Moline, July 23, 2019. 1964 Sharon A. Worely Barr, Carthage, Jan. 10, 2019. 1964 Carolyn A. Barnes Jackson, Pekin, Dec. 3, 2018. 1965 Nancy S. Kelly Beck, Morresville, NC, June 17, 2019. 1965 John J. Bovey, Iowa City, IA, Feb. 19, 2019. 1965 Merrill L. Fullmer, Jr., Largo, FL, June 19, 2018. 1965 Paul S. Huston MS ’69, Harvre, MT, Mar. 31, 2019. 1965 Richard W. Stevens MS-ED ’69, Henderson, Jan. 19, 2019. 1966 Elizabeth A. Felt Nelson, Charlottesville, VA, Jan. 26, 2019. 1966 Marcella I. Hardy Reed Ketcham MS-ED ’87, LaHarpe, Jan. 9, 2019. 1966 Angelo Vallejo, Scottsdale, AZ, Jan. 10, 2019. 1967 Pamela S. Carson Johnson, Macomb, Aug. 11, 2019. 1968 Suzanne R. Murphy Auman MS-ED ’86, Tucson, AZ, Feb. 25, 2019. 1968 Patrick R. Burke, Bloomington, July 17, 2019. 1968 Genevieve H. Hillen Hiett, Monmouth, Jan. 27, 2019.
facebook.com/WIUAlumni
1968 Lynn R. Nelson, W. Lafayette, IN, Oct. 23, 2018. 1968 Gary F. Uhland MBA ’71, Waterloo, IA, Apr. 18, 2019. 1969 Rudy R. Aten ’71, Galesburg, Aug. 12, 2019. 1969 Arthur W. “Wally” Stephenson, Championsgate, FL, June 20, 2019. 1970 Russell J. Bogardus, Loves Park, Jan. 26, 2019. 1970 Judith N. Darwin Swanson MS-ED, Clinton, Feb. 2, 2019. 1970 Jack L. Wehrle, Burlington, IA, Dec. 8, 2018. 1970 Gary H. Wood ED SP ’74, Pekin, May 6, 2019. 1971 John W. Brewer, Westville, Aug. 15, 2018. 1971 Tana R. Traube Clement, Colorado Springs, CO, May 26, 2019. 1971 Marianna M. Fowler MA, Bardolph, Mar. 31, 2019. 1971 Billie J. Haight MA ’73, Winter Haven, FL, Apr. 27, 2018. 1971 Mark D. Rutledge, Alpha, Aug. 27, 2019. 1971 Ernest R. Wieberg, Pekin, May 20, 2019. 1972 Rodney C. Bixby MS ’75, Elgin, Nov. 9, 2018. 1972 Myron D. “Mike” Boyd, Mattoon, Oct. 13, 2018. 1972 Robert D. Cravens, Bradenton, FL, Feb. 28, 2019. 1973 Arthur R. Adkisson, Jr., Nauvoo, Apr. 11, 2019. 1973 Mark E. Eyrich, Rock Island, Jan. 28, 2019. 1973 Bruce D. Nessel, Collinsville, Mar. 4, 2019. 1974 William L. Balbinotti, Galesburg, Jan. 12, 2019. 1974 Thomas W. Majercik, Wonder Lake, Dec. 7, 2018. 1974 Elyse M. Ross Piper, Scottsdale, AZ, July 10, 2016. 1976 Brian P. Bradfield, Mundelein, Apr. 3, 2018. 1976 Dana A. Cervak, Orland Park, Aug. 12, 2017. 1976 Carolyn B. Prindle Faulkner, Lee’s Summit, MO, Jan. 31, 2017.
A-Association@wiu.edu
1976 Richard C. Lencioni, Champaign, Jan. 24, 2019. 1976 Patrick M. Melody, Ottawa, Aug. 29, 2017 1976 Michael C. Neill, Tremont, July 27, 2017. 1976 Paul R. Phenix, Peoria, Apr. 5, 2018. 1976 Gregory S. Shupe, Mansfield, Jan. 7, 2018. 1976 Robert L. Sutkay, Sterling, May 19, 2019. 1977 Richard L. Ferri, Woodstock, GA, Oct. 24, 2016. 1977 Peter G. Nisius, Downers Grove, Jan. 31, 2017. 1978 Eddie G. Ansell, Elizabeth, Nov. 14, 2017. 1978 Robert P. “Paul” Carner, Caledonia, June 25, 2016. 1978 Helene M. Brade Engleman, Plainfield, Dec. 16, 2016. 1978 Richard E. Jankowski, Lindenhurst, Jan. 20, 2017 1978 William L. Ossher, Phoenix, AZ, June 14, 2018. 1978 Victoria A. Doroskin Pajkuric, Lake Zurich, Nov. 22, 2017. 1978 Steven A. Soler, Northfield, Feb. 21, 2018. 1978 Richard VandenBrook, Wheaton, Sept. 16, 2017. 1978 Shirley R. Dean Weld, Macomb, Jan. 12, 2019. 1978 Gerald D. Zansitis, Orland Park, Mar. 15, 2018. 1978 Denise J. Zeman, Wheaton, Nov. 1, 2017. 1979 Kenneth D. Bruning, Rockford, Aug. 22, 2016. 1979 Robert K. Conway, San Marcos, CA, Oct. 16, 2016. 1979 Robert S. Copeland, Fairhope, AL, Sept. 11, 2017. 1979 Cindi J. Bastien Flannery, Peoria, Nov. 4, 2017. 1979 Steven G. “Mazz” Mazzarella, Naperville, Jan. 12, 2019. 1979 Ernest L. Smithson, Independence, MO, Jan. 11, 2019.
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1979 David J. Toni, Barrington, Mar. 27, 2018. 1979 Denise L. Wolf Vincent, Orlando, FL, Sept. 21, 2018. 1980 Joseph W. Eatman, Farmington, MI, July 15, 2017. 1980 Gary B. Smith MS, Rochester, NY, June 4, 2017. 1980 John J. Wilmsen, Darien, Nov. 1, 2016. 1981 John S. Bonando MS, Wexford, PA, May 1, 2017. 1981 Grant R. Hay, Arthur, Jan. 17, 2018. 1982 James A. Stenstrom, Des Plaines, Nov. 23, 2017. 1982 Christine L. Zibas, Rockford, May 18, 2017. 1983 Ronald D. Kean, Lee’s Summit, MO, Mar. 22, 2019. 1983 Donzell Starks, Chicago, Oct. 2, 2016. 1984 Saka O. Animashaun, Lithonia, GA, June 8, 2015. 1984 John R. Kedzierski MA, Spring Hill, FL, Jan. 22, 2019. 1984 Cynthia M. Smith MSED, Montrose, IA, Jan. 20, 2018. 1985 Jeff Novak, Los Angeles, CA, June 12, 2019. 1985 Robert H. Powell, Glen Allen, VA, Jan. 26, 2019. 1986 Lonnie R. Schwindenhammer, Bartonville, Jan. 19, 2017. 1986 John W. “JW” Squier MBA ’89, Lake Bluff, Apr. 11, 2019. 1987 David L. Erke MS ’89, Tremont, Sept. 9, 2017. 1987 Oleeta S. Pool McQueen MS, Clinton, IA, Jan. 9, 2019. 1987 Joseph M. Oulvey, New York NY, July 27, 2019. 1987 George R. “Bob” Richardson, Monmouth, Feb. 3, 2019. 1987 Sulah A. “Ann” Seward Robinson, Macomb, May 27, 2019. 1989 Robert W. Doty, Buford, GA, Oct. 30, 2018. 1990 Jerry J. Baumeister, Algonquin, July 17, 2017.
1990 Raymond D. Collins MBA, O’Fallon, MO, Jan. 30, 2019. 1991 Landon R. Miller MA ’94, Cuba, Mar. 6, 2019. 1991 Robert A. Moff, Thomasboro, Apr. 24, 2018. 1992 Gwendolyn P. Buckney, Macomb, Feb. 3, 2019. 1992 Susan R. Nawrocki Welch MS, Libertyville, May 15, 2017. 1993 Mark D. Dahlem, Cary, Feb. 5, 2019. 1993 William E. “Ed” Kelley, Jr., Florissant, MO, Jan. 17, 2019. 1993 Cynthia J. Kommer Starbuck MS ’98, Blandinsville, June 10, 2019. 1994 William R. “Randy” Fritz, Williamsfield, June 16, 2019. 1994 Anthony N. May, River Grove, Mar. 27, 2016. 1994 William R. Venvertloh, Burlington, IA, Dec. 27, 2018. 1995 John P. Dress, Trenton, KY, May 30, 2019. 1995 Mary Jane Perry MS-ED, Van Wert, OH, Feb. 24, 2019. 1995 Gail M. Spafford Stickle MS, Rock Falls, Feb. 11, 2019. 1996 Jerry A. “Ski” Czarnowski, Chicago, Jan. 4, 2019. 1996 David M. Kellogg MA ’98, Monmouth, Jan. 7, 2019. 1998 David A. Rivedal, Sr., Medina, OH, Dec. 30, 2018. 2000 Joseph T. Adams MA ’05, Macomb, May 19, 2019.
2000 Saul R. Arredondo, San Tan Valley, AZ, Mar. 14, 2019. 2001 Charles B. Allgood, Forsyth, MO, Apr. 14, 2019. 2001 Gregory A. DeClerck, Moline, Sept. 30, 2016. 2001 Margaret A. Robertson MS, Rapid City, Mar. 3, 2019. 2001 Benjamin R. Sapp, Monroe City, MO, Dec. 22, 2018. 2004 Gretchen R. Decker, Little York, June 13, 2019. 2004 Andrea C. Erion, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Jan. 16, 2019. 2004 David M. Gibson MS MS-ED ’10, Athens, Feb. 19, 2017. 2004 Clarence M. “Marty” Hall, Warsaw, Feb. 22, 2019. 2005 Jacob H. Keltner, Crystal Lake, Mar. 7, 2019. 2006 Maria E. Caras, Moline, July 11, 2017. 2006 Nasir I. RobertsonSadat, Philadelphia, PA, July 5, 2019. 2007 Gerald W. Ellis, Antioch, Mar. 30, 2019. 2008 Brian L. Cronkleton, Davenport, IA, Aug. 6, 2019. 2009 Candace J. Eastman, Silvis, Apr. 11, 2019. 2009 Eric M. Ebbert, Chicago, May 11, 2019. 2014 Randal D. Oakman, Chatham, Feb. 3, 2019. 2017 Abbi L. Clevenger LaFrance, Macomb, Apr. 4, 2019.
Visit wiu.edu/alumni and select the “Update Us” button. Email your news to A-Association@wiu.edu. Mail your update to WIU Alumni Association, 1 University Circle, Macomb, IL 61455-1390. Please include your graduation year, major, maiden name if applicable and phone number.
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(309) 298-1914 Fall 2019 | Western Magazine
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Alumni Association 1 University Circle Macomb, IL 61455-1390
Col. Rock IV aka “Ray” with Ag Students at the WIU Farm