Dr. Guoyao Wu, a faculty member in the Department of Animal Science, part of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University, has been named a Distinguished Professor.

Wu is one of five faculty members for 2012 who have received the title, which is bestowed in perpetuity and awarded to a maximum of five faculty members each year. A reception was held May 1 on the Texas A&M campus hosted by the Texas A&M Foundation.

“University Distinguished Professors represent the highest level of achievement for our faculty,” said Karan L. Watson, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “Their scholarship will have a lasting impact on their respective fields of study for many generations to come, and it demonstrates to the world the high quality of scholarship underway at Texas A&M University.”

A Texas AgriLife Research Senior Faculty Fellow, Wu’s research crosses both agriculture and human health. One of his specific research areas has been functional amino acids. His discoveries relate to the essential role of amino acids and non-essential amino acids, which are both important in formulating balanced diets for livestock production and human health. His research is targeted at enhancing efficiencies in meat quality toward the production of more protein to help feed a growing population.

“We need to move forward and capitalize on the potential of functional amino acids in improving health and animal production,” he said.

Wu’s discoveries, a result of ‘thinking out of the box’ are helping find new innovations in solving obesity among the U.S. population as more than 60 percent of U.S. adults are overweight.

He has also done studies on arginine, an amino acid which contributes many positive benefits in growth and embryo development in pigs, sheep and rats. Arginine also aids in fighting obesity. Wu has identified this as an important area for expanded research on new amino acids and health.

Wu said that humans need diets with balanced portions of amino acids for cardiovascular and reproductive health.

Wu earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science from South China Agricultural University in Guangzhou and a master’s degree and doctorate in animal biochemistry from the University of Alberta in Canada. He received his doctoral training from McGill University Medical School in Montreal, and the Memorial University of Newfoundland Medical School in St. John’s, Canada.

Kelly Winsco, a graduate student in the Department of Animal Science, is a recipient of the 2011-2012 Association of Former Students’ Distinguished Graduate Student Award for Excellence in Teaching presented April 10, 2012 in College Station.

This award recognizes Winsco’s outstanding academic record and excellence in teaching. In addition, the awards program, created in 1965, recognizes the important role graduate students play in the mission of Texas A&M. Each recipient was presented a framed certificate and a custom watch which will be lasting mementos of this award.

Winsco, from Snellville, Ga., is pursuing a doctoral degree in equine nutrition under the direction of Dr. Josie Coverdale. She completed her bachelor’s degree in animal science and dairy science from the University of Georgia in 2007 and master’s degree in animal science from Texas A&M in 2009.

Winsco has served as a teaching assistant at Texas A&M since she joined the department in 2007. She taught Biology 111 and 112 for two semesters in the Department of Biology. Since then she has taught numerous laboratory sections for equine courses in the Department of Animal Science including ANSC 108, 201, 311, 420 and 421. Winsco currently serves as the primary instructor for ANSC 201 and ANSC 311.

Alison Bockoven with her award during the awards presentation ceremony at the University Club. Photo By Rebecca Hapes, Department of Entomology.

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — The Department of Entomology would like to congratulate Ph.D. student Alison Bockoven for receiving the U.S. Senator Phil Gramm Doctoral Fellowship award for 2012.

Bockoven and six other students from the university were recognized in a special ceremonyon Wednesday, April 11th, at the University Club in Rudder Tower.

Bockoven is a Ph.D. candidate in Dr. Micky Eubanks’ laboratory. Her research focuses on the extent, mechanisms and consequences of genetic variation in foraging traits in the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta).

Dr. Eubanks was impressed by her hard work and determination. “Alison’s project is extremely exciting, novel and ambitious, and I have been incredibly impressed with her ability to quickly develop this project, master the scientific literature associated with this field, and conduct logistically challenging experiments,” he said.

Bockoven also has been a teaching assistant in the General Entomology (ENTO 201) class for two semesters and is very involved in several activities in the Department, including serving as an officer in the Entomology Graduate Student Organization, helping with outreach activities at local schools, and manning booths at national meetings.

“The students loved Alison’s engaging teaching style, her incredible depth of knowledge, and her ability to explain complex subject material,” her faculty advisor stated. “Alison is one of those teachers that really connects with students, challenges them to really dig deep and learn the material, and ultimately changes their lives for the better.”

One nominator said that Bockoven was incredibly dedicated to her work and studies as a grad student.

“Alison is a very driven student, and rather than taking the easy path of simply following an established protocol and being happy with the results obtained, she has taken great care and dedication to fully understand the procedures involved, optimized her protocols and ensuring she has complete understanding of the techniques and results obtained,” the nominator said.

Bockoven received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Texas A&M University in 2008 and her Master of Science in Zoology from Southern Illinois in 2009. She has received numerous awards during her college career, including the Texas A&M President’s Endowed Scholarship and Director’s Excellence Award, as well as being inducted into Phi Beta Kappa.

This is the first time in the Department’s history that a Ph.D. student has received the Gramm Award. The endowment was created in 2000 by the Texas A&M Foundation from donations that were given in honor of former U.S. Senator and Texas A&M University Economics Professor. The actual awards for the endowment were given in 2007.

via Ph. D. Student Receives Gramm Fellowship Award.

by Hannah Rogers

When it comes to protecting the environment and finding solution for our future, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences students are on the front lines.

Senior Sarah Coffey, a successful, hard-working and committed agronomy major, hopes to do just that as she pursues a career to restore and preserve the environment in Texas.

Coffey has not only maintained a 4.0 GPA during her time at A&M, but also was a member of the Texas A&M Soil Judging Team, the Student Chapter of the Soil Water and Conservation Society and served as Vice President of the Agronomy Society. Sarah was a 2012 Senior Merit Award Recipient. After graduation, Sarah would like to pursue a career in Soil Remediation or Environmental Consulting after receiving her certification as a Professional Soil Scientist.

During your undergraduate studies at Texas A&M, what led to your passion of the environment?

My experiences on the Soil Judging Team led to my passion for soils. Before attending Texas A&M, dirt was dirt and nothing more. As I learned more about the complexities and importance of soil, I became intrigued. Soil is a fundamental component of life on earth. In my experience few people understand the importance of soil and my goal is to use my knowledge and passion for soils to preserve the environment for future generations.

What kinds of hands-on learning experiences did you participate in while at Texas A&M?

I have worked in the Soil Microbiology lab on campus for almost four years and got experience with different research techniques. My summer internship at the Noble Foundation allowed me to conduct my own research project on herbicide tolerance of Bermuda grass in the eradication of field sandburs. Throughout my time at A&M, I have had so many hands-on experiences through courses in both the Soil and Crop Department and the Rangeland and Ecology Management courses that have really helped prepare me for what’s to come.

What is your intended career path and hopes with Environmental consulting?

I am hoping to pursue a career that will allow me to restore and preserve the environment. As the population continues to grow here in Texas, we are faced with many environmental challenges. It’s my hope that my career will allow me to protect and restore damaged land and provide education through consulting. Education is a very powerful tool for change, and through education I feel that our state can become a leading advocate for the land and soil that gives us life.

What events have prepared you for what you would like to pursue in the future?

Throughout my time at A&M, it’s been my goal to gain experience in a variety of disciplines. I have taken courses in soils, crops and rangeland ecology and management. My participation in the Agronomy Society has helped hone my skills as a leader. In addition to my courses and involvement on campus, I have completed three summer internships. My internships involved gaining experience in soil and crop research and consulting along with wildlife management and research.

by Hannah Rogers

Livestock, an unusual site on campus, and peers ready to give them an agricultural education welcomed Texas A&M students this morning.  Led by Farmers Fight, a student-led movement dedicated to promoting modern agriculture, the event included more than 200 agriculture students stationed at displays across campus. Even the Texas Aggie yell leaders came to pump up the crowd with the appropriate yell, “Farmers Fight!”

Farmers Fight hopes to reconnect American society to the world of agriculture.  Beginning with Texas A&M University, Farmers Fight encourages consumers to ask where their food comes from, and give people an opportunity to become “agvocates” for the agriculture community.

Freshman agricultural economics major, Mason Parish founded the group after realizing there were a lot of misconceptions about agriculture on the Texas A&M campus. Parish recruited many of the college’s organizations to unite to tell the story of agriculture.

“Texas A&M was founded on a land-grant university mission, the Morrill Act, and that has allowed us to have a strong agriculture foundation and we want to make sure to follow through with that and keep agriculture in the forefront for all of our students,” Parish said.

 The campus-wide advocacy day included booths around campus educating and engaging students at A&M. The booths represented the diversity of fields in agriculture: from organic farmers markets, animal agriculture, food technology and the fashion industry.

The group’s goal is to promote the positive image of agriculture and educate people to understand that agriculture is not how it is often portrayed in the media, said Cera Southerland, a junior ag communications major and Farmers Fight advocate.

“It’s not caged animals being treated unfairly and its not poor farming conditions, people and farmers work hard everyday to produce their crops to provide food for the world and we want people to know that,” Southerland said.

In its first year, Farmers Fight has gained the support of faculty members, including the college’s Associate Dean for Undergraduate Development Dr. Chris Skaggs, the Aggie yell leaders, and hundreds of student volunteers.

Caroline Black, director of development for Farmers Fight and an agricultural leadership and education and communications graduate student, said it has been a chance for College of Agriculture and Life Sciences students to spread their story to their peers.

“To me its been an opportunity for the students to wake up and to become passionate if we aren’t already,” Black said. “I have had a unique opportunity to have hands-on experience with this movement for ag advocacy.”

Farmers Fight comprised three phases:

• “Training the Advocates” conference on March 21st, where leading industry professionals trained students to be effective advocates for agriculture.
• “Community Outreach” included the Ag in the Classroom educational event where we shared agricultural coloring books with 1^st grade students in College Station elementary schools.
• “Campus Connect” represented the campus advocacy day on April 12, 2012.

The college strives to afford students the opportunity to create their own voice about issues surrounding their passion, said Dr. Danielle Harris, assistant dean for student success and advisor of the group.

“Farmer’s Fight is a powerful example of how students can bring attention to issues affecting them and their communities,” Harris said. “We are pleased to see this student led effort as a means of support to the national effort led by USDA, Texas Department of Agriculture and other agencies in promoting agriculture.”

“Farmers Fight Ag Advocacy Day has been beyond our expectations,” Parish said. “Every one of our advocates participated today to tell the story of agriculture and educate every one of the students here at Texas A&M. It’s been an amazing experience from start to finish.”

If you are interested in learning more or getting involved, contact farmersfight2012@yahoo.com.

“Food and agriculture are universal – everyone has a stake,” said Dr. Catherine Woteki, USDA chief scientist and undersecretary for research, education and economics. “We’re going to need to work together.”

Woteki was the keynote speaker at the Texas A&M University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Centennial Lecture Series today. She addressed faculty, researchers, Texas AgriLife Extension Service officials and industry representatives at the AgriLife Center in College Station.

Because the college is celebrating 100 years and the USDA is 150 years old, Woteki said, there are numerous individual scientists to remember for their contributions which led to “enormous changes in the world.”

She said Dr. Ruth Benerito devised “wash and wear” cotton to keep the natural fiber on the market after synthetics emerged post-World War II, Drs. Edward Knipling and Raymond Bushland teamed up to create sterilization methods to eliminate screwworms and Dr. Norman Borlaug developed high-yielding wheats credited with feeding millions of hungry people throughout the world.

But challenges continue globally, she noted, and agricultural researchers who can devise solutions along with agricultural Extension personnel who can help educate producers about such new technologies will be vital.

“We are working to sustainably intensify agricultural production to feed a growing planet,” Woteki said. “With global population expected to pass 9 billion by mid-century, we are working to double global agricultural output to meet our food, fuel and fiber needs. And we’re doing this in the face of enormous challenges such as land degradation, zoonotic disease outbreaks, water scarcity and climate change.”

“The legacies of the pioneers who revolutionized agriculture and made the world a better place gives me hope. Adaptation and innovation are the names of the game in agriculture,” she added. “And as we’ve done it before, I know we can do it again.”

Woteki said that a “globalized world with globalized challenges can only benefit from coordination, cooperation and collaboration.” She pointed to the G-8 and G-20 meetings among leading nations that will be held in May and June with “global food issues discussed at the highest levels of government.”

“Ensuring food security is on everyone’s mind, as is making sure our intensified ag production will be sustainable and preserve our natural resources for generations to come,” Woteki said.

Citing a report by the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities, Woteki said, “if we’re going to ‘feed the future’ and do so without damaging the environment, we need to think big, think collaboratively, be strategic and most of all, we need to be smart.”

via Ag official: Future global food security, supplies depend on agriculture researchers, educators.

Tres Bailey, Director of Agriculture and Food at Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., Washington D.C.

Tres Bailey
Director of Agriculture and Food at Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Washington D.C.

As a 2002 graduate of Agricultural Economics, Tres is one of our many former students who has earned a successful career in agriculture. Tres is now the director for agriculture and food in the corporate affairs and government relations division of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. In this role, he represents Walmart on a variety of issues including food safety, nutrition policy, international trade and global development.

We recently caught up with Tres and garnered a few words of wisdom. Check out what he had to say!

“Tres, what made you decide to study Agricultural Economics?”
In the interest of full disclosure, I originally wanted to be a veterinarian, and even worked on a cancer research project at the vet school for nearly three years. Like so many potential vet students, I realized getting admitted would be tough and that I’d better hedge my investment in the event I didn’t get accepted to vet school. Economics, free markets and agriculture development have always been interesting to me, so Agricultural Economics was a great fit.

“What would you say is the most valuable thing you learned from your time at A&M?”
Quite frankly, it’s hard to pinpoint the most valuable thing I learned during my time at A&M because there are so many enriching experiences I remember. I didn’t realize it at the time, but the people at A&M really played a strong role in shaping the person I’ve become. My experiences were really a domino effect – from my time working at the vet school, to serving on COALS, being on the Horse Judging team, being on the Ag Marketing team and on student NAMA, and then there was the catalyst moment getting the Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Internship in Washington, D.C. At each step of the way, there were family, professors, employers, and student peers that helped mold me.

“How did you go from rural west Texas to living in Washington, D.C. and working for Walmart?”
I really have to credit the ANRP internship program for that launch pad. I had the incredible opportunity to intern for Congressman Charlie Stenholm, who was the Ranking Member on the House Ag Committee at the time. That internship turned into a full time job where I cut my teeth learning legislative and political processes. In politics, there’s a hard lesson one eventually learns – that elections have consequences. Charlie wasn’t re-elected in 2004, so I was out on the street looking for another policy job. Fortunately, Walmart was growing their Washington office and looking for someone to work on agriculture, food and some trade policy. It was a job I couldn’t turn down (after gratefully accepting the offer from a Longhorn).

“If you could go back, what would you change (if anything) about your studies or work experience?”
I should have worked harder to develop proficiency in a foreign language. I studied Spanish growing up but didn’t continue it in college. Language skills in Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, or Chinese are an invaluable asset in today’s business world.

“What would you say contributed most to your success in your profession?”
My background in agriculture growing up provided a great foundation. Then I have to credit the leadership development I got from 4-H and FFA. I learned evaluation and communication on judging teams. And then the great education that Texas A&M offered really helped round-out the person I’ve become. Working in Congress helped too — we were always sensitive to constituent concerns. All these things combined have helped me work for the world’s largest retailer, and biggest seller of food. Admittedly, it wasn’t always easy. With such a strong background on the production side of the equation, I’ve had to learn how to be sensitive to consumer concerns and how to manage those in an era of growing concern about where our food comes from and how it’s produced.

“If you could give the students of College of Agriculture and Life Sciences one piece of advice, what would it be?”
Stay optimistic and think globally. I get really excited thinking about the opportunities on the horizon in agriculture. We have a growing global population that is quickly emerging from poverty and demanding more, and higher quality food. Couple that with limited natural resources and that leads me to believe there will be great opportunities for young graduates who understand science, economics, languages, culture, and who aren’t afraid of change and innovation. Gig ‘em.

David Baltensperger

Dr. David Baltensperger has been appointed as the interim head of the department of ecosystem science and management, effective March 19, 2012. Dr. Baltensperger currently serves as the department head of soil and crop sciences, a role which he will continue. Dr. Baltensperger is an experienced administrator who will ably lead both department’s common interests such as water, soil and environmental programs. He will draw on the excellent associate department heads and staff in both departments as he provides leadership across the units.

Eliana Pinilla receives second place in the (USDA/NIFA-AAHHE-TAMUCC) Master's Thesis Award Competition

Congratulations to Eliana Pinilla, a graduate student in the Food Science and Technology program, on being named the second place winner in the United States Department of Agriculture/National Institute of Food and Agriculture- American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education- Texas A&M University- Corpus Christi (USDA/NIFA-AAHHE-TAMUCC) Master’s Thesis Award Competition!

The Master’s Thesis Award Competition, focused on the food and agricultural sciences, is a collaborative initiative between the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education (AAHHE) and Texas A&M University- Corpus Christi (TAMUCC). Latino students whose thesis focused on one of the priority areas (food safety, climate change, sustainable energy, childhood obesity, or global food security and hunger) completed between August 2010 and August 2011 were eligible for the competition.

Pinilla’s thesis entitled, “Utilization of Sorghum in El Salvador: Grain, Flour, and End-Product Quality” was recognized as this year’s 2nd place winner at the 2012 Career Preparation Institute hosted during the 7th annual AAHHE Conference in Costa Mesa, California on March 7-10, 2012.