agricultuThe College of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Naturalre Resources 2009-10 North Dakota State University
page 2 MOVING IN: Richard H. Barry Hall opens for students
4 A look at student 6 Enforcing honesty 8 Teaching from Iraq 31 Class notes internships Ag Newsletter 1 COVER STORY: Barry Hall
Richard H. Barry Hall opens
Some Richard H. Barry Hall details:
1 142 class sections are scheduled for the fall in the building’s 11 classrooms and one computer lab.
2 Some 125 wells were dug roughly 140 feet deep to use the earth’s temperature to heat and cool the building. The geothermal well field contains more than 3 miles of pipe.
3 More than 3,000 electrical outlets are in the building.
4 The re-use/rehabilitation of the existing building incorporated almost 60,000 square feet of space that previously was empty.
5 The distance from Richard H. Barry Hall to the NDSU gates is the same as the distance from the NDSU gates to the NDSU Research and Technology Park. A flurry of activity opened the fall semester as faculty and staff moved into Richard H. Barry Hall just before classes began.
Fall began with a greater-than-usual flurry of activity faculty excited are the videoconferencing rooms and new as the Department of Agribusiness and Applied Economics digital educational technologies. took possession of its new home in Richard H. Barry Hall, 811 Second Avenue North, Fargo. The spacious new “We look forward to having ready access to that technology building also houses the College of Business, the North to interact more with people across the state and around Dakota Trade Office, a staff member of the North Dakota the world,” Saxowsky said. Department of Agriculture and the Center for Global Initiatives and Leadership. It was dedicated on Oct. 2 By emphasizing the use of the city transportation system, during Homecoming festivities. the university maintained a large green space for the neighboring community and limited on-site parking. Most After all the planning and construction, David Saxowsky, students park at the Fargodome lots and ride the bus to interim chair of agribusiness and applied economics, said Barry Hall. An expanded city bus schedule brings students it feels good to be in the new facilities. Students also are to the building every 12 minutes. More than 4,000 adjusting to the new location with little difficulty. students attend classes in Barry Hall.
Barry Hall is a 135,000-square-foot limestone building “While being apart from the main campus has offered anchored on the west by the classic federal style of the challenges, Barry Hall is really not that far from the former Pioneer Mutual Insurance Building (1925). Barry main campus, and getting between the two has been Hall rehabilitated the existing building and incorporated surprisingly easy,” said Alyssa Tangen, a graduate student other elements of sustainable design in its expansion. in applied economics and agribusiness. Some of the highlights of the new building that have Joel hagen
2 Ag Newsletter Me ss North Dakota State University Economics, North Dakota Trade Office and other related is truly a place of impact, and we programs. This state-of-the-art structure will provide anticipate another strong academic students with a wealth of opportunities as they learn year during 2009-10. Our growth through collaborations with business community a during the past decade has been members from across the state, nation and world. truly remarkable – a testament g e fro m the Pre s i d n t to our many alumni, friends and To help maintain and enhance our close ties with the partners who have helped this people of the state, NDSU leadership participated in the institution during its transition highly successful “Conversations Across the Land” in June. as a leader among our land-grant peers. This year, we visited Grand Forks, Bottineau, Belcourt and Langdon. NDSU has always enjoyed a special relationship Progress is coming on many fronts, and the College with the people of North Dakota, and our “Conversations” of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural Resources trip continued that great tradition. is an essential player in NDSU’s success. At NDSU, the land-grant ideal is a living, evolving concept. Work continues on the outstanding greenhouse complex We are proud of our high quality education, cutting-edge at the Agricultural Experiment Station’s main station research and meaningful service to North Dakota, the on the campus of NDSU. Phase I and Phase II of the nation and the world. This institution will continue to project total $23 million, and will provide our faculty advance in the years to come. and students with facilities among the very best in the country. The research conducted by our plant scientists NDSU is thriving to a great degree because of the will have a profound and lasting impact on North Dakota’s dedication of our many friends, partners and supporters. agriculture industry and the future of our state. That commitment is helping make NDSU a place of impact and an institution of choice for students. Thank you. The impressive Richard H. Barry Hall is now open in downtown Fargo. The building will be home to the College of Business, Department of Agribusiness and Applied Joseph A. Chapman Me ss
Exciting things are happening at The Department of Agribusiness and Applied Economics North Dakota State University recently moved into Richard H. Barry Hall, a truly and the college, as this newsletter state-of-the-art facility that also houses the College of a
will attest. Our faculty and staff Business and the North Dakota Trade Office. We believe g e fro m the D EA N are dedicated to serving our this co-location will provide true synergy in program students and stakeholders development, learning opportunities, and national/ throughout the state on issues international business partnerships. contributing to a vibrant agriculture economy. A sincere The new greenhouse complex is another exciting thank you to alumni, friends, faculty and staff for all development. Phase I of the complex will be completed of their efforts and support. in January 2010, and Phase II, funded at $11.45 million by the Legislature, began this fall. In addition, On the academic front, our programs are some of the construction of the second phase of our new Beef best in the country, and prospective students know it. Research Center will be under way soon. Both of these Undergraduate enrollment keeps growing and our faculty projects will provide excellent facilities for research and have taken graduate student numbers to a new level. student education, and they will be wonderful recruiting These enhanced efforts in graduate education also have a tools for talented faculty, staff and students. great positive effect on research activities throughout the college. As we explore new opportunities and realignments Thanks to all of you for your ongoing support of the to make programs meet society’s changing needs, we are college and university. I believe you will be proud of the confident that the College of Agriculture, Food Systems, academic and research accomplishments we will see in and Natural Resources will experience steady growth. the near future. Ken Grafton
Ag Newsletter 3 feature stories
Internships provide invaluable experiences for students Internships provide the ultimate career trial run. They allow students to experience an organization’s work culture, preview job duties, compare job realities to expectations and assess their own educational preparation before fully committing to a specific role or organization. The end result typically reaffirms a student’s desire to pursue a particular field or helps a student realize adjustments need to be made.
The College of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural A wide variety of internships is available nationwide. Resources strongly supports internships. So much so that Students can seek an internship on their own, through students are encouraged to explore opportunities during the NDSU Career Center or through their academic their first year. department or adviser.
Unlike regular summer jobs, internships are strongly tied But, regardless of where or how the internship is obtained, to the university. Faculty members provide oversight to students will be happy they took the initiative. ensure learning objectives are achieved and academic credit can be earned which can be helpful for financial aid and Here’s a look at what some student interns did insurance purposes. last summer:
Matthew McCann • In the afternoon work on irrigation or hand water fairways, tees or greens. Major | Sports and Urban Turfgrass Management What part of your internship did you Year in School | Senior enjoy the most? | “Even though we had some tough Hometown | Albertville, Minn. times during the golf season, our course looked great …. Where did you intern? | Woodhill Country We knew the course was in great shape by the expressions Club, Wayzata, Minn. and comments the members made to us. Times will get tough Describe a typical day | and stressful, but don’t give up because in the long run it will • Start at 5:30 a.m. and get done at 2 p.m. all pay off.” • In the morning, spray or course setup.
Emily Schlepp Megan Friedt Major | Food Science Major | Animal Science
Year in School | Senior Year in School | Senior mi.
Hometown | Fergus Falls, Minn. Hometown | Mott, N.D. 827 Where did you intern? | Where did you intern? | VALLEY CITY 62 Barrel O’ Fun BPI Technology, mi. INDIANAPOLIS
Snack Foods, Perham, Minn. South Sioux City, Neb. mi. 272 Describe a typical day | Describe a typical day | BEULAH 68 • Check e-mail to see if there were any new requests. • Meet with quality assurance inspectors to discuss mi. PERHAM
• Work on obtaining proper equipment, materials any changes made in the plant or to any of the SOUTH mi. and ingredients for trial runs through databases processes that we did. SIOUX CITY 306 or other means. • Everything from collect samples to make sure the 326 mi. • Talk to a variety of operators to alter machine production employees were wearing hairnets, beard MANKATO settings and ingredients to get specific/desired nets, proper gloves and ear plugs.
characteristics. What is one thing you learned that 233 • Send products out to clients. you didn’t expect to? | “When I started my mi. WAYZATA • Record machine and ingredient variables so product internship I thought I would be spending a lot of time could be duplicated. in the quality assurance lab. I never even thought that What is the most valuable lesson I might end up on the production floor. I learned that you will take with you? | “It takes a lot there were more aspects to quality assurance than just of detail-orientated little steps to make a big difference.” collecting samples and running tests on them in the lab.”
4 Ag Newsletter Logan Heinrich Miranda Schultz Major | Crop and Weed Sciences Major | Natural Resources Management Year in School | Senior Year in School | Senior Hometown | Adrian, N.D. Hometown | Owatonna, Minn. Where did you intern? | Dakota Plains Co-op, Where did you intern? | Coteau Valley City, N.D. Freedom Mine, Beulah, N.D. Describe a typical day | Describe a typical day | • In the spring, work at the seed plant and deliver • Run the rain gauge circuit, check and record the seed to growers via bulk bin or bulk bags. data from rain gauges placed across the mine. • Later in the year, drive the countryside scouting • Survey waterfowl, songbirds or plants and monitor fields for any kind of pest. With that I would stop at wildlife across the mine. growers’ farmsteads and discuss with them possible • Update graphs and tables with new data and solutions to problems in their fields. organize old data. What is one thing you learned that What is the most valuable lesson you didn’t expect to? | “I learned about ozone you will take with you? | burning on soybean plants; something I never even “Sometimes the best way to learn how to do something fathomed before.” is to just do it even if it takes extra time. Most of what I experienced on the mine was new to me and I did not always have someone with me to ask questions so I had Kari Furness to figure out how to do things myself, which proved to be very valuable.” Major | Veterinary Technology Year in School | Senior Hometown | Fargo Where did you intern? | Avian & Exotic Brett Annexstad Animal Clinic, Indianapolis, Ind. Major | Agricultural Economics Describe a typical day | Year in School | Senior • Work with wide range of patients, from rabbits, Hometown | St. Peter, Minn. ferrets and birds to big cats (servals, genets, etc.), Where did you intern? | CHS Oilseed potbellied pigs and wildlife. Processing Division, Mankato Minn. What part of your internship did Describe a typical day | you enjoy the most? | “I loved working with • Meet with various departments. all the different animals — the variety of patients was • Create a daily outlook of the market. wonderful. I also really enjoyed my co-workers. The • Work with producers and elevators to clinic was fairly small — only two vets and two full-time purchase soybeans. technicians in addition to myself, and two people in the • Sell soybean meal to livestock producers by rail front office. I quickly became friends with everyone there and truck. and was sad to leave when it was over.” • Calculate margins and compile competitive bean prices. • Work with trucking companies to
schedule transportation. mi. • Calculate daily processing numbers for our two 827 soybean processing facilities. VALLEY CITY 62 mi. INDIANAPOLIS What is one thing you learned that
mi. you didn’t expect to? | 272 BEULAH 68 “I never thought coming to college that I could possibly mi. PERHAM have the opportunity to be hired as an intern for a
SOUTH mi. fortune 75 company for their entire oilseed processing
SIOUX CITY 306 division and become so involved with the everyday 326 marketing practices.” mi. MANKATO linsey hegvik
233
mi. WAYZATA
5 feature stories
Honor Commission promotes academic integrity
The Honor Commission, front row from left: Jennifer Wadeson, Jayme Fiesel, Janice Haggart faculty adviser, Deanna Frazier. Back row from left: Brook Jameson, Andrew Oliver, Tim Miller, Charlie Aarestad. Not pictured: Mike Bjertness, Preeti Sule, and Garrett Shultz.
Plagiarism. Fabrication. Cheating. Academic dishonesty who can determine the accused student’s rightful can occur in most every type of educational setting from punishment. The commission decides several cases per elementary school to graduate school. At NDSU, the year. Penalties include failure or grade reduction for the academic community operates on the basis of honesty, course, examination, quiz, paper or project, suspension integrity and fair play. Students, or expulsion. “Not only does faculty and staff in the College the Honor Commission give of Agriculture, Food Systems, students an opportunity to and Natural Resources follow an on my honor, i have neither uphold academic honesty, it honor system, using a committee given, nor received aid in is a resource for instructors of 10 students, known as the completing this assignment. because sometimes you need Honor Commission, to enforce “ – Honor Pledge an impartial judge to provide the code of conduct. an impartial recommendation,” says Janice Haggart, Honor When a case of possible academic Commission adviser. dishonesty is reported, the commission evaluates the evidence. “It could be a student cheating off a partner Instructors are requested to explain and include the honor in a lab or bringing a cheat sheet for a test,” says Brooke pledge, “On my honor, I have neither given, nor received Jameson, former Honor Commission president. aid in completing” this assignment,” on all materials required for completion of the class that are designated The commission has the power to call witnesses, take as individual efforts. Students are asked to sign the testimony and if a violation has occurred, recommend pledge before turning in the assignment. If it comes a disciplinary action to the instructor of the class back unsigned, the instructor questions the student.
CONTINUED
6 Ag Newsletter Each year, the commission selects three freshmen Academic dishonesty observed or suspected to serve a three-year term beginning their second year. Alternates are selected to fill in for regular members when needed. One graduate student also is Inform instructor, Confront on selected every year. “We look for people with different chair or dean of the spot personalities who aren’t afraid to share their opinions the college and who are able to get along with each other,” Jameson said. Report to the Honor Haggart says she works with a wonderful group Commission of students and enjoys watching each student grow. “It is amazing how they come to decisions. They put a lot of thought into each case,” she said. Honor Commission collects evidence and determines if The NDSU student government proposed the Honor a violation has occurred System in 1955. In elections held every four years, students have voted in favor to continue using the Honor System along with the Honor Commission. Honor Commission Instructor elects Student may chair notifies sanctions and appeal sanction student, instructor, notifies student, to the instructor, Because of the success in the College of Agriculture, and dean of chair, dean and then the chair then recommended action provost/VPAA the dean Food Systems, and Natural Resources, other colleges have expressed interest in beginning their own Honor Commissions. Jameson says they have worked with College Student Dean Progress refers/decides The College of Science and Mathematics; College of Committee Review Pharmacy, Nursing, and Allied Sciences; and the College of Engineering and Architecture on beginning their own organizations. sadie anderson University Student accepts Student Affairs Academic sanctions: Process notified complete Standards
Greg Lardy named head of Department of Animal Sciences
Greg Lardy assumed duties Systems, and Natural Resources and director of the North Lardy as head of the Department Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station. “I have complete of Animal Sciences on Oct. 1. Lardy confidence that Dr. Lardy will bring great success to the had served the NDSU Extension Service as the state’s beef department and to the livestock industries in the state.” cattle Extension specialist since 1997 and was promoted to professor in July 2009. Lardy earned a bachelor’s degree in animal and range sciences from NDSU in 1991; a master’s degree in animal “Dr. Lardy’s excellent understanding of animal agriculture sciences from the University of Missouri, Columbia, in the state, his long-term activities in Extension and in 1993; and a doctorate in animal science from the research of beef cattle production and management in University of Nebraska in 1997. the northern Plains and his commitment to advance this important segment of North Dakota agriculture His research and Extension programs have focused on beef all played a role in this important selection,” said Ken cattle nutrition and management, with special emphasis CONTINUED Grafton, dean of NDSU’s College of Agriculture, Food on alternative and byproduct feeds. Joel hagen
Ag Newsletter 7 feature stories
Faculty member teaches courses from war-torn Iraq When Cheryl Wachenheim taught economics this past year, her M-16 rifle was always close at hand. As sirens blared, she’d sometimes answer students’ e-mails before heading for a fortified bunker.
Wachenheim was in a combat zone, and yet she taught macroeconomics and microeconomics online from her unit’s base in Balad, Iraq.
The associate professor of agribusiness and applied economics is a captain in the Minnesota Army National Guard. During her just-completed 13-month tour that included stops at Ft. Sill in Oklahoma and Kuwait before her stint in Iraq, she served as the medical logistics o