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FOR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS OF DALHOUSIE’S FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE BALANCING NEW A FULL PLATE BIOVETERINARY page 30 SCIENCE PROGRAM page 6 A BARLEY STORY page 12 AGGIES IN AFRICA page 9 VOLUME 44 NO. 2, 2016 FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE VOLUME 44, NO. 2 2016 CONTENTS MESSAGES . .3 From the Editor . 3 From the Dean . 4 From the Alumni Association . 5 COVER STORY .................6 Bioveterinary Science . 6 Hannah Miles . 8 9 African Wildlife Ecology . 9 Post-Baccalaureate Programs . 11 EVENTS AND REUNIONS .......12 Barley Party . 12 12 27 Convocation . 14 Dean's Receptions . 17 Upcoming Events . 19 DONOR RELATIONS ...........20 Scholarship Spotlight . 20 Planned Giving . 21 Annual Giving Report . 22 IN MEMORY . 24 Remembering Don Young . 24 BOARD OF DIRECTORS.........26 AROUND AND ABOUT..........27 Truro Agromart . 27. Tracy Kittilsen . 30 Nadia Davidson . 31 RESEARCH ...................33 ATHLETICS .................. 34 14 AGRICOLA NEWS 2 SUMMER 2016 AGRICOLA NEWS SUMMER 2016 Letter from the Editor Happy summer, Aggies! The sun is shining, the birds are Management, as highlighted in the chirping, and the Agricultural last issue of the Agricola News . New Campus is its usual beautiful self . If post-baccalaureate programs are also you haven’t stopped by to visit lately, available in the areas of Environmental summer is the perfect time to do Biology and Food Bioscience, for so . The grass is green, the Alumni those interested in a post-grad Gardens are replete with colour, and specialty . You can read more about the animals are enjoying the nice these programs on page 11 . weather as much as we are . Our events lineup continued over the We are so fortunate to have an winter and spring with receptions in operational farm on our campus Gander, NL, Halifax, NS and Calgary, that not only plays a role in primary AB, as well as the second “Aggie production but also provides Night at the Bearcats” in Truro in immeasurable teaching and learning February . The seventh annual Barley opportunities to our students . Party (and the largest yet!) took place Animals have always been and will in April, and in May we welcomed always be a vital part of agriculture; 234 Aggies to the alumni family at in fact, agriculture would not and Convocation . You can read more could not exist without them . And as about all of these events and more in agriculture evolves, so too do its job this edition of the Agricola News . opportunities . Careers in agriculture Published twice yearly by Dalhousie’s Take a moment to acquaint yourself Faculty of Agriculture and animal-related fields are more with the Alumni Association’s Board widespread than ever before – from of Directors, whose bios and photos animal care to marketing to research you can find on page 26 . These EDITOR – and it is crucial that we prepare our volunteers represent you and provide Colette Wyllie graduates for them . guidance for alumni programming . If That’s why our programs on campus you are interested in getting involved CONTRIBUTING WRITERS are always evolving, too . In this with the Alumni Association, please Stephanie Rogers edition of the Agricola News, you’ll contact me! Cathrine Yuill Fallon Bourgeois read about one of our newest I hope you enjoy this edition – as Katherine Doyle programs, Bioveterinary Science, always, if you have any feedback, Emma Geldart which aims to fill the gap between please pass it along . We love to hear Judy Smith Pre-Veterinary Medicine and Animal from you! Science . You’ll also read about one of our new and exciting courses – Regards, CONTACT INFORMATION African Wildlife Ecology – that saw Dalhousie University, AC students travel to the Amakhala Faculty of Agriculture Game Reserve in South Africa for the P O. Box 550 first time this spring . Truro, Nova Scotia Colette Wyllie B2N 5E3 Biovet isn’t the only new program on colette wyllie@dal. .ca campus – this fall will also see the first 902 .893 .6022 PHONE: 902-893-6022 intake of the post-diploma Bachelor EMAIL: agalumni@dal ca. of Technology in Small Business Mailed under Canada Post Publications Mail Sales Agreement No . 40063668 AGRICOLA NEWS 3 SUMMER 2016 MESSAGES Dean’s Message Dr. David Gray Dean, Faculty of Agriculture Principal, Dalhousie Agricultural Campus “Some people talk innovative course, African development and delivery of June . You can read more Wildlife Ecology, as part the African Wildlife Ecology about their adventures to animals. Not of our newest program in Course . The Faculty of on pages 9 and 10 of this many listen though. Bioveterinay Science . Agriculture truly believes in Agricola News, or for a applying theory to practice, more detailed account, That's the problem.” I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to study real ‘hands-on learning’ check out their blog at — A.A. Milne in South Africa and that and this is a fantastic blogs.dal.ca/awe. experience has stayed with example of that approach . As the only named program Animals have long been me throughout my career . This optional three-week of its kind in Canada, our an essential part of the The biology and ecology credit course allows Bioveterinary Science teaching and learning you get to see - to live - is in students to spend three program at the Faculty process at the Faculty a different league to what weeks in a tented camp of Agriculture provides a of Agriculture and our we are used to here in the in the Amakhala Game foundation for a career students are fortunate northern hemisphere . When Reserve in South Africa in veterinary medicine – to have the opportunity you bring in the “Big 5” while participating and opens up a world of to learn by doing . things get really exciting . in lectures on such other exciting options . Beloved events like our Predator-prey relationships, topics as anthropology, You can read more about annual College Royal conservation, ecological ecology, animal behavior, this program on page 6 . competition are a interactions from micro to palaeontology and the Enjoy this edition of the testament to generations macro scales and you’re climate and history of the Agricola News and join us of students dedicated to living right in the middle of region . They are also taken in our educational journey maintaining the culture it all . It is simply fantastic! on fieldtrips to surrounding with animals by our side . of animal husbandry and The Faculty of Agriculture areas to experience various health, while continuing to is proud to be partnering ecosystems including Addo improve public awareness with Rhodes University, one Elephant Park and Mountain of agricultural issues . of South Africa’s leading Zebra National Park . And it is within this research universities, and Our first group of 13 spirit that the Faculty its world-renowned Wildlife students to participate in of Agriculture recently & Reserve Management this course spent three launched a unique and Research Group on the weeks in South Africa in AGRICOLA NEWS 4 SUMMER 2016 MESSAGES MESSAGES Newfoundland, we hope Alumni that you will have an opportunity to join fellow Associaton alumni in some of these events . In November, we will be honouring three Message very deserving alumni at Chair our annual Blue & Gold Audrie-Jo McConkey, Awards Dinner . Class of ‘03 This spring marked our seventh annual Barley Party, where 120 Barley rings were presented to the newest members of our alumni family – and the biggest Greetings, Aggies! I am obvious, as you could note for an additional year as Barley Party to date! The pleased to provide my first her presence at almost past chair . Barley ring has become a Agricola News message in every alumni reception and Our official ‘baton-passing’ cherished tradition since my new role as chair of special event hosted in the took place at the annual its introduction in 2010 . the Faculty of Agriculture region during her term . Her general meeting of the There are now over 750 rings Alumni Association . excellent emceeing skills Alumni Association this proudly worn on the fingers ensured a great number of I have been a board member June . This meeting also of NSAC and Dal AC alumni events ran smoothly and her around the world, and this of the Alumni Association marked the end of two board passion for her alma mater members’ terms – thanks number grows all the time . since 2010, and for the was infectious . Thank-you, to Ashley Baskin (Class If you would like to be part past two years, have been Jean, for being such a of ’09) and Harris Bakker of this great tradition, please fortunate to serve as vice- stalwart leader . We have (Class of ’15) for all the time contact Colette and she will chair under the leadership been lucky to have you, and and effort you both put be happy to place your order . of Jean Lynds . Jean’s are grateful that you will towards the board and the dedication to her role was continue to serve the board There is lots of excitement association as a whole . A big on campus as we celebrate welcome goes to our newest summer and look forward directors, Shelly Juurlink to new programming for (Class of ’01) and Nathan our students in the fall . I Murray (Class of ’11), we hope you enjoy this edition look forward to the Aggie of the Agricola News, which enthusiasm that you will highlights some of these bring forward . programs, as well as some We have an exciting members of our alumni schedule of events forth family who are making coming this year . We are a difference in the world thrilled to be hosting the of agriculture . Classes of ’51, ’56, ’61, Please don’t hesitate to ’66 and ’96 for reunions reach out to the board on campus over the next whenever you have a few months, along with question or concern .