volume 15, number 2 RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND EXTENSION VICE PRESIDENT’S Mississippi LandMarks is published by the Division of Agriculture, Forestry, and Veterinary Medicine The long days of summer are at Mississippi State University. here, but the eventful beginning of 2019 has not been forgotten. PRESIDENT From historic flooding in Mark E. Keenum many parts of the state to the VICE PRESIDENT powerful tornadoes that hit many Gregory A. Bohach communities, recovery is ongoing. Division of Agriculture, Forestry, INTERIM VICE PRESIDENT and Veterinary Medicine units, Reuben Moore particularly the MSU Extension Service, worked diligently to aid those in need. From putting tarps on damaged roofs to facilitating DIRECTOR, MSU EXTENSION SERVICE food and shelter for displaced people and animals, we are proud of Gary B. Jackson the contributions our people have provided to their communities. DEAN, COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND LIFE SCIENCES At our spring graduation ceremonies, the College of DEAN, COLLEGE OF FOREST RESOURCES Agriculture and Life Sciences awarded 312 undergraduate and DIRECTOR, FOREST AND WILDLIFE RESEARCH CENTER 32 graduate degrees; the College of Forest Resources awarded DIRECTOR, MISSISSIPPI AGRICULTURAL AND FORESTRY 64 undergraduate and 25 graduate degrees; and the College of EXPERIMENT STATION Veterinary Medicine awarded 26 undergraduate and 100 graduate George M. Hopper and professional degrees. We are grateful to these new alumni, their families, and their communities for partnering with us in the DEAN, COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE important work of education, research, and service. We know our Kent H. Hoblet graduates are making a positive difference wherever they go! Mississippi LandMarks is produced by the Included in this issue of Mississippi LandMarks are our college Office of Agricultural Communications. alumni of the year, and we appreciate their advocacy for MSU (see page 26). We are also proud to highlight one of our College EXECUTIVE EDITOR of Agriculture and Life Sciences graduates; read about John Mark Elizabeth Gregory North Looney’s expanding popcorn business, Crop to Pop, on page 16. ASSOCIATE EDITORS This issue also highlights a recent international honor bestowed Robyn Hearn on the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station’s Keri Collins Lewis South Mississippi Branch Experiment Station (see page 18). July 1 marked several transitions within MSU and DAFVM. GRAPHIC DESIGNER Dr. David Shaw, who started his MSU career as a weed science Annette Woods faculty member and researcher, began his work as provost and executive vice president. Most recently, Shaw served as vice WRITERS president for research and economic development. Karen Brasher Dr. Greg Bohach, former DAFVM vice president, began Linda Breazeale Amy Cagle a faculty position in the MSU Department of Biochemistry, Bonnie Coblentz Molecular Biology, Entomology, and Plant Pathology. We Susan Collins-Smith appreciate his tireless dedication to the people and programs in Nathan Gregory the division and congratulate him as he celebrates a decade of Walt Harrington service at MSU this fall. Katie Timmerman Finally, we pause to remember the life and career of U.S. PHOTOGRAPHERS Senator Thad Cochran, whose advocacy for agriculture left an David Ammon indelible mark on Mississippi, MSU, and DAFVM. In planning Megan Bean a tribute for a future issue of Mississippi LandMarks, we have Jonah Holland been reminded of his legacy of service in support of the state’s Kevin Hudson producers, researchers, and systems. His efforts transformed more Logan Kirkland Michaela Parker than one industry in the state, and generations of Mississippians Tom Thompson have benefitted from his work. We offer our sincere condolences to his family. For a subscription to Mississippi LandMarks or an address change, call (662) 325-2262. Thank you for your continued support of DAFVM and our Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity institution. Discrimination in university work in teaching, research, and outreach. employment, programs or activities based on race, color, ethnicity, sex, pregnancy, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, or any other status protected by applicable law is prohibited. Questions about equal opportunity programs or compliance should be directed to the Office of Compliance and Integrity, 56 Morgan Avenue, P.O. 6044, Mississippi State, MS 39762, (662) 325-5839. REUBEN MOORE www.dafvm.msstate.edu/landmarks Interim Vice President CONTENTS Volume 15 • Number 2 • July 2019 Dietetic Internship Alum Markets Division Honors 4 Promotes Diverse 16 Specialty Popcorn 26 Three Alumni Experiences MAFES Station Wins 1/82: Forrest County Noxubee Cotton Gin 18 International Garden 27 Profile 6 Exceeds Expectations Contest News Notes Bats Provide Natural Prescribed Fires 28 8 Pest Control 20 Promote Forest Soil Carbon Cycles Nutramax Gift Sweetpotato Culls 30 Transforms CVM 10 May Be a Viable Feed New Animal Pharmacy Source for Cattle 22 Agriculture Complex Nears Completion CWD: MSU Sets Sights 12 on Deer Health Marine Mammal 24 Institute Offers Opportunities for Brittany Brown Uses Veterinary Faculty 14 4-H Skills Daily and Students ON THE COVER The H. H. Leveck Animal Research Center is an important resource for teaching and research in the MSU Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences. These activities are further enhanced by completion of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ nearby animal agriculture complex (see page 22). (Photo by Elizabeth Gregory North) MISSISSIPPI LANDMARKS 2019 JULY Variety Is on the Menu: Dietetic Internship Promotes Diverse Experiences diverse student group convenes each summer at Service, Aramark (food service), and the MSU Student Health A Mississippi State to complete 1,200 practice hours Center. Students also have optional experiences in sports over the following 11 months, submit a research project for nutrition, farm-to-school programs, or specialty clinical service. publication, and prepare to take the Registered Dietitian exam. Interns conduct cooking demonstrations, provide nutrition Some also complete master’s degrees in nutrition or health assessment, design medical nutrition therapy, make diet promotion. recommendations, perform food-safety inspections, plan menus Enrollment in each Dietetic Internship (DI) class is capped for a variety of audiences, and teach nutritional concepts while at 16 interns. If successful, these students will join an elite group learning from experienced mentors, called preceptors. of well-rounded professionals who educate people about healthy 2018 DI graduate Maria Navarro transferred to MSU’s dietary choices. Their success is MSU’s success, as the program’s program after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico in 2017. accreditation hinges on 80 percent of interns passing the RD exam. She is now a clinical dietitian at Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Armed with shelves of color-coded, three-ring binders and an Medical Center, a 350-bed regional hospital with five intensive- intricate spreadsheet is Dr. Terezie Mosby, associate professor care units in Stockton, California. in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department “This program really cares about the individuality of the interns of Food Science, Nutrition, and Health Promotion. Mosby and their fields of interest,” she said. “For example, I had always has served as the internship director for 3 years, building on a been interested in oncology, and Dr. Mosby arranged a rotation program started in 1990. at St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. Being from California, Mosby explained the fierce national competition for internship this is a huge deal; my coworkers still can’t believe that.” programs; only 50 percent of students who apply get placed. Like Navarro, Dana Carman credits the DI program with In addition to being a top choice for Bulldogs, MSU’s program building her skillset so that she was able to compete for her is steadily growing in popularity among talented, out-of-state dream career. She passed the RD exam 2 weeks after graduation students as graduates tell their friends back home about the in 2018 and is a registered dietitian for Yale Pediatric Specialty broad range of experiences they enjoyed while in Mississippi. Clinics in her home state of Connecticut. “Some internship programs provide all of the experiences in “The DI taught me a lot about the community and resources one location, such as a big hospital, but we want our students to available,” Carman shared. “Having the experience working with see the wide variety of jobs RDs can do,” Mosby said. “We are populations of all ages and different backgrounds has taught me a well-balanced program, and our students love that they can how to connect with people. I’m a better dietitian because I can see what is possible for their futures. We also heavily emphasize offer a variety of services to patients who need them.” research.” The MSU Dietetic Internship is currently granted Rotations include North Mississippi Medical Center in accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Education in Tupelo, Mississippi; Baptist Hospital in Columbus, Mississippi; Nutrition and Dietetics, the accrediting agency for the Academy Starkville Oktibbeha School District food service; the of Nutrition and Dietetics (www.eatright.org/ACEND). Mississippi Department of Health’s Women, Infants, and For more information about the DI program, see https:// Children program; the Mississippi Band of