In the new role as Director of the School of Agriculture, after three months on the job, I am very excited to write this message for our second edition of Pioneer Junction, a meeting place for all. During the last few months, I found myself surrounded by highly dedicated and motivated colleagues and staff. I have lots to say about these fine individuals but have limited space. I will do my best to condense it down. October was filled with so many activities such as; homecoming events, football game(s), mid-term exams etc., SOA received corporate gifts, sponsorships and many individuals contributed to SOA development funds. Thank You donors, Compeer Financial & Vita Plus! In the beginning of October, I attended the NARRU conference at San Louis Obispo, California. I visited Cal Poly and was amazed at the level of transformation happening at their campus through private business and alumni support. Multi-million dollar buildings are popping up everywhere. We took a tour of several agribusinesses in the Central Valley. I was blown away with the size and scope of CA agricultural production, growing from A to Z, i.e. Artichokes to Zucchini. The one continuous thought that lingered in my mind was a national exchange where we can send our students to California and receive theirs to experience our mid-west agriculture. It would be a great learning and experience to all. SOA students are busy with classes, exams, club and social events. From the student club standpoint, many clubs have hosted and participated in countless activities, some of which you will read about in this newsletter. SOA office is sponsoring student leaders to attend the AFA (Agriculture Future of America) conference in the first part of November. In doing this it is our effort to further boost the leadership qualities of SOA students. Ag student council recently elected their new leadership. Ag ambassadors were busy showing the campus, facilities, and giving farm tours to prospective student families and friends. Ag Ambassadors represented SOA at Dairy Expo and furthered our recruitment efforts. Ag internship night happened in the spacious Velzy commons located in Ullsvik hall and was a huge success. Students created a total of 115 poster presentations and 43 oral presentations. They shared their summer internship experiences with faculty & staff, the university community and they inspired many other students. Faculty are still very enthusiastic with their classroom teaching, research and professional development activities. Many ideas developed into research proposals. I signed on several team-based grant proposal transmittal forms, with ideas spanning anywhere from applied research in agro-ecology, pig feeding, plant symbiotic relationships to multicultural scholars recruitment into SOA majors. These grant proposals submitted to federal agencies such as USDA, NSF etc., Even though the end goal of earning these grants is very much desired, it is the process of it all that makes me consider the potential of how much we all can do, when we put our bright minds together and work as a team. Our two faculty that visited China had returned with rich experiences and identified many opportunities. We are working towards building sustainable international educational opportunities to SOA students, coming January-2018 (Winterim). Many SOA faculty are heading in all directions of the globe; Spain, Costa Rica and Thailand are where faculty and staff are visiting to develop programs for students. When these efforts come to fruition in one year’s time many international study programs will be available to SOA students. Currently, we are offering a short-term faculty led program in the summer 2018 to the Netherlands – Going Dutch. Already 23 students are applying to attend this amazing opportunity. Pioneer Farm is buzzing with activities where the staff members are assisting faculty with hands-on laboratory activities to undergraduate students. Pioneer Farm is our living and learning lab. Production crews were busy with harvest activities. Likewise, Pioneer greenhouse is also humming with classes, and visitors alike. Our biweekly SOA Faculty & staff meetings are full of discussion and planning. An active search for assistant professor in agribusiness is underway and will bring the new faculty onboard by the fall semester of 2018. Faculty are also busy attending several professional development and networking events. To report a few, many attended or are planning to attend sponsored events such as Women and Science workshop, Reserve Bank of Chicago conference on Midwest Agriculture, 90th Annual National FFA Convention, Farmers Cooperatives Conference, Badger Swine symposium, etc. Currently, everyone is busy with advising preparation. One beautiful aspect about advising at SOA is that we provide one-on-one advising, where a faculty member directly works with the student. Advisor and advisee relationships are very important in SOA. These relationships are direct, personal, and very helpful to the student. We put great efforts and take pride in creating strong mentor and mentee relationships that will last a lifetime. On building external relationships, SOA received leaders from WI State department of Agriculture (DATCP).  International and agri-business development leaders of DATCP visited with SOA & BILSA leaders & faculty to discuss and share many things of common interest. Last month, I also met with several alumni, agriculture advisory council members and visitors. I made additional efforts by distributing letters sent to several national private family foundations to seek financial support to our most important needs. It is imperative that in order to become world-class institution we generate resources and invest in our people and programs. You should know, SOA is planning on a mini-telethon in the month of December. We hope for your support. I am always open to visit or speak with anyone to answer any questions they may have. As per Chancellors and Dean of BILSA communications, after a long time, we are hearing about pay increases to staff and faculty. No doubt, this will boost the spirits and improve the morale. Enjoy this month’s newsletter edited by Allison Hahn, Agricultural Business major. This newsletter is developed by students and distributed by students with the goal of expanding the awareness of the goings on within the School of Ag. I know, Brevity is the Soul of Wit. Of course, I am not brief but I hope I was able to provide relevant information that you would like to know. When anyone asks what we produce in SOA, we are proud to say a product called ‘the student’. With weather turning cold, already it is feeling like winter. Burrr…! Prepare and Brace for the long winter. Thanks for reading. Have a great day!