Many student clubs are busy with hosting guests and industry speakers, many of which are our alumni. It’s great to see alumni coming back and sharing their real-world experience with students. Last week, I had the honor of listening to visiting with industry and guest alumni at both the agribusiness and soils club meetings. Alumni and industry truly give back to our students and SOA programs. Giving back means not necessarily in monetary terms, but it is also sharing their time, talent, giving ideas and thus inspiring next generation.
Currently, I am visiting with several graduating seniors and conducting exit interviews. I am hearing so many good things from our graduating seniors about the classes, professors and education that they have received from the SOA. One constant theme I am hearing about is how much SOA faculty and staff provide a caring atmosphere, show down-to-earth attitudes and willingness to help. It is exciting for me to hear from graduating seniors that are providing a true and honest assessment. This feedback will help on our constant quest to improve the quality of SOA programs.
Faculty & staff are also getting very busy as the semester is coming to end at such a rapid rate. Academic faculty and staff are busy with student paper corrections and getting ready with final exams preparation, grade submissions, etc.
Congratulations to Drs. Charles Steiner & Annie Kinwa-Muzinga. We are proud to have these two outstanding faculty in the School of Agriculture that received national awards for their dedication to teaching, advising and service to the students. Please know that both are recognized as outstanding advisors among the land grant and non-land grant colleges of Agriculture in the nation, USA. Year 2017 is a great year for School of Agriculture with two outstanding national advisor awards received.
You will read about Dr. Charles Steiner in this edition. Chuck had won the outstanding national advisor award from Alpha Gamma Rho. This is a true testament to his several years of dedication and service to the student fraternity. Similarly, Dr. Kinwa-Muzinga received the national outstanding advisor award for NAMA (National Agri-Marketing Association) during the Spring-2017.
Pioneer Farm is busy with activities with the semester ending and seasons changing. Some of the student employees at Pioneer Farm will be graduating; I encourage students to apply to gain hands-on experience. As always, the farm works to fulfill the mission of educating and training the students.
As you see in the picture above, I was very happy to see the result of my pet project, growing baby ginger in Wisconsin. Along with the help of Tristan Martin, senior horticulture student, we were able to produce baby ginger and entered into the second phase of the USDA project with the marketing of the baby ginger and value-added product creation. Few students and staff that have expertise in producing jams, syrup, beer, candy and other items from baby ginger are helping us with the project. We are test marketing the baby ginger in Hy-Vee, Driftless market, SWOC and Madison food Co-op. We are happy to report that the results are promising and we understood the production & test markets this season. Next year we will go with baby ginger production, marketing and education. Later, I wish to see student entrepreneurs or clubs leading this effort. Also, I hope to see this develop as a student led business in the School of Agriculture. Any and all that are interested will be trained in production and marketing. We request Alumni support for any budding student entrepreneurs. In addition, one of our growing needs is the Pioneer Greenhouse space. With classes, student clubs, faculty research and community use the space has become limited. We need support to expand the size of the operations.
We are conducting a Mini-telethon on World soils day, December 5 to raise developmental funds to support the SOA programs. You will hear SOA student ambassador’s call you anywhere from 6:00pm - 8:45 pm on Tuesday night. Be kind to receive the call and generous in your support.
After final exams, we will go into winter break. Again, January 22, 2018 classes will begin for the Spring 2018 semester. Winterim courses will occur during this break. However, this Winterim is going to be special for the School of Agriculture. Eight faculty are travelling during the break to different countries such as Costa Rica, Thailand, and Spain to develop international relationships. They will return, and then will develop short-term faculty led programs to SOA students that will be available within one year from now. Very exciting times.
Due to break and holidays, next edition of Pioneer Junction will be coming in the New Year with February edition.
As we speak, December weather is amazing. How will the weather change? No one can be sure. However, we sure know that holidays are coming and the year 2017 will be ending soon. Cheers!
Happy New Year and Merry Christmas!
Dr. Rami A. Reddy
Director, School of Agriculture
