Derek Henningsen, a 2020 Iowa State University Animal Science graduate, will be continuing his education as a graduate student at Iowa State. Additionally, Derek will be taking over as the new swine teaching farm manager. Derek was a swine research assistant during his time as an undergrad, and has also participated in many activities during his time at Iowa State. Derek was a teaching assistant, a member of several clubs such as Block and Bridle, the ISU Pre-Vet Club, Collegiate Cattlemen, and also was a member of the Iowa State Collegiate Meat Animal Evaluation Team and the Livestock Judging Team.
Mackenzie Cassas of Reno, Nevada, will be joining Iowa State University and serving as the new Sheep Teaching Farm Manager as a graduate student this fall. Mackenzie is a 2020 graduate from Colorado State University with a B.S in animal science and a minor in agricultural business. In addition to owning and operating her own flock of sheep, she has also worked at Harper Feedlot in Eaton, Colorado, and as a carcass data collector at Colorado State University. Mackenzie was also involved in many extracurricular activities while she was at CSU including the Livestock Judging Team, the Meat Judging Team, Wool Judging Team, Block and Bridle Club and the Colorado State University Collegiate Livestock Association.
“It is great to have such high achieving students and quality individuals join our graduate school program and leading our swine and sheep teaching farms. It is a testament to the quality of the animal science program offered at ISU and I look forward to watching both Derek and Mackenzie grow and the service they can provide the State of Iowa,” said Ben Drescher, Iowa State University Animal Science Farms Director.
To learn more about the teaching farms at Iowa State University, please visit: https://www.ans.iastate.edu/farms