The Iowa State University (ISU) Dairy Farm Open House was brought to life again after a two-year hiatus and held on Friday, June 10^th, 2022 from 7am to noon.  The event tri-chairs included: Ms. Christen Burgett, Associate Teaching Professor in Animal Science; Dr. Gail Carpenter, Assistant Professor in Animal Science - Dairy Extension and Outreach, Department of Animal Science; and Ms. Katie England, Program Specialist I, Dairy Records Management Systems. 

Graduate and undergraduate students representing the Iowa State University Department of Animal Science participated in a number of student activities at the recent 75th Annual American Meat Science Association Reciprocal Meats Conference held in Des Moines, Iowa. Students successfully participated in numerous activities including the Iron Chef Product Development Competition, the Processed Meats Contest, and the RMC Quiz Bowl Competition. In addition to competing, students enjoyed networking, reciprocation sessions, and learning with faculty and students from universities across the nation as well as industry professionals.

Craig Morris’s time at Iowa State has played a foundational role in his success today. Graduating in 1992 with his degree in Animal Science and a Pre-Veterinarian distinction, Morris says the things he learned while pursuing his undergraduate degree did a phenomenal job preparing him for his future career.

Morris grew up in his family’s meat company and wanted to be a chef, but after a push from his mom and a visit from an Iowa State recruiter, he decided to attend college and become a veterinarian. However, that quickly changed. After taking Animal Science 270 – Foods of Animal Origin and getting to know Professor F.C. Parrish, Morris got the urge to get started in meat science and has been in the protein business ever since.

The Department of Animal Science held their 2022 Graduate Student Awards Ceremony on May 6, 2022. Faculty, staff, and donors helped recognize the accomplishments of the department’s graduate students. Over the last 5 years, across the four majors the department has maintained 65-80 M.S. and Ph.D. students. These graduates are trained in varying aspects of basic and applied sciences with graduate degrees in four majors that include Animal Breeding and Genetics, Animal Physiology, Animal Science and Meat Science. Minors are also offered in Animal Breeding and Genetics and in Meat Science.

Tanner Volkmann will be a new addition to the Department of Animal Science at Iowa State University as the manager of the new Stanley L. Balloun Turkey Teaching and Research Facility upon his graduation. Volkmann is a current Iowa State animal science student, scheduled to graduate with with his B.S in May of 2022. The Stanley Balloun Turkey Teaching and Research Facility is the latest cutting-edge research facility and is set to open in the summer of 2022. This facility was made possible by the Iowa turkey industry and allied partners.