eCALS

Ahna Skop, assistant professor in the Department of Genetics, is featured in Madison’s InBusiness Magazine annual “40 under 40″ profile of “young talent and leadership.”

Maury Cotter, Director of the UW-Madson Office of Quality Improvement, has received the Brent D. Ruben Award from the National Consortium For Continuous Improvement In Higher Education (NCCI). Many in CALS have gotten to know Cotter over the past couple of years. She and her staff have advised many CALS departments and centers work on devising strategies to work more effectively — such as holding retreats, engaging in long-range planning, partnering with other departments to consolidate administrative services, streamlining processes and procedures and creating more effective working environments. The CALS Office of the Dean has a standing contract with OQI which covers the costs of providing such services to CALS units. (more…)

WiscAlerts-Text, UW-Madison’s new emergency text-messaging service, reached the 10,000-subscriber mark on Aug. 5. The service, which launched in early May, has attracted steady interest from students, faculty and staff, matching the early expectations of system administrators.

“We want to thank campus for such a positive response to this service,” says Lt. Michael Newton of the University of Wisconsin Police Department. “Our next goal is to work hard to add another 10,000 users.” (more…)

The Madison-based Iota chapter of Alpha Gamma Rho, a social and professional fraternity geared to the agricultural and life sciences, was named the Outstanding AGR chapter out of 64 nationally. This is the first time the chapter has been so recognized. Rick Daluge, emeritus CALS assistant dean, has been affiliated with the chapter since 1968 and is stepping down as chapter advisor after serving that role for 24 years.

Corey Geiger, associate editor of Hoard’s Dairyman based in Fort Atkinson, Wis., received the Andy Markwart Horizon Award from the American Agricultural Editors’ Association. The award is presented to an outstanding young journalist age 35 and under. (more…)

Over 48 percent of the winners in last weeks American Cheese Society contest were graduates of one of the dairy manufacturing short courses offered by the Department of Dairy Science and the Center for Dairy Research. This is a significant increase over last year when 38 percent of the winners were graduates. Wisconsin had 31 percent of the winners this year while California, Vermont, Canada and Texas had 16, 11, 7, and 6 percent of the winners, respectively. It is truly exciting to see the improved quality of the ACS contest and to see that our short courses have been a major part of that improvement.

Dave Thomas, Professor of Animal Sciences and Extension Sheep Specialist, was inducted into the Wisconsin State Fair Sheep Barn Hall of Fame on Wednesday, July 30 at State Fair Park, West Allis for his contributions to the Wisconsin and U.S. sheep industries. His induction brings the number of sheep breeders and sheep educators in the Sheep Barn Hall of Fame to nine. Previous CALS faculty and staff that have received this recognition are Jim Elphick, retired Sheep Unit Manager, Arlington Agricultural Research Station, and Art Pope, Emeritus Professor of Animal Sciences.

Larry Plapp, agricultural instructor and advisor of the Badger FFA Chapter, received the Wisconsin Agriscience Teacher of the Year award at the 79th State FFA Convention in Madison. The Agriscience Teacher of the Year program is sponsored at the state level by the UW-Madison Department of Animal Sciences.

New proof that Wisconsin cheesemakers are unsurpassed in their craft: Cheesemakers from America’s Dairyland swept the annual American Cheese Society Competition today in Chicago, Ill., capturing 91 ribbons, including the prestigious Best of Show prize. Many of the winners have strong CALS connections — they’re alumni of our degree program or the many short courses taught by the cheese whizzes in the Center for Dairy Research and Department of Food Science. (more…)

Ron Schuler, Emeritus Professor of Biological Systems Engineering, was recently awarded the Wayne G. Russell Award by the Wisconsin Section of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers.  This award recognizes an individual or organization demonstrating exceptional commitment to helping the Wisconsin agriculture industry adopt new electric technology, farmstead mechanization and farm equipment. (more…)