CFAES Connect: August 2016

  1. Last Chance to Nominate an Alum for the 2017 CFAES Alumni Awards!

    Nominate an Alum for the 2017 CFAES Alumni Awards!

    Do you have an individual in mind who has made significant contributions to the food and agricultural industries, environmental science or the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences? What better way to honor those contributions than to nominate them for the CFAES Alumni Awards. There are four different award categories given each year that recognize both alumni and non-alumni for making a significant difference in our college or industry through their support, research, talents or leadership. Nominations are due November 7, 2016. The categories are listed below:

    • Meritorious Award: The purpose of the Meritorious Service Award is to give public recognition to non-alumni and/or alumni of the college who have been singularly significant in the college’s quest for excellence.
    • Distinguished Alumni Award: The Distinguished Alumni Award gives public recognition to those who have brought distinction to themselves and the college at large through their participation, commitment, and leadership.
    • International Alumni Award: The International Alumni Award is presented to outstanding international agriculture alumni representing, supporting, and promoting the college and The Ohio State University around the globe.
    • Young Professional Achievement Award: The Young Professional Achievement Award recognizes alumni for their early professional accomplishments. This award provides recognition for these individuals and serves as a stimulus toward further efforts by younger alumni.

    Individuals who have received an award in one alumni award category are not eligible to receive the same award. Click here to see a list past recipients. To nominate an individual, please complete the application here.  If you would like to nominate an alum for a 2017 CFAES Alumni Award, please download this form or contact Jody Poth at poth.20@osu.edu.

    Nominations for the 2017 awards will be accepted through November 7, 2016.

  2. You’re Invited to the CFAES VIP Alumni Tent at Farm Science Review 2016

    The Alumni VIP tent is at the corner of Beef Street and Land Avenue

     

    CFAES VIP Alumni Tent  When: September 20 – 22, 2016 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.  The tent will be open for the duration of Farm Science Review.  Where: Near the corner of Beef Street and Land Avenue  (next to the Tobin Building).  Please bring your friends and stop by the VIP alumni tent for a sweet treat and a place to sit down and interact  with alumni, staff and students! Also, enter for a chance to win a free pair of football tickets to the 2016  Homecoming game and Fallfest tailgate. For questions, please contact Jody at poth.20@osu.edu.

     

  3. You’re Invited: CFAES Speed Networking Event

    Students networking with alumni

    Come participate in the CFAES Speed Networking Event, 6-7:30 pm Wednesday, Sept. 14, in Kottman Hall Lobby.

    The event is hosted by the CFAES Career Development Office and the CFAES Advancement Office. 

    As a professional in your field, you will provide students with the opportunity to practice their networking skills to prepare for the FAES Career Expo. Along with speed rounds, there will be open networking with snacks and beverages provided. Students will rotate between alum every several minutes to practice their elevator pitch, as well as asking questions of alum regarding their career.

    Following are sample questions students might ask during the speed networking event:

    • What field/industry do you work in?
    • What are some pros and cons to working in that industry?
    • How did you break into your line of work?
    • Given my career interests, what advice might you provide to help me become successful?
    • What can I do as a student to build and maintain my professional network?
    • What tips, if any, do you have for the job search process?

    Attire for the event will be business casual.

    Please contact Mary McLaughlin to RSVP (mclaughlin.154@osu.edu) by Friday, September 9th

  4. Gurd Assumes Leadership Role for CFAES Advancement

    Andy Gurd

    The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences is pleased to welcome Andy Gurd as its new chief advancement officer.

    Gurd succeeds Chris Delisio, who has become assistant vice president for development for University Development.

    “I am excited to begin my new role and lead the FAES advancement team,” Gurd said. “Autumn has magnificent events such as Farm Science Review, Homecoming and the celebration of the But For Ohio State Campaign’s completion. I look forward to these opportunities to meet more of our college alumni and friends.”

    Alumni may be familiar with Gurd, who most recently served as associate vice president and chief operating officer of The Ohio State University Alumni Association. He had been with the association for nine years. Before that, he was vice president of sales and marketing for a regional IT consulting firm.

    Furthermore, Gurd is no stranger to the college. He worked closely with Provost Bruce McPheron, Dean Lonnie King and Professor Casey Hoy on the Buckeye Summit, which focused on the issue of food insecurity. He also traveled to Morogoro, Tanzania on the college’s behalf to consult and teach on alumni relations and philanthropy at Sokoine University of Agriculture. In addition, he has met with CFAES students and leadership at a variety of college and university events.

    A native of Belfast, Northern Ireland, he grew up in the Cleveland suburb of Bainbridge, Ohio.

    Gurd earned his undergraduate degree from The Ohio State University and was Academic-All-Big-Ten while starting at linebacker for the Buckeyes in the late 1980s and early 1990s. During those years he was presented with the John Nagy Award for The Outstanding Freshman Defensive Player and the Woody Hayes Award for the Outstanding Student Athlete, both from the Cleveland Alumni Club.

    He has an MBA from Kent State University and a Masters of Business Operational Excellence with a Black Belt in Six Sigma from the Fisher College of Business at Ohio State.

    Andy and his wife, whom he met at Ohio State, have three children and live in the Columbus suburb of New Albany.

     
  5. $5 million gift gives OSU Extension new facility at Waterman Farm

    Waterman Farm Rendering

    A $5 million gift will extend the outreach arm of The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.

    The gift creates the Franklin County Extension Building Capital Fund, which will be used for construction and maintenance of new Franklin County Extension offices and learning spaces on Waterman Agricultural and Natural Resources Laboratory.

    Waterman, which consists of 261 acres of farmland located northwest of West Lane Avenue and Kenny Road, is designated for a major renovation into a research, learning and outreach hub.

    Bringing Franklin County Extension to Waterman will put cutting-edge research at the extension office’s front door. The new office will engage the community in demonstration gardens, large urban farm enterprises, nutrition kitchens and day camps. Pending approval from the Board of Trustees, construction will begin in 2017.

    The donation comes from a longtime Ohio State supporter who wishes to remain anonymous.

    Read more here.

  6. Welcome Back, Students!

    Students holding hands on the Oval

    Sidewalks, buildings and residence halls throughout The Ohio State University campus are scattered with students eagerly attending new classes and events. 

    Students at the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences arrived Autumn Semester to find the new Noster House. The North Campus residence hall has a learning community space which provides an opportunity for students interested in agriculture, natural or environmental resources to associate with one another. It bears the same name as the residence hall built on the same spot in the 1960s to honor Bill Nosker, a football player who was later killed during World War II.

    Nosker House is awesome," Freshman Kady Davis said. "It has several study rooms, a kitchen and lounging areas. It makes the transition to college that much easier when you’re able to be around those who share the same interests as you.”

    Nosker House

    Mindi Brookhart, a junior in agricultural communication, is looking forward to the opportunity to focus on her major classes in CFAES but still take advantage of her time on central campus by networking and continuing to meet new friends. 

    “The positive energy of campus this time of year is contagious. You can’t help but love being back, seeing old friends and meeting new faces,” she said.

    David Glass, a senior in agribusiness and applied economics, is excited to be in the `Shoe cheering on the football team with 100,000 fellow Buckeyes. “It’s always great to come home to campus. Fall semester is especially great as we welcome new students, start a new year and get pumped for another great football season," he said.

    Being back on campus, surrounded by friends and all of the amenities that Columbus offers, is incredible, said Natalie Miller, a junior in agribusiness and applied economics.

     

     
     
  7. Cloud Computing and the Future of Agriculture

    Cloud-based computing

    Farmers, businesses, non-profits, and startups around the globe are using cloud computing to accelerate innovations in agriculture, increase crop yield, conserve natural resources, create a safer and more resilient food-supply chain and fight hunger. In support of Ohio State’s Discovery Themes, and in tandem with the 2016 Farm Science Review, Amazon Web Services will present a full day of demonstrations showing how the cloud, big data and the Internet of Things are shaping the future of agriculture. Students, professors, business managers, entrepreneurs, researchers and investors interested in the future of agriculture are invited to attend. This free event is from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 19 at the Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center on the Ohio State campus. Breakfast and lunch are provided, but space is limited. To see the full agenda and to register, go to https://aws.amazon.com/government-education/open-data/AgAnalyticsatOSU/

  8. Enjoy An Evening of Ohio Wine and Food for Ohio 4-H!

    An Evening of Ohio Wine and Food

    An Evening of Ohio Wine and Food is the annual fundraising event of The Ohio 4-H Foundation. 

    The mission of the Ohio 4-H Foundation is to raise money to enhance the 4-H Youth Development Program of OSU Extension. 

    The money raised from the event supports Ohio 4-H programming and operations, the Ohio 4-H Foundation Master Endowment and the Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center Endowment.  These proceeds will benefit all 88 counties in Ohio and reach more than 289,000 Ohio 4-H Youth. 

    We depend on your support to continue successful programs, develop new initiatives and improve Ohio 4-H offerings at the state, county and local levels.

    The Ohio 4-H Foundation & Nationwide invite you to

    An Evening of Ohio Wine & Food

    in support of Ohio 4-H youth

    Saturday, October 22, 2016

    Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center

    2201 Fred Taylor Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43210

    5:00 p.m. Ohio-Themed Hors D’oeuvres Stations and Silent Auction

    6:30 p.m. Program, Followed by Live Auction

    8:00 p.m. Conclusion

    Business Casual Attire

    Attending guests must be 21 years or older.

    RSVP by September 2, 2016, by completing the registration card and mailing it with your payment to The Ohio 4-H Foundation.  Please direct any questions to The Ohio 4-H Foundation at 614-292-6943 orohio4hfoundation@osu.edu.

  9. New to View: What Would You Tell Your Freshman Self?

    Senior Rachel Townsley

    What would you tell your freshman self? These six seniors answer the hypothetical question.