Archive for March, 2011

This year’s national Delta Tau Alpha Convention was hosted by Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tenn. on March 4-6. Eleven universities were represented this year, totaling about 80 students. ACU was well represented, walking away with many honors and good memories.

Colton McInturff, sophomore animal science major from Franklin, Tenn., was elected vice president for the southern region. All the general meetings were chaired by outgoing National DTA President Kyle Ferrell, senior agribusiness major from Weatherford, Texas. The students also competed in the Ag Olympics and earned 3^rd place in the Ag Quiz Bowl. More »

Mandy Scudder, administrative assistant to the Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, attended the Region 7 National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) conference in Oklahoma City March 6-8. 

 NACADA promotes and supports quality academic advising in institutions of higher education to enhance the educational development of students.  The conference provides a forum for discussion, debate and the exchange of ideas pertaining to academic advising through numerous activities and publications.  More »

The ACU Locavore Club is sponsoring the “Just Food” Fair with Joel Salatin Thursday, March 31.  Come and discover how localized food systems improves human health, heals the land, builds communty and enriches culture.

ACU alumnus Alex Wann, now graduate student at the University of Wyoming, attended the Western Nutrient Management Conference in Reno, Nev. on March 3 and 4.  More »

The annual Visiting Committee meeting took place Thursday, February 17.  Those in attendance were Dr. Jeff Hattey, professor of soil science at Oklahoma State University; Dr. Tom Thompson, department head/professor in the Department of Plant Soil Science at Texas Tech University; Dr. Jennifer Grimes, Associate Veterinarian at Belton Veterinary Clinic and Dr. Joseph Bunting, Produce Category Manager at United Supermarkets. More »

The brainstorming is finally becoming a reality on Rhoden farm as students and faculty are hard at work on the raised bed garden project. Teaching students about appropriate agriculture for a developing country is a primary motivation for development of the raised bed gardens where research, demonstration and lab experiences will occur.

The A&E department started discussing the raised bed project in the fall of 2009 and just started constructionlast year. Dr. Nicodemus, assistant professor of environmental science, brings his Plant Science students to work on the garden 5-6 times each semester. More »

A new water catchment project has been completed at the Rhoden farm.  Compared to A&E’s past water catchment project, this tank is much bigger and will provide water for a much broader area.  While not for human consumption, this 16,000 gallon tank will be used to water several raised bed gardens in the surrounding area.

 “We can use the collected water instead of using city water in order to conserve,” said Dr. Nicodemus, assistant professor of environmental science.  “We will be able to use natural rain water rather than using treated water.” More »