june 3, 2011

Isn't it sad when you start a project and fail to keep up with the process? The 2010-11 academic year has been full of growth, achievements and fun--So much so, my intended monthly entries fell to the wayside! Then I was working on the annual report for the Dean--and I realized I could share much of what has happened with parts of the report! So below you will find a brief outline of the year's events. I would also encourage you to visit the Facebook sites listed on our blog to see the wonderful photos and further information posted by faculty, students and friends!

Billye

a. DEGREE INNOVATIONS

• Agritourism—Proposed Spring 2010—Approved August 2010

· The first offering of ATOU 1120, Introduction to Agritourism, was made this Spring (2011) to 16 students. At the writing of this proposal we have 4 students declared Agritourism and 3 incoming freshmen that have also said this would be their field of choice. We now are focusing on finding the right individual to become our first faculty member in Agritourism.

• Agricultural Engineering Technology—Proposal for Accreditation—Process began Fall 2010

· It should be noted this is a multi-year process. The curriculum has been changed to meet the criteria for Accreditation, and now must be implanted for the committee to judge its effectiveness. Projected completion of this process would be 2012-13

• Restructuring of School Concentrations—

· Based on student needs and the ever changing face of Agriculture, the faculty voted to re-vamp several of our concentrations into broader and more inclusive topics. We believe the

changes will prove more useful for today’s students and a more efficient use of faculty time. The appropriate applications and forms are being completed this summer for submission in Fall 2011. Below is an outline of some of the proposed changes:

Animal Science

· Restructuring and developing new, concise classes in Large Ruminant Management and Non-Ruminant Management

· Offering combined laboratories for related classes. These would be offered as separate courses and will be designed to provide students with more in-depth experiential learning opportunities

Agricultural Engineering Technology

· Continue with the implementation of the recently re-vamped coursework for the Accreditation process

· Also move to assist in the development the new and more appropriate laboratory setting at the Tech Teaching Farm.

Plant & Soil Science

· A completely new concentration combining Agronomy & Soils, Environmental Agriscience, Horticulture, Nursery & Landscape and Turfgrass.

· This new concentration will offer three options—Crop Science; Management; and Enviro

nmental Soil Science. Students opting for Crop Science will be able to specialize in horticulture, organic, or traditional agricultural cropping systems. Those opting for the Management area can specialize in Nursery Management or Turfgrass Management. Finally, the Environmental Agriscience option will serve as a lead-in to one leg of our new masters degree.

Agricultural Leadership

· This new concentration will focus on the development of an emphasis that allows students to study leadership, communication, and the applied sciences of agriculture.

Development of a Masters Degree

· The letter of intent for a Master of Science in Agriculture is currently in process. Projected deadline for submission is July 1, 2011.

II. COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS

• QEP—Basement Mural---Dr. Janice Branson and Dr. Pat Coleman

“Agricultural Communication using Visual Media”—This project included both art and agr

iculture students. The mural runs the length of the north-south hall in South Hall’s b

asement. While depicting agricultural scenery on the top part of the mural, the bottom 1/3 shows typical soil profiles for various forms of topography. Students and faculty have worked diligently on this project all year.

• The use of service learning projects often results in greater connectio ns with the community at large. The School of Agriculture boasts a variety of service-learning opportunities, two that are directly related to courses are:

o AnS 1200, Introductory Animal Science—Students are required to work in small groups of two or three and spend a period of five weeks volunteering with a local business or agricultural producer on projects relating to animals as approved by the instructor.

o AED 3210, Professional Leadership—In this course students are required to complete 20 hours of volunteer work with the organization or cause of their choosing (once approved by faculty).

III. PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS

• AED 4950, International Experience 2011--Prague. Travel c

  

  ourse developed to provide insight into the w orld of international agriculture—includes two weeks in Prague. (Frazier & Best)

• Initiated the drive to create an acceptable laboratory setting for Agricultural Engineering Technology by repurposing the defunct Dairy loafing shed, calf parlor and milking parlor buildings.

• Submitted approved proposal for conversion of 9.4 acres of the Tech Farm (surrounding the Shipley Barn) into an 1830s Heritage Farmstead, to serve as laboratory for Agritourism. (Foster)

• Initiated recruitment efforts for the Nursery Landscape faculty position

• Initiated recruitment efforts for the Agritourism faculty position

• Submitted proposal for Animal Science faculty position

IV. HIGHLIGHTS OF KEY AREAS

a. FACULTY RESEARCH

· Awarded grants

o $11,598.00 – Higher Education Grant, Tennessee Department of Education (Frazier)

o $9,562.00—Study of effect of genetic variability and the use of an organically approved mitacide for control of Varroatosis in honey bees. (Greene & Baier)

o $99,940.00 (2008-2010)—Compost and drip irrigation effects on soil and water quality, soil carbon/nitrogen ratios, earthworms and crop yield in organic vegetable plots. (Stearman, Best, Baier, Branson, Young, Greene.)

o $210.00—Dean’s Faculty Development Funds. Presentations for Winter Education Seminar, Tennessee Nursery & Landscape Association, Pigeon Forge (Airhart)

o $6,721.00—Cookeville Urban Forestry—Inventory, Ordinance Compliance. TN Division of Forestry, Urban & Community Forestry Program. TTU Office of Research. (Airhart)

o $3000.00—Crossville Urban Forestry—Inventory, Tree Health Evaluation. TN Division of Forestry, Urban & Community Forestry Program. Awarded by Service Contract to Coorts Memorial Arboretum. (Airhart)

o $500.00—Planting non-vegetated riparian zones in Cookeville Urban Growth Boundary Map. TN Wildlife Resources Agency. (Airhart)

o $29,949.00—Demonstration of Strawberry Production Methods for Early Market—Specialty Crop Block Grant—Innovative Specialty Crop Project, USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant, Tennessee Department of Agriculture. (Best)

o $5000.00—An Economic Analysis of Yield and Quality Differences Associated with Two Different High-Tunnel Techniques for Heirloom Tomatoes. TTU Faculty Research Grant. (Best)

o $147,077.00—Compost Center and High Tunnel Construction and Management for Farmers, Tennessee Department of Agriculture (Stearman & Best)

o $5000.00—Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Relationships in Composted Organic Vegetable Plots. TTU Faculty Research Grant (Stearman)

o $3,035.00- Coordination of the Arboretum Certification Program, Tennessee Urban Forestry Council (Airhart, Arboretum)

· Published Abstracts

o Dodson, R., Stearman, G. K., & Branson, J. (2010). Compost and cover crop management in organic vegetable production. American Society of Agronomy Annual Meeting, Long Beach, CA.

o Hoch, J., Stearman, G.K., Branson, J., & Dodson, R. (2010). Conservation tillage and compost treatments affect on soil quality and organic vegetable yield. American Society of Agronomy Annual Meeting, Long Beach, CA.

o Branson, J., Stearman, G.K., & Dodson, R. (2010). Effect of compost rate on soil organic matter content. American Society of Agronomy Annual Meeting, Long Beach, CA.

· Poster/Oral Paper Presentations

o Dodson, R., Stearman, G. K., & Branson, J. (2010). Compost and cover crop management in organic vegetable production. American Society of Agronomy Annual Meeting, Long Beach, CA. (Poster)

o Hoch, J., Stearman, G.K., Branson, J., & Dodson, R. (2010). Conservation tillage and compost treatments affect on soil quality and organic vegetable yield. American Society of Agronomy Annual Meeting, Long Beach, CA. (Poster)

o Branson, J., Stearman, G.K., & Dodson, R. (2010). Effect of compost rate on soil organic matter content. American Society of Agronomy Annual Meeting, Long Beach, CA. (Poster)

· Articles in Refereed Journals

o Murphrey,T., Arnold, S., Foster, B. & Degenhart, S. (2010). Verbal Immediacy and Audio Technology Use in Online Course Delivery—What do agricultural education students think? Western Region AAAE Proceedings, V. 29. Great Falls, MT . American Association of Agricultural Educators

· Articles in Discipline Magazine or Non-refereed Journals

o Foster, B. (2010). Teaching in a Shrinking World. The Agricultural Education Magazine (82) 5. March/April 2010.

b. BOOKS PUBLISHED

Not applicable

c. INNOVATION RESULTING IN SAVINGS, EFFICIENCY AND/OR IMPROVED OUTCOMES

· Restructuring of Farm Management Systems to improve student involvement in experiential education.

· Utilizing faculty and staff teams to better utilize teaching farm facilities.

d. FACULTY, STAFF AND STUDENT AWARDS

i. Faculty & Staff Awards

· Dr. James Baier, TTU Outstanding Teaching Faculty Award

· Dr. Janice Branson, Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science Department at the University of Tennessee.

· Dr. Janice Branson, National Association of College Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA) Teaching Award of Merit

· Dr. Jed Young, Outstanding Committee Member, Tennessee Nursery Association

· Dr. Bruce Greene, SOA Outstanding Faculty Member

· Dr. David Frazier, Tennessee Honorary FFA Degree

· Mrs. Tawnya Moss, Tennessee Honorary FFA Degree

· Mrs. Tawnya Moss, TTU Ambassador of the Month for April

ii. Student Awards

· James Flatt elected Southern Region Vice-President for the National FFA Association at the National Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana in October.

· Becca Hardin elected National Delta Tau Alpha (Agricultural Honorary) President in March.

· Holly Dickens elected National Delta Tau Alpha Eastern Vice-President.

· TTU Team (Holly Dickens, Joseph Summers & Joseph Martin) won National DTA Quiz Bowl

· Tennessee FFA Alumni Convention Collegiate Events Competition winners:

o Animal Science Interview—Andy Ligon, 1^st place

o Agribusiness Interview—Chelsea Doss, 1^st place

o Agricultural Education Interview—Whitney Judd, 3^rd place

o Agricultural Processing Interview—Kaleb Hodges, 3^rd place

o Extemporaneous Public Speaking—Matthew McClanahan, 1^st place

o Prepared Public Speaking—Alyssa Fee, 1^st place

o Prepared Public Speaking—Amanda Scott, 2^nd place

· At the Tennessee FFA Annual Convention in Gatlinburg two of our students were elected as state officers for 2011-2012:

o Alyssa Fee, Western Region Vice-President

o Elissa McLerran, State Secretary

· Summer Internships awarded to TTU SOA students:

o Colby Paul, Governor Haslam’s office, Nashville

o Becca Hardin, Farm Bureau state office in Columbia

o Farmers Cooperative

§ Justin Hill, Overton County

§ Matt Craighead, Putnam County

§ Zach Jolly, White County

o Holly Dickens, USDA Rural Development

o Patrick Johnston, The Beef Connection (Tennessee & Kentucky)

o Amanda Allen, Farm Credit Services

e. COMMUNITY SERVICE ACTIVITIES

· Farm Days with Tennessee Farm Bureau (all faculty and staff)

· Putnam County Soil Conservation District Tree Sale (Branson)

· Tennessee FFA Board of Directors, Board of Trustees, State FFA Officer Selection Nominating Committee, National FFA Officer Candidate Selection Committee (Frazier)

· Tennessee FFA Goodwill Luncheon (all faculty)

· Tennessee Farm Bureau/TTU School of Agriculture Collegiate Debate (Frazier)

· Tennessee FFA Career Development Event hosts for Dairy Products, Floriculture, Nursery/Landscape (Frazier, Branson, Airhart, Young)

· Presentations for high school FFA members and/or secondary level agricultural education teachers (12 in-state, 3 out-of-state) (Frazier)

· Dual enrollment/Dual Credit workshop for teachers (Greene and Byler)

· Hosted the “Heartland Apicultural Society” annual Conference (Greene)

· Assisted in the development of the Putnam County Beekeeper’s Association (Greene)

· Hosted the Tennessee Tech SOA Agriscience Quiz Bowl preliminaries (at Hyder-Burks) and final rounds at Tennessee Farm Bureau Young Farmers Annual Meeting (all faculty)

· Beekeeping presentation for the City of Cookeville (Greene)

· Hosted the Tennessee Organic Production Network Conference in conjunction with the University of Tennessee in Cookeville (Stearman, Dodson)

· “Picking, planting, pruning young trees,” Master Gardener Training Seminar, two presentations for the Chattanooga Association of Landscape Professionals, Chattanooga and Cumberland County Extension Services Country Store, Crossville. (Airhart)

· “New ideas on elemental nutrition,” Chattanooga Association of Landscape Professionals and UT Extension. Green Express Horticulture short course. (Airhart)

· “Picking, planting & pruning trees,” and “New ideas on elemental nutrition,” two presentations for Tennessee Nursery Landscape Association Winter Seminar, Pigeon Forge, TN. (Airhart)

· Landscape Tree Maintenance,” Sequatchie County Master Gardener Training Session, Sequatchie-Bledsoe Community College. (Airhart)

· Using Horticulture Competencies to prepare students for Career Development Events, Career and Technical Education Conference, MTSU, Murfreesboro. (Airhart)

· “Elemental Nutrition for Trees, Revisited.” Tennessee Green Industry Field Day, Nursery Research Center, McMinnville. (Airhart)

· Tennessee Tech Garden Club Auction—plant donations and identification assistance. (Airhart)

· District FFA Agricultural Mechanics Career Development Event (Baier, Frazier)

· Faculty Advisor to Students for Cummins Falls Committee

· Liaison to Farm Bureau Farm Days for “Ag in the Classroom” at Hyder-Burks Pavilion. March 16-17, 2010

· Presentation for Tennessee AgriLeadership 20/20 regarding Organic Program (with Randy Dodson). January 21, 2010.

· Attended and aided with booth set-up for Ag Day on Capitol Hill, April 13, 2010.

· Attended Farm Bureau Women’s Meeting, Feb 2010

After Labor Day, the labor begins!

I'm glad to report good news from returning faculty and students--everyone seemed to enjoy Labor Day and other than being a little sad to return to the daily grind, falling back in the routine! Now things begin to get busy....

On behalf of the TTU School of Agriculture, Dr. David Frazier is coordinating a National Officer candidate training here at Tennessee Tech this coming weekend. Candidates from Tennessee, Texas, New Mexico, Delaware and Virginia will be here and the team is planning to give them a workout. On Friday, Dr. Frazier will use collegiate students to do one-on-one interviews, facilitation and personal rounds. Frazier plans to use college students for this (as that is the age group scoring them at nationals) but will use any adults available! As you can tell these workshops have been successful in the past--the image to your left is James Flatt preparing for state office and the one to your right is Chelsea Doss preparing for National office--both were successful!

In addition, Cookeville area high school students will be coming in for the Facilitation rounds Friday evening for a couple of hours. Saturday morning Dr. Frazier is planning on concentrating on round robin and stand and deliver. His initial schedule includes each student doing two stand and delivers. Each student will be given 15 minutes with the judges for their speech, questions and then critiques. Because most of the candidates will be flying out Saturday afternoon, Dr. Frazier retains the right to get pretty creative with the schedule so no one is late getting back on the road home. Schedules are very hectic and time very precious so we to run from 8:30 a.m. on Saturday until around noon.

While Dr. Frazier is working with potential National FFA officers, Dr. Baier is battling another challenge! Dr. Baier and students are busy boxing up equipment and tools in the basement of the Jere Whitson Building to move out to the renovated Calf Parlor at the Shipley Farm. In case you haven't heard, we are in process of converting the old dairy center into a dream Agricultural Engineering Teaching Center! Be sure to check the TTU Shipley Farm facebook page to updates with the construction!

Moving--don't you love it? Where do you even start? But the good news is they have a clean, newly painted building to move it to! Recognize the building below?

The First Day

I survived the first day! Doesn't sound too impressive does it? But I wanted the first day of my second semester at Tennessee Tech to go well. And it did! Everyone seemed to make it to their classes and it did not rain, and our classes are full--of course we could always use a little more capital, but what's new with that?

We welcomed our students back with homemade cookies and lots of smiles! It seems like our class numbers are also growing. For example, the Introductory Animal Science class filled some time ago and we added another section on Tuesday nights. Today I had 52 students in section 1 and the roll says Dr. Greene will have 32 tomorrow night! Even Soils (which is notorious for being a difficult class) is full!
I think that this what comes from having an enthusiastic and talented faculty and staff. Students can always tell when people sincerely want them to succeed.
Notice we lost a few cookies to faculty passing by...."Caught 'ya Dr. Best!"

What did You Do this summer?

At the School of Agriculture, it never seems to slow down much. We still keep up with routine needs, even those folks on a 9 month contract are regulars at dropping by the office or making time for important meetings.

In June, the faculty traveled to Pennsylvania for the North American College Teachers of Agriculture Conference. On the way, we were able to complete our new Strategic Plan and make big headway on serious "think tank" conversations....plus we had a great time! Although we work together every day all year long, most people don't realize how little time we have together to learn more about each other and what we bring to our table.

Before our trip to PA, faculty and staff spent two days in a planning meeting determining new directions and plans for the coming year. Not only did this help us all get on the same page, it helped each of us recognize the value of our peers--TTU IS A GREAT PLACE TO BE!

The remainder of the summer has been utilized to prepare for fall classes, initiating, the renovation of the dairy loafing shed and calf parlor on its way to becoming the new Agricultural Engineering laboratory and classroom, and beginning to put our strategic plans into action!