Making Connections -- the Penn State Network

I made this picture at the end of summer semester and forgot about it. It was made during a field trip by the AG LEAP class at the Moshannon State Forest on the way back to the bus. Students had a chance to talk with the Forest District Manager about issues and activities to keep the forest healthy, useful and available for generations to come. Students in the summer LEAP program get a head start on their education and make connections with other students as they attend all their classes together.

As I thought about the picture I am reminded at how strong the connections are among the students, faculty and alumni of the college. Relationships start as undergraduates and last a lifetime. It is one of the powerful benefits of the Penn State experience.

The College of Ag Sciences feels like a big extended family. They help each other in school and that help continues through professional lives and beyond.

Moving In -- Fall Semester at Penn State

A chance picture while walking across campus. Three students working to help parents and students navigate their way to the proper residence halls and keep traffic flowing as thousands will return to University Park this weekend.

From left to right are Laura, graphic design major, Phil, landscape architecture major, and Kristen, an educational policy major. They were stationed in North Halls just outside Runkle Hall, home of EARTH House.

EARTH House is a Special Living Option (SLO) that brings together University Park students interested in agriculture, the environment, the sciences, medicine, teaching, and many other areas to allow them to live in a community-like atmosphere. The SLO is a recognized club within the College of Agricultural Sciences.

I don't remember assistance like this when I came to campus in the summer of 1972. All I remember was that Hurricane Agnes had just passed through the area and many roads were flooded.

Laura, Phil and Kristen have some pretty snazzy rain gear don't they?

2009 Ag Progress Days

The 2009 version of Ag Progress Days draws to a close today. For those of you unable to make the trip to Rock Springs this year I thought I would post a few pictures to give you an idea of what you missed and hopefully inspire a trip for next year. The picture above was made on Tuesday morning, the first day of the show. Ag Progress Days always runs for three days -- Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. See a Penn State Live slide show of the event HERE.

The focus of exhibits in the College Building this year was water. One of the popular stops was the Green Roof exhibit demonstrating the advantages of these types of systems for stormwater control and energy savings. Rob Berghage, associate professor of horticulture and greenroof researcher was on hand to answer questions.

A six-hitch team of horses were at the event to give people an idea of how things used to be done before the advent of mechanically powered transport. Draft horses inspire a measure of awe and their controlled power was demonstrated in the riding ring. The woman in the picture above along with her colleagues showed their experience getting the horses ready. And the training of the horses was evident too.

There is always plenty of production equipment on display. The longer I attend the event the more exotic the equipment seems to become. I used to know what most everything was. Now there are devices that I can't even guess their purpose. Progress.

Dean McPheron and Penn State President Graham Spanier attended the luncheon for Government and Industry Day. It was a full house in the Special Events Building.

Entomology was the highlight this year in the youth building and there were plenty of insects -- live and mounted-- for kids to look at. I watched these two young people methodically move through the exhibit and learn as much as they could. Here they were looking at butterflies. On the other side of the exhibit were Tarantula's, scorpions and other live insects.

Farm safety demonstrations occur every day including tractor rollover problems. I see these test machines in the Ag Engineering Building and they take quite a beating. Special accommodations are made to keep the engines running well despite being inverted over and over again.

Kids had the chance to see baby chicks up close in the Youth Building. The 4H Embryology project is just one of the ways young people learn about animals. There was a nonstop flow of kids at this exhibit.

At the equine demonstration area visitors had the chance to watch riders in a range of events. This young woman was engaged in a jumping demonstration. I caught her as she was swinging her horse around for another approach at the jump.

Main Street crowded with people. This was made towards the end of the day on Wednesday. Along this stretch of the event are the food vendors. Lots of good stuff to eat.

Make plans to attend next year: August 17-19, 2010.

Penn State Honey Bees

Just outside the greenhouses behind Tyson Building are several beehives. The only beehives on the University Park campus. Most people never notice them unless someone is there working. They blend nicely into the campus landscape.

Commenting on the lack of hand and arm protection the two students who work in one of the entomology labs doing bee research told me, "These are very relaxed, laid back bees." The bees are probably fat and happy with all the nectar and pollen available from the thousands of flowers on campus. I learned that honey from these colonies is exquisite -- light in color and sweet unlike any they've tasted. Makes perfect sense that Penn State honey bees would make great honey.

For more information check out the site on honey bee and pollinator research.

Signs of Summer at University Park

In the middle of summer the campus is bright with flowers. These pictured above are in beds along the Agricultural Sciences and Industries Building. The Penn State landscaping crews do an amazing job maintaining a blossoming variety of annuals and perennials.

I can't pass up some of the splashes of color that a digital camera so easily records. No waiting!

Terry Etherton: Head of the Department of Dairy and Animal Science

Yesterday I had the opportunity to make an informal portrait of Dr. Etherton for the Dairy and Animal Science Web site. In addition to his administrative role as head of the department he also maintains a blog that deals with issues related to biotechnology and animal science. Visit at the link below:

Terry Etherton Blog on Biotechnology

The department is involved in a wide range of research, teaching and Extension activities from reproductive biology and animal diseases to companion animals and collegiate livestock judging.

If you are interested in pursuing an undergraduate degree click HERE.

For more information about the department visit Department of Dairy and Animal Science.