News
9th Annual Organic Conference
December 4-5, 2009
Scheman Building, Ames, Iowa
Iowa State University
For schedule of events and registration information, click on the following link: PDF
Iowa State Partners with Makerere University
Seven undergraduate students from Iowa State partnered with eight Makerere University students from Uganda to create a bi-national team. The team assisted primary school teachers in the Kamuli District of Uganda to deliver agriculture, nutrition and health lessons and to develop a school garden. The school garden serves as an outdoor learning laboratory and tthe produce, grains and eggs produced are used in the school lunch. The team in 2009 was the fourth year that the school garden, service learning program was conducted - the pilot program started in 2006. In 2009, faculty leaders were Drs. Gail Nonnecke and Richard Schultz from Iowa State University. Boniface Orum served as the Makerere University faculty leader for the bi-national program.
Bi-national team of Iowa State and Makerere University
undergraduate students participating in the service learning program.
A horticulture major, Ellen Jacobson, participated and completed an independent team project with colleagues from Iowa State and Makerere University. The project included teaching children how to prepare propagation beds and propagate orange-flesh sweet potatoes, which are promoted as a crop to improve Vitamin A content in the children's diets.
Dennis Katuuramu discusses the plant spacing for orange-
flesh sweet potato production to primary school children.
Ellen Jacobson clears an area of a school garden and
prepares a production bed for orange-flesh sweet potatoes.
Lisa Wasko, graduate student in the Department of Horticulture, completed the second year of a research project that assessed childrens transfer of agricultural knowledge from a primary school garden program to their personal home food gardens. Lisa also served as the graduate teaching assistant to the Service Learning course in which Iowa State students and faculty partner with Makerere University students and study abroad in Uganda.
Lisa Wasko (left) interviews a Ugandan pupil about their home
garden. Mercy Kabahuma, a 2008 Makerere University participant in
the service learning program, provides translation.
Department of Horticulture Welcomes Uganda Students
The Department of Horticulture welcomes two new students from Uganda in the department fall semester 2009 - Jackson Nteeba and Dennis Katuuramu. Jackson is an intern from Makerere University and participated in the Iowa State - Makerere University school garden, service learning program in 2008 in the Kamuli District of Uganda. He is the first Ugandan intern to visit Iowa State as part of the service learning program. Jackson will spend approximately 3 months learning about Iowa's horticulture, agriculture, and food systems. Dennis Katuuramu is a new graduate student at Iowa State in the Department of Horticulture. Dennis graduated from Makerere University and participated in the bi-national service learning team in 2006. Dennis worked for Volunteer Efforts for Development Concern (VEDCO - a nongovernmental agency) in their outreach work with the Kamuli community to encourage growing and consuming sweet potatoes with orange flesh for improved nutrient quality. Both Jackson and Dennis are under the guidance of Dr. Gail Nonnecke.
Dennis Katuuramu (left) and Jackson Nteeba (right) learn about
prairie plants and their ecosystem at the Neal Smith WIldlife Refuge
in Iowa.
First Annual All-Horticulture Field Day held August 6, 2009
Comfortable temperatures in the 80’s and partly sunny skies welcomed 233 participants to the Iowa State University Horticulture Research Station (Gilbert, IA) for the First Annual All-Horticulture Field Day on August 6, 2009. Field day participants tailored their own program, choosing from a menu of 10 tour stops. Tour choices included turfgrass, shade trees, vegetables and organic crop production, vineyard, apple orchard, hi-tunnel, landscape planning and installation, wine tasting, demonstration home garden, and ponds. Participants were chauffeured from stop to stop courtesy of a unique field day tradition…the people mover, a glorified trailer with comfortable seats. Lunch was expertly prepared by the Boone County Cattlemen’s Association and Dr. Wendy Wintersteen, Dean of the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences punctuated the luncheon with timely and inspiring comments. Several lucky field day participants received door prizes, and Dr. Henry (Hank) Taber was recognized with a plaque commemorating his many years of service to Iowa horticulture. Afternoon tours and fresh melons from the Muscatine Island Research Farm rounded out the festivities.
Dr. Iles receives check to support research
Dick DeMoss, Secretary/Treasurer of the Iowa Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association presents a check to Dr. Jeff Iles to support 2009 fruit and vegetable research in the Department of Horticulture.
Nonnecke receives Faculty Recognition Award
Iowa State University Division of Student Affairs presented Dr. Gail Nonnecke with a Faculty Recognition Award for her collaboration with the Division of Student Affairs in serving students and supporting student success. Congratulations Gail!
Taber Receives 2009 Extension Award
Dr. Henry Taber, Professor of Horticulture was named 2009 recipient of the ISU Award for Outstanding Achievement in Extension or Professional Practice. This speaks volumes to his commitment to Iowa State and the numerous citizens of the state of Iowa who rely so heavily on the services provided through Extension programs.
