Welcome to Food for Thought

The calf connection: Bridging research, learning and student success

In the Department of Animal Sciences, professors Catie Cramer and Jason Ahola are pairing research with student success. From studying calf health and welfare to launching workshops that boost first-year retention, they’re creating hands-on opportunities that prepare students for meaningful careers in animal agriculture. Read more here!

Temple Grandin Equine Center director completes final year as State Fair Foundation president

Adam Daurio, CSU Agricultural Education alumnus and director of the Temple Grandin Equine Center, is completing his third and final year as board president of the Colorado State Fair Foundation. The fair, held in his hometown of Pueblo, welcomes more than 400,000 attendees each year to celebrate Colorado agriculture. Reflecting on his time as president, Daurio shares “I want all youth to have the same opportunities I had – ones that build life skills, community, and a strong sense of pride and purpose.” Read more here!

Dr. Jan Leach: Adapting Crops to Climate Change

Dr. Jan Leach, CSU Distinguished Professor of Agricultural Biology, was featured on The Crop Science Podcast Show. In the episode, Dr. Leach discusses her research on enhancing plant resilience to climate stress, including how disease resistance is influenced by microbes, climate, and pathogen adaptation. She also highlights her work on rice and the role of the Russian wheat aphid microbiome in the insects’ aggressiveness to plants. Read more here! 

Explore unique and impressive learning spaces on campus

The Bernard Rollin Knowledge Well Classroom in the Nutrien Agricultural Sciences Building is a unique 360-degree classroom that encourages participation thanks to surround sound, curved screens, and proximity to instructors and peers. The classroom hosts classes from all majors, including CAS courses like Functional Large Animal Physiology, Introductory Soil Science, and Agricultural and Resource Economics. Read more here! 

Dan Mooney on Water Conservation in Colorado Agriculture

A dry summer, wildfires, and the stalling of the System Conservation Pilot Program in Congress have made water conservation more urgent than ever. That urgency was front and center at the Colorado Water Congress conference in August in Steamboat Springs. 

Dan Mooney, assistant professor of Agricultural and Resource Economics at CSU, told Colorado Politics that voluntary irrigation curtailments can play a significant role in conservation. Speaking with the Colorado Sun, he added that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution—Colorado needs a flexible toolkit of strategies to balance water savings with the realities of farming and ranching. 

Drought conditions worsening across Colorado

Huma Malik and Thomas Borch from Soil and Crop Sciences were featured on CBS Colorado to discuss their agricultural water conservation research. Malik discussed food waste and said that reducing household food waste can make a huge dent in water conservation and “doesn’t require new technology or more investment.” Read more here!

Living Laboratory – The Rogers Mesa Research Station

The Rogers Mesa Research Center is an 80-acre working organic research farm near Hotchkiss, dedicated to supporting organic agriculture on the Western Slope. It’s the only U.S. research center entirely on certified organic land, and all produce is donated to local food banks. Led by Brad Tonnessen, the center studies crops, the economic viability of organic agriculture, and partners with CSU Extension to help growers make informed decisions that strengthen regional food systems and ensure local farms not only survive but thrive. Read more here!

7 reasons to study ag and food policy with the former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture

Few people are more qualified to teach agricultural policy than Tom Vilsack, former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and governor of Iowa. This fall, he’ll co-teach a new course, Dynamics of Ag and Food Markets and Policy alongside Professor Dawn Thilmany.  

The Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics class explores U.S. food policy, challenges facing farmers, and innovative solutions to strengthen rural communities — with students even crafting and pitching their own proposals. 

The course is open to CSU students, employees, and non-degree learners, with online and in-person seats still available. Read more here!

2025 Nutrien Ag Day BBQ set for Sept. 6, ahead of CSU-UNC football matchup

Get ready for our favorite day of the year – Ag Day! The annual Nutrien Ag Day BBQ will be from 1-4 p.m., ahead of the CSU vs. UNC football game. Since 1981, Ag Day has grown into one of CSU’s most memorable traditions, celebrating Colorado Agriculture and drawing thousands every year. Proceeds from the barbecue have provided 388 scholarships (totalling nearly $600,000) for agricultural sciences students since 2000. Tickets are expected to sell out, so be sure to purchase them early – and don’t forget to wear your Aggie Orange! Read more here!