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PBR Recap: McKinlee May, photos from the weekend, and what the future workforce looks like, according to President Amy Parsons and Dean Carolyn Lawrence-Dill

From the rodeo arena to the future of work

In an op-ed in The Fence Post, CSU President Amy Parsons and College of Agricultural Sciences Dean Carolyn Lawrence-Dill reflect on the inaugural Collegiate All-Star Rodeo and how the event showcases CSU’s commitment to preparing students for an evolving economy.

“At CSU, we also teach students to compete, not only in classrooms, but in arenas, show rings, judging contests, business challenges and research presentations. Collegiate rodeo is one example. Livestock judging, soils judging, equine competitions and other applied contests require students to make decisions quickly, defend their reasoning, respond to feedback, perform under pressure and improve. Those are not extracurricular skills. They are workforce skills. Whether they are entering a rodeo arena, evaluating livestock, presenting research or solving a real-world business problem, students are practicing habits employers value: discipline, adaptability, confidence, critical thinking and teamwork.” Read More

May steals the thunder in home stadium: Colorado State barrel racer took center stage at Canvas Stadium

McKinlee May, a junior animal science major on the CSU rodeo team, and her horse, Vela, represented the Rams and won her barrel racing matchup, with the fastest time of the session at just over 17 seconds at the rodeo. Hearing her name announced at home at Canvas Stadium was a surreal experience for May.

“Oh my gosh, yeah. That was … I just felt so touched being the hometown cowgirl and everybody screaming…and earlier today, the football team was there cheering me on at practice. I just felt so supported, and I honestly think that’s why we went out there and she just flat ran,” she says. Read More

Photo gallery: A look back at PBR Bulls and Beats

World-class bull riders, the CSU Rodeo team, and country music stars Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley and Bailey Zimmerman put on quite a three-day show at Canvas Stadium over the weekend. Have a look at the photos from the inaugural Collegiate All-Star Rodeo and the PBR Bulls and Beats event at Canvas Stadium. View More

Researchers targeting drought-tolerance traits in crops

In a year with record-low snowpack, drought is even more top-of-mind for agriculture in Colorado and the U.S. West. Over 63 years of wheat breeding, CSU has developed wheat, corn and sorghum varieties that are remarkably productive in the state’s dry climate, as well as varieties that are pest and weed resistant.

CSU wheat varieties occupy 85% of the wheat acreage in the state, thanks to close collaboration with Colorado wheat farmers. With support from the Gates Foundation, CSU sorghum research is making a real difference in food security in a part of the world that needs it most. And by studying the genetic foundation of crop traits, CSU researchers are making discoveries that contribute to understanding all life on the planet.

“Our goal is to improve the livelihood of anyone who can benefit from sorghum as a crop, whether it’s their nutrition or their economic livelihood,” says Gina Cerimele, Ph.D. student in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences. Read More

CSU professors providing free safety training to Colorado livestock businesses

When six men died from a disconnected pipe in the manure management system at a Weld County dairy, the tragedy sent shockwaves through the Colorado ag community and generated discussion among safety experts and industry. Professors in CSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences have secured funding through an OSHA grant, which supports the development and delivery of occupational safety and health training to workers and employers in high-hazard industries, industries with high fatality rates, and workers facing barriers to training.

A partner on the grant, Diego Manriquez Alvarez, assistant professor and dairy systems specialist with the Department of Animal Sciences and AgNext is working with local dairies to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate training for dairy employees. “Training has always been part of dairy farming. Now we’re focused on making sure producers and farm workers have reliable, accessible, and consistent learning tools that support safer and more sustainable farms,” he says. Read More

It’s a tough summer for Colorado’s wildflowers ー but it’s a monumental year for one

The dry winter and spring have put a damper on this year’s wildflower season, but the monument plant, Frasera speciosa, is blooming en masse in Crested Butte. The monument flower is a monocarpic perennial, meaning it grows for many years (20-80 years), blooms once, and then dies.

While the monument flower flies under the radar as opposed to showy lupines and columbines, the monument plant “is one of my absolute favorites,” says Jennifer Bousselot, assistant professor of horticulture. “The lifecycle just brings you to your knees.” Read More

Fedorka Lab at Colorado State University

The Fedorka Lab focuses on reproductive immunology in horses, researching how the immune system responds within the uterus of broodmares. Through hands-on research, clinical experiences and individualized mentorship, students gain the confidence and skills to become future scientists, veterinarians and industry leaders.

In a new video produced by Barnfly Productions, Carleigh Fedorka and her students discuss their research, the team-oriented approach of the lab, and what makes CSU’s equine reproduction program stand out. Watch Now

AgNext explores genetics and methane efficiency in beef cattle

Methane emissions are one of the cattle industry’s biggest challenges, and AgNext is working to better understand them. According to Sara Place, associate professor of feedlot systems in the Department of Animal Sciences, much of the baseline data on cattle emissions is outdated. AgNext researchers are working to update those baselines using modern equipment like the C-Lock GreenFeed System for more accurate results.

“My research is mostly focused on measuring flux and mitigating enteric methane emissions from cattle production systems, specifically beef cattle for the most part. In terms of making a difference, it starts with baselining where we actually are at,” she says. Read More

🌐 Catalyst Go Program to support six interdisciplinary research teams in pursuit of large, high-impact funding opportunities

The Catalyst Go Program has awarded six teams from CSU with funding to better pursue large, center-scale funding opportunities. The program aims to organize research efforts on campus to better address grand societal and scientific challenges that would otherwise be impossible for small and isolated teams to tackle. One of the teams awarded includes researchers from the College of Agricultural Sciences.

The project, Transdisciplinary Hub to Link Earth Observation and AI to Agriculture, Weather, and Water Resilience (TERRA-AI Hub), aims to bring together expertise in remote sensing, physics-informed AI, engineering, and community outreach and engagement. Through the project, researchers hope to develop the next generation of bilingual practitioners who can bridge the environmental sciences and machine learning to address interconnected issues. Read More

Applause, upcoming events, and announcements 🎉

• Mark your calendars for July 23 and August 27 for the Twilight Garden series hosted at the CSU Trial Gardens. Creating and Capturing Beauty in the Garden will be on July 23 and will focus on combining form, color, texture, and scale in containers and cellphone photography. Landscaping for Fall Colors and Interest on August 27 will teach attendees how to plan for a garden that peaks in autumn. Learn more and sign up here!
• The winners of this year’s CSU Hackathon have been announced! The competition included two categories, one of which was Agricultural Risk & Biosecurity. Participant Laura Richards, a computer science and soil and crop sciences student, was attracted to the event because it combined her interests in both technology and agriculture. “I’m always looking for ways to experience and learn outside of the classroom,” she said.
• Congratulations to Ethan French, horticulture major, who has been awarded a three-month internship with Altman Plants through the Vic & Margaret Ball Intern Scholarship Program. He is particularly interested in tropical foliage production and greenhouse management.
• Save the Date: CSU’s 45th annual Ag Day will take place on Saturday, Sept. 12. The Nutrien Ag Day BBQ will be from 12-4 p.m. before the Rams take on Southern Utah at 5 p.m. Sign up to volunteer.
• Animal Sciences Professor Temple Grandin is up for induction into the Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame. Cast your vote to recognize her decades of impact advancing animal welfare, livestock handling and industry standards.
• CSU President Amy Parsons has convened a new Working Group on Compensation to make recommendations for a comprehensive strategy. CAS membership in the group includes Ryan Brooks, master instructor, Animal Sciences; Jennifer Martin, Faculty Council vice chair and associate professor and Meat Extension Specialist, Animal Sciences; and Andrew Norton, Faculty Council chair and professor, Agricultural Biology.