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2024 Iowa Seed Association Annual Meeting & S...

February 13, 2024 | The Meadows Event and Conference Center, Altoona, Iowa

The Iowa Seed Annual Meeting and Seed Forum are held in conjunction with the 2024 Agribusiness Showcase & Conference hosted by the Agribusiness Association of Iowa. As a registered attendee at the Showcase, you receive access to everything during the two days of the event, including the Seed Forum.

Registration and information site for the Showcase & Conference – Click Here

2023 Iowa Seed Association Annual Meeting & S...

February 15, 2023 | Varied Industries Building, Iowa State Fairgrounds

2023 Forum Agenda

9:00
Iowa Seed Association Annual Meeting

  • Adam Anderson, Outgoing ISA President
  • Recognition of ISA 2023 Honorary Member Award
  • Brooke Achenbach, Incoming ISA President

9:20
Drought Conditions and the Iowa Drought Plan

  • Tim Hall, Hydrology Resources Coordinator, Iowa DNR

10:00
American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) Update

  • Kendall Palmer, ASTA Board of Director

10:20     Break

10:30
ISA Partnership – Conservation Opportunities for Ag Retailers

  • Ruth McCabe, Senior Conservation Agronomist, Heartland Co-op

10:50
Supply Chain Challenges

  • Scott Grawe, Iowa State University

11:30
Lunch | Iowa Seed Association Scholarship Presentation

The Iowa Seed Annual Meeting and Seed Forum are held in conjunction with the 2023 Agribusiness Showcase & Conference hosted by the Agribusiness Association of Iowa. To view the main event’s webpage and to register for the Seed Forum – Click Here

Scholarships and Recognitions Highlighted at Annua...

This year, seven $1,000 “Iowa Seed Scholarships” are awarded. One of these students is also selected as the “Manjit Misra Outstanding Senior Scholar,” and will receive $500 in addition to the $1,000 seed scholarship.

Bill Latham Memorial Scholarship

For the fifth year, the ISA will also award the $1,000 “Bill Latham” Memorial Scholarship in his honor. Bill was a former president of the Iowa Seed Association, the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA), the Independent Professional Seed Association (IPSA), and was a former President of his family company, Latham Seed. Bill passed away in 2015.

Lisa Shepherd Jenkins Memorial Scholarship

For the fourth time, the “Lisa Shepherd Jenkins” Memorial Scholarship is awarded by the ISU Seed Science Center to an undergraduate student engaged in seed science and seed technology. The $1,000 scholarship honors Lisa who served as Seed Health Testing Coordinator for the Seed Science Center and as Co-Director of the Administrative Unit of the National Seed Health System. Lisa headed one of the most active phytosanitary seed testing programs in the country and served as a chair on committees for both the American Seed Trade Association and the American Phytopathological Society. Lisa passed away in 2015.

Iowa Seed Association Scholarships

Louis Burton
Rogers, Minnesota
Son of Chad and Lisa Burton

He is a junior in agricultural business. Louis works at the ISU Seed Science Center where he has developed an interest in the seed business. He has completed internships at Domnick Seeds (a Dekalb Asgrow dealership) in western Minnesota, and CHS Co-op, also in western Minnesota. He hopes to work as a sales agronomist after graduation with the opportunity to work with farmers on a day-to-day basis. Louis has been on the dean’s list four of the five semesters he has attended Iowa State. He is also a member of the Agricultural Business Club.

Madeline Frischmeyer
Reinbeck, Iowa
Daughter of Chris and Julie Frischmeyer

Madeline is a junior in Agronomy with a Seed Science secondary major. Madeline has spent time working at Pioneer and Heartland and will be doing field-exploration this summer with Syngenta as a corn production intern. Madeline is actively involved in the ISU Farm Operations Club, where she has served as secretary and volunteers to help her fellow students who have special needs. She has received two academic scholarships based on her GPA of 3.7 or above and has been awarded recognition on the Dean’s list. She says she is interested in the field of seed science because she knows it is a field where her education will never stop.

Malcolm St. Cyr
Washington, DC.
Son of Donna Tracey and Alioune Badara M’Backe’

He is a freshman in Agronomy. Malcolm grew up in Senegal, West Africa in a farming community. Malcolm worked as a farm laborer for 10 years where he watched the impact that limited food yields have on an entire community. This experience has fueled his interest in Agronomy. He says seeds, along with soil are the foundation of agricultural sciences. He is an APEX Scholar and was selected to attend the Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences Conference last semester. He is actively involved in several campus organizations and will be presenting at two conferences over the next year. Malcolm says he is interested in the science applied to seed selection, breeding, and the seed industry. He hopes to someday help the community he grew up in, as well as assist with solving international and regional food quality, security, and systems problems.

Haley Stahl
Marshalltown, Iowa
Daughter of Jon and Julie Stahl

She is a junior in Agronomy with a Seed Science secondary major. Haley studies in agronomy strongly emphasize seed science, crop development and funding, and management decisions and considerations within the seed industry. She has spent a considerable amount of time studying and identifying multiple varieties of seeds and plants, impacts on yield, and the genetics behind producing grain. She is an active member of the Agronomy Club and has worked as a research assistant and research intern for Beck’s Hybrids. She says these experiences have enabled her to utilize her classroom knowledge in a practical setting. She also plans to eventually pursue a graduate degree in seed science. In the future, she hopes to develop new ways to help the seed industry succeed and work to develop seed technologies to help plant breeders create better lines.
Lisa Shepherd Jenkins Scholarship

Brandyn Chapman
Ames, Iowa

Brandyn previously received his B.S. in agricultural studies and has returned to school to earn another degree in Horticulture. Brandyn started working at the Iowa State University Seed Science Center in the fall of 2012 as a student. Post-graduation in 2015 he served as production management supervisor trainee at Remington Seeds in Hastings Minnesota. After completion of that program, he decided to return to Iowa State University, and eventually to the Seed Science Center where he has been for three years working as a Seed Analyst III. He volunteers his time assisting Dr. Susana Goggi with her Agronomy 338 lab every fall semester. He says hopes to someday be in a student advising position which involves teaching opportunities. Whether it is in the lab, or in the field, or in the classroom, Brandyn has a robust love and passion for plant science.

Bill Latham Memorial Scholarship
Erin Stichter
Erie, Illinois
Daughter of Brandon and Casey Stichter

She is a junior in Agronomy. Erin has interned in seed corn production at Wyffel’s Hybrids where she experienced production of seed corn, field operations, bulk seed processing, warehousing, and distribution. She also works in the ISU soybean breeding research lab where she has gained insight on the development of new seed genetics. Erin served as a delegate to the National American Society of Agronomy – Students of Agronomy, Soils and Environmental Sciences conference just this past November where her research, based on assessing the potential for soybean yield improvement through plant architectural modification, achieved second place in the National Darrel S. Metcalfe Journalism Contest. She says this experience is a prime example of the outstanding opportunities Iowa State offers to supplement education and learning in and out of the classroom environment.

Manjit Misra Outstanding Senior Award & Iowa Seed Association Scholarship
Eric Heick
West Branch, Iowa
Son and Russell Heick

Eric is senior in Agronomy. Last year he received the Bill Latham Memorial Scholarship. Eric works at the Seed Science Center with Alan Gaul which he says has confirmed his interest in seed conditioning. He has also interned with Syngenta Parent Seed in Slater where he assisted with planting, standing counts, and detasseling. He has been on the ISU Dean’s list from the fall of 2017 to the fall of 2019, a member of the University Honors Program, served as secretary of the Ag Markets Club, and a member of the Agronomy Club. His goal is to graduate debt-free with a double major in agronomy and seed science in just 4 years. He would like to work in Seed Corn Production and is considering attending graduate school.

Scholarships and Recognitions Highlighted at Annua...

Iowa State University Iowa Seed Association Scholarships Recipients Recognized at 2019 Annual Meeting and Luncheon

ISU Seed Scholarship Recipients

Back row: Chris Latham, CFO Latham Seed Company; Daniel Korhonen; Michael Geissinger; Regan Pleggenkuhle; Eric Heick; John Latham, President Latham Seed Company. Front Row: Dr. Tom Brumm, ISU Agriculture & Biosystems Engineering; Yee Shuan Lai; Caryn Dawson; Karli Buckmeier; Chee Gang Ngui; Dr. Manjit Misra, Director of ISU Seed Science Center Not Pictured: Rachel Nordhoff; Tucker Gabriel

Eleven scholarships were given to ten Iowa State University (ISU) College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) students at the 2019 Agribusiness Showcase & Conference on February 13, in Des Moines, Iowa.  Eight Iowa Seed Association (ISA) Scholarships of $1,000 each were awarded. One of ISA awarded students were selected as the Manjit Misra Outstanding Senior Scholar and received an additional $500 scholarship. The $1,000 Bill Latham Memorial Scholarship and the $1,000 Lisa Shepherd Jenkins Memorial Scholarship were also awarded at the ISA ceremony.

This ISA scholarship competition is awarded based on academic excellence, leadership skills, interpersonal skills, and interest in a career in the seed industry or seed science.

2019 Scholarship Recipients

  1. Karli Buckmeier is from Saint Michael, Minnesota and is a senior in Agricultural Systems Technology with an emphasis in Machine Systems.  She is an undergraduate student assistant at the ISU Seed Testing Laboratory, where she receives samples from customers, processes and records them into the computer system, both before and after testing is completed.
  2. Caryn Dawson is from Palmer, Iowa and is a junior with a double major in Global Resource Systems and Horticulture with a double minor in Animal Science and Spanish.  She is an undergraduate student assistant at the ISU Seed Laboratory working on seed germination projects.
  3. Daniel Korhonen is from Radcliffe, Iowa and a senior with a double major in Agronomy and Seed Science. He has worked as a lab assistant in the ISU agronomy, soils, and organic crops labs, as a crop scout at Central Ag Consulting in Valley City, North Dakota, and in warehouse worker for Champion Seeds of Iowa.  Upon graduation, he would like to work alongside farmers as an agronomist for a seed company or as a crop consultant.
  4. Chee Gang Ngui is a student from Puchong, Malaysia and a senior with a double major in Horticulture (food crop production and management) and Seed Science and a minor in Food Science and Industry.    He has worked as an undergraduate research assistant in fruit crops in Dr. Cochran’s lab, and as a field inspector for Bayer, in Iowa.
  5. Rachel Nordhoff is from Boone, Iowa and a junior with a double major in Agricultural Studies and Agronomy. After meeting ISU Seed Science Center employees at a farm expo, she decided to apply for an undergraduate assistant position at the lab.  She says that the job was a career-changing experience.  She would like the opportunity to complete summer internships in the seed industry and find a job in seed and agronomy sales upon graduation.
  6. Regan Pleggenkuhle is from Waucoma, Iowa and a sophomore with a double major in Agronomy and Seed Science.  He grew up on his family farm where he was involved in all aspects of the row crop and hog farming operation. It was his childhood experience which forged his interest in agriculture as a career.
  7. Tucker Gabriel is from Eudora, Kansas and a senior in Agricultural Engineering with a minor in Ag Business.  He is an undergraduate student research assistant at FloMetrix where he tests seed flow sensors and the measurement repeatability for the company.
  8. Michael Geissinger is from Marshfield, Wisconsin and a senior with a double major in Agronomy and Animal Science.  His interests in seeds stems from widely diverse job opportunities in the seed industry, from sales to genetics, and from research to technology transfer.

Manjit Misra Outstanding Senior Scholar

Michael Geissinger is also the recipient of the 2019 Manjit Misra Outstanding Senior Scholar $500 Scholarship. In his application, he states: “The key to feed 9.6 billion people in 2050 will be understanding the physiology of the seed and maximizing its potential to be grown into harvestable crops that can be used for (food), feed, fuel, and fiber”

He completed internships as forage management at WinField-United in Wisconsin and as Seed Sales rep in Ohio, and has worked as undergraduate research assistant in Dr. Singh’s soybean breeding program, and as Agronomy Intern at the Agricultural Research Station of the UW-Madison in Stratford, WI.

He received the American FFA Degree, Wisconsin FFA Star in Ag Business awards, and ISU Agronomy Academic fellowship; and was elected National SASES member relations officer.  He is also Vice President of the ISU Agronomy club.

He seeks a career as a district seed sales manager specialized in alfalfa seed.  He believes his diversified academic and internships background makes him uniquely qualified to attack the complex seed problems and their relation to food and feed.

Bill Latham Memorial Scholarship

Eric Heick was chosen as the 2019 recipient of the 4th annual Bill Latham Memorial Scholarship for $1,000. Heick is from West Branch, Iowa and a junior pursuing a double major in Agronomy and Seed Science. He is interested in a career in the areas of seed genetics and seed conditioning. He is an undergraduate student assistant in Alan Gaul’s seed conditioning program at the Seed Science Center.

Latham was a former president of the Iowa Seed Association, the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA), and the Independent Professional Seed Association (IPSA).  He was also the former president of his family company, Latham Seed.  Bill passed away on July 31, 2015.

Lisa Shepard Jenkins Memorial Scholarship

Yee Shuan Lai from Malaysia was chosen as the third annual Lisa Shepherd Jenkins Scholar.  Yee is a senior in Ecology and currently works at the ISU Seed Testing laboratory as an undergraduate assistant in germination and seed health testing.

She also works as a research assistant in Arabidopsis haploid induction at Dr. Lübberstedt laboratory in Agronomy Hall.  She plans to pursue a master’s degree in seed science.  The $1,000 Lisa Shepherd Jenkins Memorial Scholarship is awarded by the ISU Seed Science Center to an undergraduate student engaged in seed science and seed technology.

Shepherd Jenkins served as Seed Health Testing Coordinator for the Seed Science Center and as Director of the Administrative Unit of the National Seed Health System. She also headed one of the most active phytosanitary seed testing programs in the country and served as a chair on committees for both the American Seed Trade Association and the American Phytopathological Society.

Lisa passed away on July 1, 2015.

About the Seed Science Scholarships

This scholarship competition is open to students in any major in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) at Iowa State University, and scholarships are awarded on the bases of four criteria:

  1. Academic excellence,
  2. Leadership skills,
  3. Interpersonal skills, and most importantly,
  4. Demonstrated interest in a career in the seed industry or seed science.

Selection Committee members include:

Dr. Barb Clawson, Horticulture

Dr. Mark Gleason, Plant Pathology & Microbiology

Dr. Tom Brumm, Ag. & Biosystems Eng.

Dr. Susana Goggi, Agronomy & Seed Science Center, & Committee Chair

left to right: ISU CALS Dean Daniel Robison, Rachel Nordhoff of Boone, and Dr. Tom Brumm, Professor ISU ABE

View more photos on the Iowa Seed Facebook page

 

Download 2019 ISA Scholarship handout from the event.

Iowa Seed Forum & ISA Annual Meeting

Wednesday, February 13, 2019

 

9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

PRE-REGISTRATION – $100*
ON-SITE REGISTRATION – $125*

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

 

2019 Registration Includes:

  • Two-Day Admission to the 2019 Agribusiness Showcase & Conference & admission to the trade show floor
  • Admission to the All Industry Reception on Tuesday, February 12
  • Admission to all free educational sessions Wednesday, February 13
  • Pancake breakfast on Wednesday, February 13 – exclusive raffle ticket
  • All Industry Luncheon on Wednesday, February 13

The Iowa Seed Association continues their partnership with the Agribusiness Showcase & Conference offering ISA members the opportunity to attend a wider variety of workshops and network with all facets of the ag industry. The ISA Annual Meeting & Seed Forum will be held on Wednesday, February 13, from 9 am to Noon. ISA Annual Meeting & Seed Forum will also host the ISA Scholarship Award Recognition Ceremony and an Amazon Echo Raffle (must be present to win).

Meeting Agenda:

9:00 – 9:15 a.m. 
Morning Plenary Session – Room D
– Keynote Speaker: Iowa Dep. Sec. of Ag Julie Kenney

9:10 – 11:00 AM
Identifying Resources in Conservation Planning
– TBA, Conservation Information Technology Center

11:00 – 11:15 a.m. 
ISA Annual Meeting – Room A
− Jim Webster, ISA President
− Recognition of ISA 2019 Honorary Member
Iowa Seed Corn Cover Crop Initiative Project Update
− Shannon Moeller, ISA Project Coordinator

11:15 – 11:30 a.m. 
ASTA Update
− John Latham, Latham Hi-Tech Seeds, President

11:30 a.m.  – Noon 
Quality Seeds to Feed the World: ISU’s role in serving the seed industry in Iowa and worldwide
− Dr. Manjit Misra, Seed Science Center – ISU, Director

Noon 
– (1) Amazon Echo Raffle

Noon – 1:30 p.m.
All Industry Luncheon on Showcase Floor
-Keynote Speaker: Daniel Robinson, Dean, Iowa State University – College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (invited)
ISU Scholarship Recognition
-2018-2019 Iowa Seed Association ISU Scholarships &
– Bill Latham ISU Scholarship recipients recognized

ISA Scholarship Recipients Recognized

This year, six Iowa Seed Association (ISA) Scholarships of $1,000 each were awarded. One of these students, Skyler Brazel, was also selected as our “Manjit Misra Outstanding Senior Scholar,” and he received $500 in addition to the $1,000 ISA scholarship. For the third year, the ISA will also award the $1,000 “Bill Latham” Memorial Scholarship in his honor. Bill was a former president of the Iowa Seed Association, the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA), the Independent Professional Seed Association (IPSA), and was a former President of his family company, Latham Seed.  Bill passed away on July 31, 2015.

For the second time, the “Lisa Shepherd Jenkins” Memorial Scholarship has been awarded by the ISU Seed Science Center to an undergraduate student engaged in seed science and seed technology. The $1,000 scholarship honors Shepherd Jenkins who served as Seed Health Testing Coordinator for the Seed Science Center and as Director of the Administrative Unit of the National Seed Health System. Lisa headed one of the most active phytosanitary seed testing programs in the country and served as a chair on committees for both the American Seed Trade Association and the American Phytopathological Society.  Lisa passed away on July 1, 2015.

 

Pictured above (from left to right): Seed Science Center Director Manjit Misra, Shannon Latham, Agronomy Professor Susana Goggi, Taylor Davis, AnnaMarie Condon, Skyler Brazel, Governor Kim Reynolds, Savannah Jones, Daniel Korhonen, Jack Pieper, and Michael Tupper. (Jennifer Meyer was not present.)

 

The Bill Latham & Lisa Shepherd Jenkins Memor...

During the Agribusiness Showcase & Conference (ASC) the Iowa Seed Association (ISA) recognized seven ISA Scholarship recipients during the All Industry Luncheon on Wednesday, February 15 in Des Moines, IA. The scholarships are $1,000 each. One of these students, Catherine Leafstedt, was also selected as our “Manjit Misra Outstanding Senior Scholar,” and will receive $500 in addition to the $1000 ISA scholarship. We also are happy to award another $1,000 scholarship sponsored by the American Seed Trade Assoc. (ASTA).

This year ISA will also award a $1000 “Bill Latham” Memorial Scholarship in his honor. Bill was former president of the Iowa Seed Association, the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA), and Independent Professional Seed Association (IPSA), and former President of his family company, Latham Seed Company.  Bill passed away on July 31, 2015.

The Lisa Shepherd Jenkins Memorial Scholarship is being awarded for the first time this year by the ISU Seed Science Center to an undergraduate student engaged in seed science and technology. The $1,000 scholarship honors Shepherd Jenkins who served as Seed Health Testing Coordinator for the Seed Science Center and Director of the Administrative Unit of the National Seed Health System. Lisa headed one of the most active phytosanitary seed testing programs in the country and served as a chair on committees for both the American Seed Trade Association and the American Phytopathological Society.  Lisa passed away on July 1, 2015.

The scholarship competition is open to students in any major in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) at Iowa State University, and scholarships are awarded on the bases of four criteria:

  1. Academic Excellence,
  2. Leadership Skills,
  3. Interpersonal Skills, and most importantly,
  4. Demonstrated Interest in a career in the seed industry or seed science.

The Selection Committee members are:

Dr. Barb Clawson- – Horticulture
Dr. Mark Gleason – – Plant Pathology
Dr. Tom Brumm – – Ag. & Biosystems Eng.
Dr. Russ Mullen – – Agronomy
Dr. Susana Goggi – Agronomy & Seed Science Center, and Committee Chair

The Scholarship Committee and CALS greatly appreciate the generosity, in the form of the scholarship funds, and the great measure of support given to ISU and the College, by the Iowa Seed Association and the American Seed Trade Association. We also appreciate the leadership of Dr. Manjit Misra, Seed Science Center Director and Seed Science Endowed Chair.

The student recipients will be announced in alphabetical order (by their last names).  The ASTA scholarship, the “Outstanding Senior Scholar,” the “Bill Latham Scholar,” and the “Lisa Shepherd Jenkins Scholar” will be introduced last.  I will present an abbreviated version of their accomplishments.  For a complete list of their accomplishments, please read one of the brochures printed by ISA.

 

Iowa Seed Association Scholarship Recipients

Kelsey Baumhover
Carroll, IA
Daughter of Dave and Patty Baumhover.

Kelsey is a Senior double-majoring in Agronomy and Seed Science. Her goal is to become an Agronomist and return to western Iowa to be close to family and friends. Kelsey hopes to use her knowledge and passion for agriculture to benefit crop production while protecting our natural resources. She is a biological science aid with the vegetable seed research group at the USDA North Central Plant Introduction Station and a summer intern with the Iowa Crop Improvement Association. Kelsey is a member of the Freshman Council, Agronomy Club, and the College of Ag and Life Sciences’ Beginning Farmers Network, where she is CALS Representative and Publicity Chair. She has also participated in the travel abroad program, and has studied the crops and soils of Costa Rica. Kelsey has accepted a position as Distribution Manager with Remington Seeds and will serve as Soybean Field Supervisor for their Carroll location.

Skyler Brazel
Tiskilwa, IL
Son of  Carl Brazel.

Skyler is a Senior double-majoring in Horticulture, Research Option, and Global Resource Systems. He holds an undergraduate research assistantship in Horticulture and works as ISU Dining Supervisor. Skyler has completed summer internships with Bailey Nurseries in Oregon and with the E.A.R.T.H. program in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Skyler is a member of the Pi Alpha Xi National Academic Honor Society in Horticulture, a member and Communication Officer of the Mid-America Collegiate Horticulture Society, and is Secretary and Poinsettia Committee Chair of the ISU Horticulture Club.  He has completed study abroad programs in China, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Costa Rica. He has also been on the ISU Dean’s list throughout his academic career. Upon graduation, Skyler is interested in pursuing a graduate degree. His career goal is to use his skills to fight hunger and food insecurity worldwide.

Taylor Davis
McLean, IL
Son of Darren and Angie Davis.

Taylor is a Sophomore in Ag Biosystems Engineering. He became interested in agriculture at a young age on his family farm where he decided to study ag engineering as a result of his love for mathematics and his passion for agriculture.Tyler is an Executive Board member and Finance Manager of Pi Beta Phi Fraternity where he performs the duties of budgeting, record keeping, and paying bills. He is also a member of the Community Engagement Committee for ISU Engineers’ week and former Academic Chair for Oak-Elm Residence Hall Council. He has also participated in community activities such as ISU Polar Bear’s Plunge to raise funds for Iowa Special Olympics; has worked with Habitat for Humanity; and has participated in Snow Cones for Seuss, a philanthropic service facilitated through the Greek community.Tyler’s career goal is to improve modern agricultural production by working in the seed industry to help improve the “field to table” delivery system.

Ashley Dean
Murray, IA
Daughter of Autumn and Daniel Dean

Ashley is a Senior majoring in Agronomy, Agroecology Option, and Seed Science. She has completed an undergraduate research assistantship on a corn defoliation project under the mentorship of Drs. Goggi and Christian, and is teaching assistant for five Agronomy undergraduate courses. Ashley also has completed three internships; as a Research Technician at Easton Agri-Consulting, and as an Insect Trait Development and Sales Intern for DuPont Pioneer. Ashley is the recipient of other academic-based honors. She was named an ISU Freshman Cardinal Scholar and earned Academic Recognition scholarships, and an Agronomy Academic Fellowship. She was also inducted into the ISU Chapter of National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and named an ASA-CSSA-SSSA Golden Opportunity Scholar. Upon graduation, Ashley plans to “continue her journey” by attending Graduate School in Entomology at ISU.

Haleigh Summers
Urbana, IL
Daughter of Tim and Jessica Summers

Haleigh is a Senior double-majoring in Agronomy and Seed Science. While at ISU, she has served as a TA for Agronomy courses, has worked in the ISU Plant Transformation Facility maintaining corn cell cultures for transformation, has conducted undergraduate research in Pat Schnabel’s lab, and has served as a Plant Breeding and Product Development Intern for Beck’s Hybrids. Haleigh has received many scholarships and honors, including the Champaign County Farm Bureau Scholarship, Agronomy Academic Fellowship, and ISA and Manjit K. Misra Outstanding Senior scholarships. She is a member and former Vice President of the ISU Agronomy Club, and participates in ISU’s Honors Program and the Intercollegiate Crops Team. She has also been a member of the Agronomy professional and scientific societies (ASA-CSSA-SSSA) for the last 2 years, where she presented results from her undergraduate research project in 2014 and was named 2016 ASA-CSSA-SSSA Golden Opportunity Scholar. Haleigh’s long-term career goal is to help farmers adopt environmentally friendly management practices, like cover crops, while maintaining profitability.

Savannah Jones
Palmyra, IN
Daughter of Keith and Christine Jones

Savannah is a Senior majoring in Agronomy and Genetics. She has conducted undergraduate research under the mentorship of Drs. Maria Salas and Steven Cannon, and has been a Plant Breeding Intern for Beck’s Hybrids at Marshalltown, IA. Savannah has participated in the ISU Honors Program and Women in Science and Engineering (WISE). She has also received the ISU Award for Competitive Excellence, Agronomy Academic Fellowship, the E. Marjorie Smith and Garland Beck Ag. Scholarship, the Mary K. Phillips Scholarship in Plant Science, and the Minard G. Mills Memorial Scholarship in Agriculture. She was also a recipient of the “Building Our Future” Harrison County Community Foundation Scholarship. Savannah’s career goal is to conduct research in plant genetics and to use non-transgenic tools in plant breeding for developing improved cultivars.

2017 ISA & Manjit Misra Outstanding Senior Scholarship

Catherine Leafstedt
West Des Moines, IA
Daughter of Jon and Carla Leafstedt

Catherine is a Senior double-majoring in Agronomy and Global Resource Systems. She has research experience with ISU Plant Pathology, DuPont Pioneer, and Monsanto. She has traveled with a World Food Prize International Internship program to the International Potato Center in Peru, has completed research for the African Biofortified Sorghum project, and in summer 2017 she will travel to Northwest Africa as an ag intern for Context Global Development where she will participate in two Gates Foundation-funded projects. Catherine has received many awards and scholarships, including the 2015 ISA and 2016 ASTA scholarships. She has participated in the University Honors Program, ISU President’s Leadership Class, Freshmen Council, and World Food Prize Iowa Youth Institute, and has served as a WFP Student Rep for Iowa STEM Day at the Capitol. She also is a National Merit Scholar and a Cargill Global Scholar. Catherine’s many extracurricular activities include Campaign Volunteer in the “Branstad-Reynolds,” “Romney for President,” and “Marco Rubio for President” campaigns, as well as being the winner of the 2015 College Republicans-Caucus Cup Debates on Biotech Food Labeling and Campaign Finance Reform. She was selected as an Iowa Republican Party County delegate (2014) and County, District, and State delegate (2016). She is also a former member and Social Media Chair for “Meals from the Heartland” Student Leadership Board and was a Valley Church nursery volunteer and after-school group leader for disadvantaged youth. Catherine is interested in using her education and experiences at ISU to become an effective advocate of agricultural innovations and global food security for subsistence farmers worldwide.

2017 Bill Latham Scholarship

Leah Ellensohn
Le Mars, IA
Daughter of Nicki and Eric Ellensohn

Leah is a Senior double-majoring in Agronomy and Seed Science. She has worked in many different jobs at the ISU Seed Science Center, helping in the germination, trait testing, seed health, and purity labs. She has also worked as GIS tech for the ISU Daily Erosion Project, as TA for Agronomy 154 – soils, as an Emerging Leader for the Land O’Lakes the Global Food Challenge, and as an intern for Sitzmann Family Farms. Leah has been Editor-in-Chief and Business Manager for the ISU Soil and Water Conservation Club, and has participated in several capacities in the ISU Block and Bridle Club. She is also a member of the Agronomy Club, Women in Agronomy Club, and is a team leader for “Destination Iowa State.” She has received many scholarships and honors, including the 2016 ICIA scholarship, 2014-2015 ISU Academic Recognition Award, and the 2012 Governor’s Leadership Award, among others.

Leah aims to graduate summa cum laude (she would like to see a star by her name in the graduation program). Upon graduation, Leah would like to pursue a career in seed sales. Her long-term career goal is to advance professionally to industry jobs where she can apply her interest in seed sales and seed science.

ASTA Scholarship

Sarah Striegel
What Cheer, Iowa
Daughter of Michael and Suzette Striegel

Sarah is a Senior double-majoring in Agronomy and Agricultural Education. She grew up in a small family farm raising corn, soybeans, and livestock. Sarah was not interested in Agronomy until she took Agronomy 114 in the spring of her freshman year. Since then, she has added Agronomy to her double-major, is a TA in Agronomy 114, and has held seed production internships with DuPont Pioneer and Monsanto. Sarah is recording secretary of the ISU Agronomy Club, Corn Grower’s Club Treasurer, Alpha Gamma Delta International Women’s Fraternity’s Alumnae Relations Coordinator, and an Alpha Zeta Agriculture Honors Fraternity member. She is active in AFA and gives campus tours to prospective students in her role as Student Admissions Rep. She was in the top 2% in CALS academically during her freshman year, was on the Dean’s list for five semesters, and took part in Iowa State’s Honor Program. She has received the 2016 American Society of Agronomy (ASA) Greenfield Award and the 2016 Gamma Sigma Delta Honor Society of Agriculture Award, among others. She has also completed an ISU travel abroad course to Costa Rica and a Global Compassion Network trip to Haiti. After graduation Sarah would like a career as a Seed Production Agronomist and Certified Crop Advisor working for the seed industry.

Seed Science Center “Lisa Shepherd Jenkins” Scholarship

Anthony “Tony” Moellers
West Union, IA
Son of Jason and Lori Moellers

Tony is a Senior double-majoring in Agronomy and Seed Science with a minor in Ag Business. He grew up on his family farm, and his passion for the seed industry stems from his experiences in FFA, AFA, and his father’s work as an independent seed dealer for Stine Seed Company. Tony has held several agronomy sales’ internships with Farmers Cooperative Company, Mycogen Seeds, and Dow AgroSciences. He has worked at the Iowa State University Seed Testing Laboratory in the seed germination lab and as TA for Agronomy 114. Tony has been recognized as AFA National Scholar, Mid America CropLife Association Young Leader, and was named a Royal Scholar by the American Royal Association. He is a member of the ISU Ag Marketing and Management Organization, the Agronomy Club, and is a former member of the ISU Ag Business Club. He is also a former Vice President of FFA and has received ISU Academic Recognition and National Honors Society membership. Tony will start his career as an Eastern Iowa Sales Representative for Mycogen Seeds and Dow AgroSciences. He plans to use his knowledge to recommend to farmers seed that will provide a sustainable source of income while protecting the environment.

 

Iowa Seed Association Awards Nine Scholarships to ...

2016

Pictured above: first row left to right, Susana Goggi, Iowa State University Seed Center, Anthony Moellers, Kelsey Baumhover, Rebekah Arnold, Sarah Striegel, Haleigh Summers, Kathryn Hoemann, Dr. Manjit Misra, Iowa State University Seed Center and Iowa Seed Association Ex-Officio, Shannon Latham. Second row left to right, Lucas Roberts, Jamie Pokorny, Catherine Leafstedt, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey, Chris Latham, John Latham.

 

Des Moines, IA – The Iowa Seed Association (ISA) recently awarded nine Iowa Seed Association (ISA) Scholarships of $1000 each. The awards ceremony was held during the Agribusiness Showcase & Conference at the Varied Industries Building at the Iowa State Fairgrounds, Des Moines, IA on February 10, 2016. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey also attended the ceremony. One of these students, Haleigh Summers, was also selected as our “Manjit Misra Outstanding Senior Scholar,” and that individual will receive $500 in addition to the $1000 ISA scholarship.  ISA also award another $1000 scholarship sponsored by the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA).

2015-2014 Scholarship Recipient Recognition

2015 ISA Scholarship Winners

The Iowa Seed Association (ISA) recently awarded eight scholarships of $1,000 to students in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State University. One student was also selected as the “Manjit K. Misra Outstanding Senior Seed Scholar,” receiving a $500 scholarship in addition to the $1,000 scholarship sponsored by the ISA. One student also received an award from the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA).

During the awards ceremony held at the Agribusiness Showcase and Conference on February 11, 2015 at the Varied Industries Building, Susana Goggi, Seed Paysiologist, Dpt of Agronomy, ISU read bios, accomplishments, and goals of each student.

Recipients of the ISA 2014-2015 academic year scholarships are : Jeffery Barnes, Hillary Kletscher, Katharina Wigg, Madison Schulte, Lucas Roberts, Morgan Shrader, and Catherine Leafstedt.

Kathryn Hoemann received the ISA and the Manjit Misra Outstanding Senior Scholarship. Brandon Miller was the ASTA scholarship recipient.

The ISA scholarships are open to students in any major in ISU’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Scholarships are awarded on the bases of: academic excellence, leadership skills, interpersonal skills, and most important to the selection committee, a demonstrated interest in a career in the seed industry or seed science.

Also Pictured below are: Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, Bill Northey, far right, Susana Goggi, second from right, Max Smith, AAI Chairman, far left, and Manjit K. Misra, ISA Director, 2nd from left.

Congratulations to all these students!

ISA Awards Scholarships

ISA2013scholarsIOWA SEED ASSOCIATION AWARDS NINE SCHOLARSHIPS TO ISU COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE & LIFE SCIENCES STUDENTS

Des Moines, IA – The Iowa Seed Association (ISA) recently awarded nine scholarships of $1,000 to students in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State University. One student was also selected as the “Manjit K. Misra Outstanding Senior Seed Scholar,” receiving a $500 scholarship in addition to the $1,000 scholarship sponsored by the ISA. During the awards ceremony held at the Agribusiness Showcase and Conference on February 9, 2011 at the Varied Industries Building, the ISA awarded another $1,000 scholarship sponsored by the American Seed Trade Association.

Recipients of the Iowa Seed Association 2010-2011 academic year scholarships are: Vivian Bernau, Ryan Fahn, Andrew Lauver, Matthew Mattia, Michelle McEnany, Devon Murray, Matthew Riessen, Jordan Uthoff, and Michael Fosdick received the Manjit K. Misra scholarship along with the ISA award. Michael Misra was the recipient of the American Seed Trade Association Scholarship.

Below is additional information about each student:

Vivian Bernau: Vivian is a senior double-majoring in Horticulture and Agronomy, and she hails from Altoona, Iowa. Immediately after high school, Vivian was a Borlaug-Ruan International Intern, and she spent her internship period in Tainan, Taiwan, at the World Vegetable Center. She recently has been employed with the USDA-ARS Plant Introduction Station in Ames and the ISU Organic Agriculture Program. Vivian’s main interest is in plant breeding, especially germplasm collection and pre-breeding. Her career goal is to become a germplasm curator at an international research center.

Ryan Fahn: Ryan is a freshman from Portsmouth, Iowa majoring in Agriculture and Biosystems Engineering. He has worked for the past several years on the Fahn family farm, specializing in hog production. Ryan is fascinated with the seed industry, and he hopes to use his engineering background to design equipment for harvesting and handling seeds.

Andrew Lauver: Andrew is a sophomore, and he is majoring in Agricultural Studies with a minor in General Business. Andrew grew up on his family’s farm outside Rockwell City, Iowa, and they produced corn, soybeans, and cattle. This past summer he had an internship with MaxYield Cooperative, and he was involved with the planting, care, and harvesting of trial plots. This experience reinforced his desire to be in the seed industry, and this summer he will work for Monsanto as a field sales intern.

Matthew Mattia: Matthew is from Freehold, New Jersey, and is a senior at ISU. His major is Agronomy, and he will receive a minor in Genetics. His emphasis is in plant breeding and biotechnology. For the past several summers, he was an intern with Dr. Stacy Bonos at Rutgers University, and there he worked with many aspects of breeding turfgrass and other species that could act as bio-fuels.

Michelle McEnany: Michelle is a junior majoring in Agronomy, and she is from Nevada, Iowa. She has worked in the seed industry for the past seven years. She rouged and detasseled for five of those years, and in 2009, she was a Field Safety Technician. Last year, she was a parent seed supply chain intern with Syngenta.

Devon Murray: Devon is a junior, and he is majoring in Agricultural Studies, with a minor in Agronomy. He is from Charles City, Iowa. He has worked on the family farm, which is a Pioneer Seed Sales Operation unit, along with a corn and soybean production operation. He has had lots of experiences in the area of seed sales already that are preparing him for a professional career as a seed sales person.

Matthew Riessen: Matthew hails from Schleswig, Iowa, and he is a junior double majoring in Agronomy and Agricultural Studies. He previously worked in seed sales for a firm from Schleswig, and last year, he was a corn research intern with a company in Ames.

Jordan Uthoff: Jordan is from Solon, Iowa, and he is a junior, majoring in Agronomy. During the past two summers, he has had internships with Crop Tech Services and New Century FS, Inc., and before that, he worked on the family farm outside Cedar Rapids. His family farm also produced ~250 acres of seed corn.

Michael Misra (American Seed Trade Association Scholarship): Michael is from Ames, he is a sophomore, and he is majoring in Global Resource Systems and Sociology. Michael worked for Blue River Hybrids and Monsanto two summers ago pollinating corn and he has worked for the USDA/ARS Plant Introduction Station since June of 2010. Michael hopes to work for an NGO after graduation, and he would like to work either in Africa or Central America, by supplying seeds and other agricultural necessities to the poor.

Michael Fosdick (Misra Scholar): Michael is a senior, and he is majoring in Agronomy. Michael will receive a scholarship from the Iowa Seed Association, and he also was chosen by the scholarship selection committee as the “Manjit K. Misra Outstanding Senior Seed Scholar” for this year. This is the fourth year of this award, and it has been made possible through a donor, who wishes to increase the scholarship amount by an extra $500 for an outstanding senior. Michael has had internships with Pioneer at several locations over the past few years. After graduation, Michael will begin working for Pioneer in its Princeton, IL, facility, and he will be working as an agronomist trainee in the emerging leader program.

The ISA scholarships are open to students in any major in ISU’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Scholarships are awarded on the bases of: academic excellence, leadership skills, interpersonal skills, and most important to the selection committee, a demonstrated interest in a career in the seed industry or seed science.

For further information, please contact ISA president Steve Werning by phone at 515.669.8480 or via e-mail at stevedotwerningatsyngentadotcom  (stevedotwerningatsyngentadotcom)   . A photo of the ISA scholarship recipients is attached and a video here.

The Iowa Seed Association strives to promote the seed industry, research pertaining to the betterment of agriculture, and to cooperate with educational and regulatory authorities in the development of a sound and effective seed program for the advancement of agriculture. For more information about the Iowa Seed Association, please go to: www.iowaseed.org.