Animal Sciences
Newsletter 2003

Careers in Animal Sciences

Ninety-one students graduated from the Department of Animal Sciences in 2002. Eleven graduates have been admitted to Veterinary Medicine, nine have been accepted to Graduate School, and four were admitted to the Vet Tech program. Five graduates returned to their home farm, eleven entered positions in production, seven in sales, and four in the life science areas. Students accepted positions with Murphy Farms, United Feeds, Maple Leaf Farms, BAS, Pet Smart and many other exciting companies. Despite a poor economy, Animal Sciences students continue to do well in the job market.

If you are looking for new employees or would like to post a job, contact Barry Delks or see this website: http://www.agriculture.purdue.edu/anscjobs/

Would you like to link your company to our ANSC Career website? Send Barry Delks your company information with permission and we will add it for our students and alumni to use. See the current employer list at: http://www.agriculture.purdue.edu/anscjobs/BusOrg.html

Livestock Judging

2001 Team Update: The team had a very successful fall. Until Louisville, they were always in the top ten and mostly in the top five at several contests. Team members included: Kyle Gillooly, Jeremy Haag, Molly Mader, Craig Spray, and Molly Sutherly.

As a team, the group finished eighth at the All American Swine Classic, fourth at the World Beef Expo, fifth or better in every category at the American Royal, third in swine at the North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE) and third in all Performance Classes, eleventh overall.

2002 Team Update: The team placed third at the All East contest in the Spring semester. The 2003 contest will be hosted by Purdue University. The team has been preparing for the three-day event which includes evaluation, selection and judging.

Team members (all from Indiana) were: Coach Matt Claeys, Graduate Student Chad Howlett, Dustin Bowler, Kyle Knight, Kevin Cooper, Ryan Blanch and Tiffany Tippin. (Members not pictured - April Shepherd and Bill Doig).

Dairy Judging

The dairy judging team had a little different twist this year. Since there were no seniors, a team did not go to National. However, a junior team consisting of Elizabeth Finke, Liz Woodruff and Brent Caffee went to the Pennsylvania All-American in Harrisburg, PA. The team was eleventh and Liz was in the top fifteen individuals. They also placed fifth in the linear contest. The group then used the World Dairy Expo and North American as workout classes in preparation for 2003. There will be five seniors returning and eight underclassmen, so 2003 should be strong and exciting!

Animal Sciences Ambassadors Represent the Department

Animal Sciences Ambassadors take part in planning, organizing and participating in many activities to help promote the Department of Animal Sciences.

Every spring the Ambassadors participate in Purdue's annual Springfest and organize the department’s Boiler Barnyard. Last year’s Boiler Barnyard featured live animals, including a horse, beef heifer, swine and dairy cow. There was also a working dog demonstration performed by Mike Neary’s Border Collies. Displays included dairy, beef, swine, poultry, horse, meat science, feed stuffs, companion animals, and more. There was also an interactive computer monitor and microscopic pictures of live bacteria and bugs from the rumen of a cow. Another highlight was the ultrasound demonstration to determine the amount of back fat on a pig.

The Dairy Club sold ice cream and the Block and Bridle Club sold hamburgers, hotdogs and pop and worked other booths in the tent. The Avian Science Club brought baby chicks and ducks for adults and children to observe and hold. The Rodeo Club participated by holding a bake sale.

In addition to Boiler Barnyard, the Ambassadors are actively involved in several departmental committees including Industry Liaison, Material Development, Displays and Booths, Recruiting, and Alumni Relations. Thank you ambassadors for making an impact on current and prospective students.

Current ambassadors are: Kyle Becker, Aimee Bundy, Katrina Hoover, Danielle Howell, Amy Johnson, Christy Jones, Abby McGaffney, Cami Maiben, Christy McKaig, Ashley Meece, Jama Miller, Sarah Pence, Toby Ripberger, Jennifer Roley, Sarah Shaffer and Ann Yeager.

If you are an Ambassador Alumnus, please send us a note (email: delks@purdue.edu) and let us know what you are doing!

Purdue Students Explore Animal Agriculture in China

Maymester 2002 saw the inauguration of a new international experience for Purdue Ag Students. Nineteen students spent three weeks in China exploring Chinese Animal Agriculture. Agricultural experiences ranged from dairy and swine farms to tea plantations, turtle farms, feed mills and silk production. The students also learned from Chinese farmers, professors and Government officials, as well as gaining perspectives from U.S. Embassy personnel and American Agribusiness ventures. Cultural experiences included a wide variety of new foods to taste; as one student said "lots of things with feet and heads still attached", the Chinese opera and acrobats, free markets with "Fresh" meat and vegetables and learning to barter for everything they bought, even the overweight luggage charge was negotiable. Touristy things were included as well. The highlight of the trip was hiking on the Great Wall. Visits to Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City in Beijing, West Lake in Hangzhou, and a cruise on the Pu River in Shanghai provided students with a historical perspective on current Chinese culture and politics. Travel weary but enthusiastic students returned to campus and prepared an outstanding seminar, attended by over 100 family members, friends, faculty and staff, as a finale to the course. The trip was organized by John Forrest, Bud Harmon, Mark Russell and Terry Stewart who, except for Bud Harmon, accompanied the group in China. Maymester 2003 will find a group exploring Animal Agriculture in Poland.

Department of Animal Sciences Clubs

Many of our undergraduates are involved in clubs and activities within the Department. This year's faculty advisors and officers include:

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