Animal Sciences Newsletter 2006

(Left to Right) Front: Jessica Livingston, Lindsay Eckert, Lindsay Sims, Jennifer Rogan, Christy Johnson, Taran Blaize. Back: Barry Delks, Scott Kastning, Alan Duttlinger, Jeremy Armstrong, Casey Davis, Joel Parker, Dr. Mark Russell. Not Pictured: Pam Amstutz, Elizabeth Berger, Katey Brattain, Casey Bruns, Rachel Cumberbatch, Erin James, Brittany Moore, Jeb Stevens and DJ Weimer.

The Animal Sciences Ambassadors, now 19 strong, had a busy fall semester and are looking forward to a spring semester full of new opportunities.

During the fall of 2005, the Ambassador team collaborated on the successful "Animal Science Mentors" program that orients incoming students to college life, helped out with the Welcome Back picnic for students during the first week of classes, and lent a helping hand with the Animal Sciences Homecoming weekend. Ambassadors work with faculty members in the department to provide services to students and feedback when needed.

A new Ambassador 'retreat' was held right after classes started which helped the new ambassadors meet the people they would be working with as well as allowing continuing members to solidify their connections with the team. Glenda Wallpe and Stacy Norin, from Elanco, sponsored the weekend events, bringing their knowledge of the Insights personality evaluation to share.

This spring the Ambassadors will also host potential students during three Preview Days and a new social event each month.

As usual, the Ambassadors will also be helping with set up and management of the popular "Boiler Barnyard" during Spring Fest April 7 through April 9. Thousands of adults and children passed through the tent last year and we hope to see even more this year. The first Animal Sciences Young Alumni Reunion will be held in conjunction with Spring Fest as well. The first Animal Sciences Ambassador Reunion was such a success that it was decided to expand it to include all alumni from the last 10 years (1995-2005) of graduating classes. The Ambassadors hope to see a great turnout again this year!

Twenty-four College of Agriculture students traveled to China and explored international agricultural and food systems. From May 16 to June 10, the students learned about Chinese culture, visited ancient sites, and toured the local agricultural industry.

During their stay, students observed the differences in agriculture and college life while visiting China Agriculture University, the Institute of Animal Feed of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, the Institute of Food Science of Northwest Agroforestry University of Science and Technology, and the College of Animal Sciences and College of Food Sciences of Zhejiang University.

Students toured the Beijing offices of the US Soybean Association, US Grains Council, and the Nestle plant. They also visited several Chinese agribusinesses including a meat packing plant, a feed flavoring plant, a tea farm, and an animal feed company.

This trip included visiting the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Great Wall, Hong-Qiao bazaar (pearl market), a Tang Dance performance, and a class on acupuncture, to name a few.

Kirby Hayes, John Forrest and Terry Stewart from the Departments of Food Science and Animal Sciences were the professors on the Maymester trip.

Two Animal Science students, Adam Grant and Katherine McInnis, will participate in an internship with Wellhope Feed Company in Beijing, China for the summer of 2006. The primary duty of the interns will be to assist Wellhope employees to improve their English oral and written communications skills.

To accomplish this goal, our students will interact with Wellhope employees in their daily activities, ranging from executive meetings in the corporate headquarters, to operations and quality control in the feed mills, to educational seminars presented for Wellhope customers and on-farm visits with customers by technical representatives. Purdue students will experience the Chinese feed and animal production industry at a grass-roots level and also get a view of business operations in China.

Our students will be living in the homes of two Wellhope employees and participating in their daily family life. In preparing for their internship, the two students are taking Chinese during the 2005-06 academic year.

The Purdue Intercollegiate Horsemanship Club celebrates its 25th anniversary this year with Jerry Steinmetz serving as the Horse Show team coach for all 25 years! Our thanks to Jerry and his wife, Sue, for all their dedication and commitment!

The Purdue Equestrian show team had a very successful year with Cameo Parrish, Naperville, Ill., winning the IHSA National Intermediate Equitation over Fences Championship and Makato, a Purdue owned horse, was named the Horse of the National Show. Both the Western Team and Hunt Seat Team continue to be very competitive this year under the direction of Katy Green, Springboro, Ohio, the western assistant coach and Purdue Intercollegiate Horsemanship Club (PIHC) President and Cameo Parrish as the Hunt Seat Team assistant coach.

There are approximately 100 members of the PIHC and Dr. Russell serves as the club advisor. More information about the PIHC can be found at http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~pihc/PIHC.htm

(L-R) Ben Wicker, Meagan Matlock, Coach Steve Hendress, Liz Woodruff, and Ross Trentadue.

The Purdue Dairy Judging Team traveled to Harrisburg for the Pennsylvania All-American Contest and to Madison, Wis. for the World Dairy Expo Contest. The team added some international flavor this year with two study abroad students, which made it a learning experience for all. Members that comprised the 2005 team were: Adam Everhart, Shelbyville; Meagan Matlock, New Castle; Sean Murray, Ireland; Ross Trentadue, Lake Mills, Wis.; Marianne Voldsgaard, Denmark; and Ben Wicker, Milroy. Steve Hendress serves as the team's coach.

The team competed at the Pennsylvania All-American and placed third overall out of 15 teams. Purdue was the top team in the Brown Swiss breed with Meagan placing second and Ross placing third. Ross also was seventh high individual in the contest.

At the World Dairy Expo Nationals, Purdue went up against 25 nationwide teams. Although being the 13^th place team overall was somewhat disappointing, Sean was the fourth place individual in the Guernsey breed after scoring a perfect 50 on his oral reasons.

The team traveled to Ft. Worth, Texas in January to compete at the Ft. Worth Livestock Show for the first time. The team was proud to be named first place team overall and Meagan Matlock was first individual overall.

The team would like to thank everyone who supported their efforts this fall. Also, a special thank you to Liz Woodruff who assisted in coaching the team.

Front (L-R): Mac Mendell, Matt Edwards, Kristen Culy, Eoin Keane. Back: Nathan Downey, Patrick Gunn, Casey Bruns, and Coach Matt Claeys.

2005 was a good year for the Purdue Livestock Judging Team. The team competed in five contests and several workouts that were mock contests. Team members were: Casey Bruns, Union City; Kristen Culy, Hagerstown; Nathan Downey, Hope; Matt Edwards, Greenfield; Patrick Gunn, Greenfield; Eoin Keane, Ireland; and Mac Mendell, Noblesville. Matt Claeys serves as the coach for the team.

At the World Beef Expo the team was fourth overall, with Matt Edwards placing second in the contest and in the top five of two species. Casey Bruns also placed in the top five in the cattle division.

At Kansas City and Louisville the students scored in the range of 940-950 but were not in the top ten overall. The team met their goals of coming off the floor with less than 120 points dropped in Louisville. Also, Kristen Culy placed fourth in sheep at Louisville.

Team members for 2006 will participate in three events this spring. Students that have indicated they will be working this spring are: Jeremy Armstrong, Amanda Crawford, Alan Duttlinger, Adam Everhart, C.J. Fleenor, Christopher Kincade, Brittany Moore, Joel Parker, Kelli Reiff, Lindsay Sims, Shawn Tipton, and Gavin Wellman.

The team would like to thank the faculty, staff, and the livestock breeders for their support.

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