1. August 2011 1
Lee’s spunk and her expertise on and obvi-
ous passion for all things horticultural earned
her the job, and in January 2007, the former
arborist with the City of Atlanta hit the ground
running as the mega-airport’s first-ever landscape
manager, responsible for beautifying basically all
visible-to-the-public spaces around city-owned
Hartsfield-Jackson’s 130-acre airport terminal
complex that weren’t concrete.
“I’m in charge of the high-profile areas, the
areas you see when you’re dropping people off or
picking people up,” Lee says.
Please note that, in Lee’s book, “in charge”
doesn’t mean sitting at a desk barking out orders.
She’s a get-your-hands-and-knees-dirty kind of
landscape manager who spends the vast majority
of her time outside working alongside her amaz-
ing four-person landscape crew, digging, planting,
weeding, mulching and pruning the tens of thou-
sands of trees, flowers, shrubs, groundcovers and
grasses that grace the airport’s grounds and, not
surprisingly, fighting a never-ending battle against
litter. Trash, she says, is a HUGE problem.
That the airport was serious about sprucing
itself up became evident early in Lee’s employ-
ment, like almost before she’d learned how to
find her office. First, she cleaned up the over-
growth around existing trees and shrubs in the
landscape. Then came the color.
“The easiest way to liven a landscape up fast
is to add some color,” she says. “Color creates
instant interest, and it can buy you a lot of time.”
Of course, the most obvious place to splash
some of that color was at the entrance to the
sprawling terminal, but that posed a challenge
because the entire area was nothing but concrete,
including a series of waste-high, round cement
bollards across the front. For a couple of years,
Lee had to make do with putting flowers around
the posts, but last year, she finally got the OK to
replace the bollards with large flower pots that
now, no matter the season, showcase spectacular
plantings that masterfully blend colors, textures,
shapes and forms into works of art.
The airport property also has 4,500 square
feet of seasonal color beds, and each spring, sum-
mer, fall and winter, Lee says, she and her crew
plant crateloads of bulbs and a good 10,000 an-
nuals—but only those that are hardy, easy to
establish and tolerant of both drought and the
South’s hot and humid climate. That’s in keeping
with the xeriscape landscaping approach Lee has
implemented at Hartsfield-Jackson. Xeriscape
essentially is a landscape designed to conserve
water through plant selection and care.
“Anytimeweputoutnewplants,wegivethem
all a fair shot, keeping them watered till they’ve
had time to get established, but then they’re pretty
much on their own,” Lee says. “If they can’t cut it,
we pull them up and throw them on the compost
pile. We don’t have time to babysit.”
Operating sustainably is a top priority at the
Atlanta airport, and Lee sees to it that the land-
scape sets the example. The compost pile, for in-
stance, yields an abundance of bedding material
(continued on page 2)
TIME FLIES—At left, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International
Airport landscape manager Abra Lee’s philosophy is that
a garden should always be full of surprises, and the 2002
Auburn University landscape horticulture alumna has pulled
that off in a big way at the world’s busiest air-transportation
hub with a large floral clock seen by travelers exiting the
airport’s south terminal onto Interstate 85 north. The clock,
17 feet in diameter, has transformed a dull piece of land that
was dotted with a few common shrubs and crape myrtles
into a timely work of art. Above, Lee tends to the stunning
kaleidoscopic bed of perennials that accents the clock. On a
mission to make the airport landscape more sustainable, Lee
this year has focused on expanding the size—and boosting
the “wow” power—of flower beds throughout the airport’s
grounds and replacing annuals with perennials, bulbs and
shrubs that have interesting textures and blooms. Coming
soon to Hartsfield-Jackson’s grounds: the addition of topiar-
ies, increased plantings of Japanese maples and substantial
use of landscape stones.
“I’m all about wanting this place to feel like
a garden,” says Lee, Auburn University 2002
horticulture alumna and landscape manager at
the world’s busiest airport. “When I see some-
body feeling the leaves on one of my plants or
checking out the flowers, I say, ‘YES! That per-
son’s getting it!’ ”
In the four years she has been on the job, Lee
has transformed the scenery at Hartsfield-Jack-
son from blah to, well, in the words of airport in-
terim assistant general manager for Operations,
Maintenance and Security Balram Bheodari, “a
fresh and welcome level of majestic beauty that
we hope brightens the day for our many travelers
and employees.”
Lee, a perpetually upbeat ball of fire, says
she’s just making good on what she promised
the committee that interviewed her for the job
in 2006 she’d do to overhaul the airport scenery
if she were calling the shots.
“What I told them was, this place wasn’t
memorable,” the feisty, fifth-generation Atlantan
says. “It was bleak, drab. There was no color any-
where, nothing but shrubs and trees, and they
all needed trimming and shaping up like you
wouldn’t believe.
“I mean, you’ve got 240,000-something
people coming through this airport every day,
365 days a year, you want a clean landscape that’s
fresh and interesting and says ‘welcome to At-
lanta, welcome to the South,’ ” she recalls telling
the panel. “You’ve got to make it memorable.”
A G R I C U LT U R E
Contents
Protecting What He Loves ........o3
Generational Changes............... o6
Biosystems Engineering............ o9
View from Ag Hill.....................o2
Inside the College.................... o4
Research News........................ o6
Alumni and Development .........o8
Around the AAES .................... 1o
Extension ...............................11
Calendar of Events..................12
FEATURES
SECTIONS
Flying High
Hort Alum Brings Atlanta Airport’s Landscape to Life—
and Has a Blast Doing It by JAMIE CREAMER
August 2011
Volume 8, Issue 4
N
ext time you’re caught up in the throng of
preoccupied travelers rushing through Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta
International Airport, please take time to stop and smell the flowers.
No, seriously. Smell them. Gently touch them, even. Nothing
would please Abra Lee more.

2. 2AGIllustrated
TheTippecanoeRivermaynotflowintoAlabama,butitspro-
foundeffectonayoungEricReutebuchhascertainlyben-
efittedAlabama’sownwaterways.
ItwasontheTippecanoe,whichrunsthroughReutebuch’s(pronounced
“Rita-boo”)homestateofIndiana,thathefirstfellinlovewithwaterand
allthingsaquatic—afamilypassionthatwaspasseddowntoReutebuch
throughhisgrandfatherandfather,bothofwhomwereriverguidesfor“city
slickers”fromHammondand
Gary,Ind.,andChicago,Ill.
Achildhoodspentaccom-
panyinghisdad,fourbroth-
ersandfriendsonfishingand
floattrips—whathecalls“Huck
Finn–likeadventures”—onthe
TippecanoeensuredthatReute-
buch,aresearchassociateinfish-
eriesandalliedaquacultureswho
worksintheAlabamaWater
Watchprogram,wasthoroughly
smittenwithwaterandnature.
“That’swhatgotmeinterest-
edinwater,aquaticecologyand
fisheries,”saysReutebuch,whose
highschoolscienceteacherback
inWinamac,Ind.(Reutebuchis
actuallyfromPulaski,butwentto
highschoolinWinamac),helped
Reutebuchseethathecouldturn
hisloveofwaterintoacareer.
WhenhewentofftoPurdue
University,Reutebuchmajoredingeneralbiology(graduatingsummacum
laude),thenwenttoNepalwiththeU.S.PeaceCorps,whereheworkedasan
aquacultureextensionist.
Thoughhehadnotfocusedonfisheriesincollege,Reutebuchhadlots
ofexperiencewithterrestrialfarming(hehadworkedforacattle,hogand
rowcropfarmerduringhighschoolandcollege)andhegotacrashcoursein
aquaculturefromthePeaceCorps.He,inturn,trainedNepalifarmerstoset
uppoly-culturefishfarmsthatencouragedfarmerstoraiseducks,pigsand
vegetablecropsaroundtheirpondsaswellasavarietyoffish,allprovidinga
sustainablesourceofincomeandfoodforthefarmersandtheirfamilies.
Afteratwo-yearstintwiththePeaceCorps,Reutebuchspentanother
yeartraveling,hikingandexploringinNepal,NorthernIndia,Pakistanand
elsewhereinthatregionoftheworld.Whenhewasreadytocomebackto
theStatesherecalledhowaNepaliaquaculturespecialist,whowasanalum-
nusofAuburn’sfisheriesandalliedaquaculturesprogram,hadravedabout
Auburn’sprogram,soReutebuchappliedandwassoonworkingfornow-
retiredfisheriesprofessorTomLovellonfishnutritionissues.
Thatmaster’sdegreeworkexposedReutebuch(hewontheH.S.Swingle
awardforoutstandingmaster’sstudentsin1986)toabroadrangeoffisher-
iesissues,includingwaterqualityproblems.
In1987,withthemaster’sdegreeinhandandmarriedto“themost
beautifulFilipinowoman,Maria,”whomhehadmetinAuburn,Reutebuch
wenttotheTifton,Ga.,CoastalPlainExperimentStationwhereheworked
onreestablishingacage-andpond-culturecatfishprojectthere.Mariaand
theirnewson,Mike,eventuallymovedtoTiftonwherethefamilystayedfor
aboutayearandahalf,buttheywantedtogetbacktoAuburn,soReutebu-
chtooka50-percentpaycuttoreturntoAuburnasalaboratorytechnician
forfisheriesprofessorDavidBayneonwaterqualityissues.
Reutebuchwassoonupgradedtoaresearchassistant’sposition(and
receivedamuch-neededsalaryincrease)andhe,alongwithBayneandco-
workerWendySeesock,spent17yearsconductingriver,stream,pondand
lakestudiesalloverAlabamaandintoGeorgia.
Thosestudies,supported
throughanEnvironmentalPro-
tectionAgencycleanwaterproj-
ect,laidthegroundworkfor
nutrientstandardsinAlabama’s
lakesandalsodovetailednicely
withtheAlabamaWaterWatch
program,whichwasestablished
in1992attherequestofthe
AlabamaDepartmentofEnvi-
ronmentalManagement.
WhenBayneretiredin
2006,Reutebuchwenttowork
forAWW(hehadbeenworking
part-timeforAWWsince1996).
“Itwasagreatsynergybe-
causewehadallthisscientificdata
thatwehadcollectedwithBayne
andcouldbeusedalongsidethe
citizenmonitoringdata,”hesays.
ReutebuchhasplayedmanyrolesinAWWandtodayhehelpslead
projectstargetingtheTallapoosa,Saugahatcheeandotherwatershedsinthe
state;trainsAWWvolunteers;andishimselfanAWWstreammonitor.He
alsohelpsobtaingrantstoworkwithcommunityorganizationstoremedi-
atewaterqualityproblemsand,hesays,itisprojectssuchasthesethathave
madesignificantimprovementsinAlabama’swaterquality.
“WhatsetsAWWapartfromotherscienceendeavorsisthecommunity
aspect,”Reutebuchsays.“It’sallaboutbuildingrelationshipswithstake-
holders,suchasmunicipalities,counties,agenciesandothers.Thereisa
plus-plus/win-winsynergywhenyoulinkwithotherprogramsandyoucan
getsomuchmoredoneandhavemoreimpactthatway.”
“AWWhasimpactsatseverallevels,”hesays.“Thereisthebasiclevel
ofcollectingdataonstreams,riversandlakesthatwouldneverhavebeen
monitoredbecauseADEMcouldnotpossiblymonitor77,000milesofriv-
ersandstreamsinAlabamaonitsown.
“Thereisalsotheimpactofgoingintoacommunitytoholdaworkshop
andshowingyoucareenoughtocomeandteachpeople,”hecontinues.“We
don’tjustshowthemhowtocollectdata,butalsoraiseawarenessoftheir
watershedhealthandhowjustgettinginvolvedinwaterstewardshipcanposi-
tivelyaffectlocalwaterqualityandaffectthemasanindividual.”
“Weareallaboutempoweringcitizenstogetinvolvedinthemanage-
mentoftheirlocalwatershed,”headds.“Wehighlyencouragepeopleto
goafterfundingforwatershedmanagementplanningandgetinvolvedin
advocacyefforts.”
AWW’sdreamistosomedayhaveacitizenmonitoroneverystream,
river,lakeandbayinAlabama.“But,ultimately,thegoalisprotect,restore
andimprovewaterqualityandwaterpolicyinAlabama,”Reutebuchsays.
AndforthissonoftheTippecanoewhostilllovesthewater(mostofhis
sparemomentsarespentfishing,paddling,boatingandswimminginAlabama
waters),thatgoalsimplymakessense.“Peopleshouldbeconcernedabouttheir
water.Thisplanetisabeautifulplaceandwehavesomegorgeousplacestolive
andrecreate.Ifwedidn’thavethoseitwouldbeaprettysadworld.”
Apartnershipisastrategicallianceorrelationshipbetweentwoor
morepeopleorgroups.ThroughoutthesummerIhavebeenim-
pressedbythenumerouspartnershipsthattheCollegeofAgriculturehasde-
velopedovertime,andhowthesepartnershipsimpactourprograms.Inour
teachingprogram,wehavepartnerswhoserveasguestlecturesforclasses,
sponsorstudentevents,provideequipmenttomodernizelaboratoriesandpro-
videco-opandinternshipopportunitiesforourstudents.Wehaveotherpart-
nerswhoprovidescholarshipsforourstudents,whichisadirectinvestmentin
thenextgenerationofagriscienceandagribusinessleadersinAlabama.
Ourfacultyroutinelypartnerwithcompaniesanduniversitiestocarry
outresearchprogramsinthecollege.Thistypeofpartnershipallowsusto
bringthebestmindsandequipmenttobeartosolvecomplexproblems,and
torapidlytransfertechnologytosociety.Ourfacultyalsohavepartnerships
withcompaniesthatleadtodirectfinancialgiftstosupporttheirresearch.
Eachyear,wetypicallyreceive$1.8millionindonationsfromindustrypart-
nerstocarryoutmuch-neededappliedresearchinareassuchasintegrated
pestmanagement,herbicidemanagement,soilfertilityandwaterquality.In
additiontothis,weroutinelyreceiveequipmentgiftsfromvariousindustry
partners.Thisyear,weexpecttoreceive$1millioninequipmentdonationsto
advanceourresearchandeducationalprograms.
Duringthepasttwodecades,thecollegehasdevelopednumerouspartner-
shipswithuniversitiesinothercountries,especiallyinAsiaandSouthAmer-
ica,andmorerecentlyinAfrica.Internationalpartnershipsplayacriticalrole
inoureducation,researchandoutreachmissions.Thesepartnershipsallowus
torecruittopgraduatestudentsfromothercountries.Historically,manyof
thesestudentsreturnhomeandbecomeindustryandpoliticalleaders.Asthe
worldbecomemore“flat”throughcommunicationstechnologyandglobal
freetradeagreements,therearestrategicadvantagestohavinginternational
leaderstrainedatAuburn.Thesepartnershipsalsoallowourscientiststostudy
problemsthataredifficulttostudyintheU.S.,suchasemergingplantdis-
easesortheimpactofwaterqualityonproductionsystems.Byunderstanding
howothercountriesgeneratehighlyefficientorhighlyproductivesystems,
ourresearchersgaininsightintohowwemightredesignourproductionand
processingsystemstobettercompeteintheworldtoday.
Finally,partnershipsplayacriticalroleinrenovatingandconstructing
newfacilitiesinthecollege.Recently,generoussupportfrompartnershasal-
lowedustobreakgroundonthePoultryandAnimalNutritionCenterin
AuburnandtheAlfaOfficeBuildingattheTennesseeValleyResearchand
ExtensionCenterinBelleMina.PartnersupporthasbeenvitaltoAgHeri-
tagePark,withitswonderfullandscapingandnewandrenovatedbuildings.
PartnersintherecentlyformedAgHillDean’sSociety(www.ag.auburn.edu/
deansociety)willprovidemuch-neededdiscretionaryfundingtocoverneeds
thatoftengounmet.
Throughouttheyears,partnershipswithindividuals,companies,state
agenciesandotheruniversitieshaveplayedacriticalroleinthesuccessofthe
college.Withoutthesepartnerships,theCollegeofAgriculturewouldbeina
differentplacetoday.Thankyouforyourpartnershipandsupportofthecollege!
OpinionsandInsights
BillBatchelor
DEAN,COLLEGEOFAGRICULTURE
DIRECTOR,ALABAMAAGRICULTURALEXPERIMENTSTATION
ViewAGhill
from
NamesandFaces
August20113
AuburnUniversityisanequalopportunity
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andmulchforuseacrosstheairportproperty,andrainfallrunoffthatcollects
inthree2,500-galloncisternsprovidesmorethanenoughwaterforirrigation.
SustainabilityalsoisbehindLee’sdecisiontotransitionthelandscape
fromwater-demandingannualstomoregroundcovers,perennials,shrubs
andsmalltrees,especiallyoneswitheye-catchingblooms,interestingtex-
turesorunusualcharacteristics.
Caseinpoint:Passengerswaitingtoboardatoneparticulargatelookouton
asoftlycurvedbedthatfeaturesadramaticgroupingofrareandstunningcoral-
barkJapanesemaplesplantedamidstavarietyoffine-texturedplantsandgrasses.
“Thisbedissoftandpsychologicallycalming,soit’sperfectherebecause
alotofthepeoplelookingatitcanbeprettyuptightaboutgettingonanair-
plane,andithelpssooththeirnerves,”Leesays.“That’snotAbraLeesaying
that;that’ssomepsychologistssomewherewhostudythosekindsofthings.”
Already,Leequalifiesasawalking,talkingplantandlandscapeguide,
buthernearobsessionwiththegreenindustrykeepsherhungryforinfor-
mationandinspiration.
“Ireadconstantly,andItalkwithalotofothergardeners,likemymom
andmyaunts,whoruncirclesaroundmewhenitcomestogardening,”she
says.“AndIdon’tgoanywherewithoutmycamera.”
Shedeclares,however,thatthelion’sshareofcreditforhersuccessgoes
totheincredibleteachersshehadinAuburn’sCollegeofAg—andsheinsists
sheisn’tjustsayingthatbecausethisisanAgIllustratedstory,shesays.
“Theysototallypreparedmeforajobintherealworld,”saysLee,who,
immediatelyaftergettingher
bachelor’sdegree,wenttowork
foranAtlantalandscapecompa-
ny.“Everythingtheytaughtme
wasvaluable,andtherestillisn’t
adaygoesbythatI’mnotusing
whatIlearned.
“Andthethingwas,they
gavemesomuchsupport.They
werethereforme,andtheybe-
lievedinmeatatimewhenI
didn’tbelieveinmyself.”
Thatjuniorsemesteron
academicsuspensionwasnota
happytimeintheLeehousehold.
“Myparentswerefurious,as
theyshouldhavebeen,”Leerecalls.“Theysaidtheyweren’tpayingforme
togotoAuburntohaveagoodtime.Theymadeitclearthiswasmylast
chance,soIbettergetmyheadonstraight.”
Soshedid.Andnow...
“Iamsohappy,doingwhatIdo—Ican’ttellyouhowhappy,”shesays.
“Plantsmakemehappy.Ilovecomingtowork.Infact,Idon’tevenconsider
it‘work,’Ilovebeingoutheresomuch,doingwhatIlove.”
(FLYINGHIGH,frompage1)
OntheWater
ProtectingWhat
HeLoves
ReutebuchCombinesPassion
forWaterwithJob
byKATIEJACKSON
FLOWERPOWER—CollegeofAgalumAbra
Leeshowsoffthepurple-themedplanteratthe
entrancetotheAtlantaairport’sterminalcomplex.
Forspringandsummer2011,Lee,chieflandscaper
attheairport,usedacolorthemefortheplanters,
fillingeachwithplants,flowersandvinesinshades
ofaspecificcolorandofmultipletextures.
ONTHEWATER—EricReutebuch
(picturedabove)spendseverymoment
hecanonthewater,whichworkswell
sincehispositionasaresearchassociate
intheDepartmentofFisheriesandAllied
AquaculturesworkingwithAlabama
WaterWatchrequireslotsoftime
aroundwater.

3. 4AGIllustrated
Oneofthetopenvironmentalissueschallengingcurrentandfuture
globalpopulationsisaccesstosafeandabundantpotablewater.Working
tomeetthischallenge,AlanWilson,assistantprofessorintheDepartment
ofFisheriesandAlliedAquacultures,broughttogetheragroupof11
undergraduatestudentsfromacrosstheUnitedStatestoAuburn’scampus
thissummertostudywarm-waterecology.
“Somemodelspredictthat40percentoftheworld’spopulationwill
sufferwatershortagesby2025,”saysWilson.“Watershortagesareespecially
challenginginthesoutheasternU.S.,giventheon-goingexplosivepopulation
growthandprolongeddroughtthroughouttheregion.Unfortunately,less
emphasishasbeenplacedonthestudyofwarm-wateraquaticecology;we’re
workingtochangethat.”
WilsonreceivedaNationalScienceFoundationResearchExperiencefor
Undergraduatesgrant,whichprovidesastipendandcoversfood,lodging
andtravelandresearchfundsforparticipatingREUstudents.Headedby
Wilson,thisREUisacollaborativeeffortinvolvingAuburnUniversity
facultymentorsspecializingindiversebutcomplementarydisciplines,
includingcommunityecology,fisheriesmanagement,aquaculture,
evolution,limnology,molecularbiology,microbiology,invasivespecies,fish
behavior,outreach,physiology,parasitologyandconservation.
“TheREUsitethatwedevelopedprovidesauniqueapproachto
educatingundergraduatestudentsaboutthetechniquesandtoolsusedto
studywarm-waterecosystemsfoundthroughouttheSoutheast,suchas
reservoirs,farmponds,streamsandestuaries,”saysWilson.
Fromthetimeflierswentout
advertisingtheREUprogram
totheapplicationclosingdate
morethan100applications
werereceivedfromstudents
attendingsmallcollegesandlarge
universitiesfromMassachusettsto
AlabamatoCalifornia.
“HavingthisREUsitein
theCollegeofAgricultureis
important,”saysPaulPatterson,associatedeanforinstructionintheCollege
ofAgriculture.“Itisaprestigiousawardandgarnersrecognitionforresearch
programsatAuburn,itprovidesafabulousresearchandlearningexperience
fortheparticipatingstudents,anditisanexcellenttoolforrecruitingfuture
graduatestudents.”
TheprimaryobjectiveoftheREUistoexposeparticipantsto
differentscientifichypotheses,researchtechniquesandecologicalhabitats
andconditionsinanengaging,interdisciplinaryatmosphere.Whilethe
studentswereoncampustheydevelopedanindependentresearchprojectin
associationwithafacultymentor.TheREUstudentsworkedinavarietyof
fieldsitesthroughoutAlabama,includingpondsattheE.W.ShellFisheries
CenterinnorthAuburn,theMobiledeltaandlocalstreams.
“Thissummer’sREUprogramwasincredible,”saysWilson.“Wehada
terrificgroupofstudentswhoconductedcutting-edgeresearchonavariety
oftopicsrelatedtowarm-wateraquaticecology.Inadditiontoworking
hard,theREUstudentsenjoyedmanyfieldtripsandsocialactivitiesto
enrichtheirlearningexperience.”
Recruitmentforsummer2012participantsintheREUwillbeginfall
2011.Tolearnmoreabouttheprogram,gotowilsonlab.com/reu/.
InsidetheCollegeInsidetheCollege
August20115
LadariusLane,ajuniormajoringin
animalsciences/pre-veterinarymedicine,has
receivedaMulticulturalScholarsProgram
scholarship.Forthepastthreeyears,Lane
hasservedastheCollegeofAgriculture’s
counselorfortheSEEprogram.Inaddition
tobeingaSEEcounselor,Lanealsoworks
withprospectivestudents,providescustomer
serviceandassistsinallaspectsofstudent
serviceswork.
MeredithJedlickaofMarietta,Ga.,wasgiventheDean’sAwardand
servedastheCollegeofAg’sgraduationmarshalforthesummercommence-
mentceremonyheldAug.6.Jedlicka,whograduatedcumlaudewithher
bachelor’sdegreeinhorticulture,servedasanAgAmbassadorandwastrea-
sureroftheorganizationduringthe2010/11academicyear.Shewasalso
activeinPLANET,wheresheservedasvicepresident,plantsalecoordina-
tor,workdaycoordinatorandhistorian.TheDean’sAwardgoestoahigh-
achievinggraduatingseniorwhohasdemonstratedleadershipandservice
intheCollegeofAgriculture.Studentmarshals,selectedbyaschool/college
awardscommittee,havedistinguishedthemselvesbyservicetotheirschool
orcollege.Tobeconsidered,studentsmusthavecompletedaminimum
offoursemestersatAuburnUniversitywithascholasticaverageof3.40or
higherandpossessqualitiesofleadership,citizenship,characterandpromise
ofprofessionalability.
AnnaLeighPeek,asophomoremajoringinagriculturalcommunica-
tions,waschosenasaFFANationalCollegiateAgAmbassadortopartici-
pateinaprogramsponsoredbyBASF-TheChemicalCompany,Syngenta,
ElancoAnimalHealthandtheNationalPorkBoardasaspecialprojectof
theNationalFFAFoundation.
EmilyDent,aseniorinagriculturalcommunications,earneda“masters
ofbeefadvocacy”designationfromtheNationalCattlemen’sBeefAssociation
inJune.TheMBAprogramhelpsbeefproducersandindustrysupportersbe-
comebetterequippedtotelltheirstories.
AlbertJohnKappelmanJr.ofAuburn,aUSDAplantpathologistwho
workedatAuburnUniversityfor27years,passedawayMay31.Memorial
donationsmaybemadetotheNationalMultipleSclerosisSocietyorTrinity
LutheranChurchofAuburnat446SouthGaySt.,Auburn,AL36830.
JohnL.ParrottofAuburn,retiredheadoftheAlabamaCooperative
ExtensionSystem’scommunicationsdepartment,passedawayJune5.Me-
morialsdonationsmaybemadetoBethanyHouseat1171GatewoodDrive,
Auburn,AL36830.
NormanDavisofAuburn,aprofessoremeritusofbotanywhotaught
andconductedresearchintheCollegeofAgricultureandAlabamaAgricul-
turalExperimentStationfrom1958to1990andwasco-authoroftheGuide
andKeytoAlabamaTrees,passedawayJuly3.Memorialdonationsmaybe
madetoafavoritecharityortotheFirstPresbyterianChurchofAuburnat
143EastThachAve.,Auburn,AL36830.
StudentAccomplishmentsBethGuertal,aprofessorinagronomyandsoils,willbeinductedasa
fellowintheCropScienceSocietyofAmericainOctober.Membersofthe
societynominateworthycolleaguesbasedontheirprofessionalachievements
andmeritoriousservice.Only0.3percentofthesociety’sactiveandemeritus
membersmaybeelectedfellow.
PlantpathologyprofessorsJosephKloepperandRodrigoRodriguez-
KabanawereselectedasinauguralmembersoftheAuburnUniversity
ChapteroftheNationalAcademyofInventors.Themissionofthenew
organizationisto“recognizeandencourageinventors;enhancethevisibility
ofuniversitytechnologyandinnovation;encouragethedisclosureofintel-
lectualproperty;educateandmentorinnovativestudents;andtranslatethe
inventionsofitsmemberstobenefitsociety.”KloepperandRodriguez-Ka-
banawererecognizedattheinauguralluncheonoftheAuburnUniversity
ChapteroftheNationalAcademyofInventorsinMay.
GrantBond,associatedirectoroftheAAES’sAgriculturalLandandRe-
sourceManagementgroup,wasnamedanAuburnUniversitySpiritofExcel-
lenceawardwinnerinMarch.
BillDeutsch,directorofAlabamaWaterWatchintheDepartmentof
FisheriesandAlliedAquacultures,wasselectedastheWaterConservationistof
theYearbytheAlabamaWildlifeFederation.HewasrecognizedattheGover-
nor’sConservationAchievementAwardsceremonyinAugust.
LeonardBell,foodscienceprofessorintheDepartmentofPoultrySci-
ence,wasfeaturedrecentlyonaBirminghamtelevisionshowabouthealthy
foodoptions.Viewtheclipandstoryatwww.myfoxal.com/story/14715698/
the-truth-behind-healthy-restaurant-options.
JoeKemble,intheDepartmentofHorticulture,andJanGarrett,inthe
DepartmentofEntomologyandPlantPathology,werefeaturedrecentlyona
WBHMNationalPublicRadiopieceaboutorganicgardening.TheAuburn
UniversityShellfishLaboratorywasalsofeaturedonWBHM.Tohearbothof
thesestoriesvisitwww.wbhm.org/Tapestry/andclickon“June2011”show.
FisheriesprofessorRexDunham,whoseresearchhasgiventhecatfish
industryapremiumhybridcatfishthatisacrossbetweenafemalechannel
catfishandamalebluecatfish,hasfiledforprovisionalpatentsontechnology
hehasdevelopedtoproducehybridcatfishembryosbyspawningchannelcat-
fishmalescontainingbluecatfishtesteswithnormalchannelcatfishfemales.
Thetechnologywilleliminatetheneedforartificialfertilizationtoproduce
channel-bluehybridcatfishembryosandshouldmaketheproductionofhy-
bridcatfishembryosmorecosteffectiveandpractical.
ChazzHesseleinisleavinghispositionasExtensionhorticulturistatthe
OrnamentalHorticultureResearchCenterinMobilethisfallandmoving
withhisfamilytoWashingtonstate.HesseleinhasservedattheOHRCsince
1994andhasbeenanintegralpartoftheOHRCstaff.
DonBall,professorofanimalsciencesandforagespecialistwiththeAla-
bamaCooperativeExtensionSystem,retiredthisspringaftermorethan30
yearsofservicetoAuburnandACES.
WayneGreene,headofthe
DepartmentofAnimalSciences,
wasnamedasthe2011Alabama
CattleWomen’sAssociationFa-
theroftheYear.TheACWApres-
ident,EvelynBrown,presented
thehonorataDepartmentof
AnimalSciencesstaffandfaculty
cook-outonJune24.
FacultyandStaffAccomplishments
JaredBattéknowsthatthe
competitiontogetintolawschool
isgoingtobefierceandthata
highGPAandstellarLawSchool
AdmissionTestscoreareessentialif
he’stomakethecut.
ButtheAuburnUniversity
seniorwhoisdoublemajoringinag
economicsandfinanceiswellaware
thatimpressivescoresalonearen’t
enough:Hehastomakehimselfstand
outfromthecrowdofapplicants.
Andbasedonthestrongrésumé
he’sbuiltatAuburn,thatshouldn’t
beaproblem.
Batté,fromManchester,Tenn.,
cametoAuburnfall2008ona
CollegeofAgriculturescholarship
thathesays“madeitpossibleforme
toevencometoAuburn.”
Hewantedtogetplugged
intotheCollegeofAg,soheinterviewedfor,andwasselectedas,anAg
Ambassadorin2009.
HemovedtothenextlevelthispastFebruary,whenhewaschosentobe
anAuburnPlainsman.The12femaleand12malestudentsselectedasWar
EagleGirlsandPlainsmenaretheuniversity’sofficialhostsandhostesses.
ThemostrecentadditiontoBatté’slistofaccomplishmentscamein
April,whenhewasawardedtheprestigious$10,000W.JamesSamford
Jr.’72MemorialScholarship.Samford,great-grandsonofSamfordHall
namesakeWilliamJamesSamford,wasontheAuburn’sBoardofTrustees
from1987untilhisdeathinlateDecember2003.
Batté,residentassistantforacampusdormitory,alsoisinAuburn’sHonors
College.UndertheguidanceofageconomicsprofessorPatriciaDuffy,Battéwill
researchandwritehisHonorsThesisonwhatimpacteachschool’sandcollege’s
academicadvisingpoliciesatAuburnhaveonfreshmanretention.Whenhe
graduatesin2012,hewilldosoasanHonorsScholarwithtwomajorsandathesis.
ThreeyoungwomenwillbeleadingthewayforstudentsintheCollege
ofAgriculturethisyearasAgCouncilandAuburnUniversityStudent
GovernmentAssociationofficers.
SaloraWrightwillbeservingasAgCouncilpresidentwhileEmily
Johnsonwillbevicepresidentforthe2011-2012academicyear.SarahBeth
WorshamwillrepresentthecollegeasSGAsenator.Allthreestudentsare
majoringinagriculturalcommunications.FacultyadviserfortheAgCouncil
isDeacueFieldsinagriculturaleconomicsandruralsociology.
ThirtytopCollegeofAgriculturestudentswerealsochosentoserveas
AgAmbassadorsforthecomingyear.
OfficersforthegroupareEmilyBrennan,president;BaileyBlankenship,
vice-president;SarahBethWorsham,educationchair;EliNichols,social
chair;CarlaWeissend,secretary;KaylaBlake,publicrelationschair;and
KiraChaloupka,treasurer.AdvisersfortheAgAmbassadorsareGlenn
FainfromtheDepartmentofHorticultureandDonMulvaneyfromthe
DepartmentofAnimalSciences.
SeniorAddsSamfordScholarshiptoHonors
byJAMIECREAMER
LeadingtheWay
CollegeofAgStudentLeaders,AmbassadorsNamed
WarmingUptoWarmWaterEcology
UndergraduateResearchExperienceImmersingStudentsinSciencebyDEBORAHSOLIE
DIGGINGIN—AuburnPlainsmanandag
economics/financeseniorJaredBattéjoins
Aubieinbreakinggroundfortheuniversity’s
newWellnessandSustainabilityCenter
spring2011.
TESTINGTHEWATER—When11
undergraduatestudentsfromacrossthe
UnitedStatesvisitedAuburnthissummerfor
aResearchExperiencesforUndergraduates
programtheyspentlotsoftimeonAlabama
waters,includinghelpingAuburnscientists
withwarm-watersamplingprojects.
DADHONORS—WayneGreene,headoftheDepartmentofAnimalSciences,wasnamedFather
oftheYearbytheAlabamaCattleWomen’sAssociation.Picturedaboveattheawardpresenation
are,backrowfromleft,AlabamaCattlemen’sAssociationExecutiveVicePresidentBillyPowell,
ACWASecretaryEmilyDentandpastACWAPresidentLanaSlaten;frontrowfromleft,ACWA
District4DirectorCarolDent,Greene,ACWAPresidentEvelynBrownandCollegeofAgriculture
DeanBillBatchelor.
Thefinalresultsareinforthe2011AuburnUniversityFacultyStaff
Campaign.Theuniversityfinisheditscampaignatanewrecordparticipation
rateof71percentofthefacultyandstaffmakingapledgeorgifttothe
university.Auburnalsomaintaineditsleadingpositionintherateof
participationforafourthyearinarowamongtheSECschools,outpacing
itsclosestrivals,SouthCarolinaandVanderbilt,whoseparticipationrateare
inthe40-percentrange.
AmongtheschoolsandcollegesatAuburnUniversity,theparticipation
ratewas64percent.TheCollegeofAgriculturefinishedat52percent.During
thefinalweeksofthecampaign,theparticipationrateinthecollegejumpedby
morethan10percent.
AccordingtoPaulPatterson,thecollege’sassociatedeanforinstructionwho
ledthecollege’scampaignteam,giftsandcontributionstoAuburnUniversity
andtheCollegeofAgriculturearecrucialtosustainingkeymissions.
“Privategiftsbolstereffortstodiscovernewknowledge,improvelivesandhelp
studentsrealizetheirdreamsofcompletingtheircollegeeducation,”Pattersonsays.
“Inatimewhenstateandfederalsupportforhighereducationiswaning,private
supportmakesameaningfuldifference,asweseekalternativefundingsources.
“TheCollegeofAgricultureisfortunatetoenjoythesupportofmany
friendsandcontributors,”hesays.“Wearenowproudtosaythatmorethan
halfofthefacultyandstaffintheCollegeofAgriculturepersonallyinvestin
thecollegeanduniversity.”
Severalcollegefacultyandstaffmembersassistedwiththecampaign,
includingDavidWeaver,AmyWright,KathyLawrence,MitchellPate,Max
Runge,DaleColeman,JohnJensen,YifenWang,JaneFarr,LaneSauser,Kelly
Terry,DeborahSolieandKatieJackson.
Somefacultyandstaffcontributorswereselectedinweeklydrawingsforthe
college’smostpopularT-shirt,the“Growit,Mowit,Feedit,Healit,Harvest
it,&Liveit”shirt.WinnerswerePatriciaDuffy,JeanieHarry,EddiePhilpot,
JimNovak,ScottMooreandConnerBailey.ChristyBratcherwasalsoselected
atrandomfromamongalldonorstoreceiveadinnerfor10,preparedby
PattersonandcollegeDevelopmentOfficerMarkWilton,withentertainment
tobeprovidedbyDeborahSolie,thecollege’sstudentrecruiter.
ArecipefromthateventwillbefeaturedintheOctoberissueofAg
Illustrated.
“ThegenerosityandsupportoftheCollegeofAgriculture’sfacultyand
staffaremuchappreciated,asisthestrongandfaithfulsupportofmany
friends,”saysPatterson.“Withthissupport,thecollegeispreparingfuture
leadersandscientistsanddevelopingsolutionsforthechallengeswefaceinour
communitiesandworld.”
TheAuburnFamilySupportsAuburn
InMemoriam
JodiManord*
HannahMarsh*
MeganMcMurray*
EliNichols
BrettPepper*
KatherinePittman
ChristaRay*
ChrisStrain
AustenVollenweider
CarlaWeissend
KellyWhippo*
SarahBethWorsham
SaloraWright
WillWright*
HannahYoung*
WileyBailey*
KaylaBlake
BaileyBlankenship
EmilyBrennan
ErinCambier*
KiraChaloupka
MarilynChambliss*
AshleyCulpepper*
NettieEakes*
AnnaGore*
ShantéHolley
BenJohnson
EmilyJohnson*
RachelKnotts
ZacLee*
AgAmbassadorsfor2011-2012(*indicatesnewAgAmbassador)
LadariusLane

4. TheforestproductsindustryinAlabamahasgreatpotentialtosupply
therawmaterialsforanewbiofuelsindustry,butfindingthebestwayto
harvestandtransportthoseresourcesisamajorchallenge.
AccordingtoSteveTaylor,headoftheDepartmentofBiosystemsEngineer-
ing,anAuburn-ledconsortiumistakingtheleadona$4.9million-Department
ofEnergyflagshipgrantlookingatbetterwaystodojustthat.Thegrant,which
isbeingmatchedwithotherdollarstomakeita$10millionproject,focuseson
howtoharvestandtransportpinetreestoabiorefinerytomakebiofuels.
ItinvolvesnotonlyAuburnbutalsotheU.S.ForestService,Corley
LandServices,TigerCat,aleadingequipmentmanufacturer,andseveral
otherAlabamacompaniesthataresupplyingchippingequipment,trucking
servicesandbiorefineryservices.
“Theproject’sfocusistodevelopanddemonstrateforestharvestingand
processingequipmentandtransportsystemstodeliversouthernpinebiomass
atthelowestpossiblecost,”saysTaylor.DOEwantedtodevelopasystemthat
canharvestlargeamountsoffeedstock—100milliondrytonsperyear—and
becapableofmeetingtheirlong-termgoalsforfeedstockcost.Southernpine
biomassisonefeedstockthatisreadilyavailabletodayandhasthepotentialto
beproducedatlevelsthatcansupportasignificantbiofuelindustry,Taylorsays.
“Weproposedasystemtogrowpinetreesjustforliquidfuelproduc-
tion,sooursisfocusedonharvestingstandingsouthernpines,”hecon-
tinues.Tothatendtheyaredevelopingnewfellingandskiddingmachine
specificallydesignedforhighproductivityandenvironmentallyfriendlyhar-
vestingaswellasmoreefficienttransportationoptionsthatcanmakethe
processmuchmoreeconomical.
Oneyearintothethree-yearproject,theteamhasdesignednewharvest-
ingmachinesthatshouldberollingofftheassemblylinethissummerand
inthewoodsthisfallandbenchmarkingcostsandfeedstockqualitysothey
cancomparethecostsofnewversusconventionalsystems.Theteamisalso
spendingagooddealoftimetalkingtoforestlandownersandloggersabout
howtheyfeelaboutthenewgrowingandharvestingsystems.
Thenexttwoyearswillbespenttestingthesesystemsinthefieldand
theteamhopesthat,bytheendofthethirdyear,theywillhavedevelopeda
highlyefficientsystemcapableofdeliveringlowcostfeedstocksthatcanfuel
newbusinessesinAlabama.
TolearnmoreaboutthisprojectcontactTaylorat334-844-4180.
Withoutfullagreement,landthathasmultipleownersandstillhasthe
originallandowner’snameonthedeedcan’tbeusedascollateralforloans,
isn’teligibleforfederalagricultureandhousingprogramsandcan’tbeleased
forfarmorrecreationalpurposes,norcananytimberbeharvestedandsold
fromit.Andresidentheirsshouldbereluctanttoinvesttheirresourcesin
improvementstotheland,suchasplantingtreesorbuildingahome,be-
causethosetreesandthathomebecomethepropertyofall
whoholdaninterestintheland.
Thebiggestthreatstolandownershiparetaxsalesand
forcedpartitionsales.Taxsalesoccurifannualpropertytaxes
aren’tpaid.Thegovernmenttakesthepropertyandauctionsit
offtomakeupfortheunpaidtaxes,andthoughtheheirshave
thechancetopaythetaxesfirst,theymayhavetroublecontact-
ingeachotherandorganizingintimetosavetheproperty.
Court-orderedpartitionsalesresultwhenoneorseveral
heirs,typicallythosefarremovedfromtheproperty,decide
it’stimetosell,evenagainstthewishesoftheremainingheirs.
Thepropertyisauctionedoffandsold,usuallyatafractionofitstruevalue,
tothehighestbidder.Althoughthoseheirscloselyconnectedtotheland
maypooltheirresourcesinanefforttobuytheproperty,theyareseldom
abletooutbiddevelopersorrealestatespeculatorsandthelandislost.
Thusfar,theAuburnresearchhaspromptedtheAlabamaCooperative
ExtensionSystemtoholdaseriesof39workshopsforheirpropertyowners
aroundthestatetomakethelandownersawareoftheirrights,responsibili-
tiesandrisks.Inaddition,theAmericanBarAssociationhasapprovedauni-
formlawthatindividualstatescanadopttoprovidelegalprotectionsagainst
landlossbyheirpropertyowners.
FormoreaboutheirpropertyinAlabama,visitwww.ag.auburn.edu/
agec/heirproperty.
thephenomenonisamajorcauseoflandlossamongruralAfricanAmericans
andakeycontributortothepersistentpoverty,highunemployment,substan-
dardandabandonedhousing,under-usedresourcesanddisinvestmentthat
characterizeAlabama’s12-countyBlackBeltregion.
Infiveyearsofresearchthathasincludedface-to-faceinterviewswith
numerousheirpropertyco-ownersintheBlackBelt,theAlabamaAgEx-
perimentStationsocialscientistshavedocumentedtheseriousproblems
andrisksassociatedwithlandthathasbeen
passedfromgenerationtogenerationwith-
outacleartitleand,basedonaquantitative
analysisofheirpropertyintheBlackBelt
countyofMacon,havedeterminedthatas
muchas$300millionworthoflandcould
betiedupincloudedtitlesinwhatisone
ofthepoorestregionsintheU.S.
“Ifthatwealthwereaccessible,itcould
potentiallychangetheeconomic,political
andsocialfabricoftheBlackBelt,”Dyersays.
Thoughheirpropertyexistsstatewide
andinurbanaswellasruralenvironments,
themajorityisintheBlackBeltbecause,af-
tertheCivilWar,manyblacksnewlyfreed
fromthecottonplantationsthathaddomi-
natedtheregioninthelate19thcentury
wereabletobuyorweredeededlandthere
toliveonandfarm.Fewofthoselandown-
ers,however,hadwrittenwills,andwhentheydied,theirimmediatefamily
membersinheritedthelandcommunally,accordingtostatelaws.Thatset
theheir-propertycycleinmotion.
“Sostilltoday,everytimeanheirtoapieceoflanddiesintestate,thenum-
berofco-ownersincreases,andeachperson’sshareoftheestategetssmaller,”
Baileysays.“Themorefractionalizedthepropertybecomes,themorecomplex
theissuesget,themoredifficultusingthelandproductivelybecomesandthe
morevulnerablethelandistobeingboughtbysomeoneoutsidethefamily.”
Heirpropertyislimitedasanincomesourcebecauseanyuseoftheland
requirestheconsentandsignatureofeveryheir—“notjusttheoneswhomay
stillliveonandcareforandpaytaxesonthelandbutthosewholivesixorseven
statesawayandhaveneversetfootontheplace,too,”Baileysays.
ApatentedvaccinethatanAuburnUniversity/AAEShusband-and-wife
teamofresearchentomologistsdevelopedtoprotectcattlefromhornflies
couldbeonthemarketsoonasaproductcalledFlyVax.
Auburn’stechnologytransferofficeisinthelatestagesofnegotiatingfull
licensingofthevaccinethatEdandMaryCuppspentyearsformulatingto
TNGPharmaceuticals,anewbusinesslaunchedbyateamofentrepreneur-
ialUniversityofLouisvilleMBAstudents.Attheworld’slargestandrichest
graduate-levelbusiness-plancompetitionatRiceUniversityinApril,TNG
claimedthe$642,000grandprizewiththebusinessplanithascreatedforFly-
Vax.Theannualcompetitionsupportsstudent-createdand-managedbusiness
venturesbasedonuniversity-developedresearchandinnovations.
Blood-suckinghornfliesfeedenmasseoncattle,agitatingthelivestock
andcausinganemiaandweightlossthatcostthebeefindustry$1billion
ayear.Insecticidesforhornflycontrolareavailable,butthepestsquickly
developresistancetothoseproducts.
TheCupps’revolutionaryvaccineimmunizescattleagainstasalivaryfac-
tor,thrombostasin,thatthebitingfliesinjectintotheirpreytokeepthevic-
tims’bloodfromclotting.TNGsaysthatbysignificantlyreducinghornfly
populationsincattle,easy-to-useFlyVaxwillreducecattlestress,reducethe
useofpesticidesandhelpproducersincreasebeefproductionandmilkyield,
improveleatherqualityandoperatemoreefficiently.
TheCupps,nowprofessoremeritiofentomologyatAuburn,retiredtoOw-
ensboro,Ky.,in2006.EdCuppsaystheyhaveenjoyedworkingwiththeMBA
studentsatLouisvilleintheireffortstomakeFlyVaxavailabletothecattleindustry.
“We’requiteexcitedabouttheirsuccessandhopethateventuallythecom-
panytheyformedcanbringthehornflyvaccinetomarket,”hesays.
Heirpropertyislandthatisownedcollectivelybythedescen-
dantsofapropertyownerwhodiedwithoutawill,andexten-
siveresearchbyAuburnUniversityruralsociologistConner
BaileyandAuburngraduatestudentJaniceDyerindicates
6AGIllustrated
ResearchNews
FIRSTGENERATION—AdamJonesandfamilygatheronthefrontporchof
theirAutaugaCountyhomeforthis1925picture.Jones,orpossiblyhisfather,
apparentlywasamongtheblackswhohadtheopportunitytobuylandtofarm
intheearly1900s.IfJonesdiedwithoutawrittenwill,thepropertypassedto
his12children,witheachoneinheritinga8.3-percentinterestintheland.
August20117
GenerationalChanges
HeirPropertyCauseofPoverty,
LandLossinBlackBeltbyJAMIECREAMER
FamilyLand
ResearchNews
AuburnUniversity’sCullarsRotation,the
South’soldestcontinuoussoil-fertilityexperi-
mentandthesecondoldestcottonexperiment
intheworld,isacenturyoldthisyearandstill
generatingdatatodocumenttheimpactthatfer-
tilizationandsoilnutrientdeficiencieshaveon
nonirrigatedcropyieldsoverthelonghaul.
Thealmost-four-acreCullarsRotationislo-
catedonWoodfieldDrive,directlybehindthe
JuleCollinsSmithMuseumofArtonSouth
CollegeStreet.TheexperimentisnamedforLee
CountyfarmerJ.A.Cullars,who,withhisbroth-
er-in-lawJohnP.Alvisownedandgrewcotton
onthelandinthelate1800sand,in1911,al-
lowedAlabamaAgriculturalExperimentStation
researchersfromnearbyAlabamaPolytechnicIn-
stitutetoplanton-farmcottonresearchplotsto
testfertilizers,particularlypotassiumfertilizers.
About200suchresearchplotswereplant-
edonfarmsalloverthestatethatyear,butthe
CullarsRotationisthesolesurvivor.Today,it’s
athree-yearrotationofcotton,winterclover,
corn,winterwheatandsoybeans.Amongthe42
researchplotsarethosethatAuburnagronomy
andsoilsprofessorCharlesMitchellcallsthe
“no-nothings,”becausetheyhaven’tbeenfertil-
izedatallforatleastthepast100years.
“AndIdon’tthinkanybodywouldhaveany
troublepickingthoseplotsout,”saysMitchell,
whoisinhis27thyearascuratorofboththe
CullarsRotationandAuburn’sOldRotation,
locatedonLemMorrisonDrivejustastone’s
throwfromtheCullarsresearchfield.
TheOldRotation,bytheway,datesbackto
1896andthusistheoldestcottonstudyinthe
world.Itisrecognizedasthefirstexperimentto
showthatrotatingcottonandlegumeswillsup-
portacottoncropindefinitely.
Mitchell,aself-proclaimedhistorybuff,was
successfulingettingtheOldRotationplacedon
theNationalRegisterofHistoricPlacesin1988
andtheCullarsRotationlikewisein2003.
Inadditiontoprovidingasiteforongoing
research,theCullarsRotationisavaluablefield
labforstudentsstudyingsoilandplantscience.
“It’stheonlysiteintheSouthwherestudents
canactuallyseeplantnutrientdeficiencies,es-
peciallypotassiumdeficiencies,onfivedifferent
cropsduringthecourseofayear,”Mitchellsays.
Whiletheexperimentbearsthenameof
farmer/landownerCullars,itisonlandlong
knownasAlvisField,inhonorofCullars’broth-
er-in-law.Adecadeago,thelion’sshareofAlvis
Fieldwasselectedasthesiteforthemuseum—
withthestipulationthata40-footborderbeleft
aroundtheCullarsRotationtopreserveitforon-
goingresearchanddemonstrationonsustainable
cropproductiononsoilsofthesouthernU.S.
Thoughitisn’teverydaythatyou’llfinda
fineartsmuseumwithcornandcottongrow-
inginitsbackyard,Mitchellsaysitmakessense,
whenyouthinkaboutit.
“Hereyouhavethemuseum,withalltheglitz
andglamourassociatedwithit,and,rightacross
thestreetfromit,havecropsgrowing,showing,in
effect,thehistoryofAlabamaagriculture,”hesays.
TolearnmoreabouttheCullarsRotation
andtheOldRotation,visitwww.ag.auburn.edu/
agrn/longterm.
ARTINAG—A40-footborderisallthatstandsbetweenAuburn’scentury-oldCullarsRotationanditsdecade-oldJuleCollins
SmithMuseum.Therotation,whichAlabamaAgExperimentStationresearchersplantedin1911,istheoldestcontinuoussoil-
fertilityexperimentintheSouthandthesecondoldestcottonexperimentintheworld.
VINESANDWINES—ResearchisunderwayattheAlabamaAgExperimentStation’s
ChiltonResearchandExtensionCenterinClantontodeterminewhetherVitisvinifera,
grapesthatproducepopulartablewinessuchaschardonnay,pinotnoirandcabernet
sauvignon,willgrowinAlabama.Thatisn’tpossibleherenowbecauseofPierce’sdisease,
aninsect-vectoredandvine-killingdisease,butaCaliforniabreederhasrecentlydeveloped
Pierce’sdisease–resistantselectionsthatare87.5percentV.viniferagrapes,andAuburn
horticultureassociateprofessorElinaConevaandCRECdirectorJimPittshaveplanted
100vinesfromthreeoftheseadvancedselectionsatthecenter.Coneva,whocollectedthe
viniferaplantsduringaCaliforniatripfundedbyAuburnandtheAlabamaWineriesand
GrapeGrowersAssociation,willbeevaluatingtheeaseordifficultyofgrowingvinifera,just
howdiseaseresistantthevinesareandthequalityofthegrapes.Theresultscouldgive
Alabamawineriesprofitablealternativestomuscadinewine.
$10MillionProjectExploringSouthern
PineasSourceofBiofuelsbyKATIEJACKSON
CullarsRotationMarks100-YearMilestone
byJAMIECREAMER
Tech-TransferClosetoLicensing
Auburn-DevelopedHornFlyVaccine
byJAMIECREAMER
LANDTOLIVEON—Despitethedisadvantagesand
ramificationsofholdinglandcommunally,Auburn
researchersfoundthatheirstoandco-ownersoffamily
landoftenconsiderhavingaplacetocallhomeandkeeping
landinthefamilytobeworththerisks.Thispieceofheir
propertyinSumterCountyprovidesseveralco-ownersa
placetosetuptheirmobilehomes.
TEDIOUSTASK—Auburn
entomologistsEdandMaryCupp
collectedsalivafrom2,500horn
fliesforDNAanalysesintheir
questforavaccinetoprotect
cattlefromthepests.

5. improvingtheprofitabilityofthepoultryandforestproductssectorsofthe
state’seconomy.Also,researchandoutreachprogramsinfoodengineering
havehadinternationalimpactsonthesafetyandqualityofourfoodsupply.
LookingAhead
Thedepartmentisseeinggrowthandexpansioninitsresearch,outreach
andacademicprograms.
Thebachelor’sdegreeinbiosystemsengineering(formerlyagricultural
engineering),whichhashadcontinuousengineeringaccreditationsince1954
andrecentlywentthroughanothersuccessfulaccreditationvisit,alongwith
theM.S.andPh.D.degreeprogramsaregaininginstrengthandnumbers.
“Withtheadditionofnewdegreeoptionssuchastheecologicalengineering
optionandanewgraduateprogramestablishedlastfall,weexpectthose
numberstocontinuetogrow,”saysTaylor.Thedepartmentfacultycontinue
todevelopnewcurriculumpathwaysthatincorporatecontemporarytopics
inbiologicalengineering.
Itsresearchprogramsalsocontinuetoexpandandthedepartmenthasbeen
highlysuccessfulinbeingpartofteamsthathavebeenawardedmajorgrants,
suchasa$4.9millionDepartmentofEnergygrant(seebiofuelsstoryonpage7)
andarecentAgricultureandFoodResearchInitiativecompetitivegrant.Both
grantsfocusonbiofuelsandbothincorporatemultidisciplinaryteamsfromother
Auburnschoolsandcollegesaswellaspartnersfromuniversitiesandbusinesses.
Thedepartmentalsoreceiveda$4.6millionNationalScienceFoundation
grantthatwillbeusedtorenovateresearchlaboratoriesintheTomCorley
BuildingAnnex,whichwillfurtherenhanceitsresearchprogram.
Biosystemsengineeringfacultyarealsoinvolvedinawiderangeof
outreachactivitiesthroughtheAlabamaCooperativeExtensionSystemas
wellasthroughprojectssuchasthemobilegasifierthathelpseducatethe
publicaboutnewbioenergyoptions,nottomentionpoultry,forestryand
environmentalprojectsaswellasinternationalprojectsinfoodsafety.
Asthedepartmentapproachesitscentennialin2019,itsprogramsarehighly
relevanttochallengesfacedbyAlabama,aswellasagrowingglobalpopulation
thatwilldemandevenmoreengineeringsolutionsthathelpprovidesafeand
healthyfood,cleanandabundantwaterandrenewablesourcesofenergy.
TolearnmoreabouttheDepartmentofBiosystemsEngineeringcall
334-844-4180orvisitwww.eng.auburn.edu/bsen/.
TheEarlyYears
Beforetractorsreplacedmulesandlightbulbsreplacedlanterns,Auburn
UniversitywasfocusedonmakinglifealittleeasierforruralAlabamians.
AleaderinthateffortwastheDepartmentofAgriculturalEngineering
(nowtheDepartmentofBiosystemsEngineering),whichwasestablishedat
Auburnintheearly1900sandcontinuestobringinnovationtotheAlabama
landscapetoday.
AccordingtoSteveTaylor,headofthedepartment,thefirstagricultural
engineerswerehiredonthePlainsaround1916andtheDepartmentof
AgriculturalEngineeringwasofficiallyestablishedin1919whenMarkNichols
wasnamedthefirstdepartmenthead.AtthetimeAuburn’sagengineering
departmentofferedonlygraduate-levelclasses,butestablishedanundergraduate
programinthelate1930s.
Nicholsfocusedmuchof
hisworkonterracingsystemsto
controlsoilerosionandother
methodsofprotectingsoils,which
ledtotheestablishmentofthe
U.S.DepartmentofAgriculture
NationalSoilDynamicsLaboratory
inAuburn.
Facultyinthedepartmentalso
workedonruralelectrification,
receivingwhatmayhavebeen
Auburn’sfirstindustry-sponsored
grantintheearly1920sfrom
AlabamaPower,whichhadjust
builtitsfirstruralelectriclinein
northAlabama.
“Overtheyearsbyworkingonissuessuchasmechanizationofagriculture
andforestry,reducingsoilerosionandruralelectrification,thisdepartmenthas
notonlyhelpedimprovetheproductivityandprofitabilityoffarmers,ithas
contributedsignificantlytothequalityoflifeandqualityoftheenvironment
inAlabama,”notesTaylor.
BiosystemsEngineeringToday
“Wearestilldoingthat,”hecontinues.“Today,ourresearchandex-
tensionprogramsfocusonbiological,forestandecologicalengineering,
addressingissuessuchascleanwater,preservingecosystemsandrestoring
watershedsandstreams.”
Butthisworkisalsostillaimedathelpingfarmers,suchasdeveloping
precisionagriculturesystemsthatreducetheimpactofchemicalsandfarm-
ingonthelandandenvironmentwhilealsohelpingfarmersbemoreprofit-
able.Thesamecanbesaidforworkinthepoultryandforestrysectorsaswell
aseffortstodevelopbiofuels.
Astimeshavechanged,sohasthedepartmentand,throughapartnership
withAuburn’sSamuelGinnCollegeofEngineering,studentsarebenefitting.
Thatshiftoccurredinthemid-1980swhenstudentsmajoringinagricultural
engineeringbecameacademicallyalignedtotheengineeringcollege.
“OuracademicprogramsarejointlyadministeredthroughtheCollege
ofAgricultureandtheCollegeofEngineering,”explainsTaylor.“Having
theprograminengineeringisparalleltomostotherbiologicalengineering
programsintheU.S.andreallyiscriticaltothesuccessofthestudents.They
areengineersandtheymustbeimmersedintheprofessionofengineering
likeallotherengineeringstudents.”
Thoughtheacademicprogramisshared,thebiosystemsengineering
departmentremainsstronglyconnectedtoitsruralrootsanditsoutreach
andresearchprogramsarestilltiedtotheCollegeofAgriculture.
Anothershiftforthedepartment—itsnamechangefromagricultural
engineeringtobiosystemsengineering—occurredin1998andreflectsa
nationaltrend.
“Today’sprogramsfocusmoreontheapplicationofengineeringtobio-
logicalsystems,includingforestandecologicalsystems,”saysTaylor.The
departmentputsstrongemphasisonmeetingtheneedsofagricultureand
forestrywithspecialfocusonsuchissuesasbioenergyandimprovingthe
managementofourwaterandsoilresources.Specialeffortsaredevotedto
Spotlight
BiosystemsEngineering
BringingInnovationtoAlabama
THEFORESTFORTHETREES—
Biosystemsengineeringstudents,
suchasthestudentpicturedabove,
receiveexceptionalhands-on
learningexperiencesoncampusand
inAlabama’sforests,streamsand
cropfields.Researchandoutreach
projectsunderwayinthedepartment,
suchasthe$10millionsouthernpine
biomassstudyfeaturedonpage7that
isdevelopingnewforest-harvesting
technology,arealsohelpingimprove
managementanduseofAlabama’s
naturalresources.
Editor’sNote:InthisandfutureissuesofAgIllustrated,wewillhighlighteach
oftheCollegeofAgriculture’seightacademicdepartments.Forthisinstallment,
theDepartmentofBiosystemsEngineeringisinthespotlight.
DepartmentHead-SteveTaylor
101undergraduates
25graduatestudents
11facultymembers
UndergraduateDegreeOptions:
BiosystemsEngineering
EcologicalEngineering
ForestEngineering
M.S.andPh.D.
graduatedegreeprograms
AndyWendland,a1989Col-
legeofAgriculturegraduateinagri-
culturebusiness,hasbeennamedthe
2011AlabamawinneroftheSwisher
Sweets/SunbeltExpoSoutheastern
FarmeroftheYearaward.Wendland,
whorunsthe6,000-plus-acreAu-
taugaFarmingCompany,waschosen
forhissuccessasabeefcattleandrow
cropfarmer.AstheAlabamawinner,
henowhasachancetobecomethe
overallSoutheasternFarmerofthe
Year,whichwillbeannouncedOct.
18attheSunbeltAgExpofarmshow
inMoultrie,Ga.AstoryonWend-
landranintheDecember2009edi-
tionofAgIllustrated.Toreaditgotowww.ag.auburn.edu/adm/comm/
agillustrated/documents/Dec09_AgIllustrated_web.pdf.
RebeccaBalkcom,agraduateoftheDepartmentofAgronomyand
Soils(B.S.,1994;M.S.,1997),wasnamedSecondaryTeacheroftheYear
fortheAuburnCitySchoolSystem.SheteachesscienceatAuburnJunior
HighSchool.ShealsotaughtasessionentitledGenes,DiseasesandBio-
technologyattheYESScienceCampsthroughtheCollegeofSciencesand
Mathematicsthissummer.
8AGIllustratedAugust20119
NamesandFacesAlumniandDevelopment
Membershipinthenewly
energizedAgHillDean’sSociety
isopen,andnowistheperfect
chancetojointhesocietyand
getagreatparkingspotfor
Auburn’supcomingfootball
seasonaspartofthepackage.
AccordingtoKatieHardy,
developmentcoordinatorforthe
CollegeofAg,theAgHillDean’s
Society,formerlyknownasthe
Ag21Dean’sClub,isagroup
ofloyalalumniandfriendswho
supportthecollegewithannual
unrestrictedfinancialgifts.
“Thesegiftsprovideresourcesforenhancingprogramsthathelpourfaculty
andstudentsthriveandhelpbridgethegapbetweenthecostofeducating
studentsanddiminishingstatesupport,”saysHardy,whohasbeeninstrumental
inlaunchingthenewsociety.
Thesociety’sprimarygoalistoraisefundsthattheCollegeofAgriculture
deancanusetosupportacademicprogramsandstudentscholarships,
improvetechnologyandresourcesforthecollege,createfundingtoattract
world-classfacultyandincreasehands-onlearningandstudyabroad
opportunitiesforstudents.
Membershipsareavailableatthreelevelsofgiving,Hardyadds.Thenew
Ag21levelisofferedtoyoungalumniwhohavebeenoutofschool10yearsor
lessandisavailablefor$500peryear.Foundation-levelmembershipisavailable
for$1,000peryear,andHeritage-levelmembershipisavailablefordonationsof
$2,500ormoreperyear.
“TheAg21levelwascreatedforyoungalumniwhoarejuststartingout
intheircareersandmaynothavethefinancialresourcestocontributelotsof
money,buthaveadesiretodonatetothecollegeandbecomemoreinvolvedin
CollegeofAgricultureeventsandprograms,”Hardysays.
Perksofmembershipatalllevelsincludespecialacknowledgementand
invitationstoAgHillDean’sSocietyeventsandspecialaccesstogame-day
parkingatAgHeritagePark.“AllmembersoftheAgHillDean’sSocietyhave
achancetoreserveoneofthecovetedtailgateandparkingspotsattheparkfor
homefootballgames,”saysHardy.Whilethespotwillnotbeprovidedforfree
($300peryear),membershipinthesocietyvirtuallyguaranteesareservedspot
forthecomingyear.
TolearnmoreabouttheAgHillDean’sSociety,emailHardyathardykc@
auburn.edu,orcall334-844-1475orvisitwww.ag.auburn.edu/deansociety.
AgHillSocietyMembershipGrowing
NinenewscholarshipshavebeenendowedintheCollegeofAgriculture
aspartofauniversity-widedrivetoenhanceAuburn’seffortstorecruitand
retainacademicallyexceptionalstudents,andAgDevelopmentmanager
MarkWiltonsaysthelistwillgrowbeforetheAuburnScholarshipCampaign
endsDec.31.
Inthecampaign,whichbeganAug.5,2010,afirst-timeendowment
donorcanestablishascholarshipendowmentawardwith$12,500instead
ofthestandardgiftof$25,000.Thedonor’sgiftisinvested,andtheincome
earnedontheinvestmentispairedwithanexistingSpiritofAuburnor
Academicscholarship.Theentireamountisawardedinthedonor’sname
Auburn’sSpiritofAuburnandAcademicscholarshipsarerenewable,
four-yearscholarshipsawardedtoincomingfreshmenbasedonstandardized
college-entrance-examscoresandhigh-schoolgradepointaverages.Spiritof
Auburnscholarshipsareautomaticallygiventoqualifiedincomingstudents
whoareresidentsofAlabama.Academicscholarshipsareawardedtoout-
of-statestudentswhomeetthecriteria;thesescholarshipscanrangefrom
$2,500tomorethanfulltuitionannually.
Thusfarinthecollege,thenewendowedscholarshipsthathavebeen
establishedinclude:
•TheDr.L.E.EnsmingerEndowedScholarshipAward
intheDepartmentofAgronomyandSoils
•TheRichardM.andJeanM.PattersonEndowedScholarship
intheDepartmentofAgronomyandSoils
•TheBobbyDurbinEndowedScholarshipinAgronomyandSoils
•TheWilliamG.andMollyP.MooreEndowedScholarship
intheCollegeofAgriculture
•TheFirstSouthFarmCreditEndowedScholarship
intheCollegeofAgriculture
•TheAlabamaTurfgrassAssociationEndowedScholarshipAward
inAgronomyandSoils.
•TheDr.MichaelA.KronkEndowedScholarshipAward
intheCollegeofAgriculture
•TheHarveyandLoisDownsMemorialEndowedScholarshipAward
intheCollegeofAgriculture
•TheVanE.andCatherineD.WiltonEndowedScholarshipAward
intheCollegeofAgriculture
The16-monthcampaignisenteringitsfinalquarter,butthat’splentyof
timeforindividualstotakeadvantageofthespecialopportunity,Wiltonsays.
“Itoffersanincreasedreturnondonorinvestments,anditallowsAuburn
toprovideconsiderablylargerscholarshipstothebestandbrightest,”Wilton
says.“Ascholarshipendowmentbasicallyprovidesacontinuous,dependable
sourceoffundinginperpetuity.It’sthegiftthatkeepsongiving.”
Allgiftstothecampaignaretaxdeductible.
FormoreinformationabouttheAuburnScholarshipCampaign,visitthe
websiteatwww.auburn.edu/scholarshipcampaignorcontactWiltonat334-
844-1198orwiltomt@auburn.edu.
Don’titalwaysseemtogo
thatyoudon’tknowwhatyou’vegottillit’sgone?
Theypavedparadiseandputupaparkinglot.
—JoniMitchell,1970
Earlierthisyear,universitydecision-makersdeterminedthattheprime
locationforabrand-new,1,000-carparkinggaragewasthelandatthesouthwest
cornerofSamfordAvenueandDonahueDrive—specifically,alargechunkof
AgHeritagePark.
Ultimately,andforwhateverreason,theychoseanothersite.Butwhilethe
30-acreparkdodgedthebulletthistimearound,itremainsinthecrosshairs
forfuturedevelopmentunlessmoneycanberaisedquicklytocompletethe
$1.5-millionrenovationoftheolddairybarnintothecomplex’scrownjewel:
theAgriculturalEducationandAlumniCenter.
ThepastdecadehasseentheCollegeofAgandtheAuburnAgAlumni
AssociationpartnertobuildAgHeritageParkintoastrikinglandmarkand
apopularvenueforstudent,alumniandcommunityevents.Thenewcenter,
thefinalmajorprojectatthepark,willincludemuch-neededclassroom
spacefortheCollegeofAg,anareaforfacultyandalumniactivitiesand
educationaldisplayshonoringthepast,presentandfuturecontributionsof
agriculturetosociety.
Theinitialphaseoftherenovationprojectisalmostdone,thanksto
workbythecollege’sAgriculturalLandandResourceManagementteam
andtodonationsofmaterials.However,BillGilley,AgAlumnipresident,
andCollegeofAgDeanBillBatchelorsaygenerouscontributionsfrom
alumniandsupportersarecrucialtocompletionofthecenterandthusthe
preservationofAgHeritageParkasacommunitygreenspacethatrecognizes
theagriculturalheritageofAuburnUniversityandtheimportanceoffarming.
Formoreinformation,contactMarkWilton,334-844-1198orwiltomt@
auburn.edu,orRobertHensarling,334-844-3596orhensara@auburn.edu.
NineNewScholarshipsThusFar
inSpecialCampaign
DonationsNeededtoPreserve
AgHeritagePark
WherearetheyNow?
AndyWendland

6. CollegeofSciencesandMathematics
ResidentialScienceProgramforIncomingFreshmen
Agroupof22highlymotivatedincom-
ingAuburnfreshmenwasoncampusthis
summerforthe15thannualSummerBridge
ProgramhostedbytheCollegeofSciences
andMathematics.
Thefour-weekresidentialprogram
kickedoffJune5andengagedstudents
fromgroupstraditionallyunderrepresented
insciences,mathematicsandengineering
inactivitiesdesignedtohelpthemmakea
smoothtransitionfromhighschooltothe
Auburncampus.
Theprogramprovidedthesepre-fresh-
menwiththeacademicgrowthandsocial
supportneededtoexcelintheirchosenca-
reerpaths.Emphasisisonacademicenrich-
ment,enhancementofstudyandtime-man-
agementskills,communityandnetwork
buildingandcareerawareness.Activities
includedsciencesandmathematicslectures
andworkshopsandfieldtripstoresearch,
healthcareandindustrialsites.
BridgeprogramparticipantstookplaceinacommunityservicefieldtriptoaBoysandGirlsClub
wheretheyperformedhands-onscienceexperimentswithclubmembers.WhileBoysandGirlsClubmem-
berslearnedaboutscience,Bridgestudentsstrengthenedtheirself-confidenceandleadershipskills.
Sincetheprogram’sinceptionin1997,morethan400studentshaveparticipatedandmanyhavegradu-
atedintheSTEMdisciplines,whichincludesciences,technology,engineeringandmathematics.
CollegeofVeterinaryMedicine
August201111
Extension
10AGIllustrated
SeveralAlabamaCooperativeExtension
Systemcommunicationsandmarketingprojects
claimedtopawardsduringtheAssociationfor
CommunicationExcellenceinAgriculture,Nat-
uralResourcesandLifeandHumanSciences’
2011conferenceinDenver,Colo.,inJune.
“BackyardWisdom,”aweeklyradioshow
hostedbyExtensioncommunicationsspecial-
istMaggieLawrence,wonagoldawardforau-
dioprograminthecompetition’sprogramsand
spotscategory.Theprogram,whichhasaired
since2004,runsonWTSUpublicradioinTroy
andisaccompaniedbyablog.
ArtdesignerBruceDupreeearnedthegold
withhis“BirminghamHistoricalSocietyMural
ExhibitIllustration,”anoilpaintingthatdepicts
howaseriesofAuburnUniversity–sponsored,
WPA-fundedagriculturalmuralswouldhave
beendisplayedatthe1939AlabamaStateFair.
Theawardsprogramjudgecalleditan“excel-
lentexecutionofaDepression-eraillustrationin
bothstyleandcontent.”
Athirdgoldwasawardedtoapostersetthat
DupreeandcommunicationseditorGlendaFree-
manproducedtopromoteExtension’s“Body
Quest,”acomprehensivechildhoodobesitypre-
ventionprogramforelementaryyouthinAla-
bamainwhichyouthlearnviamobileiPadlabo-
ratoriesfacilitatedbyExtensioneducators.The
judgedescribedthepostersas“wonderfulillustra-
tionsthatnodoubtwillengageelementaryschool
children.”BodyQuestisfundedbyExtensionand
theAlabamaDepartmentofHumanResources.
Winningasilverawardinthecompetition
was“Thriving:WorkingKnowledgeinChal-
lengingTimes,”Extension’s2009annualreport.
Freemanservedaseditorandprojectmanager,
Dupreeasdesignerandphotographer,commu-
nicationsspecialistJimLangcusteraswriterand
communicationsandmarketingdirectorCarol
Whatleyasexecutiveeditor.Thejudgecalledthe
writingfirstclass,theconceptscrystalclear,the
designfirstrateandthephotographysuperior.
Thesefourprojectswererecognizedfrom
among233projectentries.
ACEisaninternationalgroupofcommuni-
cators,educatorsandinformationtechnologists
thatoffersprofessionaldevelopmentandnet-
workingforindividualswhoextendknowledge
aboutagriculture,naturalresourcesandlifeand
humanscience.
ExtensionCommunications
ProjectsBringHomeGold
Homeownerssearchingforgardeningandlandscapinginformationandideascanfindwhatthey’re
lookingforwhentheytuneinto“YourSouthernGarden,”aregionaleducationaltelevisionshowhosted
byWalterReevesandco-sponsoredbytheAlabamaCooperativeExtensionSystem.
Reeves,aretiredUniversityofGeorgiaCooperativeExtensionagentandgardeningexpert,isjoined
eachweekbyAlabamaExtensionhorticulturistKerrySmithintheprogramthatairsSaturdaysat3:30
p.m.onpublictelevisionstationsacrossAlabama.
ShowTargetsGardeners
TOPHONOR—Judgesinacompetitionsponsoredbya
professionalagcommunicationsassociationawardeda
goldmedaltoExtensionartdesignerBruceDupreeforthis
paintingthatrepresentsaseriesofDepression-eramurals.
Ifyou’reamongthemanyinvestorstodayconsideringapurchaseofagriculturallandforlucrative
farm-relatedopportunities,AlabamaCooperativeExtensionSystemeconomistandCollegeofAgriculture
professorJimNovakofferssomefoodforthought.
Thesuccessoffarmlandinvestmentsridesonseveralfactors:what’sproduced,suitabilityoftheland,
markets,whetherthefarmhasgovernmentprogrambaseacreages,wherethefarmis,whetherthereisany
competitionforrentingthelandandwhetheritispasturelandforlivestockorcropland.
“Eachhasitsownrisksandrewardsandatcertaintimescanfacetremendousmarketvolatility,”
Novaksays,notingthatreturnscandependonthevagariesoftheweatherandmarkets.Droughts,
floods,tornadoesand,inthecaseoffarmingintheSoutheast,hurricanesarerisksfacedbyfarmers.
Potentialinvestorsshouldrecognize,too,thatinfarming,thecostofthelandisonlythebeginning.
Forexample,a1,000-acrecottonfarmmayrequiremorethanamilliondollarsinequipmentpurchases,
andthatdoesn’tincludeadditionalcostsofplants,fertilizers,insecticides,herbicides,fuelandother
inputs.Ultimatelythecostofoperatingthat1,000-acrecottonfarmmayrunashighas$2.5million,
Novaksays.
Forthosewho,despitetheriskanduncertainty,arestillinterestedinfarmlandasaninvestment,
Novakadvisestalkingtosomeonewho’sfarmedforalongtime,preferablysomeonewhosuccessfully
weatheredthe’80sfarmcrisis.Morethanlikely,hesays,thoseveteranswillattestthatfarmingisgreat
andprofitableandsatisfying—ifyou’vegotacroptosell.
“Ifyoudon’t,well,justrememberthatthebillswon’tstopcoming,”hesays.
ExtensionEconomistTalksPros,Cons
ofFarmlandInvestment
ALLINTHENAME—A$5-million,state-of-the-artbuildingatAlabama’s4-HYouthDevelopmentCenteronLayLakein
ColumbianahasofficiallybeenrenamedtohonorAlabamaCooperativeExtensionSystemDirectorW.GainesSmith.Ina
ceremonyinAugust,the17,500-square-footEnvironmentalScienceEducationBuildingwasformallynamedforSmith,whose
visionforthefacilitycametofruitionin2007whenitopenedasthefirstenvironmentaleducationbuildingintheeasternUnited
StatestoattaingoldcertificationinLeadershipinEnergyandEnvironmentalDesign.Thefacilitysetnewstandardsforenergy
efficiencyandenvironmentalresponsibilityandisanexampleofsustainableawarenessintheU.S.Thebuildinggivesteachers
theopportunitytoeducateAlabama’schildrenaboutbeingenvironmentallyresponsibleandenergyefficientinasettingthat
illustratesthelesson.Smith,anAuburnalumwhoseExtensioncareerspans45-plusyears,servedasinterimdirectorfrom
September1994throughDecember1996andagainfromJuly2001untilMay2007,whenhewasnameddirector.
SchoolofForestryandWildlifeSciences
NewDegreeEstablishedin
NaturalResourceManagement
AuburnUniversity’sSchoolofForestryand
WildlifeScienceshasaddedanewdegreetoits
currentprogram.Thenaturalresourcemanage-
mentbachelorofsciencedegreejoinstheschool’s
existingdegreeprogramsinforestry,wildlifeecolo-
gyandmanagement,wildlifepre-veterinarymedi-
cineandforestengineering.Thenewdegreewas
recentlyapprovedbyAuburn’sBoardofTrustees.
Thenaturalresourcemanagementdegreeis
designedasaflexiblemajorthatincludescore
naturalresourcemanagementcoursesplusare-
quiredminor,concentratingcourseworkonone
ofmanydiverseoutdoorcareers.Examplesofa
minorthatcanbeembeddedinthedegreein-
cludepoliticalscience,fisheries,business,recre-
ationandhydrology.
“Theadditionofthisdegreefillstheneedsof
studentswhowishtopursueanoutdoorcareer
outsideofourcurrentcornerstonemajorsinwild-
lifesciencesandforestry,”saidGregSomers,as-
sociatedeanofeducation.“Weareveryhappyto
addthischoicetoourothermajorsandthankthe
faculty,employers,staffandstudentswhoworked
tomakethisdegreeareality.”
Flexibilityisthehallmarkofthis120-hour
major.Inadditiontothevarietypermittedby
AuburnUniversity’snewcore,thedegreehasup
to14hoursoffreeelectivestoallowstudentsto
matchcourseworktotheirdesiredfieldsofstudy.
Themajorcanalsobecustomizedbyselections
fromrestrictedelectivesinstatistics,economics,
managementandlandscape.Somerssaidthewide
choiceofminorsprovidestremendousfreedom
indirectingthemajortowardavarietyofjobsin
naturalresourcemanagement.
Whilethisflexibilityisaboontostudents,the
major’sfoundationisitsrequiredscience,math
andmanagementcourses.Afullyearofbiology
andchemistryisrequired.Calculus,ecologyand
basicsoilsciencemakeupafewofthesupport-
ivecourses.Geographicinformationsystem(GIS)
coursesandenvironmentalserviceswillalsobere-
quiredofeachsuccessfulgraduateoftheprogram.
Therestrictedelectivesaredesignedtomakesure
thateverystudenthassufficientstatisticalknowl-
edge,managementskillsandbasicnaturalresource
coursestosuccessfullycompeteforjobsevenina
difficulteconomy.
POSTCARDFROMCHILE—AcommonsightinValdivia,Chile,isurbandrafthorsesthat
handleheavy-dutyhaulingandprovidetransportationaroundthecity.Thesehorses,
aswellasChileanrodeohorses,weresomeofthefour-leggedpatientsseenbyAllison
Stewart,associateprofessorinequineinternalmedicineatAuburnUniversity’sCollege
ofVeterinaryMedicine,whorecentlyparticipatedinafacultyexchangeprogramat
theClinicaVeterinarioatAustralUniversityinValdivia.StewartworkedwithAustral’s
equinesurgeonBrunoCavalho,whospenttwomonthsinAuburnlastyear.Readmore
aboutStewart’stwo-weekstintinherownwordsandviewsomeofherphotographs
atwww.vetmed.auburn.edu/programs-and-centers/international-scholars-program/
international-stories/international-scholars-stories/postcard-from-chile.
HELPINGHANDS—SummerBridgeProgramparticipantAlexis
McMillanfromFayetteville,Ga.,helpsaBoysandGirlsClubmember
withascienceexperimentduringacommunityservicefieldtrip.
Thefour-weekresidentialBridgeprogramprovidesparticipantsthe
opportunitytobuildnotonlyacademicskillsbutalsoleadershipskills
andself-confidencethroughcommunityoutreachprojects.
CollegeofHumanSciences
NewDirectorofJosephS.BrunoAuburnAbroadinItaly
AnarchitectfromAuburnUniversity’sMcWhorterSchoolof
BuildingSciencehasbeennamedexecutivedirectoroftheJoseph
S.BrunoAuburnAbroadinItalyprograminAuburn’sCollegeof
HumanSciences.
JuneHenton,deanoftheCollegeofHumanSciences,an-
nouncedtheappointmentofLindaRuth,anassociateprofessorin
Auburn’sCollegeofArchitecture,DesignandConstruction,tothe
position,effectiveAug.16.RuthwillalsocarrythetitleofJoseph
S.BrunoChair.
“LindaRuthbringsawealthofknowledgeandcreativityinstudy
abroadprogrammingandnodoubtwillcontinueinthetraditionof
herpredecessor,MarilynBradbard,byofferingstudentsaonce-in-a-
lifetimeexperience,”saysHenton.
Bradbardservedasexecutivedirectorfrom2006untilherrecent
retirement.Ruthjoinedthebuildingsciencesfacultyin2000,where
shehasbeenactiveinoutreachinitiativesandstudyabroadprogramming.
“IamhonoredtobeapartoftheCollegeofHumanSciencesandexcitedabouttheopportunityto
directoneofthecollege’spremierprograms,”saysRuth.“Ibelieveexperiencingotherculturestrulyopens
uptheworldtostudentsandopensstudentstotheworld.Thestructureandlevelofimmersionthatisof-
feredbytheJosephS.BrunoAuburnAbroadprogramisinvaluableinthedevelopmentofwell-rounded
andgloballyawarecitizens.”
CHS@AUwaslaunchedin2002andbecameJosephS.BrunoAuburnAbroadinItalyin2007,with
a$3-millionendowedgiftfromtheBrunofamily.Sinceitsinception,morethan380studentshavepartici-
patedintheItalyprogram.
Thesemester-longprogramoperatesyear-roundinAriccia,asmallcommunitylocatedintheAlban
Hillslessthan20milessouthofRome.StudentsspendasemesterdeeplyimmersedinItalianculture
throughlectures,fieldtrips,andotherhands-onexperiencesdesignedtoenrichtheirknowledgebaseand
broadentheirworldviews.Theyalsoearn16credithoursandaninternationalminor.
LindaRuth
AroundtheAAES
TheAlabamaCooperativeExtensionSystemandExtensionprogramsinotherstatesareworking
tosparkanationaldialogueaboutthetraitsandskillsthattoday’sExtensioneducatorsmustacquireto
becomeeffectivechangeagentsinthisemergingglobalknowledgeeconomy.
Aspartofthateffort,ExtensioncommunicationsspecialistJimLangcusterhascomposeda21st
CenturyExtensionCreedthatbasicallyfunctionsasanupdatingofthebelovedExtensionWorkersCreed
thatW.A.Lloyd,founderoftheExtensionprofessionals’organizationEpsilonSigmaPhi,wrotein1922.
“The21stCenturyExtensionCreed,whileaffirmingourlinkstothepast,alsoassertsourstrong
commitmenttotheemergingvaluesofthecurrentcentury:mutualrespect,openness,creativityand
innovation,”Langcustersays.”IwrotethecreedasawaytogetExtensionprofessionalsfocusedonthe
imperativeneedtotransformCooperativeExtensionintotheknowledgeorganizationitsimplymustbecome.”
Findthenewcreedonlineatwww.aces.edu/pubs/docs/E/EX-0125/.
ExtensionProducesNewCreedfor21stCentury

7. AlumniandDevelopment
NonProfitOrg.
U.S.Postage
PAID
Huntington,IN
PermitNo.832
Aug. 17
Fall Semester Begins
Aug. 18
Field Day
E.V. Smith Research Center
Shorter
Contact: Greg Pate at 334-727-7403 or pategre@
auburn.edu
Aug. 20
Scholarship Recognition Program
10 a.m.
Ham Wilson Livestock Arena
Auburn
This event recognizes all student recipients of College
of Ag or related scholarships as well as the scholarship
donors.
Contact: Ann Gulatte at 334-844-2345 or gulatam@
auburn.edu
Sept. 1
Beef and Forage Field Day
5:30 p.m.
Upper Coastal Plain Agricultural Research Center
Winfield
This event will focus on an ultra-high stocking den-
sity grazing. A sponsored meal featuring beef will
be served.
Contact: Randall Rawls at 205-487-2150 or rawlsrc@
auburn.edu
Sept. 5
Labor Day Holiday
Sept. 9
Open House
2:30 p.m.
Center for Aquatic Resource Management
Auburn
This event celebrates the official opening of the new
$9 million-plus Auburn University Center for Aquat-
ic Resource Management that will serve faculty, stu-
dents and the public and improve understanding of
Alabama’s rich aquatic systems. Following a ribbon
cutting ceremony earlier that afternoon, the center’s
doors will be open to the public to tour and learn
more about its uses. The fish sales room will also be
open for those who want to buy shrimp, tilapia and
other seafood products.
Contact: David Rouse at 334-844-4786 or roused@
auburn.edu
Now through Aug. 25
The Market at Ag Heritage Park
Thursdays, 3-6 p.m.
Auburn
The Market at Ag Heritage Park is a growers-only farm-
ers market featuring fresh local produce, goat cheese,
honey, stone-ground grains, plants, baked goods, edu-
cational exhibits, cooking and gardening demonstra-
tions and much more. It is open to the entire commu-
nity and is held each Thursday through Aug 25.
Contact: Laura Herring at 334-321-1603 or
herrilm@auburn.edu
Recipe File
Go Fig-ure
Fig, Goat Cheese and Proscuitto Make for Tasty Pizza
Fig Pizza
One large (10- to 12-inch) thin pizza crust,
homemade or purchased, precooked
Olive oil
1 large sweet onion, thinly sliced and
caramelized in olive oil or butter
15 or so fresh figs, washed, stemmed and
sliced in half or a pint of fig preserves*
3 to 4 slices Prosciutto ham, diced
Freshly ground pepper, to taste
Sea salt or other coarsely-ground salt, to taste
2-3 sprigs fresh thyme or ½ teaspoon
dried thyme
½ cup goat cheese
½ cup parmesan cheese, grated or shaved
CalendarofEvents
For more information on these and many other
upcoming College of Ag and AAES events go to www.
ag.auburn.edu and click on the “Calendar” button.
PICKING THE BEST—Shoppers at The Market at Ag Heritage
Park can have their choice of the finest of fresh fruits and
vegetables from now until Aug. 25 when the market closes for
the 2011 season.
K
atie Jackson, editor for the College of Agriculture and the Alabama Agricultural Experiment
Station, has a huge fig tree in her yard that, for about three weeks in the summer, produces more
than enough fruit to share with friends and the birds and still have plenty left over for her own
family. Jackson wanted to find new ways to serve fresh figs, aside from eating them raw and mak-
ing them into fig preserves, so she learned to stuff them with almonds and serve them raw or grilled as ap-
petizers (drizzling them with honey makes them even better, she says), but she also stumbled on a pizza recipe
that, though it sounds a bit odd, has won
over even the most fig-averse of people.
Since this is fig season across the
state, we are sharing it with our readers.
For those who don’t have their own sup-
ply of fresh figs out the back door, there
should be plenty available at local farmers
markets, plus fig preserves can be used in
place of the fresh ones for a fig pizza any
time of the year.
Brush pizza crust with olive oil. Spread onions on pizza crust to
cover. Dollop fig preserves or lay fresh figs, cut-side up, on the
onions. Scatter ham over figs. Sprinkle salt, pepper and thyme
on this layer. Cover with goat and parmesan cheeses; mozzarella
can also be used for an even cheesier pizza. Drizzle with olive oil.
Bake at 400 degrees until goat cheese melts and crust begins to
brown around the edges. Serve warm or at room temperature.
*Fig preserves make this a sweeter pizza than do the fresh figs and may need to
be rinsed to remove some of the syrup. Dried figs can also be used; to plump,
pour boiling water over them, let them sit for 10 minutes or so and then drain
off the liquid.