Kansas State University

Dr. Katelyn N. Gaffield is the recipient of the 2024 American Society of Animal Science Midwest Section Stahly/Peo Outstanding Graduate Student in Swine Nutrition Researcher Award. The award will be presented during the 2024 ASAS Midwest Section Meeting, March 10-13 in Madison, Wisconsin.

Dr. Katelyn N. Gaffield completed her B.S. and M.S. at the University of Illinois and Ph.D. at Kansas State University. She has 11 peer-reviewed articles, 11 peer-reviewed abstracts, 5 extension publications, and 2 popular press articles that are published or in preparation and has secured funding for research projects totaling $217,793. Her MS research focused on feeding high oleic soybean oil on growth and meat quality attributes. For her PhD, she researched how in-feed acids impact pigs and in nursery and commercial finishing facilities and developed an available phosphorus release curve for a novel phytase source. She also worked with 13 soybean crush facilities across the U.S. determining nutrient profiles and quality characteristics of soybean meal and related co-products. She has been recognized with numerous university and industry scholarships and awards. Katelyn’s worth ethic, leadership skills and passion are unmatched and is contagious for those she interacts with.

The Stahly/Peo Outstanding Graduate Student in Swine Nutrition Researcher Award recognizes an individual who is currently a graduate student showcasing outstanding efforts in research, extension, and teaching about swine nutrition.

This award is sponsored by the Tim S. Stahly and Ernest R. Peo, Jr. Memorial and Tribute Fund.

Olivia L. Harrison is the recipient of the 2024 American Society of Animal Science Midwest Section Young Scholar Award. The award will be presented during the 2024 ASAS Midwest Section Meeting, March 10-13 in Madison, Wisconsin.

Olivia L. Harrison is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Animal Sciences & Industry at Kansas State University. She is one of the leading scholars in feed safety and biosecurity, with 10 refereed journal articles and 17 scientific abstracts. Her research transcends from the fundamental, such as the development of laboratory methods for viral RNA extraction from contaminated fomites, to the applied, such as the role of boot baths for improving on-farm biosecurity. Olivia’s research and publications have served as the basis for feed biosecurity activities adopted by the United States Swine Health Improvement Plan and are referenced by FDA and USDA in their efforts to prevent foreign animal disease. Olivia has also been the primary instructor for multiple feeds and feeding courses and served as president of the department’s graduate student association. Olivia is an impactful researcher, teacher, and leader. We look forward to her continued contributions as a young scholar.

The ASAS Midwest Section Young Scholar program recognizes and features the research accomplishments of recent Ph.D. graduates or current Ph.D. students in the advanced stages of their program.

This award is sponsored by United Animal Health.

The KSU Dairy Challenge Team competed in the Midwest Regional Dairy Challenge Contest held at Green Bay, WI on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of last week.  The contest was hosted by the University of Wisconsin – Madison. A total of 120 students representing 18 colleges and universities participated in the event. The event was a scramble and students were assigned to one of 24 teams composed of 4-5 students from different colleges. The event involves a team evaluation of a dairy operation followed by a team presentation of suggested areas of improvement. Evaluation includes production and financial records as well as facilities, procedures and animals. Presentations are judged by a panel of 4 dairy industry professionals.

KSU students participating were , Alicia Boehren, Willem De Boer, Mingxiang Huang, Sydney Napolillo, Katrina Tucker, and Jiamao Yang.  Willem De Boer’s and Sydney Napolillo’s aggregate teams placed first on their farms.   Jiamao Yang’s and Katrina Tucker’s aggregate team placed second on their farms.  Alicia Boehren’s and Mingxiang Huang’s aggregate teams placed third on their dairies.  The team is coached by Dr. Mike Brouk. The team will travel next to Visalia, CA for the national contest held April 4-6 where they will compete as a team representing KSU. The national contest will involve 4-person teams representing 36 colleges and universities from the US and Canada. Congratulations to all!

DEPARTMENT NEWS:

Dairy Science Club –On January 31, Kansas Dairy Commission invited the K-State Dairy Science Club to join them at the Kansas State Capitol as they presented at the rural caucus. Members of the Dairy Science Club spoke with senators after meetings and presentations. They also passed out Hildebrand milk and Call Hall Ice Cream following lunch. In the afternoon, KDC, Dr. Micheal Brouk, and other Kansas dairy farmers presented at House Ag Committee. Dairy Science Club students fielded questions and got to sit in on all of the meetings. Students that attended were: Alicia Bohren, Katrina Tucker and Rileigh Ballinger.

• Graduation application open – Exciting news for all future graduates: If you’re set to complete your degree or certificate in spring or summer 2024, the graduation application in KSIS is available to submit. The graduation application submission serves as your official notice of intent to graduate, and it’s also crucial for commencement planning and diploma delivery. Act fast, as the deadline for inclusion in the printed spring commencement program is 5 p.m. Monday, March 4. Don’t worry if you miss it; late applications are accepted, though your name won’t appear in the printed program. Head to your Academic Records tile in KSIS, follow the instructions, and troubleshoot any issues by clearing cache, using a laptop/desktop, trying a different browser — Microsoft Edge recommended — or being aware of firewalls if applying on a work computer.
• Town Hall meeting Feb. 20 for K-State faculty and staff –

  President Richard Linton will host a town hall for faculty and staff from 11 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Feb. 20, at the K-State Alumni Center. Faculty and staff are encouraged to attend in person. A live stream will be available for those unable to attend in person.

  The town hall panel will include Linton, Interim Provost Mercer, Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff Marshall Stewart, members of the President’s Cabinet and Division of Information Technology leadership.

  The town hall will be streamed on the president’s communications webpage. Access will require a K-State eID to view the session. The video also will be archived at that same site.

• Socioecological Systems (SES) in the American West REU at Montana State – The Socioecological Systems (SES) in the American West at Montana State is a summer research program supported by the National Science Foundation’s Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program. The program dates are May 28, 2024 – August 2, 2024. Learn more about the program here.

SEMINARS: 

• Meat Science Seminar
  • Linnea Rimmer, “Myosin heavy chain isoform content and energy metabolism can be uncoupled in pig skeletal muscle.” – Monday, February 19, 2024.
• Monogastric Nutrition Seminar
  • Katelyn Gaffield, “Impact of amino acids in modulating muscle growth and development in swine” – Monday, February 26 at 1:30 p.m. in Weber 146
• Ruminant Nutrition, Growth, and Management Seminar
  • Harleigh Johnson, “Extending color display life of meat through dietary supplementation of vitamin E ” – Monday, February 26 at 4:30 p.m. in Call 205
• Physiology and Animal Breeding Seminars
  • None scheduled at this time

ASI FACULTY & STAFF BIRTHDAYS: 

• Karen Blakeslee – February 16
• Duane Baughman – February 18

If you’d like your birthday added to the list, please email Stacey Chard at schard@ksu.edu.

OPEN POSITIONS:

• Dairy Teaching and Research Center Manager – To apply, go to https://careers.k-state.edu/cw/en-us/job/515771/dairy-teaching-and-research-center-manager
• Animal Technician Supervisor (Dairy Unit) – To apply, go to https://www.asi.k-state.edu/about/jobs/job-announcements.html.

PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES:

• University of Wisconsin-Madison, Assistant Professor of Translational Plant Science for Dairy Sustainability,  More information.
• University of Wyoming, Meat Lab Manager, More information.

UPCOMING EVENTS:
Facebook: @ksuasi
Twitter: @KSUASI
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ksuasi/

February 19, 20 & 22 – Animal Sciences Academic Quadrathlon
February 21 – Faculty Meeting – 146 Weber Hall
February 29 – Stockmen’s Dinner – Stanley Stout Center
March 1 – Cattlemen’s Day – Weber Hall
March 1 – Legacy Bull & Female Sale – Stanley Stout Center
March 2 – Junior Beef Producer Day – Weber Hall
March 10-17: Spring Break
March 16 – Junior Sheep Producer Day – Weber Hall
March 20 – Faculty Meeting –  146 Weber Hall
April 6 – K-State Open House
April 6 – Little American Royal – Weber Arena
April 17 – Faculty Meeting – 146 Weber Hall
May 6-10 – Finals week
May 10-11 – Manhattan Campus Commencement
May 15 – Faculty Meeting – 146 Weber Hall
June 12 – Faculty Meeting – 146 Weber Hall

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