Kansas State University

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AWARDS GRADUATE STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS:

The College of Agriculture has awarded $75,375 in graduate student scholarships.

Five scholarships have been funded specifically for graduate students who are enrolled in programs in or connected to the college. The support of graduate students is an area of emphasis and has a significant impact on the research and teaching of agriculture. Congratulations to the students in animal science and food science who received scholarships.

Robert Numemacher Scholarship

• Katelyn Nicole Gaffield – Animal Sciences & Industry – Swine Nutrition
• Hilario Martin Cordobda – Animal Sciences & Industry – Swine Nutrition

Don C Warren Genetics Scholarship

• Elizabeth Anne Dressler – Animal Sciences & Industry – Genetics
• Edward John Bird – Animal Sciences & Industry – Genetics

Ron Wells Memorial Scholarship

• Helen Patricia Giefer – Animal Sciences & Industry – Ruminant Nutrition

Dale W. and Frances V. Rake Memorial Scholarship

• Eda Ceren Kaya – Food Science & Industry

STOCKER FIELD DAY: The 24th Annual KSU Beef Stocker Field Day took place on September 28, 2023. With an attendance of more than 230 people, a variety of topics were covered including Beef cattle outlook, latest research into top pharmaceutical technologies yielding the highest economic return in stocker cattle and fine-tuning bunk calls. A producer panel discussed the recruiting and retention of labor. A delicious BBQ lunch was served. The day concluded with the annual prairie oyster feed and Call Hall ice cream.

To view additional photos of the event visit, https://www.flickr.com/photos/75988497@N05/sets/72177720311576244/.

ASI Mentors: Four ASI Mentors, Miles Stum, Kaylynn Vogts, Emma Sutherly and Katrina Tucker, along with Emily Grund attended the Kansas Junior Livestock Show on Saturday, September 30. During the show they hosted a booth and walked through the barns passing out #KSUASI Snack Sticks and water bottles. It was a great opportunity to interact with Kansas youth.

KSU LIVESTOCK JUDGING TEAM: The K-State Livestock Judging Team was the Reserve Champion Team at the 2023 Senior Flint Hills Mid-America Classic on Friday, September 29 in Hutchinson, KS. Individual results were: Will Banks – 6th High Individual, Weston Schrader – 8th High Individual and Luke Harker – 9th High Individual.

Open Enrollment for your 2024 benefits elections is underway and runs through October 31^st! As in recent years, 2023 features an ‘active’ Open Enrollment, meaning you will need to re-enroll for 2024 benefits even if you do not intend to change coverages. To complete enrollment, access theMembership Administration Portal (MAP) using your K-State Single Sign On (SSO) credentials. Please be sure to click “Save and Submit” at the end of the online enrollment process. Employees who are actively enrolled in health coverage, and do NOT complete the enrollment process for plan year 2024 will be defaulted to Plan N with a Health Reimbursement Account (HRA). The State Employee Health Plan (SEHP) has published the 2024 Enrollment Guide, which has detailed information on the available benefits. Changes for 2024 can be found in this K-State Today article.

The Benefits Team is excited to invite you to the Benefits Fair on October 4^th. The event will be held in the Grand Ballroom of K-State Student Union from 9 am – 2 pm. This is a great opportunity to meet the various benefits vendors, ask any questions, and learn more about the available options. Lafene Health Center will attend the fair offering many services to include flu shots, skin cancer screenings, chair massages, pharmacy information and breast health education. Appointments are required for the flu shots and skin cancer screenings and can be scheduled in your myLafene+ Patient Portal. Walk-Ins will be accepted based on availability. Throughout the fair several benefits providers will host presentations in the connecting K and S Ballrooms. Similarly, those thinking of retiring in the near future, can learn more on Medicare and available retiree health benefits. The schedule of events is as follows:

Ballroom K

10:30 am: State Employee Health Plan – health benefits available for 2024.
11:30 am: State Employee Health Plan – retiree health benefits available to potential retirees.
1 pm: Renae Riedy and Deb Wood, senior health insurance counselors – Medicare basics.

Ballroom S

10 am: “TIAA: Your Mid-Career Retirement Check-In.”
11 am: “VOYA: Setting Retirement Goals If You’re Over 40.
Noon: “KPERS: From Hire to Retire Seminar.”
1 pm: “KPERS 457: Benefits of Enrollment in KPERS 457.”

The HR Benefits Team will also offer virtual opportunities on October 10th. A zoom presentation covering a brief summary of available benefits and changes for 2024, followed by time for Q&A will be from 9-10:30 a.m. A virtual pop-up will be from noon to 2 p.m. This will be an opportunity to meet with a member of the benefits team one-on-one via Zoom in a private breakout room to get assistance with any benefits-related questions. This will be a come and go event, and the benefits team will assist employees on a first come first served basis.  Registration for the virtual opportunities is required.

As always, your Benefits Team is here to support you. Should you have any questions, please contact us at Benefits@ksu.edu.

KSU ASI HEADLINES: For highlights from September, visit the K-State Department of Animal Sciences and Industry Facebook page at https://fb.watch/mT1ghvbhb7/ or YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fV3w6DI7Xs0.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS – HENRY C. GARDINER GLOBAL FOOD SYSTEMS LECTURE: The Henry C. Gardiner Global Food Systems Lecture will be hosted Tuesday, October 9, at McCain Auditorium beginning at 7 p.m. This year’s featured speaker is Greg Doud, incoming CEO & President of National Milk Producers Foundation. Admission to the lecture is free.

Dr. Cassie Jones was selected to receive the 2023 Mark and Eva Gardiner Innovation and Excellence Faculty Award. She will be recognized at the lecture.
Learn more about this event here.

WELCOME BABY O’QUINN: Congratulations to Dr. Travis O’Quinn and his wife, Megan, on their new baby boy, Ethan Gene O’Quinn. Ethan was born on Saturday, September 30 and was 8 lbs 6 oz and 20 1/4 long.

PASSING OF PROFESSOR DON KROPF: It is with sadness we learned of Professor Don H Kropf’s passing on September 25, 2023. Obituary and funeral information is pending but will be handled by Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home in Manhattan, KS. https://www.ymlfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Donald-Kropf?obId=29230901

SEMINARS: 

• Meat Science Seminar
  • Maria Eduarda-Coelho, Journal Club “Muscle tissue engineering in fibrous gelatin: implications for meat analogs” – Wednesday, October 4 at 12:30 p.m. in Weber 121.
  • Ashton McGinn, “Exploring the industry’s response to consumer’s health concern’s with processed meats” – Wednesday, October 11 at 12:30 p.m. in Weber 121
• Monogastric Nutrition Seminar
  • Mikalya Spinler, “Effects of Heat Stress in Finishing Pigs” – Wednesday, October 11 at 12:30 p.m. in Weber 146
  • Ty Kim, “Effect of sugar source and level on nursery pig performance” – Wednesday, October 18 at 12:30 p.m. in Weber 146
• Ruminant Nutrition, Growth, and Management Seminar
  • Stefan Knecht, “Mode of Action and Applications of Lubabegron Fumarate in Finishing Cattle” – Monday, October 9 at 4:30 p.m. in Call 205
  • Carlee Salisbury, “Implications of Excess Dietary Nitrogen for Maintenance Energy Requirements of Cattle” – Monday, October 16 at 4:30 p.m. in Call 205

ASI FACULTY & STAFF BIRTHDAYS: 

• Travis O’Quinn – October 1
• Jeremy Filby – October 4
• Scott Beyer – October 9
• Bill Hollenbeck – October 26

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 I (Swine Unit) – To apply, go to https://careers.k-state.edu/cw/en-us/job/515792/animal-technician-i.
• Animal Technician Supervisor (Dairy Unit) – To apply, go to https://www.asi.k-state.edu/about/jobs/job-announcements.html.
• Animal Technician II (Dairy Unit) – 1 position – To apply, go to https://careers.pageuppeople.com/742/cw/en-us/job/512403/animal-technician-ii.
• Animal Technician II (Dairy Unit) – 1 position – To apply, go to https://careers.pageuppeople.com/742/cw/en-us/job/510744/animal-technician-ii.

PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES:

• University of Minnesota, St. Paul Dairy Unit Manager –

  http://employment.umn.edu/ (search for Job Opening ID 357968).

• Montana State University, Assistant Professor of Equine Reproductive Physiology – https://jobs.montana.edu/postings/38203

• Utah State University, Assistant or Associate Professor of Dairy Cattle Nutrition – https://www.usu.edu/hr/jobs/, position # 2023-6988

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

October 7 – K-State ASI Family & Friends Reunion – Stanley Stout Center – Manhattan,KS
October 9 – Gardiner Global Food Systems Lecture – 7 p.m. – McCain Auditorium
October 11 – Faculty Meeting – Call Hall 205 – 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
October 24-26 – KSRE Annual Conference – K-State Student Union
November 11 – Veterans Day (not a University holiday)
November 15 – Faculty Meeting – Call Hall 205 – 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
November 16 – K-State Swine Day – KSU Alumni Center
November 19-26 – Thanksgiving Break for Students
November 29-Dec. 1 – KLA Convention & Trade Show – Wichita, KS
December 9 – College of Agriculture Commencement
December 9 – Final Exams
December 20 – Faculty Meeting – Call Hall 205 – 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
January 6-21 – National Western Stock Show – Denver, CO
January 15 – University Holiday (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day)
January 31 – Feb. 2 – Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show – Orlando, FL

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