ABE News 04.indd - ABE - Iowa State University

As you know, the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering will be celebrating its 100thanniversary in 2005, and it has been a remarkable century of achievement and service.The department has been a leader in providing engineering solutions to agricultural problems in theUnited States and the world. And, over the past century, the department’s mission has moved from helpingmechanize agriculture to a more global and systemic view of the entire food production system and thewise use of the great resources we enjoy with which to produce our food, fiber, and other products.Gregory GeoffroyPresidentThis century of achievement would not have been possible without outstanding faculty, hard-workingstudents, great corporate partners, and friends of the program. This centennial celebration is for allof you and all that you have done over so many years to help keep the world’s first formal program inagricultural engineering as one of the very best and a true “Point of Pride” for Iowa State University.It has been a remarkable century of achievements and progress, and I am even more excited about whatwill take place in this next century. You all have my very best wishes for continued success and service.“FFarm engineering” seeks a homeWhile a separate Department of Agricultural Engineering was not established until 1905,agricultural engineering as a subject at Iowa State dates back to the establishment of the IowaAgricultural College and Model Farm in 1858.Then, as now, courses were administered jointlyby the Department of Agriculture and theDepartment of Mechanic Arts. Besides math andphysics, the curriculum included shop work,surveying, grain harvesting and storage, fencesand farm buildings, and drainage.And, as today, shifting needs drove change inthe identity of the academic units. Up to 1890,“farm engineering” courses were taught in theCollege of Agriculture, then in the new School ofAgriculture. From 1898 to 1902, they were taughtunder the Department of Practical Agriculture in theDivision of Agriculture.By 1905 a new building had been erected forthe new Department of Farm Mechanics north ofAgriculture Hall (now Catt Hall). Sixty by100 feet at the base and four stories high, thefacility was described as the “best building ever forfarm mechanics.”Horse-drawn cornpicker, Excursion Day,1904: on the thresholdof the internalcombustion engine,farm machines stillrequired animal labor.

As I assume my position as dean of the College ofEngineering, I am especially pleased to be associated withIowa State University’s record of innovation in agriculture.The Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineeringhas clearly anchored this record of accomplishment. Asthey have since establishment of the nation’s first formalprogram in agricultural engineering in 1905, ABE scholarstoday—students as well as faculty—continue a traditionof outstanding leadership in research and education, andservice to the profession.ABOVE: Heads of thenation’s ag engineeringdepartments at ASAEmeeting in Madison,Wisconsin, 1925.Davidson—clearly aman with much to smileabout—is in the frontrow, third from right.LEFT: Class doingfieldwork in farmdrainage.The accomplishments of ABE are critical to the well being,security, and health of the nation. We have few obligationsto future generations that are more fundamental than thedevelopment and implementation of sustainable models ofagriculture that protect our environment while feeding theworld’s growing population. I have the utmost confidencethat, in its second century, ABE willDean Mark Kushner continue and improve upon its recordof excellence in developing the scienceand technology necessary to meet andbest this challenge. Please join me incongratulating the department for 100years of excellence—and in supportingits mission over the next century.The College of Agriculture is proud tocelebrate the centennial of agriculturaland biosystems engineering at IowaState. Throughout its history, ABE hasbeen one of the nation’s best programsand continues to be a pioneer in applyingengineering, agricultural sciences, andtechnology to biological systems. The Dean Catherine Wotekiefforts of ABE’s faculty and staff help usto better understand our natural resources and what needsto be done to maintain their quality. Their assistance toagricultural producers has a significant economic impact,as it helps them apply new methods and technology toimprove their operations. The department continues tomeet the needs of students in innovative ways. In 2004,the addition of the industrial technology program greatlystrengthened our technology-intensive educational efforts.The Colleges of Agriculture and Engineering look forwardwith anticipation to the department’s second century. Wefully expect that ABE will remain a national leader and asource of excellence our alumni and friends can point towith pride.Iowa State University names new engineering deanMark J. Kushner of the University of Illinoishas been named tenth dean of Iowa State’sCollege of Engineering, effective January 2005.He replaces James Melsa, who retired June 30,and will also hold the inaugural James L. andKatherine S. Melsa Professorship. ProfessorCharles Glatz of the Department of ChemicalEngineering has served as interim dean.“Dr. Kushner brings exceptional leadershipskills and broad experience to our Collegeof Engineering,” said Iowa State UniversityPresident Gregory Geoffroy. “He is aninternationally known researcher with anoutstanding record whose focus is on academicexcellence and student achievement. We’redelighted he is joining Iowa State.”Dr. Kushner earned bachelor’s degrees innuclear engineering and astronomy from UCLAin 1976. He earned his master’s and PhD inapplied physics from Cal Tech in 1977 and 1979,respectively.

Instructor and studentexamining dieselengine, 1938.Cultivator, 1930.NEW FACESABE welcomes three new faculty hiresABE is proud to announce three newfaculty members for the 2004–2005academic year.R. BURNSJ. KOZIEL L. TANGAssociate Professor Robert Burns joinsus in the environmental stewardshipengineering area. His appointmentwill be split between extension andresearch. Dr. Burns’ research focuseson the development of animalmanure management systems thatare environmentally sustainable,economically feasible, and sociallyacceptable. His extension programmingfocuses on managing animal manurefor economic, environmental, and socialsustainability. Dr. Burns received hisBS in agricultural engineering in 1990,his MS in environmental engineeringin 1992, and a PhD in civil engineeringin 1995, all from the University ofTennessee, where he compiled animpressive record of achievement andrecognition before coming to Iowa State.Formerly at Texas A&M, AssistantProfessor Jacek Koziel joined the animaland plant systems engineering focusgroup in August. Dr. Koziel’s teachingcovers air quality engineering, animalproduction systems, and livestockodor and air emissions measurementand control technologies. His researchprogram investigates emissions fromlivestock operations, odors fromconfined animal feeding operations,and the effects of air quality on workerand animal health. Dr. Koziel received aBS and MS in mechanical engineeringin 1989 from the Warsaw Universityof Technology in Poland, an MS inenvironmental quality engineering in1993 from the University of Alaska,and a PhD in civil engineering from theUniversity of Texas at Austin in 1998.Assistant Professor Lie Tang joinedthe advanced machinery engineeringfocus area on October 1 from theDepartment of Agrotechnology andFood Sciences, Wageningen University,The Netherlands. Along with researchon guidance systems design usingsensor fusion techniques and real-timesensing and control systems, Dr. Tangwill teach in power and machinery, aswell as developing curricula for studyingrobotics in agriculture. He received hisBS in electrical engineering in industrialautomation in 1989 from JiangsuUniversity of Science and Technologyin China, his ME in agriculturalmechanization from Zhejiang Universityin 1994, and a PhD in agriculturalengineering from the University ofIllinois in 2002.

Through war and depression, toward “respectability”Under Davidson, Iowa State became the standard against which other departments compared themselves. But withits status as an autonomous academic unit came the perennial challenge of classroom, lab, and shop space. Thedepartment and its five faculty members were first assigned in 1911 to Agricultural Engineering Hall—in fact, thetwo lower floors of the present Catt Hall—with an annex just north of the building.Back then, Howard Johnson notes, “a Bachelor ofAgricultural Engineering was given to students who hadcompleted a four-year course in civil, mechanical, or electricalengineering, followed by one year’s work in agriculturalengineering.” The curriculum still treated it as an afterthoughtto other programs in the “mechanic arts,” but the next severaldecades would see the gradual evolution of ag engineeringtoward an identity of its own.As late as the 1913–14 academic year, agricultural engineeringwas offered simply “in cooperation with the College ofEngineering.” Only one year later, though, it was determinedthat the department would be administered formally andequally by “Dr. Curtiss for the College of Agriculture andDr. Marston for the College of Engineering”; at Iowa State,agricultural engineering’s dual nature was set for the duration.Within this structure, the program—and thus the profession—would become more than just the sum of its agricultural andengineering parts.Movement toward that goal was slow. In 1915–16, 143semester hours were required for the BS, with specializationsin farm power and machinery, structures, and irrigation anddrainage. In 1921 the program got its own building, thenew Agricultural Engineering Laboratory—eventually to berenamed Davidson Hall in honor of the department’s founder.By 1925–26, the program had grown to four professors andfour instructors. A thesis was required for the BS, and thedepartment had awarded 16 graduate degrees—then, as now,the hallmark of academic respectability.Although the depression of the 1930s offered challenges,the department still made notable strides. Along with itssister departments at Nebraska and Kansas State, IowaState was accredited in 1937 by the Engineers Council forProfessional Development, the precursor of ABET. Also,two doctorates were awarded, the first to Eugene GeorgeMcKibben, a joint major with soils in 1936.“Respectability” was gaining momentum.J. CHENS. FREEMAN S. SMITHThree new faculty gained in mergerABE gained three faculty members inthe merger with industrial educationand technology.Joseph Chen’s teaching includesCNC programming techniques,CNC automated control, CAM, Leanmanufacturing system design,on-line quality control techniques,Kaizen, facility planning, Taguchiparameter/tolerance design, qualityfunctional development, and design formanufacturability. He is researchingadaptive control systems for verticalmachine centers and turning centersto detect defects during machiningand recommend corrective actions.He is also developing on-line defectprevention systems to detect “flash”(i.e., excess material attached tocomponents along seams or moldparting lines) caused by mixed materialsor mold-closing gap problems. Thesesystems will be enlarged to detect otherinjection molding characteristics.Steve Freeman coordinates theoccupational safety option within theindustrial technology curriculum andthe Technology Learning Community(TLC). His teaching responsibilities alsolie in the occupational safety arena. Hisinterests are in the dissemination ofsafety information and related computerapplications. He is involved in safetyresearch directed toward improving thesafety and welfare of rural populationsand workers by understanding thefactors that impact them in order todevelop appropriate interventionstrategies. Dr. Freeman has had acourtesy appointment with ABE since1998 and has collaborated on manyprojects with Chuck Schwab, ABE’sextension safety specialist.Shana Smith’s teaching and researchfocuses on product design, designeducation, advanced life-cycle designtools, and human-computer interactionfor design. She currently leads anNSF-sponsored study for integratingvirtual reality into design classes thatincludes outreach to high schoolsand community colleges. She is alsodeveloping next-generation CAD/CAMtools and methods for automated orenhanced product design, including afully automated, artificial intelligencebasedproduct assembly/disassemblyplanner designers can use to considermanufacturing issues in the earlydesign stages of a product. Herresearch complements ABE’s advancedmachinery engineering focus area.For more news from the department, visit the ABE Web site at www.abe.iastate.edu.

I-Tech undergraduates shine at NAIT annual meetingThe ABE student chapter of the National Association of Industrial Technologyswept the competition at the society’s annual meeting in Louisville, Kentucky.ABE competed in the Student IT/IQ bowl, which included questions aboutmanufacturing, construction, safety, energy, communications, management,and two random categories. Top performers were Kyle Scott (1st place), AaronPierson (2nd place), and John Brincks (semi-finalist).Competing in the “vision-enhanced” category of the RobotManipulator Contest, ISU NAIT students placed firstin timed runs and were the only team in the categorynot disqualified for technical problems. Judged onconstruction, run times, and an informative poster,ISU’s CyTraxx was the grand prizewinner, apartfrom the best-run times.For more information about thecompetition, visit the Web siteat www.nait.org. You canlearn more about the IowaState student chapterat www.stuorg.iastate.edu/nait/.ASAE targets young professionalsASAE has established a YoungProfessionals Committee (YPC), acommunity of agricultural engineerscharged with getting youngermembers more involved in theorganization. Two ABE alumni addtheir expertise to this cause.“ASAE gives us the chance to be a partof an organization that understandsand promotes our interest in agriculturalengineering through professionalnetworking and leadership opportunities,”says Jason Madsen (BSAgE’02),an account manager with GKN Walterscheid,Inc. “The YPC enables me tointeract with peers who share some ofthe same challenges making the college-to-worktransition.”Also, Russell Persyn (PhDAgE’03),assistant professor and extensionspecialist in biological and agriculturalengineering at Texas A&M, receivedan ASAE Presidential Citation forleading the development of this group.A wartimeChristmas gift: Rising from the ashes,acknowledgment as a “real profession”By 1940 Iowa State had awarded nearly 300 BS degrees inagricultural engineering. But the Second World War wouldseverely limit new graduates, as many went off to war. Andwar was not the only adversity. On March 31, 1941, theAgricultural Engineering Laboratory was destroyed by fire.The state provided funds to rebuild, however, and after initialdifficulties with architects, the new edifice rose atop thefoundation of the destroyed building.But even with a “new” building, some still felt the need to reassurethe nation’s flagship agricultural engineering program of itslegitimacy. “I wish to emphasize that Agricultural Engineering is areal profession and I am glad I have had something to do with itsrecognition as such by our National Engineering Societies,” saidEmeritus Dean Anson Marston in a Christmas message to thedepartment in 1942.By the war’s beginning, the programs at Iowa State, Nebraska,and Kansas State were still the only three agricultural engineeringprograms of 552 accredited engineering curricula nationally. Anda 1944 survey revealed that only eight ag engineers in the nationheld the PhD—clearly, much work remained.Destroyed AE building.“For we shall be remembering those millions far from homeFor whom, instead of hearth-fires, there will be the blaze of shells;Instead of caroling will sound the battle’s stern command,The thundering of bombs instead of chiming Yuletide bells.“So we shall kindle Christmas fires for you who are away,And as we sing the hymns you love, each heart will breathe a prayerThat soon, (O, soon!), ‘Good will toward men’ of every race and creedShall bring the Christmas ‘Peace on earth,’ for all time, everywhere.”—Excerpt, “Christmas, 1942,” Jennie Baldridge Davidson

Farm management class, 1962.Ag engineering student in the electronics lab, 1957.ALUMNI UPDATESA. C. Pandya(MSAgE’49) retired in1981 after a career ofacademic service inIndia. He stays activeguiding researchprojects for graduatedegree candidates atthe ASPEE ResearchInstitute, Mumbai,where he has advisedover 65 MS and PhDstudents.Maurice Clark(BSAgE’52) is aretired test engineerfor John Deere DesMoines Works.William Davidson(BSAgE’52) andwife Alda celebratedtheir 50th weddinganniversary in 2002.They were marriedthe day after Billgraduated. Billretired in 1989 after acareer with GeneralElectric and Black& Decker. He wasalso vice presidentof engineering forSinger’s motorproducts division.Norman Friedrich(BSAgE’82) is a civilengineer with theNatural ResourcesConservation Servicein West Union, Iowa.Carol Lehtola(MSAgE’88,PhDAgE’92) ofGainesville receivedthe University ofFlorida Collegeof Agricultureand Life SciencesUndergraduateTeacher of the YearAward for 2002 and aTeaching Certificateof Merit from theNational Associationof College Teachersin Agriculture.

After the war: Growth, crisis, and recoveryIn 1946, J. B. Davidson retired after a 41-year career. It is the mark of a person’s leadership, though,that what he has spent a lifetime building will not only survive him, but thrive on the foundation he laid.Davidson was succeeded by HobartBeresford, who welcomed returningservice members back to Ames. TheGI Bill and a booming farm economydriven by exports—which weredriven by productivity gains fromvastly increased mechanization afterthe war—dramatically increasedenrollments. To serve these numbers,the faculty increased to 18 instructorsand 16 professors, five with the PhD.By the end of the ’50s, the departmentlisted four 500-level courses in powerand machinery, structures, ruralelectrification, and soil and water. Thisnascent graduate curriculum wouldherald the single major for the PhD inag engineering. The co-major, requiredup to 1962, was “instrumental inestablishing the quality PhD program inthe department,” according to HowardJohnson. But, he adds, the formerco-major professors in engineeringmechanics, civil engineering,mechanical engineering, and soilphysics were all “especially supportive”of the new single-major PhD.Beresford retired in 1962 to bereplaced by Dr. Clarence Bockhop,who by the mid-’60s increased thefaculty to 21 members at the rankof professor. Yet the biggest changeunder Bockhop was the introductionin the 1970s of the agriculturalmechanization curriculum (laterrenamed agricultural systemstechnology). With this splitting ofthe curriculum came even moregrowth, and by the early eightiesthe department boasted 33 facultymembers at professorial rank.Despite this growth and innovation,the farm crisis of the 1980s was acrisis for agricultural engineering aswell. The export boom of the 1970shad gone bust, and the restructuringof the nation’s rural economy onlyaggravated the crisis. Decreasingstate appropriations, together withfalling enrollments in an economicsector fast losing its luster, threatenedthe department’s viability. The crisisalso had a ripple effect on industriesemploying agricultural engineers,including manufacturers of farmmachinery, seed, and fertilizer.Finally, while still accredited, theprogram was criticized in reviews fornon-competitive salaries and poorfacilities.TOP: Ray Armstrong (left), with Ken Clausen andMaurice Caldwell, inspect equipment repairs at thefarm service maintenance shop near Ames, 1962.BOTTOM: Faculty member Steve Marley with studentsin an ag mech class, circa 1978.Paul Klimesh(BSAST’94), aveteran of the CyRidetransportation systemin Ames, has won theIowa Public TransitRodeo championshipfive years running.Klimesh both drivesand serves as aninstructor.Scott Walthart(BSAST’95) and wifePatricia had their thirdchild, a baby boy,Mason, in October2003.Ravi Godbole(PhDAgE’97) hasjoined AGCO GlobalPurchasing in India asa purchasing projectmanager. He also hasworked as a productengineer for MahindraTractors in Indiaand Titan Wheels inQuincy, Illinois. Morerecently, he was leadengineer for CAT inDeKalb, Illinois.Justin Chepete(MSAgE’99, PhD’02)has won his firstmajor grant of about$80,000. He willset up a researchfacility for a poultrycoolingproject,in which he willconduct a variety ofanimal-environmentinteractionresearchprojects. In honor ofhis major professor,Hongwei Xin, he isnaming it the LEAPLab.Jasmine ZinglerBootman (BSAgE’00)is a staff engineer forMontgomery WatsonHarza, a consultingengineeringcompany in DesMoines involvedin infrastructuredevelopment aroundthe globe.Kevin Stamm(MSAgE’01) isemployed by thewater resourcesbranch of the U.S.Army Corps ofEngineers in Omaha,Nebraska.

For Iowa, the nation, and the world…The department would emerge from the economic devastation of the 1980s. Salaries were raised to better compete fortop faculty, and the department became leaner. But perhaps the biggest factor in the department’s reinvention of itselfwas the adoption in the early 1990s of the biosystems approach to agricultural engineering.The Department of Agricultural Engineering was foundedoriginally to mechanize agriculture. But while mechanizationis still a large part of its mission, the future demands thatthis be balanced with an equivalent focus on the humanaspects of agriculture. The department therefore has evolvedto embrace a global view of the entire food productionsystem that includes the stewardship of natural resourcesin the production, processing, storage, handling, and use offood, fiber, livestock, and other biological products.Current research efforts include agricultural water qualityand management, animal production systems that areeconomically and environmentally sound, grain handlingand food processing, agricultural machine design andautomated controls, precision farming systems, agriculturalsafety, seed conditioning and processing, and soil tillageand management systems. And research is being directedincreasingly toward biosystems engineering through the useof biosensors, image analysis, biological systems modeling, andthe design and control of biological systems and processes.But what was true in 1905 is true today: to achieve thesegoals, ABE must continue to attract leaders the caliber of J. B.Davidson, men and women whose vision extends well intothe next 100 years—and beyond.Today’s ABE scholars are serving as leaders in state, national,and international organizations. Whether through their workwith the World Bank, the European Union, or institutes andresearch centers in the Far East; in leadership positions inthe EPA, USDA, the National Institute for Farm Safety or theArmy Corps of Engineers; or through service to Iowa at theDNR or the Iowa Groundwater Association, ABE faculty andstudents are making critical contributions to the welfare offuture generations.2004 CONTRIBUTORS: A CENTURY OF SUPPORTIndividuals:Anderson, Dr. Carl E.Anderson, Ruth E.Anderson, VirginiaAnderson, Willard R.Baker, Dr. James L.Barisas, Susan G.Baum, Dean O.Beer, Dr. Craig E.Beer, Janet H.Bekkum, Kathleen C.Bekkum, Dr. Victor A.Bell, Brett P.Bern, Dr. Carl J.Bern, Nancy L.Bootman, Bryon M.Bootman, Jasmine Z.Boyd, Dr. Landis L.Brass, Ronald W.Brown, Thomas J.Bundy, Dwaine S.Buresh, ErnestCalderwood, David L.Campbell, Cynthia S.Campbell, Dr. Kenneth L.Carpenter, DarylCasady, BillCasady, LindaCharity, MaxineClark, J. LavonneClark, MauriceCopley, Russell D.Cresswell, Dorothy A.Cresswell, Dr. John L.Dale, Jan A.Dresser, John C.East, Donald L.East, Sharon K.Edler, Paul D.Everts, Dr. Christopher J.Farnham, Charles W.Fike, Elmer A.Flinkinger, Wayne T.Friedrickson, JoelFriedrickson, LisaGaul, Alan D.Gillette, Roy E.Glanville, Mary J.Glanville, Dr. Thomas D.Goering, Dr. Carroll E.Hall, Howard W.Hanna, H. MarkHarris, Brad R.Hazen, Mary J.Hazen, Dr. Thamon E.Heimbuch Sukup, MaryHelmers, Dr. Matthew J.Helmers, MollyHoerner, Dr. Thomas A.Hogberg, Dr. Maynard G.Hollander, Gerald W.Huhnke, Dr. Raymond L.Hurt, Mary E.Jensen, Mark J.Johnson, Dr. Howard P.Johnson, SusanJunge, Nancy L.Junge, Steve A.Kanwar, AnjanaKanwar, Dr. Ramesh S.Kenworthy, BerylKirchner, Seth J.Kluge, JoanKluge, Dr. John P.Kranz, William L.Kranzler, Dr. Glenn A.Krauss, Mervin G.Kruse, Kent D.Lehtola, Dr. Carol J.Leonard, Ronald K.Maiwald, Marvin A.Mangold, Dr. Duane W.

LEFT TO RIGHT: APEX students demonstrate their robots in the ABE Mechatronics TeachingLab during summer classes. • ABE uses its olfactometer to test the air quality ofsamples sent from across the nation. • Patrick Murphy’s poster, “Bioconversion ofSilage,” was a first-place winner at ASAE in Ottawa this year. • The research of RussellPersyn (PhD’04) may help prevent erosion, increase vegetative growth, and safeguardIowa’s waterways.For the next 100 years…The leadership of ABE’s friends and alumni can make a criticalcontribution to the future of ABE. From scholarships to labs to endowedprofessorships and, ultimately, to a new home for ABE (see next page),your support will continue a tradition of excellence, innovation, andleadership begun a century ago.We have space here to present only the broadest outlines of a proud pastand invite those who would like a more detailed history of agricultural andbiosystems engineering to consider the forthcoming history of the departmentwritten by former chair Howard Johnson and other contributors. But remember:your contributions will help write the history of ABE’s next 100 years.Come celebrate!Below are just a few of the events thatwill mark ABE’s yearlong observance, withthe major function celebrating our centennialtaking place at the Iowa Section meetingin September. Please consider joining us atone or more of these functions. Check theABE Web site, www.abe.iastate.edu/, forregular updates!April (TBA) ................. ABE Student Club BanquetMay 19–21 .................................... ISU Alumni DaysJuly 18 .....................Ag & Biosystems SymposiumASAE Annual MeetingTampa Bay, FLSeptember (TBA) ................... Iowa Section ASAEContact Us!Send comments, questions, and news to:Sue Ziegenbusch, ABEIowa State University, 105 Davidson HallAmes, Iowa 50011-3080Phone: 515 294-0462 • Fax: 515 294-6633E-mail: sziegenb@iastate.eduwww.abe.iastate.eduHistorical photos courtesy of Iowa State UniversityLibrary/Special Collections Department.Publication prepared by EngineeringCommunications and Marketing, College ofEngineering. ECM 05160Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis ofrace, color, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, sex,marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Vietnam Era Veteran.Any persons having inquiries concerning this may contact theDirector of Equal Opportunity and Diversity, 515 294-7612.If there be any truer measure of a man than by whathe does, it must be by what he gives. —Robert SouthMangold, Leonore J.McKee, Francis G.Melvin, Carol A.Melvin, EthelyneMelvin, LindaMelvin, Marilyn J.Melvin, PhilipMelvin, Dr. Stewart W.Metzger, David D.Nelson, Dr. Stuart O.Nieman, Mary E.Nieman, Merle D.Nixon Living Trust, PaulR. & Erma I.Oosterhuis, Martin J.Padgett, Holly J.Pecenka, Mary E.Peterson, Don C.Peterson, Kay L.Philips, Mark S.Porterfield, ErnestinePorterfield, Jay G.Rathe, Robert A.Richard, Dr. Tom L.Ritter, Dr. William F.Robison, WilliamRowe, Dr. Richard J.Rystrom, VirginiaSaha, Glen E.Schafer, Dr. Robert L.Scherr, DonnaScherr, MarvinSchmidt, Amy M.Schneider, Janice I.Schneider, Richard W.Schorpp, Ronald L.Schuler, Shane B.Sedrel, Donald M.Sharpening, JessSharping, BettyShimon, Donald F.Singh, Dr. PiyushSmith, Volney H.Stevens, Dr. Ann M.Steward, Edward S.Struss, Roland G.Struss, Wilma J.Sukup, Charles E.Swenson, Edward L.Taiginides, Dr. E. PaulTimmons, Donald R.Valen, Daniel S.Van Fossen, BeverlyVanderholm, Dr. Dale H.Vanzee, Michael D.Veenhuizen, Dr. Michael A.Wiebers, Matt A.Wiechmann, Alan E.Wilcox, Scott R.Wilcox, Tami L.Williams, Dr. David L.Wolter, Gene E.Wolter, Valois R.Ziegenbusch, John E.Ziegenbusch, Susan K.Corporate/Group:Alcoa FoundationASAE Student BranchFountain Wars TeamBoddy Media GroupCargillCurry-Wille & AssociatesJ & G Olson Farms, Inc.John Deere FoundationJohn Deere WaterlooTractor WorksKinze Manufacturing, Inc.Lundell PlasticsCorporationPella Corporation

GovernorTom VilsackThe partnership between thepeople of Iowa and Iowa StateUniversity is rooted in sharedgoals. For our citizens, thegrowth of a strong agriculturalvalue chain has been supportedfor over 100 years by multiplepartners in the universitysystem. The Department ofAgricultural and BiosystemsEngineering has been andcontinues to be a significant partner, driving innovationthat supports wealth creation in the value chain.This past year, we funded research to determine whereIowa’s strengths lie in developing our biosciences industry.In a quantitative analysis of our universities, ABE wasnoted as a core area of “strength and expertise” fromwhich to grow new innovations in agriculture. ABE’spast work has helped to create a vital biosciences cluster,agricultural machinery and equipment manufacturing.Employing over 10,000 Iowans with average annualearnings over $51,000, this sector is ripe for continuinginnovation in the integrated biosecurity and bioeconomyareas, two of six platforms noted as most likely to succeedin Iowa.In congratulating ABE for its years of service to Iowa,we anticipate that these new challenges will be metby the continued reliance of the Iowa Departmentof Economic Development and all of Iowa on ABE’s“strength and expertise.”A HOME FOR THE NEXT 100 YEARSAfter nearly sixty years, a new home for the Department ofAgricultural and Biosystems Engineering took a big step forwardthis fall when the Board of Regents, State of Iowa, approved privatefundraising for the project. The university has established a DavidsonHall planning committee to conduct a preliminary assessment of thedepartment’s anticipated future space needs. Architects have not yetbeen selected for the project.The estimated cost to replace Davidson Hall is $21 million, half ofwhich is expected to be raised privately. Private donors have alreadygiven approximately $1.4 million toward this goal, and developmentofficers from the Colleges of Agriculture and Engineering will soonapproach other potential lead donors for commitments. A broaderappeal to ABE’s alumni, faculty, students, and friends will likelybegin this year as part of our 100th anniversary celebration.To learn more about how you can support the construction of a newbuilding for ABE, please contact Richard Bundy in the College ofAgriculture development office (515 294-9088 or rbundy@iastate.edu) or Keith Fortmann in the College of Engineering developmentoffice (515 294-4280 or kfortman@iastate.edu). Questions about thebuilding planning committee can be directed to Dr. Ramesh Kanwar,ABE department chair, at 515 294-1434 or rskanwar@iastate.edu.Department of Agricultural and Biosystems EngineeringIowa State University102 Davidson HallAmes, Iowa 50011-3080