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COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES INSTITUTE OF APPLIED AGRICULTURE SPRING 2012

Terps Take Turf Bowl To Task

IAA Teams Place 3rd and 7th at the 18th Annual GCSAA Turf Bowl Competition!
Our third place team was awarded $1,000. The tournament and prize was made possible through a partnership between the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) and John Deere. John Deere provided the prize money to the winning teams. Our teams were partly sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Association of Golf Course Superintendents recent $1,700 donation, and proceeds from the Shields Memorial Golf Tournament. d

All three teams pose for a picture a1er the awards ceremony with large check. From le1 to right; Brian Kealy, Tom Hutson, Josh Malnik, Ryan Peach, Tyler Kre1, JusDn Patenaude, R.J. Crow, Bryan Shepherd, Cory Wesselman, MaH Park, Brian DearsDne, and kneeling is ScoH Hosier. Go Terps!

What happens in Vegas doesnt need to stay in Vegas! Twelve Maryland turf students traveled to Las Vegas to compete in the 18th Annual GCSAA Turf Bowl Competition and brought back top awards. Nearly 90 teams entered the competition, and the University of Maryland placed two teams in the top ten3rd and 7thour best showing yet. Dr. Mathias explains, We set a number of records. In the past, the highest a Turf Bowl team has placed is fourth place. This is the first time two teams placed top ten, and we had an essay submission receive the second highest score.

Scott Hosier, a member of the team that placed third describes, Getting top five was incredible! To prepare for the competition Scott and the other team members met weekly to review case study scenarios and utilized study material provided by their advisor, Dr. Mathias. Hosier recalls, The Doc gave us some practicums that were hard but were good preparation for the competition. In addition to competing with other schools, the event proved to be a great educational and professional experience for students. Next year, Hosier hopes to win first place and beat the undefeated team of Iowa State.

From the D irector ... p 2 PGMS Rain Garden ... p 3 Green Matte rs ... p 4 IAA Terrap in Trophies. .. p 6 Hyman Nam ed Director ... p 7 Around the Tute ... p 8 Student File s ... p 10

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Institute of Applied Agriculture 2123 Jull Hall, University of Maryland College Park, Maryland 20742-2525 http://iaa.umd.edu

From the Director...

A Little Advice From Me to You ... and Me

4. Base decisions on what is best for the students. Although it may not be the easiest path or the most economical choice, you should always do what is best for current and future IAA students. The decision may mean more work for you and the faculty, or more resources, but you should strive for the best education and experience for the students. And remember to ask students for input. 5. Protect your faculty. Think of yourself as a terrapin with a hard shell that you must use to shield your employees. The heart of the IAA is its extraordinary faculty and staffprotect them. And never throw them under the bus to protect yourself. 6. You cant go through a brick wall. Inevitably road blocks will drop into your planned path to success. When that happens, your first instinct may be to plow into it full speed hoping to go right through it. When that doesnt work, you may back up, plow into it again, complain about it, or try to move it so you may continue on your same path. I learned that brick walls will not move and trying to run through them only leaves me with a pounding headache. You have to look for a way around, over, or under the wallyou cant go through it. 7. Be gracious. Smile, say thank you, acknowledge others, and practice small acts of kindness. In the face of criticism, learn to be patient. Take time to cool down and collect your thoughts. Sometimes a perceived criticism may turn out to be a valuable opportunity, for which we should be grateful. 8. Find the joy and share it. This is a great place to work. Youll meet interesting, fabulous peopleenjoy it. Laugh. Now, go share that joy with your colleagues, faculty, students, alumni, family, and, welleveryone. d

At the beginning of the year, I asked our alumni to give incoming IAA students advice/ tips for succeeding at the tute. The responses varied from the seriousness of studying to the jokiness of where to end woodies lab. The question made me wonder, what advice would I pass on to the next IAA Director? Having served as Acting Director since 2007, I surely had some sage advice for the new director. So I sat down one day to compose my list of recommendations. But as it turned out, I became the new IAA Director, so I was writing advice for myself. Lets hope I can follow my own advice. I decided to share my list with all of you because I believe its useful to anyone in a leadership position. So heres my advice to me . . . and to you: 1. Silence is often the key. Keep your mouth shut and listen. Its too hard to learn while you are talking. Listen to other peoples words, audible signals, and changes in tone to gain a better understanding of a situation and of what is important to that person. Dont give away your hand or try to influence another person right away. Listen first to the other persons opinions, thoughts, and ideas. Express your appreciation. Then, make your decision or give your response. 2. Write it down. Or else you will forget it. In this job, as with many multidimensional jobs, you are constantly shifting from personnel to student issues, from planning lessons to planning budgets, from classroom teaching to student recruiting, from grading papers to editing newsletters, and so on. Its easy for details to get lost, but even major deadlines and activities can be forgotten if you dont keep them on your calendar or to-do list. 3. Sometimes good enough has to be good enough. Time does not permit perfection on everything, so we have to learn to let go of the notion that everything we do must be perfect or even our very best. Often, its more important to meet a deadline than to meet self-imposed high standards. When good enough is okay, let it go.

Spring 2012

INAG News

PGMS Rain Garden Helps Rein In Runoff

On March 31, the Student Chapter of the Professional Grounds Management Society (PGMS), headquartered at the Institute of Applied Agriculture, installed a muchneeded rain garden at the base of the Public Health Garden on the University of Marylands College Park Campus. The site was in dire need of amendment after more than a decade of storm water erosion and a summers worth of gardening had clogged the drainage systems with sediment. PGMS Student Chapter President John Mowbray and Vice President Michael Walsh identied the problem spot as the perfect place to implement a spring service project. I pass the site daily and had noticed signicant erosion, said Walsh. Our student group is always looking for service projects that help us enhance the beauty of the campus. This was an exciting project because it is a teaching garden, so we know it will serve to educate as well as serve as a functioning rain garden. With IAA faculty support from instructor Ken Ingram and a handful of student volunteers, the perfect number of water-loving plants were installed and the space was transformed in a matter of a few short hours. Public Health Garden Construction Manager and Landscape

L to r: IAA students Brian Kealy, John Mowbray, Michael Walsh

Architect Bobby Tjaden provided support and coordination. The plants used for the project, including three large river birches, were originally part of the Universitys rstplace winning entry in the International Solar Decathlon and were donated to the PGMS by Karen Petroff of Facilities Management. The same weekend the rain garden installation took place, the Universitys Agricultural Sorority, Gamma Sigma Delta, built a wooden arbor. Part of the original design for the garden, it was nanced with funds awarded for the project after a Fall

2011 proposal. While on site, the sorority volunteers helped build the last of the raised beds that sit at the top of the permeably-paved, ADAaccessible portion of garden space. This area serves as a living classroom for students of the IAA as well as a demonstration space for any and all students interested in participating in community gardening. Kick-started last year with a grant awarded to the IAA from the Ofce of Sustainability Green Fund, the Public Health Garden continues to evolve as both a teaching and community garden. d

Alumni News & Notes

Congratulations and best of luck to Drew Prosa (TURF 10) at the American Water Enterprises at Fort Meade for his hard work and employee funding for commercial licensing classes. Tim Downey (TURF 09) and his wife, Carrianne, welcomed Scarlett Kate Downey on Tuesday,
October 25th weighing in at 7 lb. 14 oz. 21 Tim is working at Swan Point Golf & CC.

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Spring 2012

Opportunities Abound in the Land of Green

On February 24, 2012, Instructor Ken Ingram accompanied Conference Scholarship Recipient Deborah Lakowicz-Dramby to the third and nal food-focused symposium at Brookside Gardens titled: Green Matters: Urban Farming Pioneers. The all-day event highlighted innovative approaches to feeding the worlds population through presentations by leading minds in the eld of food production. Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Kathleen Merrigan said that no single talk stood out from the rest because they were all so informative, inspirational and exciting. It was remarkable to learn about the new Know Your Farmer Know Your Food initiative from Deputy Secretary Merrigan directly live and in person, LakowiczDramby shares, but it was just as amazing to hear the success story of the Brooklyn Grange, get advice on community garden building from Darrin Nordahl, see what is happening on the forefront of vertical farming and then learn how to get a SARE grant so that my colleagues and I can become pioneers in the movement locally. The full day of programming began with Darrin Nordahls presentation about community gardens and the provoking thought that fresh produce belongs to everyone and should be available to everyone especially in the food deserts spanning through many highly populated cities. After Merrigan announced the new Compass Initiative within the USDA, attendees had a chance to network over lunch before regrouping to hear from Ben Flanner, head farmer and co-founder of the New York City rooftop farm: Brooklyn Grange. Ken Ingrams favorite quote, A farmer is outstanding in his eld, rang true throughout the event albeit

Alumni News & Notes

Institute Alumni never stop learning! Pam Koch, (HORT 87) is making a career move from plants to people. After working for Behnke Nurseries, Marriott Corporations, and then running her own business, Pam worked with the USDAs Harvest for the Hungry for ten years. She recently returned to school and earned her nursing degree. IAA was pleased to share a table with Raymond Harrison, III (FARM 87) and his wife at the annual MAEF dinner in November. Raymond is an Agricultural Technician Lead at the Wye Research and Education Center in Queenstown, MD.

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Institute of Applied Agriculture 2123 Jull Hall University of Maryland College Park, MD 20742-2525 Phone: 301-405-4685 FAX: 301-314-9343 E-mail: gdhyman@umd.edu WEB: iaa.umd.edu
Lakowicz-Dramby with Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan.

IAA DIRECTOR Glori D. Hyman GRAPHIC DESIGNER Jim Black WRITERS Deborah Lakowicz-Dramby Diana Velasquez-Munoz inag news is published two times a year by the Institute of Applied Agriculture. The IAA welcomes all comments, alumni updates, and agriculture-related news.

the denition of eld appears to be growing. "There are so many exciting opportunities, commented Ingram. The speakers were amazing entrepreneurs building farms in cities and on rooftops."d

Alumni News & Notes

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Congratulations to James Weaver (TURF 90) on his recent engagement.

Spring 2012

INAG News

IAA On The CASE Helping Teachers Teach Ag

The Institute of Applied Agriculture hosted 23 secondary education teachers who learned how to teach the Introduction to Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (AFNR) curriculum, designed to introduce students to a variety of agricultural careers, sciences and cultural issues. The Curriculum for Agricultural Science and Education (CASE) emphasizes the use of science-inquiry and student-led classroom experiences to encourage a lifelong connection to agricultural knowledge and skills. AFNR is a ninth-grade applied agriculture class that serves as the foundation for pathway courses in plant science, animal science, biotechnology and environmental science. Maryland was one of eleven initial funding states for the development of the CASE curricula. Additionally, the Maryland Department of Education identified the CASE Institute as the standard agricultural education for all secondary schools and provided grant funding to support the CASE Institute. This summer the IAA is hosting another institute focusing on teaching students about plants. d

Alumni News & Notes

Jake Smith (TURF 08) is working at Old South Country Club. He and his wife Lana now have two boys: Reese and Noah. Kevin Moore (TURF 03) is the Golf Course Superintendent at Stoney Creek Golf Club at Wintergreen Resort in VA.

Shields Memorial May 11 at Glenn Dale Golf Club

Since 1980, the Annual Shields Memorial Golf Tournament has paid tribute to brothers Bob, Ray and Roy and their many contributions to the game of golf and to golf turf education in Maryland. If you or anyone you know is interested in participating in this years event, either as a player, sponsor, or volunteer, please contact Kevin Mathias via email: jkm@umd.edu, or by phone: 301-405-4692. d

Teachers from around the country completed the UMD CASE Institute curriculum.

INAG News

Spring 2012

More Terrapin Trophies

Terps Take 2nd Place in STMA Challenge
The Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA) hosted the 2012 Student Challenge held in conjunction with its winter conference in Long Beach, CA, January 10-14. A recordsetting 37 teams competed this year, and the Terps team of Drew Wolcott (IAA), Travis Biggs (IAA), Tommy Hutson (PSLA), and Pat Moynihan (PSLA) took 2nd place in the 4-Year team competition with a total score of 130.5 points and just 1.5 points behind the winning team from Purdue. The Student Challenge tests participants in various areas relating to sports eld maintenance from turfgrass weed, insect, and disease identication to eld safety issues such as eld hardness, traction, and overall playability issues. This is the second year that the IAA prepared a team for this national competition. Dr. Mathias who coached the team along with Alex Steinman stated, This was a great experience for our students and they were excited to attend the national conference and compete in such a prestigious event. The UMD team also attended a welcome reception, various educational seminars, and the awards banquet. d

Deedra Suchting earns 2nd place at NESA Block and Bridle Animal Science Competition

Deedra SuchDng (r) receives her award.

Deedra Suchting, a rst-year IAA student majoring in Agricultural Business Management, traveled to Maine with the University of Marylands Block and Bridle Club to compete in the Northeast Student Afliate Block and Bridle Animal Science Competition. Deedra, the only freshman on Marylands A Team, placed second overall among 250 students competing in livestock judging category. d

Alumni News & Notes

Curt Ramsey (TURF 71) remembers his rst job after graduation was Assistant Superintendent at Manor Country Club in Rockville. After 40 years of working in the turf/golf industry, Curt is happily retired.

Standing: Dr. Mathias (coach) and Alex Steinman (coach). SiXng: Pat Moynihan, Travis Biggs, Tommy Hutson, and Drew WolcoH

Spring 2012

INAG News

Its Official . . . Hyman Quits Acting Career, Takes Job Seriously

The Institute of Applied Agriculture (IAA) is proud to announce that long-time instructor and four-year acting director Glori Hyman was appointed Director of the IAA. Hyman has taught the written communication, oral communication and professional development classes during her 20 years at the Institute and will continue marketing materials for the IAA, and ourished as an active recruiter and ambassador for the college. By developing and coordinating open houses and recruitment events for prospective students and their families, and participating in school visits, Hyman has nourished working relationships with the Maryland Agriculture community and the Maryland Agriculture Teachers Association (MATA). Under her leadership, the IAA has increased enrollment, expanded its presence on campus, developed online classes and cooperative agreements with community colleges, and launched its Sustainable Agriculture Certicate program, which is one of the rst in the country. In 2011, Hyman managed the $25,000 grant from the Maryland State Department of Education to host the Curriculum for Agricultural Science and Education (CASE) Institute for secondary education teachers. Twenty-three teachers from across the U.S. completed the two-week program in July of 2011 and the CASE Institute is scheduled to be offered at University of Maryland in 2012 and 2013, as a part of this initial grant. Hyman is the IAAs fourth director and rst woman to lead the program in its 47-year history. She says her vision for the IAA is to continue to grow, become an interactive learning community, prepare our students for an everchanging ag industry, and provide opportunitiesboth academically and professionallyfor our students. d

to teach and mentor in her capacity as director. Industry leaders and alumni acknowledge and appreciate the quality of resumes, interview skills and electronic portfolios IAA students have perfected under her tutelage. As many of our alumni have witnessed, Hyman has put her heart into forever enhancing, growing and promoting the Institute. She has established innovative and effective
At Alumni Awards Banquet with Outstanding Student Shanese Baylor.

INAG News

Spring 2012

Around the tute

IAA Welcomes New Student Services Coordinator: Diana Velasquez-Munoz

Originally from Silver Spring, Maryland, Diana Velasquez-Munoz became interested in the University of Maryland community after working for the Hispanic College Fund and participating at the Prince Georges County Estudios Universitarios A Su Alcance college fair hosted on campus at the Stamp Student Union. Before joining the Institute of Applied Agriculture team in early March, Velasquez-Munoz worked in marketing, public relations and outreach throughout Maryland, Virginia, Washington D.C. and even Northern California. As a Financial Aid Outreach Liaison at Chabot College in Hayward, California, and locally at the Hispanic College Fund, she worked with students, sponsors, parents and community leaders to ensure equal educational Welcome to Jull Hall, Diana!

Ken Ingram Honored at GSCAA Conference in Las Vegas

While IAA students were preparing for and participating in the Student Challenges in Las Vegas, the Institutes own Ken Ingram was honored with an award at the GCSAA Conference in February 2012. Ingram earned the award for 25 years of Certied Golf Course Superintendents service (Class of 86) and Five Certication Renewals. A full page (page 65) in the December 2011 edition of Golf Course Management magazine congratulated Ken and his classmates. Way to go, Ken! d

opportunities were available to diverse student populations. As IAA Student Services Coordinator, Velasquez-Munoz will handle student recruitment, admissions, outreach, marketing and alumni relations. Velasquez-Munoz is thrilled to be working at the Institute of Applied Agriculture. The selfproclaimed Rookie Gardener is experimenting in her own backyard with fruits and vegetables. d

Alumni News & Notes

Love is in the air. Christina Mathias (EQUI 08), who is working as a lead assistant in a large veterinary office, married Robbie Bradshaw, a member of the U.S. Coast Guard. The happy couple is living in Suffolk, Virginia where Christina is planning to go back to school to become a teacher. After five seasons as Superintendent/General Manager at Westminster National Golf Course, Ryan Kraushofer (TURF 05) is changing his GCSAA status from superintendent to Class A. Congratulations on your continued success.

Spring 2012

INAG News

Way to go Ray!
Meet Ellen: From Suburbanite to Sustainable Farmer
Ellen Polishuk joined IAA faculty in August as our Sustainable Agriculture Instructor and teaching garden coordinator. Raised in the suburbs of Reston, VA, Ellen encountered sustainable agriculture early in life. In her teens, she realized that agriculture would become her future while working at a local farm. I was lucky enough to figure that out early on in spite of being a suburbanite and never knowing what a farm was. After graduating from Virginia Techs horticulture program in 1986, Ellen moved to California and worked with Harris Moran Seed Company in Davis, California, focusing on plant and seed breeding. Four years later, she returned to Virginia and has been involved in agriculture production ever since. She became part owner at Potomac Vegetable Farm and has managed her business quite well. She has extensive experience teaching agriculture in conference group/ workshop settings as well as firsthand experience running a sustainable agriculture business. In addition to teaching and advising students at the IAA, and managing her farm, Ellen serves as a visionary leader in the field of sustainable agriculture. On March 7, Ellen was invited to join a group of farmers at an event hosted by USDA at the White House. The Know your Farmer Know your Food event brought together local farmers, the White House Chef, and the Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan. We are extremely delighted to have Ellen at the IAA. Ray Gless was awarded grant funding from the Ag Council for his innovative, up-and-coming Ag You Know e-flyer series. The publication will serve as a platform to inform the public of the importance of agriculture in Maryland and culminate in an educational video. With other grant recipients, Ray received praise from Governor Martin OMalley, who applauded the Maryland agricultural community for its recordbreaking cover crop plantings and continued innovations in the field. Gless hopes the Ag You Know series brings terms like cover crops into the mainstream consciousness and reopens the lines of communication between farmers and consumers. Although the official publication schedule remains in pencil, topics that are expected to be highlighted include everything from facts and history about Maryland agriculture to emerging education and career opportunities. The goal is for the general public to know more and to want to know more, commented Gless. The newsletter will give everyone an opportunity to understand the green industry, farmers markets, how to be a conscious consumer, and get a feel for what is growing in Maryland. d

Alumni News & Notes

Welcome Jacob Douglas Newhart! Congratulations to Adam Newhart (LAND 02) and his wife on their new baby boy born 6 lbs 11 ounces on February 25, 2012. Mother and baby are doing great.
GO TERPS!

Northern Virginia Farmer and Professor of Applied Agriculture Ellen Polishuk (second from right), listens to Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan. USDA Photo by Lance Cheung.

INAG News

Spring 2012

Student Files
MAAGCS Scholarship Winners Congratulations to Scott Hosier and Cory Wesselman as they were the MAAGS Scholarship winners. MAAGCS Bets on IAA Students A huge thank you goes out to the Mid-Atlantic Association of Golf Course Superintendents, for its $1,700 donation to support student travel to Las Vegas to compete in the Turf Bowl. First Annual Harvest Festival IAA students, faculty and public health garden volunteers celebrated edible garden initiatives on campus with

the First Annual Harvest Festival on Monday, October 24: National Food Day. We harvested our rst big bag of leafy greens, planted soft neck garlic, and dined on delicious spreads made with produce grown in the garden. IAA Turf Students Network With Professionals IAA students attended the MAAGCS Education Seminar in February. Pictured (l to r) RJ Crow, Ryan Peach, Scott Hosier, Brian Kealy, Stephen Jones, David Gagnon, Tyler Kreft, Bryan Shepherd, Josh Malnik, Justin Patenaude

IAA student Yasmine Baker at rst Annual Harvest FesDval

John Mowbray Takes Top Honors

IAA second-year Landscape Management Major, John Mowbray, took top honors in the Arboriculture Techniques contest at the 36th Annual PLANET (Professional Landcare Network) Student Career Day Competition at Kansas State University in March. Mowbray was one of 19 University of Maryland students chosen to compete. The University of Maryland team earned 13th place overall among 62 colleges and universities competing in an array of landscaping- and horticulture-based events. The team also earned several awards for placing among the top three in specic events including Mowbrays specic event, Arboriculture Techniques, in which the team took rst place! Mowbray won a climbing rope and saddle with all the accompanying equipment items that he will put to great use in the eld after graduating this May. Congratulations, John! d

From le1 to right: John Mowbray-rst row kneeling poses with University of Maryland Team

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Spring 2012

INAG News

Even More Alumni News & Notes !

Jay Nalls, (TURF 00) golf course superintendent at Norbeck Country Club received the 2012 Excellence in Government Relations (EGR) Award from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA). The 10year GCSAA Class A member spearheaded a group effort among golf course superintendents in Maryland to help lawmakers draft policy to help clean and protect the Chesapeake Bay which resulted in an Executive Order by President Obama in January 2009 calling for the federal government to lead a renewed effort to restore the bay. Way to go, Jay! Congratulations to Wayne Evans (TURF 67) and Walter Montross ( TURF 75,) who were recognized by the President of the Mid-Atlantic Association of Golf Course Superintendents (MAAGCS), Scott Wunder, for their active involvement in their local association throughout the pass 30 years.

When Dr. Mathias visited Tyler Kreft (left) at his Woodholme Country Club internship this summer, he was pleased

to see three IAA alumni working at the course. Jeff Muller 96, Nick Albrecht 02, and Dave Thomas 10.

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4-H Adventures in Science!

Local 4-H members came out last fall to learn a little something more than what they had been taught in school that week. They joined IAA faculty members Roy Walls, Kevin Mathias and Ken Ingram to learn how to measure the height of trees. Students used the similar triangles technique to measure the height. They then determined their pace and used a 45-45-90 triangle to sight to the top of the trees. The pacing was what determined the height of the tree.

Annual Turkey Bowl 2011

Congratulations to the second-year students for taking home bragging rights and the win at this years IAA Turkey Bowl! Thanks to everyone who came out and supported the first-year, second-year rivalry. As the Turkey
INAG News Spring 2012

Bowl came to a close, everyone enjoyed a true Thanksgiving meal, compliments of Carole, Coryn and Nephtalis hard work to put it all together. This years Turkey Bowl was a great success. d
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Youre Invited ...

Institute of Applied Agriculture Open House
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
T he Institute of Applied Agriculture (IAA) at the University of Maryland invites you and your family to attend an open house for prospective students and their families. Learn about the IAA program, majors, financial aid, scholarships, facilities, campus life, and more. We look forward to meeting you and answering any questions you have about the Institute of Applied Agriculture.
Free Respond to Diana Velasquez-munoz Event dvelaqu@umd.edu Reservations or 301-405-4686 Required

University of Maryland, College Park Campus 9 a.m. 12:30 p.m.

Institute of Applied Agriculture College of Agriculture and Natural Resources University of Maryland, College Park
12 Spring 2012 INAG News