Day 3: Colorado State University

 

 We began our tour at Colorado State University's  Agricultural Research, Development, and Education Center. Mr. Nathan Clark talked to us about the different options that are available on the Ag Education tract. The obvious one being a teacher, the second in Ag Literacy and the third in Extension. Tristan, an Ag Ed student, gave us a tour of the facility pointing out the history and tradition. Seeing the classrooms and the shop and learning about the various ways in which this is used to help train students to become agriculture teachers was very interesting.

Our next stop was the ARDEC north facilities where Christina Nash told us about the facilities and that they have sheep, and a feedlot for cattle, as well as a cow/calf herd. Leo Sitorski talked to us about a research project that he is doing with getting accurate average daily gain (ADG) data. The cattle have electronic tags that are read when they go to the feeders. The feeders record the beginning weight and ending weight to determine how much feed an individual animal eats. This is then used with their weekly weights to determine ADG. He is also working on a project that measures methane gas. The machine that measures this is called Greenfeed. 

These are the feeders that weigh before and after to determine ADG.

Karl Whitman and Barry Ogg shared what is happening in the Plant Science and Foundation Seed area. Most of the trials are with wheat, but they also grow corn, barley, sugar beets, Alfalfa, and some flowers. We also learned about the irrigation systems. All of this area has to be irrigated because they only get 12 to 15 inches of rain (and melted snow) per year. Compare that to Florida's average 54 inches per year. The Foundation seed program provides the purest, cleanest seed to the producers. The test plots are in 1/2 to 6 acres plots and can produce between 70 and 120 bushels of wheat/acre. 

The ARDEC south facilities focuses on horticultural and vegetable production. Jane Davey works with specialty crops like onions. They have a food security garden that is cared for by volunteers. The harvest goes to local food banks. The master gardeners also help out with test plots. Jane also shared information about Agrivoltaics. Putting solar panels on farms takes up land that could be growing food. So they are working on different types of panels that are bifacial - panels that produce energy on both sides of the panels. 

Omer Izreal talked to us about the TAPS project (Testing Ag Performance Solutions) where farmers set up test plots to help them learn what is best for them and their crops. It becomes a competition that the farmers are awarded for a variety of things. For example: best water management, highest yield, or profitability. 

  

These are fence line bifacial solar panels

Next, we traveled to the CSU Equine Center where Sarah Matlock gave us a little history of the facilities and that CSU was the first to offer an Equine Science degree. A couple of the programs that they have are the Legends of Ranching Horse Sale and the Right Horse Campaign. One of the fastest growing segments is the Equestrian Assisted Services where humans are interacting with horses. For example to improve brain function in a human who may have had a head injury.

We then toured the the College of Ag on Campus with Kambria Wilkin showing us the classrooms and talking about the various programs, clubs and college life. One interesting fact that she shared was the circular classroom concept, helping students learn better!

We continued to tour the Animal Sciences and Meat Science building with Clare Belk. One thing the meats lab does is make 20,000 meat sticks. They process beef, swine, and sheep in one handling facility and they also have a poultry processing facility. 

We also toured the plant growth facilities with Tammy Brenner and saw the indoor greenhouses and growth chambers. The growth chambers are really neat in that the environment can be controlled and tests can be done to determine the best environment that a plant will grow to its fullest potential.

The round classroom. Notice the honeycomb ceiling.

Have you ever seen a laptop vending machine? These are available for student use.

There is an area for students to hang out at the Roof Top Garden.

Learning about the Corpse Flower. There are only about 1,000 of these plants in the world.

Native plants to Colorado can be found in this greenhouse.

Gen Spering met us to guide us through the afternoon which began in Admissions where we were introduced to the many colleges, majors, minors, and certifications. Then we went to the Warner College of Natural Resources where Carmyn Ginnetti and Paul Layden talked about the specific programs in Natural Resources. It was very interesting to learn about some of the internships that students in this area can do. This college started as a training for Park Rangers in the 1960's and was one of the first to offer degrees in natural resources. 

The living wall inside the Warner College of Natural Resources.

Our last stop for the day was at the Nancy Richardson Design Experience where Danice Chow shared information about the various tools and equipment that students can use. Some examples are laser cutters, 3-D printers, sewing machines, wood and metal working equipment. Students in this field can use their talents in a variety of fields.