Clemson UniversityTigerPrints

AVS Corner

12-2016

AVS Corner, December 2016Peyton VoirinClemson University

Leslie WardClemson University

Kim HillClemson University

Johanna JohnsonClemson University

Annie Kate HerlongClemson University

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Recommended CitationVoirin, Peyton; Ward, Leslie; Hill, Kim; Johnson, Johanna; and Herlong, Annie Kate, "AVS Corner, December 2016" (2016). AVSCorner. 7.https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/avs_corner/7

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:• StudentEmployees• FacilityUpdates• AlumniandStakeholder

Spotlights• NewFaces• DidYouKnow?

Putting in the hours

-Annie KAte Herlong

AVSstudents,aswellasstudents fromothermajorsandfields, contribute on each of our five farms; the EquineCenter, the LaMaster Dairy Center, the Morgan PoultryCenter,theStarkeySwineCenter,andtheSimpsonBeefFarm.Thissemester,thefiveClemsonfarmsemployed42students.TheMorganPoultryCentertypicallyemploysthemoststudentsat13,withtheLaMasterDairyCenterandEquineCenterfollowingclosebehindat9studentseach.Inordertosecureemploymentonthefarms,studentsmustcontact farm managers to assess qualifications and workschedules.Manystudentemployeesstartoffasvolunteers.

Ourstudentworkerscomefromarangeofbackgrounds,and they choose to work on the farms for a varietyof reasons. For Emily Stewart-Foxx, sophomore AVS,working at the LaMaster Dairy Center means preparingforherchosencareerpath.“AfterIgraduateIwanttostartworkingataresearchfarmandeventuallymanagemyown.I want to be able to teach others about agriculture andwheretheirfoodcomesfrom,”saysStewart-Foxx.Havingajobthatallowshertolearnaboutagriculturewhilebeingoutsideandwithanimalsisherfavoritepartofworkingatthedairy.

Accordingtofarmmanagers,studentscanalsolearnawidevariety of important skills while working on the farms,rangingfromeverydaymanagementpracticestoapplicableindustryknowledge.“MostAVSstudentsnowarenotfromfarmingbackgrounds.Theyareunfamiliarwiththeday-to-daychoresanddecisionsthatgointothemanagementoflivestock.

December2016

Sophomore, Emily Stewart-Foxx, helps a new calf adjust to bottle feeding at the Lamaster Dairy Center.

Continued on Page 1

WELCOME TO THE 6TH EDITION OF THE AVS CORNER!Hello, from the corner office and welcometoanotheradditionof theAVSCorner.Ourstudent editors have been working hard thisfalltobringyouaseriesofnewarticles.Thereis a faculty spotlight on Dr. Nathan Long, atenuretrackAssistantProfessorhiredin2012,who has been a very productive researcherandactiveteacher.Thereareclubupdatesandreportsonstudentinternships.Thissemester’sstakeholderspotlightisfocusedonMs.SterlingSadler,oneofourmostardentsupportersandSecretary of the AVS Stakeholder AdvisoryBoard.Thesearejustafewofthearticlesyouwillfindinournewsletterthisfall,pleasereadon!

Wehavehadanumberofstaffretirementsaswellasonestaffmembermovingontoanotheropportunity.Ms.BeckyRodgers,formerlyDr.Bodine’s and Dr. Lascano’s technician, hasretired after 30 years from the departmentfor medical reasons, please keep her andher family in your thoughts and prayers. Dr.SaphalaDhitalwasrecruitedrecentlytofillMs.Rodgersopenposition.Ms.StephanieO’Brienleft the department this fall for anotheropportunitywiththeCollegeofEngineering,andwewereveryfortunatetobeabletorecruitMs. Lauren St. Clair to fill the vacancy. Ms.Rebecca Shirley (Senior Lecturer focused ontheequineprogram),acceptedanewpositionwith the research office on campus. Finally,after 19 years with Clemson University, Ms.Opal Rousey, AVS Administrative Assistant(personallyresponsibleforkeepingmestraightalongwiththerestofthedepartment)retired.Allfouroftheseladieshadagreatandpositive

impactonthelivesoftheAVSfaculty,studentsandstakeholdersandaresorelymissed.WeintheAVSfamilywishthemablessedandhappyfuture.

Wecurrentlyhave3facultyand3staffsearchesunderway. These open positions include: 1)AssistantProfessorofNutrigenomics,2)EquineBusinessLecturer,3)Meat/PoultryProcessingLecturer,4)EquineFarmManager,5)EquineAssistantFarmManager,and6)DepartmentalAdministrative Assistant. We plan to havethefirst3positionsfilledbyAugust15,2017and the last three by December or very earlyJanuary.

Finally,itiswithaheavyheartthatIreporttoyouthatDr.LeeHigdonaformergraduateofthedepartment(CUAVSgrad1999),adjunctfacultymemberandactiveadvisortotheBlockandBridleClub,passedawayfollowingatragicaccident this fall. Please keep his family inyour thoughts and prayers (especially duringtheupcomingholidayseason).TheBlockandBridleClubiscurrentlyworkingonsettingupa scholarship in his honor and once it is inplace, we will provide all of you informationabout the scholarship and opportunities tocontribute.

Asalways,IhopeyouenjoythiseditionoftheAVSCornerandinviteyoutovisitusthenexttimeyouareinClemson.Thankyouforyourcontinuedsupportandprayers.MayGodblesseachandeveryoneofyouandGOTIGERS!

TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Student Employees2. Facility Updates & Faculty Spotlight: Nathan Long3. Staff Thanks & Student Internships4. Clubs and Organizations7. Stakeholder Spotlight: Sterling Sadler & Extension8. Alumni Spotlight: Mike Cudd and Tom Hagood9. New Student Perspective10. Did You Know? Animal House!11. New Faces and AVGSA12. Presentations, Publications, and Awards & Research Updates13. Calendar

DECEMBER 2016

AVS CORNER EDITORS Front row: Peyton Voirin Leslie WardBack row: Kim Hill Johanna Johnson (Advisor) Annie Kate Herlong

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Asafarmemployee,theygetexposuretomanagementand production, guided by staff and other studentco-workers,” says Lindsay Dacus, Starkey Swine FarmManager. AVS Senior Jameson Faulkner, hopes thatworkingattheswinefarmwillhelphimbeastrongerapplicantforamaster’sdegreeprogram.“I’veworkedwithbeefcattle,dairycows,poultryandeverythinginbetweensoIreallywantedtheopportunitytoworkwithswine.Ultimately,mygoalistogetaMaster’sDegreeinmeatscience,”saysFaulkner.

While being a employee for one of Clemson’s farmsallows students to obtain practical knowledge, it alsohones skills necessary for everyday success. “I havelearnedsomuchabouthorsecare,butbeyondthat Ihavelearnedotherskillsaswell,liketimemanagementandcommunication.Ialsogainedconfidenceinthingsthatwerenew tome. If youwouldhaveaskedme todrag a field last year I wouldn’t have known whereto start,” says AVS sophomore Julia Schaumann,“Butnow, it’smy favoritechore!”.As if thereweren’tenoughbenefitstobeingaresearchfarmemployee,itisalsoanincrediblyrewardingexperience.“Themostrewardingpartaboutworkinghereisseeingtheclients’satisfactionwhentheirhorsesarehappyandhealthy.Iusuallyleavemyshiftcoveredindirtandpoop,butthehorseslookgorgeous,whichmakesitallworthit.Ilovecontributing to the university this way,” Schaumannsays.

The farmsatClemsonUniversity are justoneof thethings that make this school very unique. We thankall of the student employees for their hard work inmaintainingahealthyandproductiveenvironmentfortheemployeesandmanagersaswellastheanimals.

“AS FARM EMPLOYEES, STUDENTS GET EXPOSURE TO MANAGEMENT AND PRODUCTION, GUIDED BY STAFF AND OTHER STUDENT CO-WORKERS.”

-lindsAy dAcus

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WE’RE GROWINGInthelasteditionoftheAVSCornerwehighlightedtherenovationsatthePEC,buttheworkdidn’tstopthere!AVShasmadeanumberofotherupdateswithinthelastyear.Themeatlabcoolersandfreezerswererenovated,andanewdrystorageunitwasadded.Newfloorsealant,wallandceilingtreatments,andnewelectroniccoolingmonitorshavemodernizedthefacility.Clemson’sWoodburnBarn,whichismanagedbytheBlockandBridleclub,wasrepairedandrestoredtoworkingorderafterafallentreecausedsignificantroofdamage.InPooleAgriculturalCenterfourlabshavebeenupdated,includingthreeresearchlabsandateachinglabwhichcanalsobeusedasawetlabandclassroomwithtwo-wayvideocapability.Labrenovationsincludedphysicalupdatessuchasnew,morefunctionallayouts,newcabinetryandcountertops,highqualitylighting,newhoods,andchemicalresistantflooring.Theuniversityprovidedfundsforthefullguttingandrenovationoftheselabs.AttheEquineCenter,anewbarnwasconstructedtohouseboardedhorsesthatareinatrainingprogramwithoneofthestaffmembers.ItwascompletedinMarch2016andfeaturessixstalls,alongwithawashrackandatackroom.Wehopeyou’llcomebytheseealloftheupdatesyourself!

-Kim Hill & leslie WArd

Facility uPdates

DR. LONGHereintheAnimal&VeterinaryScienceDepartmentweareluckytohavefacultywhoarepassionateabouttheirjobs,facultylikeDr.Nathan Long! He has been in the AVS Department at ClemsonUniversity for approximately four years. Before coming here, heworked in the Animal Science Department at the University ofArizonaforalittleoverayear.HeisoriginallyfromSandySprings,South Carolina and received his undergraduate degree fromClemson.Aftertravelingwesttofurtherhiseducation,hedecidedtocomebacktoClemsontobeclosertohisfamily.

After completing his undergraduate degree, Dr. Long receivedhis MS from the University of Georgia and his doctorate degreefrom Oklahoma State University. He then did his post-doctoratework at the University of Wyoming. He currently teaches BeefCattleTechniquesandBeefProduction,andhaspreviouslytaughtPrinciplesofAnimalNutrition.HisfavoritepartofhisjobhereatClemsonisdoingresearch.Hecurrentlyhasthreeresearchprojectsthatheisworkingonwiththehelpofthreegraduatestudentsandthreeundergraduatestudents.

Inhisdowntime,Dr.Long’sfavoriteactivitiesincludefarmingandhorsebackriding.Heandhiswifehaveafarm,onwhichtheyraisebeefcattleandhaveninehorsesthattheyenjoyriding.Weareverygrateful to have Dr. Long back in Clemson to share his wisdomaboutcattlemanagementandhandling!

-leslie WArd

Faculty sPotlight

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HANDS ON LEARNING FOR AVS TIGERSThe AVS Department has long felt that internshipsprovideanimportantavenueforfacilitatinglearningand developing hand-on skills. Internships allowstudents to strengthen skills that they learn inclass,to gain practical knowledge in the field of AnimalScience, and to determine which aspects of theindustrytheywanttogointo.Eachstudentisrequiredto keep a journal of their internship experience, inwhichtheyrecordeachdaywhattheylearnedandwhatskillstheyutilizedastheyworkedattheirinternship.Attheendoftheirinternship,eachstudentcreatesavideohighlightingthethingsthattheylearned.Oneintern,BriannaCornachio,reports,“Ienjoyedbeingabletosuccessfullyreleaseanimalsbackintothewildafter rehabilitation” while interning at VolunteersforWildlife.Dani-IreneChaney,whointernedattheHollandMilitaryDogHospital,hadtheopportunityto see what it was like to be an Army veterinarian.Sheshared,“Ithinkthateverystudentshoulddoaninternship as part of their college experience!” Theinternship program will soon have its own page ontheClemsonAVSwebsitewith examplesof studentinternships.Besuretocheckbacktolearnmore!

-leslie WArd

student internshiPs

staFF thank you

THEY’VE GOT OUR BACKBehind the scenes of every greatdepartment are even greater supportstaff thatkeep thewheelsandcogsofdepartmental operations greased andturning. Without these individuals,departmental progress would grindto a halt. AVS support staff navigatemultipleandoftenconfusinguniversitysystems and keep the DepartmentChair, faculty and students abreastof the latest university policies andprocedures. If it weren’t for ourfriendly, passionate, and professionalsupportstaff,thereisagoodchanceourwheelsmightcomeoffaltogether,bothasagroupandindividually!Wewouldliketotakeamomenttointroduceourstaff and also to let them know howmuch we appreciate everything theydo.Whenyouareintown,pleasefeelfreetodropbyandsayhello,andthankthese professionals for keeping yourdepartmentgreat.

Opal Rousey has worked at Clemsonfor 19 years and has been theAdministrative Assistant for theDepartmentChairsince2010.ShehasanAssociate’sDegreeinOfficeSystemsTechnologyfromTri-CountyTechnicalCollege. Her favorite thing about herjob is connecting with people. Herfavoritethingstodoinherfreetimearemakingcraftswithhergranddaughtersandspendingtimewithfamily.

KathyStillhasbeenaStudentServicesManagerintheAVSDepartmentforfouryears.ShecametousfromOrangeburg-CalhounTechnicalCollege.Shehasadegree inAdministrativeManagementfromClemson.Herfavoritepartofherjob is working with students. Whensheisnotatwork,sheenjoyswalking,hiking, boating, and spending timewith“her”dogsMaxandMaggie thatlivewithhernextdoorneighbor.

KathyBoggshasworkedatClemsonfor20yearsandhasbeentheAccountantfortheAVSDepartmentforfouryears.Herfavoritepartofherjobisinteractingwithpeople,andovertheyearsshehasgotten to know people from all areasof the University. When she is notworking,sheenjoyscamping,spendingtime with her granddaughters, andgoingonmissiontripswithherchurch.

Our newest addition is Mrs. LaurenSt. Clair. She started her role as theStudentRegistrationCoordinator thissemester. Read more about Lauren inour“NewFaces”section!

Jillian Western participated in an internship at the Greenville Zoo this past summer. She most enjoyed taking care of the animals, particularly reptiles because “at Clemson [we] don’t get much exposure to them.” Her internship allowed her to observe the role of veterinarian in a zoo setting and has been the highlight of her Clemson experience!

4From the Field: clubs and organizations

WAVS

BREAKING INTO 2016IntheFall2016semesterWAVSwasvery focusedonstudent leadershipandcommunity service. Several formerLifeguards (studentmentors) applied andwere interviewed for four student leader positions meant to act as liaisonsbetweentheadvisorsandtheWAVSnewmembersandLifeguards.Thisfall,newWAVSandtheirLifeguardswentonascavengerhuntaroundcampustoorientthenewgirlstoClemsonUniversity,stoppingatessentialplacessuchasCooperLibrary, Fike, the Union, and Harcombe dining hall. WAVS was very activein volunteering at Crossroads Animal Rescue where they socialized puppiesandhelpedmaintainacleanenvironmentforbothanimalsandemployees.Inadditiontohelpinglocalanimals,WAVSalsocookedamealforfamiliesinneedinOconeeCounty’sonlyhomelessshelter,OurDailyRest.TheladiesofWAVSalsosupportedoneoftheirownbysellingPuraVidabraceletstoraisemoneyforonemember’smotherwhohasbeendiagnosedwithcancer.WAVSmembersattendedtutoringfortwoofthetoughestclasses,chemistryandbiology,tohelpbuildasolidfoundationfortherestoftheirtimeatClemson.Finally,theladiesalsoattendedaProfessionalDevelopmentandDressSeminaratPixieandBill’storoundoutthesemester!

-Annie KAte Herlong

SWINE CLUB

PIGGING AROUNDIn their second semester active on campus, Swine Club continued to growandparticipateinevents.MembersparticipatedintheirfirstshowthisyearattheSouthCarolinaStateFairinColumbia.Onlyonememberhadpreviouslyshownpigs,sothiswasalearningexperience!FivecrossbredbarrowsfromourownStarkeySwineFarmwereexhibitedinshowmanshipclasses.Thegroupofstudents showingwere instructedbyMissRichelleMiller andpracticedwiththeirbarrowsforseveralweeks leadinguptotheshow.MembersalsotookatourofWalkerCenturyFarmlocatedinAnderson,SouthCarolinatogetanideaofhowpastureporkwasraised.Swineclubhopestocontinuetoshoweachsemesterandpromotetheindustryasawhole.

-Kim Hill

SIGMA ALPHA

THE WOMEN OF AGRICULTURE Thissemester,theTauchapteroftheSigmaAlphaProfessionalAgriculturalSororityinitiatedeighteennewmembersintotheAlphaPsiclass!Thiswasthebiggestgroupinitiatedinquiteawhile,andthesororitybenefittedgreatlybyallthatthenewmembershadtooffer.Newgirlsaddedtothe36activemembersalongsideseveralalumnithatcontinuetobeinvolved.Anothernewfacetothegroupwasafacultyadvisor,Dr.PatriciaLayton,aprofessorintheForestryand

Environmental Conservation Department. With Dr.Layton’shelp, the sororitybecamemore involvedoncampus,andevenbeganpartneringwiththeLouisianaStateUniversityChapter of SigmaAlpha, located inBaton Rouge. Members shipped over fifteen boxesworthofdonationstosistersandotherorganizationsinLouisianawhowereimpactedbytherecentflooding.Other accomplishments this semester included theAlumni Parent Tailgate and the CAFLS Tailgate.Thegirlslookforwardtotheupcomingeventsinthespring,suchasthe6thAnnualStudAuctionandthesisterhood retreat. Please email satauchapter@yahoo.comtojoinouremaillistandnationalnewsletter!

-rAcHel PAyne

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From the Field: clubs and organizations

AVS AMBASSADORS

ALL ABOUT THE AMBASSADORSAVS Ambassadors have kicked off what is sure tobe a banner year with 14 enthusiastic members.The goalof anAVSAmbassador is tomake everystudent,whethertransfer,incoming,orprospective,feel welcomed in the Department of Animal andVeterinary Sciences. One of our new initiatives isto transitionnotonly thenewfreshmanclass,butalsoournewtransferstudentsintoAVS.Webeganthefallsemesterwithanicecreamsocial“meetandgreet”forthetransferstudents,wheretheylearnedaboutourmajorandeachofus.WeassistedwiththeWelcomeBackBBQforallAVSstudents,wherethey had an opportunity to join clubs and meettheir professors. We also dedicate each fall andspring to welcoming prospective/newly acceptedstudentsandtheirfamiliesintothedepartment.Weattended CAFLS fall recruiting events and spokewith prospective students about our experienceswithacademics, clubs, research, studyabroad,andamultitudeofotheropportunities.Thesetypesofevents contribute to improvingourundergraduatenumbers. Many of our AVS students cite theseeventsasamajorfactorinwhytheychoseClemson,so we are extremely proud that our AmbassadorsserveassuchapositivefaceforAVS!

-sAmAntHA sAnders

BLOCK AND BRIDLE

STILL WATERSTokickofffallsemester,newandreturningmemberscametogethertobuildoneofthebestfloatsin the First Friday parade. Early in October new members officially joined the Block and Bridlefamilythroughthetraditionaldayattherodeoarena.Astheclubdidlastfall,theyonceagainhadtheprivilegeofhostingthePresident’sBoxfortheLouisvillegame.Onanothernote,thisfalltheclublostamentor,helpinghand,andoneofthebeststorytellingcowboysevertograceBlockandBridle.Dr.HomerLeeHigdonIIItreatedmembersliketheywerefamily,invitingthemtohisranchinFloridaforspringbreaktrips,andservingasanexamplefortheyoungmenandwomeninourclub.BlockandBridleheldabarrelracenamedinhismemoryattheCarolinaFoothillsHeritageFair.HeavyheartsmournedthelossofagreatfriendandBlockandBridlefamilymember.Amanwithsuchfaithincollegestudentsishardtofind,butthatwasjustthekindofpersonhewas.AsProverbs27:17says,“Asironsharpensiron,soonepersonsharpensanother”,Dr.HigdonsharpenedthemindsofmanyBlockandBridlemembers,andhewillbemisseddearlybytheBlockandBridlefamily.

-BreAnnA KimBrell

CLEMSON COLLEGIATE HORSEMAN’S ASSOCIATION

STRAIGHT FROM THE HORSE’S MOUTHTheClemsonCollegiateHorseman’sAssociationhadafallsemesterfulloffunandeducationalactivities.TheannualSummersEndandTrottingRoundtheTreehorseshowsweresuccessfulandgaveassociationmembersachancetogaininsightintotheintricaciesofrunningahorseshow.Associationadvisor,Dr.KristineVernon,spoketothegroupaboutcareeropportunitiesintheequineindustry.FarmtoursincludedatriptoBrookValleyFarm,anequineboardingfacilityinAnderson,SCandatriptoJoeyMcRae’sreininghorsetrainingfacility.ThegroupspentanafternoonatDenverDownsFarmenjoyingtheannualcornmazeandharvestfestival.Association members are currently planning activities for the spring semester, includingfarmtoursandatriptoKentuckyfortheNationalConvention.Ifyouwouldliketobecomeinvolved,orareinterestedinhavingstudentsvisityouroperations,pleasecontactCarolineSoxatcssox@clemson.edu.

-leslie WArd

PRE-VET CLUB

SO YOU WANNA BE A VET?TheClemsonUniversityPre-VetClubhadmanygreatspeakerscomeinformmembersabout their future career as a veterinarian. We had Dr. Stafford, an equine vet fromPendleton, come and speak, and even more great speakers who all specialized insomethingdifferent.ThissemesterwealsoparticipatedintheSouthCarolinaAssociationofVeterinariansconferenceinGreenville.Wehadaboothandwereabletonetworkwiththeveterinariansparticipatingintheconference!Wealsogottheopportunitytosit inonthelecturesgivenandlearnaboutnewmedicaladvancesintheveterinaryfield.Dr.Timmerman, a localholistic vet,heldour second suture clinic thispast semester, andmembersgottopracticedifferenttypesofsuturesonfruitsandlearnhowtodrawbloodonfakeveins.Thissemesterwestartedaneweventwherestudentsapplyingtovetschoolcanparticipateinmockinterviews.Thiseventwasheldafterfinalsandincludedapanelofprofessionalstoassistininterviewingstudents.Nextsemesterweplanontakingatriptoalocalzoooraquariumtolearnmoreaboutexoticanimalmedicine.

-reBeccA scHenK

6From the Field: clubs and organizations

DAIRY SCIENCE CLUB

A DAIRY HAPPY FAMILYThe Dairy Science Club started out fall semester with a “DairySocial,” a great time to meet new students, hang out with oldfriends, beat the heat with a big bowl of ice cream, and enjoythe company of the calves and cows. Guest speakers presentedinformationaboutthelatesttrendsinthedairyindustry.Duringthesemester,theshowteamwasinstrumentalinbuildingbondsbetween members, networking with professionals, and learninghowtoproperlyhandlecattle.TheshowteammemberstraveledaroundthestateshowinginseveralclassesincludingafewattheSCStateFair.TheclubpreparedacompetitiveteamofstudentstoattendSouthernRegionalDairyChallengeinNovember.MemberswerealsoexcitedtopromotetheclubattheCAFLSTailgateeventwith a calf!The club isplanning to attend theAmericanDairyScienceAssociation’sannualmeetinginthespring,andcontinuestolookforwaystoimproveintermsofacademicactivities,serviceopportunities,socialoccasions,andhandsonevents.

Areyouanoldmember?Reconnect!Facebook:@CUDairyScienceClub

Instagram:cu_dairyscienceWebsite:http://www.clemson.edu/~cudsc

-cAllie rHoletter

POULTRY SCIENCE CLUB

WHAT’S PEEPING PEEPS?TheClemsonUniversityPoultryScienceClub(PSC)madenewand exciting plans for the 2016-2017 school year. The PSC hasbeen very focused on marketing the club to the general publicthrough the use of t-shirts and koozies. Likewise, the club hasalsomadeplanstoattendtheannualInternationalProduction&ProcessingExpo(IPPE)inSpring2017toconnectwithcompanieswithinthepoultryindustry.

ThePSCengagedinanumberofactivitiesduringthesemester.Manymembersassistedwithjudgingat4-HpoultrycompetitionsthroughoutSouthCarolinaandcompletedanumberof serviceprojectsattheMorganPoultryCenter.ThePSCalsoheldmanysocial events including football tailgates,hikingadventures, andanend-of-the-yearChristmasparty.WeareexcitedtoseewhatthespringsemesterhasinstoreforthePSC!

-HAyley Boyd

LIVESTOCK JUDGING TEAM

MAKING MEMORIES WITH THE 2016 TEAMAnother fall, another busy season for the Clemson UniversityIntercollegiate Livestock Judging Team. The team, consistingofDorianGreen,HopeMorris,Harris Jordan, JamesScott andLauren Scott, started the Fall season with a trip to Harrisburg,PennsylvaniatocompeteintheKeystoneInternationalLivestockExpositionIntercollegiateLivestockJudgingContestwhereDorianGreenwasawardedforhersheepjudgingskillsandearnedsecondhighindividualhonorsinthedivision.Mostteammembersfindtheopportunitytotraveltobeoneofthegreatestperksofbeingapartoftheteam.Itshouldcomeasnosurprisethatinadditiontothefarmstopsforpracticeandexperience,theteamtalkedmeintoadetourtoHershey’sChocolateWorldforsome“teambonding”onthewayhomefromthecontest!

TheteamwillfinishouttheseasoninLouisville,KentuckywheretheywillcompeteintheNationalChampionshipContestheldat

theNorthAmericanInternationalLivestockExposition.Thiswillbethelastcontestforthe2016teammembers–theyhavegonethroughcountlesspractices,lookedatmorestockthantheycaretoadmit,andgainedauniqueunderstandingofthefoodanimalindustryinourcountry.Teammemberswillmarktheirlastandbestcardsandtalktheirlastandmostconvincingsetsofreasonsandlookbackontheyearwithasmileandmemoriestolastalifetime.

-ricHelle miller, coAcH

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OPEN FOR BUSINESS!TheClemsonCooperativeExtension’sstudentrunofficeisofficiallyupandrunning!October7thmarkedourfirstofficialdayservingstudents,faculty,andmembersoftheClemsoncommunity.Wehadover60peopleattendourgrandopeningandProvostJonesevendidusthehonorofcuttingtheribbon!Interns(includingRaleighDawson,SamQuinney,HunterMorton,andHopeMorris),undertheguidanceofextensionagents(MattBurns,LindseyCraig,DannyHoward,CoreyTannerandCharlyMcConnell)havealreadybegunmakinganimpactonstudentsintheuniversitybyteachingdystocia classes to undergrads in animal science, attending the SunbeltAgExpoinMoultrie,GA,settingupaboothattheCAFLSTailgate,andspeakingattheextensionmeetandgreet,sostudentscanlearnmoreaboutopportunities in the student office. Program planning actively happenseverydaytomakesurewebestcatertostudents’interests.WearecurrentlyplanninganAgAwarenessprogram,afarmcitydayonBowman,wildlifemanagementworkshops,andfoodplotprograms.Ifyou’reinterestedinaninternshipinthestudentofficefeelfreetostopby,wewouldbehappytotalkwithyou!Ourofficehoursare10-12Monday-Thursdayand8-12onFriday.

-rAleigH dAWson

stakeholder sPotlight

STERLING SADLERThe AVS stakeholder spotlight for this article is Mrs.SterlingSadler.Beingon theAVSstakeholder committeesince itwas formed,sheputsmostofhertimeandeffortinto theClemsonUniversityEquestrianCenter (CUEC).Working alongside Dr. Vernon, she has helped craft amaster plan of where they want the CUEC to go in thefuture.Mrs.SadlerhasshownQuarterHorsesinamateurwesternpleasureclassesforyears,andcurrentlyownsmaresthatshelovesspendingtimewithoutonherpersonalfarm.However,thatisnotSadler’sfulltimejob.At63yearsold,she is a full-time student at Francis Marion University-becauseClemson is too farof adaily commute-pursuingadegreeinHistorywithcollateralsinSpanishandPoliticalScience.Sadleriscurrentlyajunior,andveryproudofher3.88 GPA! She believes that you are never too old to dowhatyouwant todo.Previously,Sadlerhas servedas thestatepresidentfortheconservationdistrict,andpresently,shehasbeenelectedbycitizensofFlorenceCountytobethecommissionerfortheFlorenceCountySoilandWaterConservation District. In this role, she works with theDepartmentofNaturalResourcestohelpcarefornaturalresourceslikesoil,water,air,andwildlife.TheDepartmentofAVS is grateful forherworkon the stakeholderboardand looks forward tocontinuing toworkwithher inthefuture!

-leslie WArd And Peyton Voirin

clemson extension student run oFFice

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alumni sPotlight

MIKE CUDD AND TOM HAGOOD UponfinishingananimalsciencedegreeatClemsonUniversity,therearemanyoptionsforcareers.Differentcompanieswithindifferentindustriesallovertheworldarecontinuouslyonthelookoutforprospectivestudentswhohavereceivedthewell-roundededucationClemsonhastooffer.SeveralofourgraduatesarenowemployedatSmithfieldFoods,HogProductionDivision.

MikeCuddisoneofthosewhobeganintheswineindustryMarchof1995intheirtraineeprogram.Fromthere,hemoveduptomanagingseveralfarms.By1998,hewasafarrowingdepartment head on a 4,400 sow farm, farrow to wean. Shortly thereafter, he became amanageratageneticnucleusfarm.InJulyof2009hebecameaLandandNutrient(LNM)Specialistwhooverseeslandapplicationoflagoonwater,managesthecropsproducedoffofthoselands,retrievessoilsamples,manageslagoonlevelsandequipment,andmaintainsgoodstandingwithstatepermitguidelinesaswellasstatecompliance.

TomHagoodisanothergraduatecurrentlyemployedwithSmithfieldFoods,HogProductionDivision.HiscurrentpositionistheDirectorofProductionfortheWestRegionMultiplicationgroup.AsMikedid,Tomalsoworkedhiswayupinthecompanyholdingseveralpositions.He even worked as a safety manager for a few years. Tom works to manage a group ofapproximately50,000 sowswhich serve as replacementbreeding stock to customers in theinternalcommercialproductiongroup.

BothoftheseformerstudentslearnedsomevaluablelessonshereatClemson.Theylearnedwhattherealworldwaslikefromexperiencedprofessorsandwhatitmeanttohavedriveandworkethic.Torelievesomestress,Mikewhoisnowpassionateabouthunting,usedtoslipintothehorsefarmtofishthepondsatnight!

-Kim Hill

Mike Cudd and several of his colleagues and interns met with students at the Fall 2016 CAFLS Career Fair.

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new student PersPective

MORE THAN A MAJOR Students,faculty,andalumnithatarefamiliarwiththeAVScommunityatClemsonloveit.It’satightknitgroupofpeoplethatgiveoffafamilyaura.LastyearIwasanengineeringmajoroncampus,andtransferringfromoneofthebiggestmajorsatClemsontoAVSwasahugechange.BeinganewstudentintheAVSworld,Ihadnoideawhattoexpect,butnowIcanconfirmwhateveryonewithinalreadyknew-it’sanamazingprogramwithfacultyandstaffthatarededicatedandpassionate,studentsthatarehardworkingandhelpful,andresourcesthatareusefulandincomparable.Anotherstudent,CarolineVella,atransferfromCollegeofCharlestonexplained,“IneverthoughtIwouldhavetheabilitytogoouttoseveralfarmsandgetsomuchhands-onexperience.Comingfromacollegeinthemiddleofacity,it’ssuchauniqueexperiencetoClemson.”Evenmorethanthat,wehavefacultyandstaffsurroundinguswillingtohelpgeteveryoneinternshipsonsomeofthefarms,orevensomewhereelsethatsuitsthestudent’sinterests.Afreshmanthisyear,MorganBlanton,says,“theAVSstaffhavebeenamazing.I’veheardstoriesofcounselorsthatdidn’tseemtocareorweren’tmuchofahelpbecauseyou’reonyourownincollege,butmyexperiencehasbeenthecompleteopposite.”Thiskindofanenvironmentissoimportantbecausenotonlydowehavealloftheopportunitiesthecollegeandthemajorprovide,butwealsohavepeoplearoundconstantlyencouragingusgoaboveandbeyondthebasiccollegeexperience.Beingnewtothismajor,manystudentsworryabouttheirabilitytosucceed.Althoughtherewillcertainlycontinuetobechallenges,everythingIhaveseensofarsuggeststhatthereissomethingspecialaboutAVS,andIcan’twaittoseehowAVShelpsmeandmyfellowstudentsgrowthroughouttherestofourcollegecareers!

-Peyton Voirin

where are they now?

Laura HayesClass of 2012 (B.S.)8th Grade Science TeacherNorthwood Middle SchoolTaylors, SC

Heather Williams Class of 2013 (B.S.)Asst. Show Team Coach and Youth Riding InstructorAll American ArabiansDallas, TX

Melissa WilliamsClass of 2009 (B.S.)Owner/Operator J&M Coastal ConstructionHardeeville, SCVeterinarian TechnicianBanfield Pet HospitalSavannah, GA

Congratulation Melissa and Jonathan Davis on your recent engagement!

Mady Kent Class of 2015 (B.S.)Reproduction CoordinatorPerformance Equine VetsAiken, SC

Hillary ValdeteroClass of 2009 (B.S.)Instructional Designer, Adjunct InstructorSt. Luke’s Health Care System, College of Western IdahoBoise, ID

Dr. Tanya (Bruce) Thomas Class of 2005 (B.S.)VeterinarianLucknow Equine Veterinary ServicesCamden, SC

Elizabeth CarterClass of 2011 (B.S.)Biology TeacherPalmetto High School, Anderson OnePendleton, SC

WE WANT TO KNOW WHERE YOU ARE TOO! WeliketostayuptodateonwhatallofourAVSgraduatesaredoing.Ifyouhaveanexcitingnewjob,orwehaven’theardfromyouinawhile,pleasetakeaminutetofilloutourgraduatesurvey!

YoumayseeyourselfinournextAVScorner!Youcanfinditatthiswebsite:

http://qalz.azl.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_8vNHMyfdruQGbw9

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ANIMAL HOUSE

DR. TIFFANY WILMOTHShehastwocattledogsElle(left)andJoey(right).Elleis4yearsoldandloveshertennisballs.Joeyis4andwasrescuedfromCentralMissouriHumaneSociety.Joeylovestoysbutpigsarehisfavorite.Stuffedorsqueaky,Joeycantell!Shealsohaschickensandcats.

DR. JAMES STRICKLANDHehastwoOcicatsnamedMr.BiggsandMiss Littles. Miss Littles will sometimesplayfetchandMr.Biggslikeshisperson(Dr. Strickland’s daughter, Ariana) somuchthathewillgivekissesondemand.They are very playful and want theirpeopleclosebyatalltimesbutalsoenjoycuddlingwitheachother.

DR. HEATHER DUNNHer“baby”Fenwayisagoldenretriever.He’s3yearsoldandgoofy,goofy,goofy.He’s“neverhadabadday,andneverhadacognitivemomenteither.”Herotherpup,Riggs,isagoldenretriever.He’s8yearsoldandwasarescuefromAdoptaGoldenAtlanta.They’vehadhimfor3years.

SHANICE KROMBEENShe has a Rottweiler, Labrador retrievermixnamedBella.Sheisarescuewholovesthe outdoors. Her favorite things to doareswimming,playingfetch,andgoingonhikes.HeresheishikingwithherpersonatBrasstownFallsnearClemson!

KATHY BOGGSShehasarescuedognamedSugar.Afterhaving a hard time finding a foreverhomeshecametotheminAugust2013at 12 weeks old. She didn’t come withapedigreebutsheisverysmart,alwaysentertaining and loving. They’re happysheisapartoftheirfamily.KATIE ELLIOT

Shehas twoalbinoNewZealandWhiteRabbits,Draper and Sterling, that she rescued from amedical research facility in Charlotte, NC wheretheyweretobeeuthanized.Theywerebeingusedtotesttreatmentofvaricoseveins.IttookthemawhiletowarmuptoKatiebutnowthey loveearscratches.Theirfavoritefoodsarecarrots,lettuce,strawberries, peppers and papaya treats. Draperloves lyingon theACvents and theyboth enjoydestroyingKatie’srugs.

Didyouknowthatnearlyallofourfacultyandstaffnotonlytalkthetalk,butalsowalkthewalk?NearlyalloftheAnimalandVeterinarySciencefacultyandstaffownapetofsomekind.Theyhaveawidevarietyofpets includingdogs,cats,bunnies,chickens,beefcows,sheepandhorses!Dr.NathanLongtakesthecakeforthemostpets;currentlyathomehehas2dogs,7cats,6layers,8beefcowsandcalvesand9horses.

-Annie KAte Herlong

did you know?

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new Faces in avsNEW STUDENT REGISTRATION COORDINATORTherearetwonewfacesaroundtheAVSdepartmentthissemester.The first of which is Lauren St. Clair. Mrs. St. Clair, who is thenew Student Registration Coordinator, came our program fromGeorgia State University, where she been working since 1995 asanadministrativecoordinatorandassistantregistrar.Shehasspentmostofhertimegettingreadyforandmeetingnewstudents,andherenthusiasmforherworkhasbeen impressiveandcontagious.She ismostexcitedaboutworkingona traditionalcampuswhere“itfeelslikeabigfamily.”

DR. LASCANO’S NEW LAB TECHNICIANTheothernewfacethissemesterisSaphalaDhital.Dr.DhitalisDr.Lascano’snewlaboratorytechnician.AtClemsonUniversity,shewillbetheruminantlabtechnicianfocusingonanaerobicfermentation,microbial profiling, and metabolite and nutrient analysis. Shehas twoMaster’sDegreeswhichfocusedon theroleofantibioticresistant bacteria causing urinary tract infections in children andscreeningofantibioticsfrommicrobialorigin.SheearnedherPhDandwaspreviouslyfacultyattheUniversityofTokyo.ShecontinuedherworkatbothMassachusettsGeneralHospitalandatMississippiStateUniversity,andisnowveryexcitedtojointheAVSdepartment.Shelooksforwardtospendingtimeoutdoors,“Clemsonhasanicelandscape and wide biodiversity of plants and flowers that makeseverydaylifegood.IamalsoenjoyingtheniceweatheratClemson!”saysDhital.

-Peyton Voirin And Annie KAte Herlong

avgsaCHILI, 5Ks, AND T-SHIRTS, OH MY!TheAnimal andVeterinarySciencesGraduateStudentAssociation (AVSGSA)hashadabusy yearfullof researchanda little funalong theway!Severalof themembersrana5Krace tobenefit theAndersonCountyDisabilitiesBoardandSarahAdamsevenwonheragegroup!LouisaKochwonbestcostumeandoverall,agreattimewashad.Thegroupisworkingonplanningtheirannualchilicookoff,whichissettobeheldinlateJanuary2017.Thisyear’sproceedsfromthecookoffwillgotowardtheLeeHigdonMemorialScholarship,whichissettobeestablishedbytheendofthisyearandbenefitstudentsactiveintheBlockandBridleClub.Weareexcitedtohaveanotheryearwherewecangiveback!TheAVSGSAalsofinishedat-shirtsaleforthedepartment,andwasabletosellover90shirts!Shirtswillbeavailableforsaleinthespringaswell,contactLouisaatlouisab@g.clemson.eduformoreinformation!

1. JESSIE TIPTONDegree Program:MastersMajor Advisor:NathanLongUndergraduate Institution: The University ofTennessee,KnoxvilleHometown: Limestone,TNResearch focus: Weaning age and marbling insteers“IchoseClemsonbecausetheAVSdepartmentisresearchingandpublishinginareasofanimalagriculturethatarerelevanttoproducersandchangingtrendswithintheindustry.”

2. REBECCA KLOPPDegree Program:MastersMajor Advisor:GustavoLascanoUndergraduate Institution: The PennsylvaniaStateUniversityHometown:Bethel,PAResearch focus:Dairynutrition“IchoseClemsonbecauseIheardgreatthingsabout the university from my professors atPennStateandClemsonofferedmeapositionworking with dairy calf nutrition which isexactly what I was looking for, so I couldn’tpassuptheopportunity.”

grads on the go

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Graduate student Rebekah Strunk startedher equine exercise physiology researchthis semester,with thegoalofdetermininghow a rider’s experience and ability affectahorse’sgaitandbehavior.Sheiscurrentlyworking with Dr. Kristine Vernon and agroup of undergraduate creative inquirystudents to analyze data gathered over thesummer. The tests consisted of pairing anexperienced rider and an inexperiencedrider and recording videos of them ridingthesamehorses.Thevideoswereanalyzedtodeterminewhetherthereweredifferencesinstridelength,stridefrequency,andbehavior;andtodeterminewhetherthosedifferenceswere correlated with differences in riderexperience. All of the testing took place atthe Clemson University Equine Center.In addition to assisting Rebekah with herproject,undergraduateresearchassistantsareworkingingroupstodevelopquestionsanddoresearchfortheircreativeinquiryprojects.Theresearchprojectandthecreativeinquiryprojectsshouldbecompletedat theendofthespringsemester.

. -leslie WArd

GETTING SERIOUS ABOUT HORSING AROUND

research in Progress

avs research highlights

AVS has been busy this year presenting research andpublishing papers to disseminate important researchfindings! See something that looks interesting? Let usknow!MoreinformationisavailableontheAVSwebsiteatclemson.edu/avs.

SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS FerdousF,SaskiC,BridgesW,BurnsM,DunnH,ElliottK,etal.2016.Transcriptomeprofileofthechickenthrombocyte:newimplicationsasanadvancedimmuneeffectorcell.PLoSONE11(10):e0163890.doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0163890

Hurley SG, Lackey BR, Tate PL, and Gray SL. 2016.Xenoestrogens from household plastics bind estrogenreceptors and affect cell proliferation. Journal of theSouth Carolina Academy of Science: Vol. 14: Iss. 1, Article5. Available at: http://scholarcommons.sc.edu/jscas/vol14/iss1/5

Lascano GJ, Alende M, Koch LE, and Jenkins TC. 2016.Changes in fermentation and biohydrogenationintermediates in continuous cultures fed low and highlevels of fat with increasing rates of starch degradability. J.DairySci.99:6334-6341.

Lascano GJ, Koch LE, and Heinrichs AJ. 2016. Precision-feeding dairy heifers a high rumen-degradable proteindiet with different proportions of dietary fiber and forage-to-concentrateratios.J.DairySci.99:7175-7190.

PRESENTATIONSDunnH,ElliottK,CurtisC,FerdousF,BurnsM,SaskiC,BridgesW,andScottT.May2016.ANovelModelOfPre-PubertalMammaryGlandDevelopmentInMultipleSpecies.MammaryGlandBiology,Burga,LU,Italy.

FerdousF,SaskiC,BridgesW,BurnsM,DunnH,ElliottKandScottT.Sept2016.GlobalTranscriptomeProfileOfTheNucleatedPlatelet.Platelets2016:9thInternationalSymposium,Wellesley,MA,USA.

Jones JC.Aug-Feb2016.ManuscriptPublishing andPeerReviewTips.EuropeanVeterinaryDiagnosticImagingConference,Wroclaw,Poland.

KochL.July2016.RecoveringLactatingDairyCowsFromDiet-InducedMilkFatDepressionUsingCornWithDifferentStarchDegradabilities.ADSA-ASASJointAnnualMeeting.

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2017 CALENDAR OF UPCOMING AVS-RELATED EVENTS

� January11:ClassesStart

� CommencementMay11-12

� IPPEJanuary31-February2Atlanta,GA

� ADSA,ASASJAMJuly19-23

� DestinationClemsondatespostedinJanuary

� LNALivestockExhibition

� ADSAJune25-28Pitts-burgh,PA

� PossibleWesternShowClemonUniversityApril8

� January11:WesternShow(2)LanderUniversityJanuary28

� HuntSeatShowGeorgiaSouthernUniversityFebruary4

� HuntSeatShowLanderUniversityFebruary18

� HuntSeatShowCollegeofCharlestonMarch4

� WesternRegionalsLanderUniversityFebruary19

� HuntSeatRegionalsGeorgiaSouthernUniversityMarch5

� ISHANationalChampionshipMay4-7

whats going on?

January

February

march

aPril

may

� Equineevents� ClemsonAVSDepartmentevents� GeneralEvents

June

July

*Moreinformationandadditionalextensioneventslistedat http://www.clemson.edu/extension/livestock/events.

RECONNECT!

Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences 129 Poole Agricultural BuildingClemson University

Nonprofit Organization

U.S. Postage

PAID

Clemson, SC

Permit 10

Interested in reconnecting with the AVS department? Contact us, and we can talk about what form that might take. Perhaps you’re interested in being a guest speaker for one of our classes, acting as a sponsor for a WAVS member or moving a pet project forward. If you saw something here that piqued your interest, let us know! Former club members, students and faculty — we would love to hear about what you’re up to and where you are!

Be sure to visit the department website for more information, to join our mailing list (mailing or email addresses) and to suggest stories for future newsletters.Find us at: clemson.edu/cafls/departments/animal_vet_science/

For general inquiries, please contact:Jim Strickland Opal Rousey Kathy Still AVS Department Chair Administrative Assistant Student Service Program Manager & Freshman Advisorjrstric@clemson.edu orousey@clemson.edu ktstill@clemson.edu (864) 656-3138 (864) 656-3428 (864) 656-3162

For newsletter inquiries, please contact:Johanna JohnsonLecturerjohann3@clemson.edu(864) 656-0493