inagnews winter-spring 2014

The University of Maryland has the number #1 turfgrass program in the country! Whether ranking golf course management or sports turf management, the Terps are at the top. Institute of Applied Agriculture (IAA) Advisor Dr. Kevin Mathias and his teams seized two national titles in as many weeks.

“We had them scared from the start,” joked IAA student Brian Hogan when he and his teammates returned from San Antonio, TX with a national title from the Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA) 2014 Student Challenge held in conjunction with its winter conference on January 22-24. This year’s Student Challenge hosted 34 teams within the two and four year categories and the Terps team of Brian Hogan (IAA), Matt Park (IAA), Brent Waite (IAA) and Ryan Higgins (PSLA) won the gold with a score of 149.5 points. Virginia Tech placed second with a score of 141.0 while Purdue and Colorado State tied for third with scores of 139.

As the reigning champions, Hogan said he felt eyes on them as their Maryland shirts elicited whispers of “there goes that Maryland team” from competing schools. His teammate Brent Waite admitted that the pressure of trying to repeat a win made him nervous and he commented on the anxiety the team felt right before the results were announced, but then the excitement kicked in when the University of

inagnewsinagnews COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES INSTITUTE OF APPLIED AGRICULTURE WINTER/SPRING 2014

Institute of Applied Agriculture2123 Jull Hall, University of MarylandCollege Park, Maryland 20742-2525

From the Director ... p 2 / Green Offices ... p 3 / Faculty Expansion ... p 4Student Spotlight ... p 8 / IAA Entrepreneur ... p 9 / Around the ‘Tute ... p 10

Nation’s #1 Turf Program

University of Maryland coaches and team members at the 2014 STMA na<onal conference in San Antonia, Texas. From leA to right Brent Waite, Brian Hogan, Dr. Kevin Mathias, MaH Park, Ryan Higgins, Gabe Gammill, and Alex Steinman (coach)

Terps Repeat as STMA Na.onal Champions

See Terps #1, pg. 6

CONTENTS:

iaa.umd.edu

Terps Grab GCSAA Turf Bowl Title

IAA sent three teams and two coaches to Orlando, FL for the 20th Annual Collegiate Turf Bowl and the returned with 1st place and $4,000.

By Glori Hyman

It’s been said that being in the transitional zone provides the IAA with the ideal location for teaching turfgrass management because we can grow both warm and cool season grasses. Our two recent national championships lend credence to this theory. Terps rule!

The same can be said about the IAA in the academic arena. Being located on the College Park campus, we are the perfect transition zone—that place between high school and work, between high school and a degree, and between careers. Students enter the IAA with diverse goals, and we help them discover their future.

With the addition of College Forward, a transfer advantage program for IAA students, we are giving more students access to agricultural degrees from UMCP. By transitioning students into a bachelor’s degree program, College Forward provides students with another option for academic success. We are now accepting applications for our first cohort of College Forward students who will begin this fall.

In addition to providing a transitional zone for students, the IAA, itself, is transitioning into a much larger department. In the past two and a half years, we doubled our number of employees, and we are going to increase by another 60 percent this year. Due to the demand for INAG 110: Oral Communication, we will be hiring five more instructors to teach the course.

As more students on campus discover IAA courses and appreciate our hands-on teaching approach, enrollment in IAA courses has increased. Students learn theoretical and practical skills surrounding their fields; then through labs and assignments, they apply textbook concepts to real-world situations.

And, we see the proof in the employment rates of our graduating students, and the top-place finishes of our students in national competitions. Not only did we have national champions in the Sports Turf Managers Student Challenge in San Antonio, TX, and the Collegiate Turf Bowl in Orlando, FL, but also at the national speech competition in Sacramento, CA. Read all about it in this issue of INAG News, and get in the zone.

The IAA is education in action!

From the Director...

2 Winter/Spring 2014 INAG News

inagnewsInstitute of Applied Agriculture

2123 Jull HallUniversity of Maryland

College Park, MD 20742-2525Phone: 301-405-4685 FAX: 301-314-9343

E-mail: [email protected] WEB: iaa.umd.eduIAA DIRECTORGlori D. Hyman

GRAPHIC DESIGNJim Black

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.

Life in theTransition Zone

INAG News Winter/Spring 2014 3

What happens when harsh chemicals, pollutants, and toxins penetrate the air in UMD campus offices and workspaces? Sickness spreads. And what better way to combat that sickness than by enlisting the help of Institute of Applied Agriculture (IAA) students. With the help of IAA students and Ken Ingram, advisor for landscape management and ornamental horticulture, the university campus is getting better—one plant at a time. Ingram is working with Aynsley Towes, who manages the green office program in the Office of Sustainability. The green office program recognizes and rewards faculty and staff for going green, an endeavor that many at UMD are undertaking.

“Around 130 offices have participated in the program since it started in fall 2011, which makes it a great success,” said Towes, who enthusiastically noted that once people make certain environmentally friendly changes in their office, they get a framed certificate to display.

“It’s a totally voluntary program,” said Towes. “But we give a lot of incen-tives and tools so that people can easily make these changes happen.” She further explained that the sustainability office crafted bronze, silver, and gold checklists for campus offices to follow. Adding indoor office plants is one of the “to-do’s” on the silver list.

“This all started when I had a student come to me and say that he wanted to grow plants and hand them out to faculty and dorms,” Towes said. “And that’s when, after some research, I found that the best person to go to was Ken Ingram!”

Ingram loved the idea. “We’re always looking for applied projects for IAA students to do that benefit campus,” says Ingram. “This was perfect!”

Using the project as a teaching opportunity in his Introduction to Plant Science class, Ingram had his students pot pothos, spider plants, aloe, and indoor palms. “These plants are pretty easy to maintain, and we know they’re great for

reducing chemicals in the air because NASA provided us with that specific data,” said Ingram.

After the students potted the plants, they moved them to the greenhouse where the plants grew until they were ready for distribution. “This was also a lesson in production schedules,” says Ingram.

Marvin Martinez, IAA first-year student and Turfgrass major commented, “This is cool and fun. I think it’s neat that these plants will go into people’s offices and help the environment!”

The final step was to hold a plant distribution day. Ingram and several IAA students were available to educate people on how to care for their new plants. Towes is thrilled that so many people are coming together to work for one specific cause---a greener campus. “Students bring so much creativity and energy here,” she beamed. “This is exactly the sort of thing we should be doing more of.”

By Nina LaTassa

From Greenhouse

to Green Office

IAA students Jim Halley, Ryan Snell and Marcus Maxwell prepare plants in the greenhouse for the Green Office Project.


By Glori Hyman4-H Leadership Youth Visit IAA

the tools and the training and then sent the next-generation leaders out to work.

Mathias and Walls took the 4-Hers to the Maryland Turfgrass Research Facility where they sampled environmental factors associated with growing quality turf. The two veteran IAA teachers demonstrated how to collect data on soil temperature, moisture, compaction and surface hardness; then they let the 4-Hers “learn

With the 4-H slogan “Learn to do by Doing,” and the Institute of Applied Agriculture’s teaching philosophy of hands-on learning, the two groups made a perfect match this fall. Twelve 4-Hers from four different counties in Maryland came to the University of Maryland College Park campus to glimpse a career in agriculture.

IAA instructors Kevin Mathias and Roy Walls gave the high school students

Students averaged their data findings and compared notes with Dr. Mathias.

to do by doing.” The students collected data on four different turfgrass research plots and evaluated the various treatments on an organic based compost in each of the plots.

“It was the first time these students experienced work with turfgrasses,” said Mathias, IAA’s turfgrass advisor, “and you could see their faces light up.”

The 4-Hers traveled to College Park from Harford, Calvert, Kent and Wicomico counties to learn about educational opportunities and careers in agriculture. Mathias and Walls also talked to the group about the IAA majors. Walls outlined the IAA programs including the new College Forward program.

“We may see all of these young folks at College Park in the next few years,” said Walls. “They all seemed really interested in becoming leaders in agriculture.”

“When one of the mothers heard about the College Forward program, she interrupted and said ‘This is a great program!’” Mathias beamed. And, he agreed.

This time next year, you will notice the number of IAA faculty members has expanded considerably. The Institute of Applied Agriculture will be adding five more instructors this fall, tripling the number of IAA faculty and staff from what it was just three years ago. The expansion is the result of the demand for additional sections of Oral Communication to fulfill the demands of the University’s General Education requirement. Beginning in the fall 2014, the IAA will be offering 80 sections of INAG 110: Oral Communication,

providing seats for over 1500 students annually.

IAA Director Glori Hyman notes that all of this will greatly raise the visibility of the IAA campus wide.

“The Institute will be making a significant contribution to undergraduate studies and more students will now be aware of the IAA, our courses and our fabulous faculty.”

Currently a nationwide search for the lecturers’ positions is being conducted. When asked what kind of instructors she hopes to attract, Hyman’s immediate response is “More like the ones we already

have!” She explains, “I’m hoping to find hands-on instructors who engage students in class activities, have a strong work ethic, and are passionate about teaching. Our continued success will be dependent on quality teaching.”

Hyman says the IAA’s oral communication course is great for anyone because “it’s applied, practical and fun.” But she credits the original trio of faculty members —Tony Pagnotti, Nina LaTassa, and Ed Priola—for the increased popularity of the class. “We were fortunate to have hired such a talented, motivated team of instructors.”

By Tony Pagnotti

IAA Faculty E x p a n s i o n


Speech Contest

Former President Jimmy Carter once said, “We become not a melting pot but a beautiful mosaic. Different people, different beliefs, different yearnings, different hopes, different dreams.”

That sentiment was heard loud and clear in the fall in Jull Hall, when the IAA hosted a student speech contest on diversity as part of UMD’s “Rise Above Campaign.” The IAA’s Oral Communication team received a grant from the Office of Diversity and Inclusion which calls on the campus community to rise above our biases and embrace unity and diversity.

Competing in the contest were 15 students from the INAG 110 classes taught by instructors Nina Latassa, Ed Priola, and Tony Pagnotti.

“Since we began offering oral communication courses as part of the general education curriculum last year, our team of Oral Comm instructors has been creating speaking opportunities outside the classroom,” said IAA Director Glori Hyman.

The grand prize winner of the contest was Cameroon native, Kevin Ngstchou-Tientcheu, a civil engineering major who was awarded $100 for “Diversity--A Double Edged Sword.” Opeyemi Owoeye, a resident of Prince George’s County and a politics/government major received second place and $75 for her speech on “Society’s Perception of Africa.” Rounding out the top three was Irfan Khan, a biochemistry major from Potomac, who spoke on “The Power of Workplace Diversity.”

Following the event, Hyman commented, “The contest was fantastic. I was so impressed by the students: their content, delivery and passion. The topics were as diverse at the students themselves. We had a successful speaking contest last spring and now this one. We want students to see speaking as fun.”

This fall, something pretty special ripened in the IAA Teaching Garden. Alongside the tomatoes, eggplant, garlic, basil, and beans, soft buds of cotton bloomed. Cotton is not your typical crop for a hand-scale, Mid-Atlantic vegetable garden! And yet, student volunteers harvested multiple pounds of fuzzy bolls throughout September and October. It was pretty, but… what were we going to do with it?

This wasn’t just any cotton either. This was an heirloom variety called

Arkansas Green Lint. Heirloom varieties are vintage strains of garden plants that have been preserved by seed saving over many generations because of special characteristics – purple potatoes, uniquely-flavored lettuces, culturally significant types of beans. In the case of cotton, heirloom varieties are significant because of their colors and historical importance.

Our Arkansas Green Lint cotton was – you guessed it – green! It was historically grown by slaves in their personal gardens, prior to the Civil War. Most cotton used to be pink,

yellow, green, or blue in color rather than white. Slaves grew the traditional colorful cottons in their own gardens so that it was easily distinguishable from the white cotton grown on plantations for the market.

Considering the special qualities of this cotton, we put out a call to campus artists: could anyone find a creative way to serve this cotton justice?

Enter John Ruppert, professor of sculpture and chair of the Department of Art at UMD. Professor Ruppert is working on a project in collaboration with the C.V. Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience at Washington College and the director of the Kent County Arts Council in Chestertown on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

The group is now turning its attention to “how this cotton could be used as a catalyst for programing… both at the College and in the community,” says Ruppert.

At this early stage, the group is considering how art, science, and honoring the legacy of Eastern Shore slaves could be expressed in gardening. Ruppert is considering growing more heirloom cotton in Chestertown.

From its humble beginnings in the IAA Teaching Garden, our cotton harvest is poised to receive a lot of attention!

We are thrilled to have grown the inspiration for this interdisciplinary initiative that links the University of Maryland and Washington College – and something that could honor such a culturally significant group of gardeners.

Art Meets Science in the Garden

By Meredith Epstein

Art professor John Ruppert with IAA sustainable ag instructor Meredith Epstein collec<ng coHon.

6 Winter/Spring 2014 INAG

Maryland was announced as the winner for the second time.

The IAA’s four-year-old sports turf program has been a top contender in the competition since its students took third place in their first appearance at the 2011 contest. Two years later the Terps crushed their nearest competitors by 15 points to take the 1st Place trophy. And a second consecutive national title boosted the students’ confidence.

The annual Collegiate Turf Bowl Competition is another story. The first-place title has eluded Dr. Mathias and his teams for nearly 15 years. “I took our first team in 2000,” says Mathias, “and we’ve always done well. But if we were ever going to win, this was the year to do it.” Mathias explains that the Turf Bowl awards were announced during the closing ceremonies for the first time this year. “So, instead of standing at the vendor’s booth in front of one hundred people, we were in a banquet room with 600 people and projection screens,” says a very proud Mathias.

In 2013 the Terps turf bowl teams captured third, fourth, and 11th–the IAA’s best showing ever. “I really thought we had a chance to win it last year,” says Mathias. “And when we didn’t, I thought maybe I’d never get there.” However, this year Mathias assembled the fab four who had their advisor singing with joy and experiencing a brief moment of rock-star-like attention.

The winning foursome, which is the same team that won the sports turf title two weeks earlier, includes three students studying golf course management at the IAA: Hogan, Park and Waite, and a turf and golf course management student in the Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, Higgins.

“It was phenomenal!” beams Mathias. “When they called team number 52, all 12 guys jumped up and cheered. Brian Hogan grabbed me in big bear hug. I thought my ribs would crack.” In addition to the fab four, the other students representing the University of Maryland are Brian Dearstine (IAA), Jeffrey Bynaker (IAA),

Jim Halley (IAA), Brian Knott (IAA), Stephen Brew (IAA), Tim Burkhart (IAA), Gabe Gammill (IAA), and Trey Profili (PSLA).

“The response, well wishes, congratulations, and support from our alumni has been phenomenal as well. They are really proud of our students, too,” says Mathias who has been teaching and advising at the IAA since 1979. Along with Mathias, Alex Steinman, Manager with Campus Recreation Services, helped coach the teams.

We Are Number One!TERPS #1, from pg. 1

One for the scrapbook!

Receiving the GCSAA Turf Bowl award, from leA: Steve Vincent, Dr. Kevin Mathias, MaHhew Park, Ryan Higgins, Brian Hogan, Brent Waite, Alex Steinman, Pat Finlen


This year’s Collegiate Turf Bowl included 71 teams and 264 students. Like the Sport Turf Student Challenge, the turf bowl tests students on various aspects of their profession. The Collegiate Turf Bowl consists of a written exam, developed by superintendents, and a written essay that is based on a business/financial case-study.

As the winning teams of the Student Challenge and the Turf Bowl, UMD was awarded $4,000 from each competition. The $8,000 will go directly into the programs to enhance lab activities and student learning. In addition, the fab four receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Ponte Vedra, FL, to work at TPC Sawgrass during the The Players Championship in May.

“That will be another great experience,” says Waite.

When asked if the wins would help recruit students into the IAA program, Mathias says, “It gives us exposure, and that helps.”

After all, who wouldn’t want to attend the nation’s #1 turfgrass program?

The Fab Four!

Enjoying the escape from Maryland’s weather: Ryan Higgins, Brian Dears<ne, MaH Park

Team Terps at the Sports Turf Manager’s Associa<on Trade Show.

Taking in the sights in San Antonio

Brent Waite Brian Hogan Matt Park Ryan Higgins


Michael Larsen, one of the IAA’s earliest graduates and biggest supporters, retired at the end of 2013. Larsen’s career in golf course management spanned 41 years, the last 31 spent at the sprawling 36-hole Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, MD where many IAA students interned and found employment as assistants after graduation.

Talk about a UMD legacy. Larsen and twin brother Bob graduated from the IAA in 1971 and 1969 respectively, while their older brother Randy was doing graduate work in animal science. The Larsen name might be familiar to younger IAA alumni who know Robert Larsen, Jr. a UMD Turf graduate in 1992.

After graduating from the IAA, Larsen started his career as an assistant at Baltimore Country Club followed by 10 years as superintendent at Hillendale Country Club in Phoenix, MD. He followed legendary superintendent Bob Shields at Woodmont who died suddenly in 1982. Yes, Bob was the patriarch of the same Shields family that works so closely with the IAA today. In his long tenure at Woodmont, Larsen managed several large renovation projects on both golf courses. Perhaps the most discussed and successful of those was the conversion of the south course fairways to zoysia grass in 1994. For the first time ever in Maryland, a golf course stripped the existing sod on 24 fairway acres and replaced it with zoysia sod. Zoysia is a more environmentally friendly turfgrass and has saved Woodmont countless gallons of irrigation water, fertilizer, and pesticide sprays in the past 20 years while providing excellent playing

conditions. Reflecting on the project now, Larsen said “my members don’t understand turfgrass but they understand dollars saved.”

Known as a quiet leader and excellent agronomist among fellow superintendents, Larsen was a hands-on manager. He served as the President of the Mid-Atlantic Association of Golf Course Superintendents in 1984-85 and if he had the stomach for politics could have easily held national offices.

Larsen said one of the rewards in his career was working alongside two Presidents of the PGA (Bill Clarke, Alan Wronowsky), two CMAA Presidents (George Burton, Bill Kendall) and being friends with two GCSAA presidents (George Cleaver, Bob Shields).

Larsen is planning an active retirement and might return to the turf industry part-time after completing a long list of home repairs and projects.

In January, Cody Cashman, AGBUS ’13, started a new job as assistant manager with the York Fair in PA.

Becky Deafenbaugh, EQUI ‘12, is the Barn Manager for Renovatio Farm, a training and competition barn in Tryon, Polk County, NC.

Congratulations to Laura (Feldt) Aucott, EQUI ‘10, and her husband on the birth of their daughter, Madeline, who arrived on January 15, 2014.

John Weigand, GOLF ‘10, accepted an assistant-in training position at Talbot Country Club. John had been with Piney Branch Golf Club for 3 years prior to the new job.

Ryan Schultz, AGBUS ‘09, completed the LEAD Maryland two-year leadership development program.

Chris Turner, GOLF ‘08, became superintendent of Hunt Valley Golf Club in September.

Adam Newhart, LAND ’02, and wife Heather welcomed a baby girl, Olivia Paige, on July 19. Adam and Heather also have a two-year old son, Jacob.

After a decade working overseas building golf courses, Erin Stevens, GOLF ’98, returned to the States and is the Superintendent at Emerald Dunes Club in west Palm Beach, FL.

Jim Black, GOLF ’95, is now working as the marketing consultant for GolfBoard, an electric board that allows golfers to surf the golf course in a way that feels similar to snowboarding.

Michael Larsen, GOLF ’71, retired from Woodmont Country Club last month after serving 31 years as the Golf Course Superintendent. Michael held the Superintendent title at Hillendale Country Club for 10 years before joining Woodmont Country Club and worked at Baltimore Country Club as an Assistant Superintendent.

He served on the MAAGCS Board of Directors for many years and has held all of the board at some point in his service. He has held the distinguished title of Certified Golf Course Superintendent for 35 years.

Alumni SpotlightThe Michael Larsen Legacy

by Ken Ingram

Alumni News & Notes


An entrepreneurial IAA student has turned a passion for “growing her own” into a blossoming business. Heather Wheatley, a first-year horticulture major, is the proprietor of Apothecarie Brand Inc. in Port Deposit, Maryland. After a year of operating as an online only business, Wheatley opened a store front location on Main Street where she sells vegan soaps, lotions and other environmentally friendly products that are good for the consumer and good for Mother Nature.

“We have everything from plant based sponges and soap dishes to potpourri in unbleached muslin bags and other such products that tread lightly on the environment,” explains Wheatley. “I grow all the herbs and vegetables and have two farmers who provide us with fruit.”

When not at her store or in classes, Wheatley serves as marketing director for Kurt Bluemel Inc., the Baldwin,

Maryland-based firm that is recognized as one of the pioneers in ornamental grasses. Growing up with a grandmother who was a horticulturalist, Wheatley has deep botanical roots fueling her dream of opening a year-round herbal nursery. Working toward that goal, she searched for an education in a practical, hands-on environment.

“Finding the Institute of Applied Agriculture was heaven sent,” beams Wheatley. “The courses that are offered are so practical and applicable to my specific interests and passion. They are taught by a distinguished faculty that brings real life experiences to the classroom.” She is motivated by the mentoring of her advisors Ken Ingram and Jason Entsminger who she says are always reminding “me that they are there to help me

customize my career plan and strategy.”

Holding down a full-time marketing job, running her own business, being an IAA student, and parenting her of 14-year-old son Noah, keep Wheatley extremely busy seven days a week. She would have it no other way. “With a name like Wheatley,” she chuckles, “I was destined to have a love for agriculture.”

Heather Wheatley - IAA Entrepreneur

With over $20,000 of annual scholarship money to award to its students, the IAA continues to be an excellent source of student financial aid on the UMD campus. And this past semester, over 20% of the institute's brightest scholars were lucky enough to receive a cumulative $10,000 in scholarship funding to put toward their academic careers.

"Students have a great chance of getting money," said Diana Velasquez-munoz, former Student Services Coordinator. "They can apply for scholarships more than once. You don't see many programs that set aside those kinds of funds. And those funds continue to grow!"

In fall 2013, the Shields Scholarship was awarded to Brian Knott, Brent Waite, Tim Burkhart, and Jeff Bynaker; the TESCO Scholarship was awarded to Matt Park, Steve Brew, and Kelsie Birney; the Cecil Massie Scholarship was awarded to Allison Miller; the IAA Scholarship was awarded to Rachel Jones and Joe Shaffer; the Gary Wayne Shaffer Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Joe Shaffer; the GCSAA Scholarship and MAAGCS Scholarships were awarded to Brian Hogan; the Seibel Scholarship was awarded to Brian Knott; and the PGMS-DC Scholarship was awarded to Collin Plumley.

“I was excited and grateful to be awarded the PGMS-DC scholarship,”

said Collin, who plans transfer into four-year landscape management program after graduating from the IAA this spring.

His peer, Matt Park, who already earned his bachelor’s degree before coming to the IAA, also appreciated the scholarship support. "The scholarship provided by Turf Equipment and Supply Company (TESCO) was truly valuable, and I am incredibly grateful that I was a recipient. It was an important part in my journey to become a superintendent."

by Tony Pagnotti

$cholarships Help IAA StudentsBy Nina LaTassa

Heather Wheatley with Kurt Bluemel


Around the tuteAround the tute’’

Welcome Bellina RoseCongratulations to IAA Oral Communication

Lecturer Nina LaTassa and her husband Ricky on the birth of their first child. Bellina Rose was born on November 3, 2013. All is well and Nina is back teaching at the IAA this semester.

Good Luck Diana!IAA Student Services

Coordinator Diana Velasquez-munoz has left the IAA to become an entrepreneur. She and her husband Zane have launched a new web start-up business.

Help in the Teaching GardenThe IAA Teaching Garden enjoyed some much

needed labor assistance from 15 freshmen. The College Park Scholars cleared out beds of old plantings, moved an entire truck load of fresh compost to replenish the soil, transplanted blackberry bushes and perennial flowers, weeded, organized, swept, and more. They finished the day by planting salad tables and an entire bed of fall crops. IAA Alum Carin Celebuski, the UMD Arboretum Volunteer Coordinator, coordinated the entire day’s activities.

Way To Go Nina and Rahul!Congratulations to IAA Oral Communication Lecturer Nina

LaTassa who coached Rahul Srinivas to a national championship. Srinivas’s magical moment was the culmination of six months of hard work.

In preparation for the Institute of Applied Agriculture’s (IAA) first speech contest last spring, Srinivas wrote his speech about the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption to specifically target a high-school audience.

After winning the IAA’s contest, Srinivas took the state win, earning the privilege of representing Maryland in Sacramento, California. Srinivas met with LaTassa frequently to fine tune his speech delivery. "I'm so proud of Rahul. He represented our speech team and the IAA incredibly well,” said LaTassa.

“IAA’s Oral Communication instructors hosted the contest as a fun way to promote student speaking skills,” explains IAA Director Glori Hyman, “and it grew from there. What a great way to end the first year of the new Oral Comm initiative.”

Farming for ProfitThrough our Sustainable Agriculture Lecturer Meredith

Epstein, the IAA is collaborating with Future Harvest CASA and recently exhibited at its 15th annual “Farming for Profit and Stewardship” conference. The conference attracted over 400 participants, setting a new attendance record.

IAA Open HouseFor prospective students and their families

Friday, March 28, 9:30 a.m. - noonFree Admission - Registration Required

Register online: iaa.umd.edu or call 301-405-4685

IAA Students Attend Small Farms Conference

IAA faculty members Jason Entsminger and Meredith Epstein and a group of students attended the 10th Annual Small Farms Conference this fall on the campus of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in Princess Anne. The three conference tracks: New and Beginning Farmers, Alternative Agriculture, and Farm Business and Management went hand-in-hand with IAA courses.

Throughout the workshops, the students witnessed class concepts being applied in real work situations. “Many of the speakers spoke almost verbatim from lessons in our coursework ,” said IAA Ornamental Horticulture major Heather Wheatley. The students felt that the conference highlighted the importance of their IAA studies and the value of an IAA certificate. They even heard IAA alum Ben Beale (AgBus ’95) present his work with the Beginning Farmer Success Program.

The conference also offered information that will help IAA students in their careers. Joe Shaffer, a first-year Agricultural Business Management major who hopes to start a bison farm, said he keyed in on the technology being used to help farmers identify and research potential

agricultural properties. Gabe Gammill, a Turfgrass Management major, noted how, even though the conference focused on small farms, he learned about more accurate pricing of products and services that will benefit his family’s sports turf business.

“The conference provided information, inspiration, and affirmation for me that I am absolutely choosing the right way of life for my family, and that the

Register Now For Fall Online Classes


The Institute of Applied Agriculture offers the following online courses which meet Maryland Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) education requirement for pesticide applicator’s certification. Each class is accepted by MDA in lieu of six months of experience.

• Insects of Ornamentals and Turfgrass (Category 111A and 111B)

• Turfgrass Management (Category 111C)

• Pesticide Use & Safety (all categories)

To register visit: iaaonlinecourses.umd.edu

future of agriculture is bright,” said Wheatley.

The students and faculty were able to attend the conference thanks to the generosity of the Small Farm Institute– a partnership between the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and the USDA Office of Advocacy and Outreach – and support from University of Maryland Extension.

S AT U R D AY, A P R I L 2 6 , 1 0 a . m . - 4 p . m .

m a r y l a n d d a y . u m d . e d u

R a i n o r S h i n e

A d m i s s i o n a n d P a r k i n g a r e f r e e

Come to Ag Avenue and visit the IAA table

We love to see our alumni!

Pictured leA to right at the Small Farm Conference: Gabriel Gammill, Jason Shams, Chris<ne Bernstein, Joe Shaffer, Nick Harmer, Rose-‐Marie Daniere, Meredith Epstein, Heather Wheatley, Alix Vanagt.

12 inag news

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The morning of January 7 brought bitter cold and biting winds to the UMD campus, but IAA alumni, students, and faculty brought warmth to the annual Maryland Turfgrass Alumni Breakfast held in the Stamp Student Union in conjunction with the Maryland Turfgrass Conference and Trade Show.

IAA Turfgrass Advisor, Dr. Kevin Mathias greeted the guests and updated the 40 turfgrass alumni on the past year's events, including the Terps excellent performances at the STMA and Collegiate Turf Bowl Competitions, the Shields Memorial Golf Tournament, the Turfgrass Pathology Endowment Fund, and the IAA’s new College Forward program. Dr. Tom Turner gave an update on the hiring of a new faculty position for Dr. Dernoeden's position.

“I also gave two talks at this two-day conference: one of the talks was in a workshop titled Certified Nutrient Management Applicator Workshop and the other talk was in the General Lawn

Care session titled Pest Control Strategies for Lawn Turf,” said Mathias, whose dedication to the conference and turf industry was evident at the conference.

"I am thankful that Dr. Mathias works to put together this breakfast for IAA Alum in association with the MTC Conference,” said Dave Nehila, Turfgrass ’92. “Dr. Mathias works hard on this.”

Not only were attendees able to learn more about the IAA and the strides its students have made recently, but they were given the chance to engage in the

camaraderie of old friends.“I was excited to see some of the

guys I went to class with,” said Brian Kealy, Golf ’12. “It was good to see some of my old teachers again, especially Ken and Kevin, and to meet alumni. It’s nice to reconnect and gives us a good networking opportunity!”

Echoes Mark Merrick, Turfgrass ’86, “Always a great way to see old friends and reminisce. We are brought up to date on important issues, programs and our future leaders.”

A Cool-Season Turfgrass Gathering

inagnews winter-spring 2014

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