TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S
Teaching the Children 26 LU’s Early Childhood Laboratory
FC President’s Welcome
12 Message from the Dean The Languages of Science 3 Visiting Scholars and AIGR
Hemp, Hemp, Hooray! 28 Langston University Leads Oklahoma’s Industrial Hemp Pilot
Goats and Greenhouse Gases 16 Research Targets Global Warming
Community-Based Outreach 34 Touching Lives Throughout Oklahoma
Information 10 Trusted Online Certification Courses for Meat and Dairy
LU-SAAS Partnerships Empower 36 Communities
Goat Producers
Spotlight 39 Alumni Sherman Lewis — Lion at Heart
New Era for the Cooperative 15 AExtension and Outreach Program
40 Notables LU-SAAS Faculty and Staff
Dr. Tilahun Sahlu 18 Trailblazer in Small Ruminant Research and
BC Milestones 2018–2019
Extension
Faculty and Staff
Artificial Insemination 21 Enhancing Goat Production and Genetics Discoveries 24 Summer Students Excel in Research Internships L ANGSTON UNIVE RSIT Y A D M I N I S T R AT I V E C O U N C I L Dr. Kent J. Smith, Jr.,
President
Dr. Clyde Montgomery, Vice
Academic Affairs
President of
Mr. Bob Lovitt, Interim
Vice President for Fiscal and Administrative Affairs Mrs. Mautra Jones, Vice
President of Institutional Advancement & External Affairs Ms. Theresa Graves Powell, Chief
Office of the President
Dr. Ruth Jackson, Acting
President, Academic Affairs
of Staff,
Dr. Jason Johnson, Executive Director, Office of Enrollment Management
Dr. Evia Davis, Chair, Department of Family and Consumer Sciences
Mr. Joshua Busby,
Dr. Steve Zeng, Chair, Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Acting Dean of Students
Dr. Orlenthea S. McGowan, Professor
Chair of the Faculty Senate
Vice President, Academic Affairs (LU-Oklahoma City)
Langston University, in compliance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Higher Education Act), the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other federal and state laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ge-
and
M AG A Z I N E E D I T O R I A L C O M M I T T E E
L ANGSTON UNIVE RSIT Y SCHOOL O F AG R I C U LT U R E A N D A P P L I E D SCIENCES
Land Grant Programs
Dr. Joshua Ringer, Associate
Mrs. Alice Strong-Simmons, Associate
American Institute
for Goat Research
Dr. Wesley L. Whittaker, Dean
Associate Vice
Dr. Tilahun Sahlu, Director,
Dr. Lisa Weis, Associate Vice President, Academic Affairs (LU-Tulsa)
Administrator
Extension
Committee Chair
Associate Professor and
Mrs. Courtney Brown Mrs. Kendra Gutierrez Mr. Mark Pennie, Pennie
Works Studio
Mr. Michael O’Neill, O’Neill
Dr. Vernon Jones, Associate
netic information, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, or status as a veteran, in any of its policies, practices or procedures. This provision includes, but is not limited to admissions, employment, financial aid, and educational services. Cynthia S. Buckley, Assistant Vice President Student and Employee Services-ADA/EEO Officer,
and Director of
Dr. Roger Merkel,
Marketing | PR
Dean for Research
Student and Employee Services, Page Hall 12, Langston, OK 73050; Phone 405-466-3204; email: cynthia.buckley@langston.edu has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies. This publication, issued by Langston University as authorized by the Dean, School of Agricul-
ture and Applied Sciences, was printed by OU Printing Services at a cost of $5,190. 1,000/ March, 2019. Copyright© 2019, Langston University. All rights reserved.
S C H O O L O F A G R I C U LT U R E & A P P L I E D S C I E N C E S
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MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN
AGRICULTURE PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN ALL ASPECTS OF HUMAN LIFE, FROM PERSONAL HEALTH TO THE WELLBEING OF NATIONS TO THE CONTINUED GROWTH OF THE GLOBAL ECONOMY. SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES OF AGRICULTURE HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED AROUND THE WORLD TO HELP ENSURE AGRICULTURE’S SUSTAINABILITY AND FULFILL ITS PROMISE.
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hanks to these schools — Langston University among them — we enjoy the fruits of tremendous advances in agricultural sciences, technology, business, production, and economics. Sharing stories of our progress is important as well, inspiring us to carry on the good work of those who have showed us the way.
Recently, we at LU-SAAS have conceived and articulated a new strategic vision. We have planned projects that will tap the energy of every single person with a stake in and spirit for LU-SAAS. These initiatives will empower every student, teacher, and researcher to reach new heights, enable communities to do more, and provide people with the means to thrive.
To that end, the Langston University School of Agriculture and Applied Sciences (LU-SAAS) is proud to publish its inaugural Langston AgroVision magazine. The name ref lects both our venerable history and our commitment to shape the future of agriculture with focus, energy, and imagination.
This edition of Langston AgroVision is only our first. In the coming months and years, we are committed to sharing with you more about the contributions of our faculty, staff, students, and alumni — and the new developments in agriculture that will arise from their efforts. As we continue to reach out to you through Langston AgroVision and in other ways, I encourage you to share your thoughts and hopes with us.
In these pages, you will read stories and view photographs that highlight the scientists, teachers, visiting scholars, alumni, and students and who daily fulfill our land-grant mission of academics, research, and extension. You will learn how we help communities in Oklahoma and in nations around the world improve farming practices and increase production; how our students gain invaluable professional and personal experience in internships in locations from the pine forests of South Carolina to the modern metropolis of Shanghai, China; how we collaborate with state and federal agencies, as well as producers large and small, to contribute to our thriving agricultural economy. You will read about international researchers who come to Langston University to take advantage of its world-class research center. And you will get to know, if you don’t already, a giant among the Langston University family and in the global research community — Dr. Tilahun Sahlu. For more than 30 years, he has been instrumental in transforming LU’s American Institute for Goat Research — AIGR, or simply, the institute — into one of the world’s top-tier centers for small ruminant research. He is an outstanding professional and a valued colleague, and we applaud his dedicated service, particularly the 20 years he spent directing AIGR.
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Again, thank you. We deeply appreciate your support. Wesley L. Whittaker, Ph.D. Dean and Director of Land Grant Programs
RESEARCH
The Languages of Science: Visiting Scholars and AIGR WALKING THE HALLS OF LANGSTON UNIVERSITY’S SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE AND APPLIED SCIENCES (LU-SAAS), YOU MIGHT BE PROMPTED TO ASK, WHAT LANGUAGE IS THAT? IT’S NOT AT ALL UNUSUAL TO HEAR A LANGUAGE NEW TO YOU. IT MIGHT BE MANDARIN, SPOKEN IN MANY REGIONS OF CHINA; OR AMHARIC, THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF ETHIOPIA; OR ONE OF NUMEROUS OTHERS. THEY ARE THE LANGUAGES OF SCIENTISTS WHO TRAVEL FROM THE CORNERS OF THE GLOBE TO STUDY AND CONDUCT RESEARCH AT THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE FOR GOAT RESEARCH (AIGR, OR THE INSTITUTE). SCHOLARS AND DOLLARS
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he scientists come to LU as part of the Visiting Scholars Program, and they are the lifeblood of the institute’s research mission, doing most of the research funded by extramural grants. The USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture 1890 Institution Teaching, Research and Extension Capacity Building Grants (CBG) Program is the most significant funding source, but there are many others. They range from other grant programs or financing from scholars’ home governments to academic scholarships, sabbatical funds, Fulbright Scholarships, and USDA Borlaug Fellowships.
Whether they are post-doctoral research associates or graduate students, the scientists come seeking to expand knowledge in their chosen fields by conducting meaningful
Steve Hart and Raquel Laurencon gather GPS data.
research at one of the top goat and sheep research centers in the world. Since 2000, scientists from 29 countries have come to Langston to pursue their research agendas. Most stay at AIGR for two to three years. A small number come to the institute first as graduate students and return later as postdocs. Such was the journey of one young scientist. R E P E AT R E S E A R C H E R : D R . L UA N A R I B E I R O
In 2006, while still an undergraduate studying animal science at the Universidade Federal da Bahia (UFBA) in Brazil, (continues) Ribeiro discovered AIGR when she searched
Since 2000, scientists from 29 countries have come to Langston to pursue their research agendas. S C H O O L O F A G R I C U LT U R E & A P P L I E D S C I E N C E S
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“My plan is to continue my work at Langston for as long as possible. I still have a lot to learn that will make me even better in the field. There is still so much work I have left to do and even more that I want to accomplish.”
— Dr. Luana Ribeiro
online for institutions emphasizing goat research. At AIGR, she realized, she could couple her passion for goats and her research vision — but first she had to finish her bachelor’s degree and make progress toward a graduate degree. Ribeiro’s quest was complete in 2014, when, as a UFBA doctoral student, she won a scholarship to study abroad. She contacted Dr. Arthur Goetsch, research leader at AIGR, and applied for a one-year appointment to investigate how body condition and diet nutritive value affect performance in lactating dairy goats. She landed in Langston in July 2015. In a new place and with limited English language skills, Ribeiro was unsure how she would fit in and how her work would progress. She soon realized, however, that her experience at the institute would be unlike that at school in Brazil. There, academic advisors are typically all business. At LU, she found that her supervisor and fellow researchers were happy to teach, train, and explain one-on-one. They were also willing to get their hands dirty. As Ribeiro recounted, “I was collecting goat fecal samples to study and analyze. I ended up needing some assistance and without hesitation my mentor was there right beside me doing the dirty work too. It just went to show me that no one at the institute is too proud to help.” It didn’t take long for Ribeiro to engage fully in the f low of research. As her English skills improved and she was could interact more readily with other scientists, she got involved in additional research projects. In her year as a graduatestudent researcher at AIGR, she gained skill and confidence with experimental design and execution, animal care, advanced equipment, and statistical analysis — even as she made strides toward her degree. And she wasn’t finished with AIGR. A year after returning to UFBA, Ribeiro completed her doctorate and again applied to AIGR, this time as a postdoctoral research scientist. In 2018, she was back conducting research on both goats and hair sheep, and looking to the future. “My plan is to continue my work at Langston for as long as possible,” Ribeiro said. “I still have a lot to learn
that will make me even better in the field. There is still so much work I have left to do and even more that I want to accomplish.” M U T UA L B E N E F I T S
The visiting scholars program has forged symbiotic relationships among its scientists, AIGR, and LU-SAAS. As the scientists conduct high-value research and advance knowledge
Marcio White and Raquel Laurencon test drone technology.
in their areas of expertise, AIGR solidifies its position as a worldwide leader in ruminant livestock research, and the school and university gain in recognition and reputation. Moreover, as faculty, staff, and students form lasting relationships with international friends, they find new collaborative opportunities and enrich their personal worldviews. Dr. Luana Ribeiro’s first language was, of course, Portuguese. For other scientists, it might be Spanish, or Polish, or Swahili. The many languages of Langston University’s visiting scholars, as well as the scientists themselves, are a testament to the reach of AIGR’s global brand. For more information, please contact Dr. Tilahun Sahlu, tilahun.sahlu@langston.edu.
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Goats and Greenhouse Gases: Research Targets Global Warming
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THE SCIENCE IS CLEAR. RUMINANT LIVESTOCK CONTRIBUTE MEASUR ABLY TO GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE . METHANE ACCOUNTS FOR 20 PERCENT OF THE WARMING EFFECT OF GREENHOUSE GASES, AND DIVERSE STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT LIVESTOCK ANIMALS PRODUCE FROM 15 TO 33 PERCENT OF METHANE RELEASED INTO THE ATMOSPHERE.
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orldwide, three farmed ruminant species — cattle, sheep, and goats — contribute to this methane production. Scientists at Langston University’s American Institute for Goat Research (AIGR) continue to demonstrate how methane emissions can be reduced in goats, and they have now begun adapting their investigations to address the problem in other animals. LIVESTOCK AND METHANE
In ruminant animals, most methane is produced by microorganisms as an end product of the fermentation that occurs during digestion of fibrous feedstuffs in the rumen — the main compartment of the stomach. While most digestive end products provide energy and nutrition for the animal, methane has no such value and must ultimately be expelled into the atmosphere. If methane production can be decreased in some manner, two benefits should follow. First, more energy from the feed could be captured in end products that are absorbed and used by the animal. Second, and more important for the planet’s future, emission of methane into the atmosphere as a greenhouse gas could be dramatically reduced. Today, animal scientists are seeking to identify and develop ways to decrease the carbon footprint of animals, including goats and sheep. Methane emitted during the digestive process is a major focus of attention. (continues)
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RESEARCH
A N OX I O U S W E E D T O T H E R E S C U E
Over many years, scientists have studied various ways of reducing ruminal methane emission. Some have investigated synthetic compounds such as ionophores like monensin that alter the types of microbes in the rumen. Others have focused on natural substances. One of the most promising is a class of compounds known as condensed tannins. Condensed tannins, a type of plant secondary metabolite, convey an advantage to a plant by deterring consumption by herbivores. Sericea lespedeza, a leguminous plant found throughout much of the U.S., is high in condensed tannins. Introduced more than 120 years ago to prevent and control roadside
Wei Wang adjusts a gas analyzer.
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erosion — the hardy plant grows readily in poor soils — lespedeza spread rapidly and became a problematic forage. Left unchecked, it can outcompete desirable plants, and cattle do not consume it, almost certainly because of its concentration of condensed tannins. This combination of factors has led to increasing prevalence of lespedeza in cattle pastures. Many years ago, a cattle producer from Kansas, where sericea lespedeza is officially classified as a “noxious weed,” contacted AIGR to find out whether goats might readily consume and help control it. Cooperative work with the Kansas producer demonstrated that goats would indeed eat large volumes of lespedeza.
More recent studies at AIGR have revealed two key properties of lespedeza’s condensed tannins. One, which has also been noted elsewhere, is an adverse effect on internal parasites that infect small ruminants. A second is decreased ruminal emission of the greenhouse gas methane. These early studies paved the way for ongoing research on sericea lespedeza. For the past 15 years, AIGR has been involved in two projects supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) 1890 Institution Teaching, Research and Extension Capacity Building Grants program. The first project, carried out from 2004 to 2008, was titled “Decreased methane emission by ruminants consuming condensed tannins.” The second, which began in 2014 and will end in August 2019, is “Sustainable control of greenhouse gas emission by ruminant livestock.” Visiting scholars from the U.S., Ethiopia, Brazil, and China have participated in these experiments, along with undergraduate researchers in training.
In these trials, the magnitude of methane reduction has ranged from 30 to 50 percent of digested energy, and averaged 42 percent. The impact has increased with increasing dietary levels of lespedeza and condensed tannins, although the magnitude of change per unit of condensed tannin is greatest at low dietary levels. Methane emission drops the first day the animal consumes lespedeza, and remains at reduced levels so long as the animal continues eating the plant. When the animal stops, emission increases with each passing day until it returns to “normal” pre-testing levels after about one week. There appear to be no indications that ingestion of condensed tannins causes the microbial population of the rumen to adapt. FUTURE DIRECTIONS
Where might research turn next? Substances other than ionophores, including various fats and oils high in mediumchain and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids such as coconut and soybean oils, have also decreased ruminant To address the efficiency with which test animals use energy, methane emission. It could prove beneficial to combine lesthe research team measures methane emission as well as pedeza protocols with other dietary supplements that might uptake of oxygen and carbon dioxide using a stationary enhance lespedeza’s effects. In addition, Langston University measurement system obtained in 1999 through a USDA researchers and partners are now turning their attention to Equipment Grant. A plexiglass box is placed around an anisheep to determine whether sericea lespedeza has similar mal’s head, and gas levels in air entering and exiting the outcomes in that species. Another possible direction is to see box as well as f low rate are measured. With funding from whether the sheep research could offer a better model for the current grant project, the system has been upgraded and reducing cattle emissions as well. expanded to test six animals at a time. Another USDA NIFA The ultimate goal is to develop practical, natural, and susEquipment Grant was recently received for a mobile meatainable ways to minimize methane emission by ruminant surement system that can be used with groups of animals livestock, improve efficiency of animal production and in outside settings. This unit will soon be used to measure reduce greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. methane emission on animals grazing in lespedeza pastures. P R O M I S I N G R E S U LT S
Thus far, data indicate that condensed tannins in sericea lespedeza modify activities of microorganisms in the rumen and affect ruminal methane emission. There appear to be direct effects on the actual methanogenic (methane-producing) bacteria and indirect effects through decreased activity of protozoa that are often in mutually beneficial associations with methanogenic bacteria.
For more information, please contact Dr. Arthur Goetsch, arthur.goetsch@langston.edu.
If methane production in livestock can be decreased in some manner … emission of methane into the atmosphere as a greenhouse gas could be dramatically reduced. S C H O O L O F A G R I C U LT U R E & A P P L I E D S C I E N C E S
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Trusted Information: Online Certification Courses for Meat and Dairy Goat Producers ALL GOAT PRODUCERS SEARCH FOR KNOWLEDGE , BE IT TO ANSWER A QUESTION, EXPAND WHAT THEY KNOW ABOUT GOAT PRODUCTION, VALIDATE A FARMING PRACTICE, OR LEARN HOW TO BETTER MANAGE THEIR ANIMALS FOR ENJOYMENT OR INCREASED PROFIT. COUNTLESS WEBPAGES ARE DEVOTED TO GOATS AND TO INFORMATION ABOUT FEEDING, RAISING, AND MANAGING GOATS. BUT
al de Manu cción u d o r P os aprin de C Carne a par
PRODUCERS FACE A DILEMMA. WHICH WEBPAGES
Manual de
Producción de Cabras Lech eras
ARE RELIABLE? WHICH CONTAIN INFORMATION THAT MIGHT ULTIMATELY HARM THEIR ANIMALS? FOR MANY PRODUCERS, PARTICULARLY THOSE NEW TO GOATS, ANSWERS WERE NOT CLEAR.
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ecognizing the need for reliable, science-based goat production information, the American Institute for Goat Research (AIGR) led a consortium of 1890 institutions in the creation of an online certification course for meat goat producers. AIGR later designed a second course for dairy goat producers. Content for both courses ranges from basic production and goat products information to business planning and legal issues producers face. The courses are published online so that producers can take them at their own convenience and work around the busiest times of year — kidding time, 10
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ción
a Edi
Segund
AIGR creates manuals in both English and Spanish for meat- and dairy-goat producers.
for example. When producers satisfy course requirements, they receive a certificate of completion and are granted permission to use one of the Quality Producer logos on farm websites or in other marketing tools. The meat goat course was launched in 2007 and revised in 2017. The dairy goat course went live in November 2017. CO U R S E S AT A G L A N C E
To enroll in either course, producers simply go to goats.langston.edu, click on Training, and then on the Online Certifications panel. They land on a page entitled Web-based Training and Certification Program for Goat
Producers, where they can learn about and enroll in the courses. Each course is comprised of required and elective modules. To complete each course, participants must pass all required modules and a number of elective modules — nine for the meat goat course, seven for the dairy goat course. Before beginning any module, each participant must take a pre-test to gauge knowledge of the module’s content. Having finished the pre-test, the participant gains access to the module content. If the pre-test score is 85 percent or greater, the participant has passed the module. If the pre-test score is below 85 percent, the (continues)
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Just a few samples of the 14 Quality Meat Producer and Quality Dairy Producer logos from AIGR. Producers who complete a certification course can use the appropriate logo on websites and other marketing tools to promote their goat products and brands.
participant must study the module content to prepare for the post-test. To pass the module, he or she must earn a score of at least 85 percent on the post-test. Comparing pre- and post-test scores is a good indicator of the levels of knowledge participants gain when they study a module. Pre-test scores on the dairy goat certification course average 67.8 percent; post-test scores climb to 97.5 percent. This 29.7 percent increase represents a substantial improvement.
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In the 12 years since the meat goat certification program was introduced, 413 producers have become certified Quality Meat Producers. In the 15 months since the dairy goat program began, 89 participants have been certified as Quality Dairy Producers. Texas, Oklahoma, and Florida lead the nation with the largest number of Quality Meat Producers, while Michigan, Texas, and Ohio boast the largest number of Quality Dairy Producers.
Of course, because the programs are online, anyone in the world can earn certification. To date, 32 producers from 13 foreign countries have achieved Quality Meat Producers certification, and six producers representing four countries have become Quality Dairy Producers. CO U R S E D E S I G N S F O R E V E RY PRODUCER
Sandiso Mkwananzi, a veterinary student at the University of Zimbabwe,
Pat Christopher and Terry Gipson compare conformation of Nigerian Dwarf goats.
“I gained countless skills taking the dairy goat certification course — from record keeping, planning, preparation, and financial management to making the big decision to venture into business. The program equips people with essential, proven knowledge.” — Sandiso Mkwananzi, University of Zimbabwe
was the first person to complete the Quality Dairy Producer and business planning, Mkwananzi contacted Dr. Roger course. Prior to enrolling, Mkwananzi had raised meat Merkel at Langston University’s AIGR. Merkel pointed goats but had no experience with dairy goats. In 2017, Mkwananzi to the online certification program and to Dr. during his time as a Nelson Mandela Fellow at Oklahoma Terry Gipson, who helped Mkwananzi through the enrollState University, Mkwananzi visited Langston University. ment process. Citing his “desperation for knowledge and “It was in Oklahoma that I first witnessed the manufacture skill in the niche,” Mkwananzi immersed himself and comof goat milk ice cream,” he said, “and I was hooked to find pleted the program within one week. out more on this niche of dairy goat farming and dairy goat “I gained countless skills taking the course — from record milk products.” keeping, planning, preparation, and financial management Mkwananzi returned to Zimbabwe with the glimmer of to making the big decision to venture into the business. a vision — to establish a dairy goat farm where he could The program equips people with essential, proven knowlmake and sell goat ice cream. Knowing he had more to edge,” Mkwananzi said. He was so pleased with the pro(continues) learn about dairy goat production, management, diseases, gram that he added a new online training S C H O O L O F A G R I C U LT U R E & A P P L I E D S C I E N C E S
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program — Dairy Goats Business and Dairy Products — to his Supernovas Academy for Zimbabwe youth. Mkwananzi was new to dairy goat production and used the certification program to gain new knowledge. Others come to the certification program already possessing knowledge and experience. Pat Christopher of Black Oak Farms in Oklahoma is a case in point. Christopher raises and milks Nigerian Dwarf goats and is also very successful in the show ring. Despite her years of experience with goats, and the fact that she was already retired, she decided to take the dairy goat production course to see what else she might discover. In addition to deepening her knowledge, Christopher was able to give valuable feedback to Merkel and Gipson on the course as it relates to production of Nigerian Dwarf goats. Smaller in stature than traditional dairy goat breeds, Nigerian Dwarf goats do
not fit some of the facility recommendations appropriate for larger goats. Feedback like Christopher’s is critical to the institute, helping it improve courses and content offered to producers. Though separated by an ocean and living in vastly different cultures, Mkwananzi and Christopher are linked through their passion for goats. They also share a deep appreciation for the mission and accomplishments of AIGR. Providing a trusted source of reliable, science-based information — among many other offerings — AIGR helps ensure that producers everywhere can deliver safe, wholesome goat products. For more information, please contact Dr. Roger Merkel, merkel@langston.edu.
To date, 32 producers from 13 foreign countries have achieved Quality Meat Producers certification, and six producers representing four countries have become Quality Dairy Producers. Get the latest from the world leader in goat
husbandry, research, and instruction, the American Institute for Goat Research. d
Dairy Goat
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For pricing and order forms, go to http://goats.langston.edu and enter the Library section. For more information, contact Roger Merkel 405-466-6134, merkel@langston.edu
NOW ALSO AVAILABLE IN SPANISH
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A New Era for the Cooperative Extension and Outreach Program
Shar Carter speaks with children about the importance of pollinators.
THE COOPER ATIVE EXTENSION AND OUTREACH PROGR AM (CEOP) AT L ANGSTON UNIVERSIT Y’S SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE AND APPLIED SCIENCES (LU -SA AS) HAS A LONG HISTORY OF REACHING OUT TO UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES AND PRODUCERS THROUGHOUT OKLAHOMA. IN RECENT YEARS, HOWEVER, RETIREMENTS AND FUNDING CHANGES HAVE CAUSED ACTIVITIES TO DWINDLE. TO COMBAT THE DECLINE, DR. WESLEY WHITTAKER, DEAN OF LU-SAAS AND 1890 LAND GRANT PROGRAM DIRECTOR HAS INSTITUTED A NEW APPROACH, REORGANIZING CEOP’S CURRENT ACTIVITIES AND ADDING NEW PROGRAMS.
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he approach builds on successful extension programs at LU’s American Institute for Goat Research, the Aquaculture Program, outreach services for limited resource farmers, 4-H and Youth Development activities, and the USDA’s Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP). The
goal of the new initiative is to enhance CEOP’s capacity for community engagement. E N H A N C I N G E N G AG E M E N T
LU-SAAS added new leadership to drive these new developments, hiring Dr. Joshua Ringer as associate extension administrator in 2018
and promoting Jeremiah Wilson from EFNEP coordinator to deputy associate extension administrator in January 2019. To create and conduct program activities throughout the state, LU-SAAS also hired three new extension educators in 2018. Charlotte “Shar” Carter, associate extension and (continues) outreach educator, who
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is based in Tulsa, designs and supports community programs, focusing on youth and food insecurity issues. Micah Anderson, an extension horticulture specialist on the Langston University campus, teaches community and home gardening. He also collaborates with Oklahoma State University and the Noble Research Institute on a market gardening course for producers. A third extension and outreach educator, Dr. Rashell Campbell-Daughty, is based at the Langston University Oklahoma City campus and focuses on community engagement and youth development programming.
NEW PROGRAM AREAS
To best serve Oklahoma stakeholders, the CEOP’s updated program areas include animal and crop production agriculture; management and sustainability; nutrition, food security, and food safety; and 4-H and Youth Development. The animal and crop production agriculture program aims to help communities, gardeners, and farmers become more profitable. With newly added capacity, this program is a more valuable source of production information and resources for small-acreage and limited-resource producers.
In the area of management and sustainability, the focus is on record-keeping, small-farm economics, and rural and urban sustainable development. LU-SAAS will facilitate economic empowerment and the preservation of urban and rural farming culture. The nutrition, food security, and food safety program emphasizes increased access to healthy foods — particularly vegetables and fruits — the eradication of food insecurity, and food safety. Through the efforts of CEOP personnel and the EFNEP nutrition program there will be greater emphasis on making the connection between
This is an exciting time for Langston University’s Cooperative Extension and Outreach Program. Updated program areas, new partnerships, an increased presence throughout the state, and relevant topics that impact both the human and economic conditions of families all speak to a renewed vibrancy.
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agricultural production, processing, and the consumer’s plate. The 4-H and Youth Development program designs educational and hands-on opportunities to involve youth in food production and teach them how to develop healthy lifestyles. During the past year, new 4-H clubs were formed throughout the state to encourage a diverse array of interests that give more young people opportunities for growth. A youth leadership academy and youth agriculture entrepreneurship course are other character-building activities conducted by the 4-H and Youth Development program. 2019 FOCUS
A particular focus for the revamped CEOP in 2019 is expanding urban agriculture and increasing student participation in school gardens in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. At each location, soon-to-be-hired extension educators and urban agricultural technicians will devise and conduct extension and education programming around food production. Urban
farming demonstration sites developed by CEOP team members in partnership with local organizations will help youth and families increase knowledge with the aim of producing healthful food and harvesting their produce for family consumption. In addition to these urban projects, CEOP is developing a rural renewal effort centered on local food production and community-engaged agriculture. Initial efforts will target the town of Langston, adjacent to the university’s main campus. Successes and lessons learned while working locally will form a model to apply in other limited-resource communities throughout Oklahoma.
P R O D U C T S A N D I M PAC T
This is an exciting time for Langston University’s Cooperative Extension and Outreach Program. Updated program areas, new partnerships, an increased presence throughout the state, and relevant topics that impact both the human and economic conditions of families all speak to a renewed vibrancy. The mission of engaging Oklahoma communities to solve problems is the goal driving the CEOP initiative. For more information, please contact Dr. Joshua Ringer, joshua.ringer@ langston.edu.
Finally, LU-SAAS CEOP is partnering with producers from the Cherokee Nation, the Pawnee Nation, and other Native American tribes. Partnership activities include preserving traditional seed varieties, teaching youth agriculture and animal production practices, and providing technical support for goat and cattle production.
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Dr. Tilahun Sahlu: Trailblazer in Small Ruminant Research and Extension
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AS A BOY GROWING UP IN SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA, TILAHUN SAHLU LIVED WITH HIS PARENTS AND NINE SIBLINGS IN A LARGE FAMILY COMPOUND SURROUNDED BY FRUIT AND COFFEE TREES. EVEN TODAY, THE SMELL OF ROASTED COFFEE WAFTS HIM BACK TO HIS CHILDHOOD AND AWAKENS MEMORIES OF SWEET COFFEE FLOWERS IN BLOOM. DR. TILAHUN SAHLU HAS COME A LONG WAY IN THE INTERVENING YEARS.
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ow in his 22nd year as director of the E (Kika) de la Garza American Institute for Goat Research (AIGR), Sahlu has transformed Langston University’s small, f ledgling goat program into a world-renowned center for ruminant livestock research and extension services. For Sahlu, the scent of coffee f lowers has given way to the aromas of goats and sheep — he wouldn’t have it any other way.
L A N G S T O N AT L A S T
Sahlu came to Langston when AIGR was in its infancy, and the early years were difficult. “When the LU goat program started,” Sahlu remembered, “there was next to nothing. Farm facilities were minimal, and those were in very poor condition — the farm was not the university’s top priority.
A LIFE’S JOURNEY
Education and hard work have charted Sahlu’s winding path from Ethiopia to Oklahoma. His journey began at Alemaya College of Agriculture, then part of Haile Selassie I University in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where Sahlu earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science in 1973. In the years after graduating, he oversaw dairy cow research at Alemaya’s Debre Zeit Experimental Research Center. Then, in 1978, when Sahlu was selected for USAID-supported graduate training in the U.S., he left Ethiopia’s warm climes for South Dakota State University. Through five brief summers and long, frozen winters, he worked diligently, earning a master’s degree in dairy science in 1980 and a doctorate in animal science in 1983. When political upheaval prevented his return home, Sahlu decided to continue his journey in a two-year post-doctoral program offered jointly by the University of California, Davis and the USDA Agricultural Research Service Meat Animal Research Center in Clay Center, Nebraska. Sahlu’s introduction to goats — he had cared only for cattle as a youngster — came in 1985, when he took a position as research specialist at the International Dairy Goat Research Center of Prairie View A&M University in Texas. Goats soon became the opportunity of a lifetime. Within a year, Sahlu accepted an appointment as assistant research professor at LU’s American Institute for Goat Research.
Workdays were very long, and there was insufficient staff to care for the animals. Should a farm worker become ill, I had to work in his place. There were even times I slept at the farm so I could finish the day’s duties and care for the animals. The work went on seven days a week — even as I and other faculty were conducting research trials.” Over time, AIGR, or “the institute” as it is often called, began to grow. The farm was remodeled, more staff were hired, and, in 1991, Sahlu was promoted to associate research professor with added responsibilities as research leader. Three years later, he was promoted to research professor, and in 1997, he was named director of the institute. DIRECTOR WITH A VISION
As director, Sahlu made expansion of research activities a priority. He hired highly trained scientists and professional support staff, emphasized the procurement of laboratory equipment, made improvements to farm facilities (continues) and equipment, and oversaw construction of a
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his professional contributions, and Sahlu has received new research barn. At the same time, the scope of AIGR numerous prestigious awards, including the Morrison-Evans research expanded to include f locks of Dorper, Katahdin, Outstanding Scientist Award, the Bouffalt International and St. Croix hair sheep. In addition, Sahlu was a strong Animal Agriculture Award, and the USAID George proponent of AIGR’s visiting scholar and research associate Washington Carver Agriculture Excellence Award, to name program. Today, visiting scientists from around the world come to the institute to train in both research and extension. just a few. Even as research was the driving purpose behind AIGR’s growth, Sahlu also oversaw efforts to improve extension services. His team expanded goat field day to include hair sheep, built an internet presence through websites and social
media, devised an online nutrient calculator and the leastcost ration-balancing program, created online certification programs for meat goat and dairy goat producers, developed production handbooks in English and Spanish, and implemented a range of producer workshops. Students, scholars, scientists, and farmers who have worked and studied at AIGR have achieved remarkable successes. Their accomplishments are, in large part, a testament to Sahlu’s vision, energy, and leadership — character traits he has shared much farther afield. Since his early days as director, Sahlu has supported and led international research and development programs in nations throughout Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. Under his guiding hand, AIGR has had a global impact, training scientists, improving small ruminant genetics, advancing important research, addressing local challenges, and introducing new technology to achieve bold research and academic goals. Sahlu’s own outstanding research, publication record, and grantsmanship have been at the foundation of the institute’s success. Peers from around the world have long recognized
Sahlu is the first to acknowledge that AIGR’s continuing success is a team effort, and he is quick to give credit to AIGR scientists and staff. “I have been blessed to work with a very talented and dedicated team during my tenure as AIGR director,” Sahlu remarked. “My colleagues work tirelessly to win grant funding, carry out innovative research, and support goat producers in the U.S. and abroad. Without them, AIGR would not be the success it is today.” Since its beginnings, with crumbling barns, a handful of dairy goats, and just a few scientists, AIGR has grown and changed remarkably. It now boasts a herd of more than 1,500 dairy, meat, and fiber-producing goats; f locks of sheep; state-of-the-art research and farm facilities; and a full complement of research and support staff. Sahlu anticipates a future that is brighter still, including research and investment in robotics, genomics, and other cutting-edge technologies to improve small ruminant production. Livestock producers will be able to use these “smart” technologies to find new ways to raise animals more efficiently and increase consumer demand for meat and milk products. In Ethiopia, Sahlu grew up with the fragrance of the coffee f lower; at LU, he has distilled the aroma of goats and sheep into the sweet smell of success. His three decades of dedication have built a solid foundation for the next phase in the life of AIGR. Thanks to Dr. Tilahun Sahlu, Langston University’s American Institute for Goat Research is now and will remain a world leader in goat research and extension services. For more information, please contact Dr. Tilahun Sahlu, tilahun.sahlu@langston.edu.
“I have been blessed to work with a very talented and dedicated team during my tenure as AIGR director. Without them, AIGR would not be the success it is today.”
— D r. Tilahun Sahlu , AIG R Direc tor
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EXTENSION
Artificial Insemination: Enhancing Goat Production and Genetics ACCORDING TO THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS, MORE THAN 79 PERCENT OF THE WORLD’S GOATS ARE FOUND IN AFRICA AND ASIA , EXCLUDING CHINA. THESE REGIONS ALSO HAVE THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF SMALLHOLDING FARMS — AS MANY AS 70 TO 80 PERCENT OF ALL FARMS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA. FOR MANY SMALLHOLDER FARM FAMILIES, GOATS ARE A CRITICAL SOURCE OF PROTEIN, INCOME, AND INVESTMENT.
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he American Institute for Goat Research (AIGR) at Langston University’s School of Agriculture and Applied Sciences has taken a leading role in goat research, training, and business development around the world, and especially in Africa. Over nearly two decades, one series of projects has made major contributions in assisted reproductive technologies, primarily artificial insemination (AI). In recent years, Dr. Terry Gipson has led much of AIGR’s work on goat reproduction, collaborating with academic and
business partners and securing grant funding. I N I T I A L P R OJ E C T S I N A F R I C A
Two of AIGR’s earliest international projects were carried out in Ethiopia, at Hawassa University, formerly the Awassa College of Agriculture, and at Haramaya University, formerly Alemaya University. In 2004, semen from AIGR’s Boer goats was frozen and shipped to the universities along with insemination equipment. Under the auspices of Langston University, Teresa and Don Wade of BIO-Genics
Ltd. trained Awassa and Alemaya scientists in insemination techniques. Following the success of these early projects, AI became a central component in international grants awarded to AIGR researchers. From 2005 to 2011, AIGR led the USAID-funded Ethiopia Sheep and Goat Productivity Program (ESGPIP). The primary objective of ESGPIP was to improve the quality of both goats and sheep in Ethiopia and thus increase trade of animals and meat to the Middle East. In 2007, Gipson led (continues) the importation of 110
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Boer goat females and 22 Boer males from South Africa into Ethiopia for crossbreeding with local goats. Given the small number of imported animals and concerns about inbreeding, several hundred straws of Boer goat semen were also imported from two South Africa provinces. In 2010, Drs. Gipson and Roger Merkel of Langston University, along with ESGPIP collaborator Dr. Lou Nuti of Prairie View A&M University, travelled to Ethiopia, where Nuti inseminated 54 Boer females and trained project personnel in AI procedures to help ensure the viability of the breed in Ethiopia. Gipson carried out further insemination training in 2011 at Wollo University under a grant awarded by the U.S. Embassy in Ethiopia. This project was also the first time Gipson Terry Gipson at the Cheetah Conservation Fund center in Namibia
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expanded training to include collection and evaluation of fresh semen. F R E S H I N S E M I N AT I O N TECHNIQUES
Following the successes at Wollo University, use of fresh semen became a central theme in many international grants and projects. In 2014 and 2015, Gipson traveled to the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ Region of Ethiopia to train scientists on the collection, evaluation, and use of fresh semen. Around this same time, AIGR extended its outreach into Kenya as part of a USDA Trilateral Partnership for Food Security Program grant. From 2012 to 2014, AIGR worked with Egerton University on the importation of dairy goats from South
Africa and frozen semen from the U.S. Gipson trained Egerton scientists on proper insemination methods using frozen and fresh semen. At the end of the grant, the university purchased motorcycles and cool boxes to transport fresh semen to distant villages. “Bucks can provide a virtually unlimited supply of fresh semen that can be used to upgrade the genetic potential of village animals,” Gipson said. “Enhancing genetics for milk production of goats on smallholder farms has great impact for these farm families through higher milk production and income potential.” A project with Egerton University underwritten by the USDA Foreign Agriculture Service Scientific Cooperation Research Program brought more progress in AI training
Terry Gipson ties a buck apron in Malawi.
“it gives me a sense of satisfaction to see the newfound confidence in the people I train, knowing they will continue to use their AI skills. … It is one small way I can help people and positively impact their lives.” — D r. Te r r y G i p s o n , L a n g s t o n U n i v e r s i t y
and knowledge. On his return to Kenya, Gipson found that conception rates achieved by Egerton scientists were extremely high. He realized that the reason was the use of undiluted fresh semen. Gipson worked with Dr. Erick Loetz and Miguel Rojas at the AIGR research farm to develop a simplified artificial insemination technique. Subsequently, Gipson worked with Dr. Joab Malanda of Egerton University to establish a semen evaluation laboratory with the capability of establishing standard curves to determine sperm concentration and proper
diluent volume. Egerton University will continue research to test animal management and the conception rate of different sperm concentrations using the simplified AI technique. Gipson’s goal is to provide knowledge and information to others both locally and abroad so that they can conduct the insemination procedures themselves. “Using fresh semen for AI has several advantages for people just beginning to learn the technique. Fresh semen is readily available and is a good genetic resource. Learning and practicing the AI technique using fresh
semen allows inseminators to hone their skills before spending more to use imported frozen semen. “Personally,” Gipson concluded, “it gives me a sense of satisfaction to see the newfound confidence in the people I train, knowing they will continue to use their AI skills to improve the livestock of local farmers. It is one small way I can help people and positively impact their lives.” For more information, please contact Dr. Terry Gipson, terry.gipson@ langston.edu.
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Summer Discoveries: Students Excel in Research Internships
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or most college students, summer break is a time to escape the rigors of academic life, earn money at a summer job, and kick back. Not so for Anja Williams, Ashley Newton, and Monica Mascarenas, three students in the Langston University School of Agriculture and Applied Sciences (LU-SAAS). In 2018, all three traded summer relaxation for internships far from home in order to gain real work experience, learn new skills, and explore potential career paths. S H A N G H A I , C H I N A : “A N E X P E R I E N C E T H AT T R A N S F O R M E D M Y L I F E ”
Summer 2018 marked the first time an LU-SAAS student had ever interned in China. Dr. Steve Zeng, chair of the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, knew that Anja Williams would be the ideal person to represent Langston University at Shanghai Frontan Animal Health Co. Ltd., an animal supplement products company. Anja, a junior agriculture major in the agribusiness option, was thrilled at the opportunity to intern abroad but realized that financing the trip would be difficult. Fortunately, a generous benefactor turned difficult into done. Sherman Lewis (LU-SAAS ’64), a loyal alumnus and donor, offered to pay a grateful Anja’s round-trip airfare, and a stipend from Frontan Animal Health helped offset her living expenses in China. During the internship, Anja shadowed employees in different parts of the company, including marketing, customer service, laboratory product development, human resources, and the technical department. Though she was fascinated with every area, she felt most at home in the laboratory because of her prior experience in LU-SAAS laboratories. 24
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While Anja was able to learn how an animal health company designs, develops, and tests products, one of her most meaningful lessons was more personal. As she navigated new surroundings and interacted with co-workers from a culture mostly new to her, she developed a stronger sense of independence and self-confidence. By the time her internship drew to a close, she felt at home with the beautiful people and culture of China. Apart from acquiring work skills and growing as a young adult, Anja gained new insight into her professional interests. “I was fortunate to visit one of the internationally renowned Shanghai expositions, where hundreds of international companies showcase their agricultural products and equipment,” Anja explained. “It gave me a real appreciation of the vast array of products used in the industry and the international implications of agriculture.” Anja returned to LU-SAAS more enthusiastic than ever about international agriculture, particularly food quality and standards. She shared her internship experience with classmates and professors at a fall 2018 seminar, ref lecting on highlights and insights of her trip and encouraging other students to seek internship opportunities and discover whole new worlds. C O L U M B I A , S O U T H C A R O L I N A : “A R E A L WO R L D E X P E R I E N C E T O R E M E M B E R ”
Ashley Newton, a senior in the natural resource management option at LU-SAAS, interned with the U.S. Forest Service in Columbia, South Carolina, an opportunity she found through the USDA 1890 National Scholars Program. During her research-focused internship, Ashley worked
with U.S. Forest Service scientists in the central Long Cane Ranger District of the Sumter National Forest conducting soil health assessments in stands of longleaf pine trees. She was pleased to see that many of the concepts she learned in her LU coursework could be directly applied on the ground with the Forest Service. One of Ashley’s duties was to investigate complaints of heavy metal contamination at a forest rif le range through soil core sampling and water quality assessment — runoff from the rif le range entered a stream and could potentially threaten environmentally sensitive forest areas.
internship at Mountain Lodge Farm afforded Monica an excellent opportunity to learn more about how a large dairy goat farm is managed, both in terms of agricultural production and business principles, and make progress toward her career goal of managing a commercial dairy goat operation.
“While many of my internship tasks were ones I had done with my own animals, such as milking, hoof trimming, feeding kids, and medicating sick animals, doing them at a commercial dairy in a business-oriented environment gave them added meaning,” Monica said. Apart from goat management, Monica also learned about pasture Ashley reported that one of her favorite experiences was her management with the farm’s sheep, gained new experience in the care and feeding of guardian llamas, and saw hands-on work helping preserve the red cockaded woodhow production and business intersect in the making and pecker, a bird species unseen since the 1970s and feared to be extinct due to habitat destruction. She was part of a team selling of cheese products. “The truly beneficial part of the internship,” Monica said, “was learning firsthand that climbed trees to retrieve newly hatched woodpecker about optimal management practices for a commercial chicks and attach leg bands with GPS transmitters. “The dairy goat operation. I worked with a wonderful commuchicks were less than a month old,” Ashley recalled. “They were so young that they had no feathers and so small I could nity of farm employees and gained a great deal of valuable hold one in the palm of my hand.” She and the team tracked knowledge that I will use in my career.” the chicks as they grew up, monitoring travel patterns and devising a management plan to safeguard the species. LU -SA AS: COM MITTE D TO EXPE RIE NTIAL Another of Ashley’s favorite moments was her feeling of amazement when she took a core ring sample from a diseased shortleaf pine. The tree was over 110 years old — more than five times her own lifespan. Other vivid memories include seeing — and hearing — how quickly the forest water table filled and overf lowed a soil core sample hole and sitting atop a beautiful waterfall in the Andrew Pickens district of the national forest. “This was my second summer internship,” Ashley said. “Both have inf luenced and guided my educational goals by showing me how classroom knowledge translates into real world application.” After she graduates from LU-SAAS, Ashley plans to pursue a graduate degree in natural resources management at Purdue University. E AT O N V I L L E , WA S H I N G T O N : “ I N S P I R E D T O B E C O M E A M A N AG E R ”
Monica Mascarenas, a senior in the LU-SAAS animal science option with a minor in agribusiness, interned with Mountain Lodge Farm in Eatonville, Washington. One of the school’s outstanding students, Monica sought an internship where she could work on a dairy goat farm and expand her already broad knowledge. When not in school or on internship, Monica helps raise Nigerian Dwarf dairy goats on her family’s farm in Arizona. The
LEARNING
The faculty and staff of LU-SAAS understand the importance of summer internships: students get to apply classroom lessons in real work environments. As Clark Williams, instructor in LU-SAAS, explained, “Internships can be life-changing adventures. We are fully committed to helping students find internship opportunities that complement their career goals and provide deeply enriching educational and professional experiences. We encourage all our students to serve at least one summer internship while at LU. Our unique mentoring program, which begins soon after students arrive on campus, helps us and them reach this goal.” For Anja, Ashley, and Monica, the 2018 summer break offered not an escape, but a whole new kind of engagement. Their internships provided rich research and professional experiences through which classroom learning became relevant and real. Their summers were full of discovery — of what it means to work and become a professional and of the strength each of them possesses. Across America or across an ocean, Anja, Ashley, and Monica gained experiences that will guide them through the rest of their university careers and their professional lives in agriculture. For more information, please contact Dr. Steve Zeng, steve. zeng@langston.edu. S C H O O L O F A G R I C U LT U R E & A P P L I E D S C I E N C E S
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Teaching the Children: LU’s Early Childhood Laboratory
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magine the perfect early-childhood learning setting, where children thrive and teachers inspire. It might have many rooms, one for each educational level or focus, each room staffed by teachers with expertise and compassion. Each room would have space set aside for multiple activities, all filled with the books and paper and paint and toys and everything children need for learning.
Now, fill each successive room with bright-eyed infants, 1-year-olds, 2-year-olds, and preschoolers. This wonderful place would be ideal for the youngsters. It would also be ideal for the teachers and the college-age student-teachers who need a real place to learn. Such a place exists — in the Early Childhood Laboratory at Langston University’s School of Agriculture and Applied Sciences (LU-SAAS). It is here that students enrolled in the Family and Consumer Sciences Program, with concentrations in early childhood education or childhood development, prepare for and master their profession.
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T H E H I G H E S T S TA N DA R D S
The Early Childhood Laboratory is licensed by the Oklahoma State Department of Human Services (OKDHS) and accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). It has achieved the highest rating — three stars — awarded in the OKDHS Reaching for the Stars rating system, created to help parents compare child-care providers and know the standard of care their children will receive. Three-star programs exceed basic licensing standards in all areas, with higher levels of staff training, more parent involvement, better learning environments, and a comprehensive range of educational and developmental activities. Three-star programs are also nationally accredited. Langston University’s Early Childhood Laboratory promotes child learning and development in a healthy, respectful, supportive environment. Classroom curriculums are aligned with NAEYC standards, early learning guidelines, and common core standards. The laboratory also adheres to
Our Motto: The Early Childhood Development Laboratory offers a quality learning environment for the sound fundamental growth of your child. national child-care standards for healthy nutrition and physical activity, and maintains high staff levels and low teacherstudent ratios. Teachers confer regularly with parents about children’s progress. T E AC H I N G T H E T E AC H E R S
LU students focused on early childhood education or childhood development do their practicum courses at the Early Childhood Laboratory. Here, in a bustling childcare center, they develop skills in interacting, communicating, and working with children and their families. They observe and absorb the practices of successful teachers — as well as appropriate personal and professional behaviors. They learn how to promote a holistic child development approach by helping the certified teachers conduct parenteducation workshops/seminars, create home-instructional packets, write newsletters, design personalized instruction sessions, craft basic skill-achievement goals checklists, and develop individual education plans for identified students. To complement their work in the laboratory, the studentteachers take coursework that delves into child development, learning theory, nutrition and health, communication, and other subject areas. Students enrolled in practicum courses at the Early Childhood Laboratory track their progress in fulfilling six NAEYC standards: promoting child development; building family and community relationships; observing, documenting, and assessing children; using developmentally effective approaches; using content knowledge to build
meaningful curriculum; and becoming professional. At the end of the practicum, students write a ref lective self-assessment on their strengths, weaknesses, and progress toward achieving these standards. By the time they leave the laboratory, students have learned a great many of the skills and capabilities professional educators require. They are able to design activities that promote curriculum goals, handle pressure situations professionally, apply classroom knowledge and practical experience to accomplish child-development objectives, and engage with and relate to the children. They learn to appreciate and help the children at their level, becoming better caregivers, growing in patience, appreciating personality differences, sparking curiosity and enthusiasm, becoming more creative, and simply understanding children on their own terms. In the end, discovering how much they have grown both personally and professionally, they can take justifiable pride in their accomplishments. For these teachers of tomorrow, the Early Childhood Laboratory is an ideal learning environment. Moving from room to room, teaching children of different ages, they gain the knowledge and experience they’ll need to overcome future challenges and be successful teachers. Not least, the smiles, laughter, and growth they see in the laboratory prove the importance of their profession in shaping children, families, and communities. For more information, please contact Dr. Evia Davis, devia@ langston.edu. S C H O O L O F A G R I C U LT U R E & A P P L I E D S C I E N C E S
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Hemp, Hemp, Hooray! Langston University Leads Oklahoma’s Industrial Hemp Pilot ACROSS THE COUNTRY, INDUSTRIAL HEMP IS HAVING A FIELD DAY ONCE AGAIN. SOON AFTER WORLD WAR II, WHEN HEMP WAS WIDELY CULTIVATED FOR ROPE AND OTHER PRODUCTS TO SUPPORT THE WAR EFFORT, PRODUCTION FELL OFF DRAMATICALLY. BUT THE TIMES, THEY ARE A-CHANGING. TODAY, SCIENTISTS IN BOTH ACADEMIA AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR ARE CONDUCTING RESEARCH TO DETERMINE HOW INDUSTRIAL HEMP CAN BE USED AS A ROTATIONAL CROP FOR WHEAT FARMERS, A CASH CROP TO PROVIDE HEMP-BASED PRODUCTS, AND IN MEDICINAL APPLICATIONS LIKE CANNABIDIOL OIL , OR CBD.
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wo 2018 laws clearly signal hemp’s rising popularity. The 2018 Farm Bill legally designated industrial hemp as a commodity crop nationwide. And in April, supported by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry (ODAFF), Gov. Mary Fallin signed into law the Oklahoma Industrial Hemp Pilot Program (OIHPP). With the signing, Langston University was designated as one of the first two Oklahoma higher-learning institutions responsible for pilot program research. Dr. Wesley Whittaker, dean of the Langston University School of Agriculture and Applied Sciences (LU-SAAS), represented LU at the governor’s ceremony.
LU -SA AS AND LOCAL G R OW E R - PA R T N E R S
According to pilot program rules, the two participant schools are “contractors” that will support and supervise the work of local growers serving as “subcontractors.” Together, contractors and subcontractors will conduct research to test the feasibility of reintroducing industrial hemp to Oklahoma. Three Oklahoma farms expressed a strong interest in working with LU-SAAS as subcontractors for the 2018 and 2019 growing seasons: Flowers Farms in Oklahoma City, Eco Hemp Wholesale in Edmond, and Herb’s Herbs in Guthrie. Per pilot program objectives, the three growers launched small scale
operations primarily with a research focus — to investigate effective production practices and evaluate the economic feasibility of industrial hemp. During the initial growing season in 2018, the subcontractors grew industrial hemp in greenhouses with a combined production space of 50,000 square feet. Eco Hemp also placed three acres of outdoor field in production. Faculty and staff from the Horticulture Program at LU-SAAS supported the growers by providing clarification regarding program rules, harvest reporting regulations, soil test interpretations, insect pest identification, and production informa(continues) tion such as day length
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requirements. Dr. Tracey Payton, chair of the LU-SAAS committee on industrial hemp, led a team that made regular visits to each farm to consult with producers on these and other topics, including best growing conditions, interaction of growth performance and soil type, optimal use of mulches and cover crops, effect of induced f lowering, variety testing, and organic methods of pest control. Over the months of the growing season, the combined efforts of the growers and LU-SAAS staff resulted in a range of production and management improvements. Herb’s Herbs improved its growing schedule to enable 450 plants to be harvested weekly, ensuring a constant, predictable supply for processing. Eco Hemp was able to produce
approximately 800 cuttings hydroponically, transplanting the clones into breathable fabric pots containing an organic coir/perlite mix and growing them to maturity. Eco Hemp also evaluated testing equipment and secured processing equipment for future onsite product development. Flowers Farms conducted initial small batch testing in 2018 to distinguish plant sexes and determine ongoing lighting needs. For the second growing season, starting in spring 2019, LU-SAAS researchers are planning to continue conducting their own research trials as they maintain partnerships with the subcontractors. Initiatives will include surveys of hemp pests and pollinators in indoor and outdoor growing
conditions, evaluation of plasticulture mulch or cover crops between plasticulture rows, and use of insectary plantings to conserve beneficial insects. In addition, LU-SAAS scientists are seeking a license to test several hemp cultivars under various soil and environmental conditions at the new LU-SAAS Horticulture Program’s research and extension station on the Langston University campus. T H E L A R G E S T H A RV E S T I N 8 0 YEARS
During the 2018 growing season, LU-SAAS subcontractor-farmers harvested the largest legal crop of
Mikeal Copeland of Eco Hemp holds harvested JH-1 hemp plants.
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Kanyand Matand, Tracey Payton, and Joshua Ringer at the Herb’s Herbs hemp cutting ceremony.
industrial hemp in Oklahoma since the 1940s. To celebrate its unique successes, Herb’s Herbs held a hemp cutting ceremony on November 1. Honorary harvesters included State Rep. Mickey Dollens, a driving force behind passage of the pilot program, along with representatives of ODAFF and LU-SAAS. Dollens presented Herb’s Herbs with a citation honoring its participation, calling the grower a “trailblazer” for helping kickstart Oklahoma’s legal industrial hemp industry. Others attending the event and touring Herb’s Herbs facilities included State Sen. Ron Justice; Rodd Moesel, president of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau and
owner of American Plant Products; other Oklahoma Farm Bureau representatives; hemp processors Mammoth Processing and Demeter Laboratories; and numerous family farmers from across the state. Two Oklahoma City television stations — KWTV News 9 and KOCO News 5 — covered the event. Jesse Tischauser, co-owner of Herb’s Herbs, gave an in-depth interview to radio host Ron Hays from the Oklahoma Farm News Report.
harvest, the plants were dried and sold as a leaf product or processed into CBD cartridges. Eco Hemp harvested 412 JH-1 industrial hemp plants grown outdoors under plasticulture on land in Meridian and Edmond, Oklahoma. When dried, the Eco Hemp crop produced 300 pounds of seed and 800 pounds of biomass for processing CBD. As part of its plan to launch a full-scale operation, Flowers Farms added a large greenhouse for use in 2019 and beyond.
Herb’s Herbs harvested approximately 25,000 square feet — more than half an acre — of greenhouse-grown Seranto industrial hemp plants. After
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Over the months of the growing season, the combined efforts of the growers and LU-SAAS staff resulted in a range of production and management improvements. S C H O O L O F A G R I C U LT U R E & A P P L I E D S C I E N C E S
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During the 2018 growing season, LU-SAAS subcontractorfarmers harvested the largest legal crop of industrial hemp in Oklahoma since the 1940s. H E M P PA R T N E R S H I P S B E C O M E LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
The relationships built between LU-SAAS and its OIHPP subcontractors created many student and adult learning opportunities in fall 2018. In particular, Rob Stanley, owner/operator of Eco Hemp, visited the LU campus to speak with Dr. Payton’s urban horticulture students and recruit them for internships and jobs; at homecoming festivities, he met with alumni as well. Stanley plans to continue
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collaborating with LU-SAAS on hemp production, student engagement, and other endeavors. For her students, Payton also organized tours of Herb’s Herbs and Eco Hemp farm sites, where the producers explained how hemp is grown and harvested in their greenhouses and related facilities. The students observed how a large, successful agricultural business operates its various segments, including growing systems,
supply chains, planting methods, and more. Seeing firsthand how concepts learned in the classroom are applied on working hemp farms is an invaluable experience that will give LU-SAAS students a competitive edge when they apply for jobs and interview with potential employers. Flowers Farms worked with the students as well, offering to provide plant material for future fundraising efforts. Through their cooperative work,
(L to R) Rob Stanley, owner/operator of Eco Hemp Wholesale, along with Mikeal Copeland and Grady Epperly of Eco Hemp, explain hemp production to Oklahoma agriculture instructors.
THE FUTURE OF INDUSTRIAL H E M P AT L U - S A A S
LU-SAAS and its grower-partners are engaging students and enriching their educational experience, providing realworld lessons they might not otherwise have. In addition, in October 2018, LU-SAAS hosted a group of agribusiness technology instructors from across the state as part of their biannual in-service training. Following an explanation of the industrial hemp pilot program, the group traveled to Eco Hemp, toured the grower’s greenhouses, and observed freshly harvested and drying hemp. For most of the instructors, it was the first time to witness a hemp growing operation.
Dr. Payton regularly speaks about the promise of industrial hemp at events around the state — from Langston and Stillwater to Lawton, Cordell, Broken Arrow, and elsewhere. And interest among growers continues to rise. Payton receives as many as 20 inquiries a week regarding partnership opportunities with LU-SAAS.
instrumental to Oklahoma’s industrial hemp economy. Supporting growers, developing and disseminating production technologies, answering questions, and engaging students in learning and research — all of these invaluable services fulfill and honor the land-grant mission of LU-SAAS. For more information, please contact Dr. Tracey Payton, ptracey@langston. edu.
In light of the success of the pilot program and growing interest among producers, Payton is confident that industrial hemp production and business opportunities will continue to expand and thrive across Oklahoma. And given its leading role in the OIHPP, Langston University School of Agriculture and Applied Sciences is positioned to remain central and
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Community-Based Outreach: Giving Back to Oklahoma
LANGSTON UNIVERSITY HAS A RICH HISTORY OF ASSISTING UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES IN OKLAHOMA. IN DOING SO, IT FULFILLS ITS LAND-GRANT MISSION OF RESEARCH, TEACHING, AND EXTENSION. T H E U S DA’ S 2 5 0 1 P R O G R A M : PROMOTING COM M U NIT Y SUPPORT
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or many years, the Langston University School of Agriculture and Applied Sciences (LU-SAAS) operated the USDA-funded Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Program, also known as the 2501 Program. Through the program, LU outreach specialists across the state provided assistance to underserved communities. These local specialists offered ready access to USDA and other resources for citizens needing immediate response. They also worked closely with LU cooperative extension 34
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specialists to provide high-quality educational workshops and other outreach support. Five Oklahoma communities served by the 2501 Program subsequently formed community-based organizations (CBOs): Indian Country Agriculture and Resource Development Corporation in Anadarko, McCurtain County Goat Growers Association in Idabel, Green Country Farm in Rose, Tatums Community Based Organization in Tatums, and Bradford Williams Bradford LLC in Bristow. The primary purpose of all five is to promote self-help programs and sustain much-needed community support.
In 2016, LU-SAAS was again awarded 2501 program funding for a project entitled “Outreach and Technical Assistance for Oklahoma Small and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers.” This project reached out to the newly formed CBOs, discussed their production concerns, and held meetings on USDA programs. Input from the CBOs was instrumental to LU-SAAS as it developed and hosted the successful 23rd Small Farmers Conference in Oklahoma City. Held in May 2018, the two-day conference addressed concerns of small, underserved farmers regarding alternative enterprises, value-added enterprises, nutrition & wellness, farm access, livestock
“We are lucky to have partnered with Langston University and USDA Rural Development. Our goat project has taken off, and we are so thankful for the generous gift of these nanny goats! They are kidding right now, and we are having a blast with all the new kids! Thank you, Langston University.” — Randall Ware, CEO, Indian Countr y Agriculture and Resource Development Corporation
management, marketing, rural prosperity, and youth engagement.
and Resource Development Corporation (ICARD) of Anadarko. Randall Ware, CEO of ICARD, stated, “We are lucky to have partnered with Langston University and USDA Rural Development. Our goat project has taken off, and we are so thankful for the generous gift of these nanny goats! They are kidding right now, and we are having a blast with all the new kids! Thank you, Langston University.”
THE 1890 UNIVERSITIES F O U N DAT I O N
Yet another LU-SAAS project, entitled “Empowering CommunityBased Organizations (CBOs) in Rural Oklahoma to Increase Knowledge Base, Enterprise Productivity, and Economic Sustainability,” was awarded funding from the 1890 Universities Foundation in 2018. The project targeted underserved individuals within rural, limited-resource communities. With the grant, LU-SAAS strengthened its partnerships with the original five CBOs and established new partnerships with four more organizations: Mary Mahoney Memorial Health Center in Spencer, National Association for Black Veterans in Oklahoma City, East Dover Livestock Organization in Dover, and Langston Hughes Academy in Tulsa. The grant funded two training workshops for each CBO, one informing members about USDA rural development programs, the second teaching gardening principles or animal care practices to enhance production, profitability, and sustainability. The workshops provided opportunities for
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learning, sharing of best practices, and dialogue among USDA officials, Langston University personnel, and community members. The grant also funded further collaboration, providing each CBO with its choice of a small hoop house for a community garden or a small herd of meat goats or f lock of hair sheep. LU-SAAS will give technical assistance throughout the planning and development of either the small ruminant or vegetable production enterprise.
LU-SAAS was awarded further 2501 Program funding in 2018 for a project entitled “Outreach and Technical Assistance Programs: Enhancing Viability and Sustainability of Oklahoma Small and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers.” For this project, LU-SAAS will partner with eight CBOs and will host the Small Farmers Conference in May 2019. For more information, please contact Dr. Terry Gipson, terry.gipson@ langston.edu.
One CBO that chose to receive goats was the Indian Country Agriculture S C H O O L O F A G R I C U LT U R E & A P P L I E D S C I E N C E S
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LU-SAAS Partnerships Empower Communities HEALTHIER FOOD CHOICES FOR THE FAMILY TABLE, CHILDREN LEARNING THAT FOOD COMES FROM THE SOIL , NOT JUST THE STORE, AND INSIGHT FOR FARMERS MARKETING THEIR PRODUCE — THESE ARE BUT A FEW OF THE POSITIVE OUTCOMES OF COMMUNIT Y DEVELOPMENT PROGR AMS AT L ANGSTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE AND APPLIED SCIENCES (LU-SAAS).
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n partnership with communities throughout Oklahoma — from cities and towns to Native American tribes — LU-SAAS leads the way toward educational, agricultural, and economic growth.
G R OW T H F O R O K L A H O M A CIT Y
In the heart of northeastern Oklahoma City, an urban farm grows vegetables and hope. The farm is part of the
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Freedom Farms and Greenhouse initiative at RestoreOKC, a faith-based community-development ministry, and is supported by LU-SAAS horticulture personnel. Recognizing the scarcity of fresh quality produce in local stores, Freedom Farms teaches urban vegetable gardening with the aim of turning a food desert into an abundant garden. The Freedom Farms partnership grew out of the efforts of Caylee
Dodson and Ernest Odunze, directors at RestoreOKC; Ann Fleener and Keisha Scott, director and horticulture specialist, respectively, at Freedom Farms; and Micah Anderson and Eric McHenry, horticulture specialists at LU-SAAS. In the farm’s inaugural year, Anderson, McHenry, and Scott — alongside local youth and adults — got their hands dirty preparing raised beds, planting seeds, watering and maintaining crops, and harvesting
he has grown sweet potatoes in his large garden to sell around Langston. In 2018, LU-SAAS horticulturists “Agriculture is a wonderful tool to Anderson and McHenry worked with teach young people responsibility,” Clark to help him expand production. Anderson said. “The practice of nur“Successful” doesn’t begin to describe turing a vegetable garden will be their output. Clark harvested nearly invaluable, and there is nothing quite 500 pounds of sweet potatoes, far as satisfying as eating something you’ve beyond expectations. grown yourself.” With success, of course, can come new Freedom Farms’ goals are to reduce challenges. Clark quickly discovered local food insecurity, improve family that selling his haul of sweet potanutrition, offer employment and toes would require more stores than learning opportunities to young people Langston could offer. Anderson called from 7th to 12th grades, provide pathon Dr. Joshua Ringer, LU-SAAS ways to higher education, and improve associate extension administrator, for environmental stewardship. Upcoming guidance. Ringer’s team investigated projects include expanding the garden, marketing channels and found sevintroducing sheep to the five-acre eral stores around Oklahoma City that farm, building greenhouses for aquaspecialize in locally grown produce. ponic vegetable production, and marThrough these new connections, Clark keting its produce. Experts from was able to sell his bountiful harvest LU-SAAS are and will be there to and boost his income. help Freedom Farms and RestoreOKC “Cooperative extension at LU is conreach their worthy goals. stantly looking for ways to help producers enhance productivity,” Ringer G R OW L O C A L , B U Y L O C A L remarked. “By doing that, we create Retired LU professor Dr. Lester Clark economic development opportunities.” isn’t satisfied just relaxing. For years, swiss chard, collard greens, broccoli, and turnips.
T H E L A N G S T O N FA R M E R ’ S MARKET
Years ago, when local neighborhood markets thrived, running to the store for that one missing ingredient was quick and easy. But when the nearest market might be 10 miles away, that simple task becomes a challenge. One way the LU-SAAS Horticulture Program is making life easy again is by cultivating local gardens and running a farmer’s market right in Langston. Last year, horticulturists Anderson and McHenry tested soil, tilled ground, and planted three different crop mixtures in the LU Horticulture Demonstration Garden. Sunf lowers, cotton, and soybeans took root and grew as commodity crops. The two used another part of the garden to conduct research on cabbage, onion, and cowpea varieties, measuring growth and yield before moving on to more enjoyable — and delicious — data collection on taste and texture. Producers planning for future growing seasons can use both production and palate results to select the plant varieties (continues) that suit their needs. In
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addition, in the Langston community garden, Anderson and McHenry also helped grow tomatoes, okra, and cowpeas. For six weeks this past fall, a bountiful harvest of okra, tomatoes, eggplants, potatoes, watermelons, and cantaloupes filled shoppers’ baskets at the new Langston Farmer’s Market. At present, Anderson and McHenry are working with Langston residents to plan and prepare for this year, even as city planners and LU-SAAS extension personnel explore ways to expand produce offerings and increase the number of vendors at the market. On September 6, 2018, the LU-SAAS horticulture team partnered with the Logan County Health Department to teach producers about gardening and health. A workshop on farmers markets and display gardens taught different types of gardening, from containers to raised beds. Anderson and McHenry demonstrated planting techniques and explained garden management, while Dr. Tracey Payton showed producers
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how to eliminate pests and increase beneficial insects. NEW BEGINNINGS WITH THE C H E R O K E E N AT I O N
The Cherokee Nation is the largest tribe in Oklahoma, with tribal lands stretching across much of 14 counties in the northeastern part of the state. In spring 2019, Cherokee Nation Chief John Baker, LU Vice President for Development Mautra Jones, and CEO of the Project A Association Rodslen Brown signed a memorandum of understanding at Cherokee Nation headquarters in Tahlequah. The three committed to a joint effort supporting Native American agriculture, natural resources, and communities. Also present for the signing were LU-SAAS administrators, the Cherokee Nation’s leadership team, and members of the Project A Association. The memorandum provides a framework for developing productive food and agricultural systems for northeastern Oklahoma through the sharing of knowledge, expertise,
and technology; devising stewardship programs for natural resources; and strengthening community-based organizations to improve rural life. LU-SAAS is excited to partner with both the Cherokee Nation and the Project A Association, a nonprofit that supports Cherokee youth through hands-on learning in agriculture, tribal language and culture, and life skills. LU-SAAS’s expertise in plant and small ruminant agriculture brings a unique new dynamism to this cooperative endeavor. E N G AG I N G C O M M U N I T I E S
Urban farmers, small farmers, and rural farmers have diverse needs. Fortunately, LU-SAAS is sharing its broad expertise to teach and support farmers of every type, and to help them overcome any obstacles they may face. Engaging communities to help people is, after all, at the heart of the LU-SAAS extension and outreach mission. For more information, please contact Dr. Joshua Ringer, joshua.ringer@ langston.edu
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
PHOTO / KEN JONES
Sherman Lewis: Lion at Heart
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n his accomplished life and career, Sherman Lewis (LU-SAAS ’64) has enjoyed blessings in abundance. “I have received help from countless people,” he said, “from my mother to my high school principal, my professors at Langston University, and many others. Without them, I would not be where I am today. I reach out and help people in need as a way to pass it on.” Lewis has long been one of the most ardent supporters and generous benefactors of Langston University’s School of Agriculture and Applied Sciences. Born and raised on a farm near Beggs, Oklahoma, Lewis graduated from Beggs-Wheatley High School, enrolled at Langston University, and earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics with a minor in mathematics in 1964. After two years in the military, Lewis joined the USDA Soil Conservation Service, now the Natural Resources Conservation Service. With the USDA, he worked across the U.S., from Oregon to Massachusetts, and also received a master’s degree in public administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. In 1997, he retired from the USDA as deputy administrator for management and strategic planning, the agency’s No. 3 position.
Langston University called, and Lewis soon returned to direct LU’s Center for Outreach Programs, where he focused on recruiting students, providing technical assistance to producers and minority-owned businesses, and developing partnerships with federal and state agencies to secure scholarships, internships, and career opportunities for students. He retired again in 2005 to devote more time to his family’s business. Over the ensuing 14 years, the company grew from an operation with 20 convenience stores and gas stations into the Lewis Group LLP, now with 48 diversified properties and 920 employees. The company, where Lewis serves as chairman of the board, is now the largest minority-owned business in the Houston area. Lewis attributes his successes to dreaming big, working hard, and staying focused. “My advice to young people is, have a goal. Don’t come and go in life without one,” he remarked. “As the saying goes, if you don’t know where you’re going, any road will get you there. So make sure you have a defined ambition, stay on course, and sure enough, you’ll achieve what you want. I truly believe there’s no such
thing as overnight success. Success happens when preparation meets opportunity. Use every minute of every day to get closer to your dream.” Sherman Lewis is an LU-SAAS champion. Among many other gifts, he has established the Sherman Lewis Fund, providing scholarships that fully fund tuition and school supplies for gifted LU-SAAS students. As the first of his family to attend college, Lewis knows that finding money to pay for school can be the challenge of a lifetime — but, then again, college is the opportunity of a lifetime. In recognition of his career service, his loyalty to Langston University, and his giving spirit, the university honored Lewis with its Heart of the Lion Award in 2014. In 2015, he received the 1890 Career Exemplar Award from the Association of Public and LandGrant Universities, an award given to distinguished alumni of historically black land-grant universities who have achieved excellence in their careers and provided mentorship to students. For more information, please contact Ms. Kendra Gutierrez, koregon@ langston.edu
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Notables: Faculty and Staff Spotlight L U - S A A S FAC U LT Y AWA R D S In September 2018, Dr. Arthur L. Goetsch was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the College of Applied Science and Technology of Illinois State University, where he received his B.S. degree in 1979. The citation is available at https://cats.illinoisstate.edu/alumni/ hall-of-fame/halloffame2018.php. In December 2018, Dr. Steve Hart was recognized by the Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Association in honor of outstanding contributions and service for many years to the State Fair of Oklahoma and the Tulsa State Fair Birthing Center Exhibitions In December 2018, Dr. Vernon Jones, assumed position as Chair of the Association of Research Directors (ARD). The ARD is the federation of the nineteen (19) autonomous 1890 land grant universities that provides coordination of research initiatives among member 1890 Institutions in cooperation with federal, state and private partners. It works with all 19 Universities to provide visionary and enlightened leadership to member institutions as they continuously address issues impacting their ability to accomplish the food and agricultural research challenges facing state, the nation and world-at-large.
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2018 Estrada-Reyes, Z. M., Y. Tsukahara, A. L. Goetsch, T. A. Gipson, T. Sahlu, R. Puchala, Z. Wang, S. P. Hart, and R. M. Mateescu. 2018. Effects of Ovar-DNA and Ovar-DRB1 genotypes in small ruminants with haemonchosis. Parasite Immunol. 40:e12534.https://doi. org/10.1111/pim.12534. Gipson, T. 2018. Central performance testing: Purpose, benefits, impacts, and trends. In: O. Bolden-Tiller and U. Karki (Eds.). Conference Proceedings of the 2018 National Goat Conference. Sept. 16-18, 2018. Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL. pp. 86-94. Gipson, T. 2018. History of the U.S. goat industry. In: O. Bolden-Tiller and U. Karki (Eds.). Conference Proceedings of the 2018 National Goat Conference. Sept. 16-18, 2018. Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL. pp. 46-53. Hart, S. 2018. Grazing system and management for goat production. In: O. Bolden-Tiller and U. Karki (Eds.). Conference Proceedings of the 2018 National Goat Conference. Sept. 16-18, 2018. Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL. pp. 142-150. Hart, S., R. Merkel, and T. Gipson. 2018. Current situation and the future prospective of the goat industry in the U.S. In: O. Bolden-Tiller and U. Karki (Eds.). Conference Proceedings of the 2018 National Goat Conference. Sept. 16-18, 2018. Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL. pp. 31-44. Martin, A. L., A. Newton, Y. Tilahun, and S. Zeng. 2018. Detection of Mastitis in Goat Milk using qRTPCR. Agrixiv. org/9t7yn/ via Center for Open Science, OSFramework. McCallum, M. L., S. D. Weston, and Y. Tilahun. 2018. Angular substrate preference and molting behavior of the Giant River Prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, and its implications for cannibalism management. BioRXiv 354472. Merkel, R. 2018. Goat mortality composting. In: O. Bolden-Tiller and U. Karki (Eds.). Conference Proceedings of the 2018 National Goat Conference. Sept. 16-18, 2018. Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL. pp. 54-63. Newton, A., C. Williams, A. L. Martin, Y. Tilahun, and S. Zeng. 2018. Quantitative and Qualitative Improvements
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in DNA Extraction Procedures Using a BronopolTM Tablet in Alpine Goat Milk. AgriXiv.org/dh3f2/ via Center for Open Science, OSFramework. Puchala, R., S. LeShure, T. A. Gipson, K. Tesfai, M. Flythe, and A. L. Goetsch. 2018. Effects of different levels of lespedeza and supplementation with monensin, coconut oil, or soybean oil on ruminal methane emission by mature Boer goat wethers after different lengths of feeding. J. Appl. Anim. Res. 46:1127-1136. Silva, N. C. D., R. Puchala, T. A. Gipson, T. Sahlu, and A. L. Goetsch. 2018. Effects of restricted periods of feed access on feed intake, digestion, behavior, heat energy, and performance of Alpine goats. J. Appl. Anim. Res. 46:994-1003.
2019 Goetsch, A. L. 2019. Recent research of feeding practices and the nutrition of lactating dairy goats. J. Appl. Anim. Res. 47:103-114. doi.org/10.1080/0971 2119.2019.1580585. Liu, H. Y., R. Puchala, S. LeShure, T. A. Gipson, M. D. Flythe, and A. L. Goetsch. 2019. Effects of lespedeza condensed tannins alone or with monensin, soybean oil, and coconut oil on feed intake, growth, digestion, ruminal methane emission, and heat energy by yearling Alpine doelings. J. Anim. Sci. 97:885-899. doi:10.1093/jas/sky452. Tadesse, D., R. Puchala, I. Portugal, A. Hussein, and A. L. Goetsch. 2019. Effects of level of intake of a 50% concentrate pelleted diet on metabolizability by mature Katahdin wethers. Small Rumin. Res. (In press). Yirga, H., R. Puchala, Y. Tsukahara, K. Tesfai, T. Sahlu, U. L. Mengistu, and A. L. Goetsch. 2018. Effects of level of brackish water and salinity on feed intake, digestion, heat energy, ruminal fluid characteristics, and blood constituent levels in growing Boer goat wethers and mature Boer goat and Katahdin sheep wethers. Small Rumin. Res. 164:70-81.
L U - S A A S G R A N T AWA R D S
2018 A Respiration Calorimetry System for Study of Energy Use and Methane Emission by Small Ruminants in Production Settings. ($100,000, USDA AFRI Foundational Equipment Grant) PI: A. L. Goetsch, CoPI: R. Puchala, T. A. Gipson, and T. Sahlu A great deal of feeding and nutrition research with goats has been conducted with an indoor and stationary respiration calorimetry system, which also measures emission of the greenhouse gas methane. This grant project will purchase a calorimetry system that can be used with groups of animals in pens or outside on pasture while grazing and browsing to facilitate research with goats and sheep under normal farm settings. Certification in a Moodle-Box. ($337,103, 1890 Institution Capacity Building Grants Program) PI: R. C. Merkel, CoPI: T. A. Gipson, L Brandenberger, J. Fernandez, and A. Rodriguez The Certification in a Moodle-Box project uses technology in a new and innovative way to provide web-based training opportunities to farmers with zero or little internet access. Student involvement in the project will illustrates how Langston University students can play a role in mitigating production constraints and have a positive impact on farms, farm families, and potential for income generation. Empowering Community-Based Organizations in Rural Oklahoma to Increase Their Knowledge Base, Enterprise Productivity, and Economic Stability. ($76,919, 1890
Foundation Grant) PI: T. Gipson, CoPI: C. Williams, R. Merkel, M. Anderson, and D. Guy This proposal targeted education, outreach and technical assistance for underserved farmers through Community-Based Organizations (CBOs). It supported production and management of sustainable small ruminant enterprises and intensive vegetable production systems of CBOs serving limited resource producers. Enhancement of Undergraduate Academic and Research Experience at Langston University by Interlinking Biotechnology and Horticultural Practices. ($150,000, 1890 Institution Capacity Building Grants Program) PI: K. Matand, CoPI: W. Whittaker, S. Zeng, and T. Miller This project emphasizes a bold recruitment and retention effort as well as a robust instruction delivery approach of crop biotechnology and related applications. Establishing a Large Animal Teaching Center to Enhance Teaching Capacity and Student Experiential Learning at Langston University. ($150,000, 1890 Institution Capacity Building Grants Program) PI: S. Zeng, CoPI: Z. Wang E. Loetz, and L. Spicer. The project will provide much-needed experiential learning for students in animal science, increase student enrollment and retention in agriculture, and strengthen the teaching capacity of LU-SAAS. LINC 2.0 — Enhanced Goat Management and Education Tool. ($522,848, 1890 Institution Capacity Building Grants Program) PI: R. Puchala, CoPI: T. A. Gipson, A. L. Goetsch, R. C. Merkel, S. Zeng, C. Williams, and M. L. Galyean This project emphasizes a web-based goat nutrient requirement calculation system known as LINC. It provides a fitting example of a bridge that links research, extension, and teaching Outreach and Technical Assistance Programs: Enhancing Viability and Sustainability of Oklahoma Small and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers. ($191,100, Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Program) PI: V. L. Jones The goal of this project is to increase the number of socially disadvantaged and veteran farmers in successfully operating their farm and/or ranch enterprise. Geographic Service Area: Oklahoma counties located primarily in the eastern, southeastern, south central and southwestern parts of the state. Sky Wrangler: Smart Application of Precision Livestock Farming for Grazing Animals and Pasture Management. ($273,831, 1890 Institution Capacity Building Grants Program) PI: T. A. Gipson, CoPI: M. White, and R. Puchala. This project will develop a smart but inexpensive unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), to be called the ‘Sky Wrangler.’ It will provide usable and concise feedback for livestock producers to manage their pastures and animals, develop efficient production operations, optimize operational scales and increase profitability. Sustainable Use of Saline Water by Ruminant Livestock Species. ($373,185, 1890 Institution Capacity Building Grants Program) PI: A. L. Goetsch, CoPI: D. L. Lalman, R. Puchala, T. A. Gipson, L. J. Dawson, T. Sahlu, and S. Zeng The issue addressed in this project is that the quality of water consumed by ruminant livestock is variable. Many farmers in Oklahoma have water high in minerals being consumed by livestock. Effects on animal performance and profit are unknown.