March 2018
E.M. Tiffany's FFA creed dedication in Ag Hall
Wisconsin FFA officers view a new plaque commemorating E.M. Tiffany and his authoring of the FFA Creed at UW-Madison's Agricultural Hall, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2018.
"I believe in the future of agriculture, with a faith born not of words but of deeds..."

So begins a creed, and a vision, laid out by CALS alumnus and professor Erwin Milton Tiffany nearly 90 years ago at the third annual convention of the Future Farmers of America.

Since that day in 1930, the  words of the creed have been instilled in nearly every FFA member during his or her first year in the organization. Now, Tiffany's vision is memorialized in a plaque hanging in Agricultural Hall.

At a ceremony held Feb. 21, Dean Kate VandenBosch gathered with Wisconsin FFA officers and leaders to dedicate the plaque, which hangs in the Office of Academic Affairs.

Tiffany earned his master's degree in agricultural education from UW-Madison in 1920 then joined the faculty as he worked to educate vocational agriculture teachers. He often traveled the state to speak with agriculture teachers. Now, his venerable words will be forever present on the CALS campus.

See more photos of the plaque and ceremony.
Dean Kate VandenBosch (second from left) with the 2017 award recipients.
Nominations open for 2018 Honorary Recognition awards

Nominations are now open for the 2018 CALS Honorary Recognition Award, Distinguished Service Award, and Distinguished Alumni Award. These awards recognize individuals who have demonstrated outstanding service. 

Full information about each award and nomination forms are available here. Nominations are due April 6. 

Please note that nominations remain valid for three years. Once an individual has received an award, they may not be nominated again for three years.

Please contact (608) 890-2999 or  alumni@cals.wisc.edu  for more information.
Donations to fund Meat Lab construction matched through March 31

The new 68,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art  Meat Lab is being constructed on the UW-Madison campus. The project is moving forward on time and on budget!
 
One of our amazing industry partners,  Jones Dairy Farm, has recently made a leadership level gift to serve as a matching grant. They will match each dollar we raise in the first quarter of 2018. Act now -- the match only runs through March 31.

Your name or your company's name will be listed on the donor wall at the level of your gift plus the Jones match. Companies will be recognized at a gift of $5,000+ and individuals will be recognized at any level. For more information, please contact Megan Jordan, UW Development Specialist, at  megan.jordan@supportuw.org or (608) 308-5187.    
 
UW Lobby Day in Madison - April 11

Join CALS and other UW alumni from across Wisconsin who will be at the Capitol building to speak with legislators in support of the university.

UW Lobby Day will be held Wednesday, April 11, from noon to 5:30 p.m. at the Park Hotel in Madison. The day includes a lunch and talk by Chancellor Rebecca Blank, followed by meetings with legislators and concluding with a reception at the hotel.

Learn more about UW Lobby Day and the  issues facing UW-Madison. Contact  Mike Fahey with questions.
Make your voice heard in Washington, D.C. - March 14

On Wednesday, March 14, join other alumni for the Badgers' delegation to Congress at UW-Madison Day in Washington, D.C.. At this breakfast reception, you'll have a chance to speak with members of Congress and make your voice heard in support of higher education funding, research, and the university you love. Contact  Mike Fahey at the Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association for more information. 
Andy Fisher wins Wisconsin Outstanding Young Farmer award

Andy Fisher (FISC'89) was recently named a winner of the 2018 Wisconsin Outstanding Young Farmer Award.

Fisher is a partner in Riverside Dairy, LLC,  which consists of 400 milking cows and 280 heifers.

The awards program began in 1954 to bring about a greater interest in the farmer, to foster better urban-rural relations through the understanding of the farmers' endeavors, to develop a further appreciation for their contributions and achievements, and to inform the agribusiness community of the growing urban awareness of farmers' importance and impact on America's economy.
Boundless Together: Family traces success to the UW

This month's Boundless Together entry features  Chris Blaken (FISC'98, '02) and Becky Berezowitz Blaken ('03) who together juggle the demands of four young sons, 700 dairy cows, and seventh-grade English students.
 
Chris is the herdsman at Blaken Farms, a large dairy operation near Melrose, Wisconsin, and Becky teaches at Melrose-Mindoro Schools. They met at UW-Madison, where their educations helped to steer and shape their careers. 

Chris was introduced to UW-Madison through the CALS Farm and Industry Short Course. Faculty members suggested that he continue in the bachelor's program in dairy science, which he did.

Becky ultimately earned an education degree from Aurora University, but she credits her UW-Madison background for her success in English and language arts. They both say that CALS was a welcoming place that fostered their interest in agriculture.

"In the ag school, it was like a little family -- in the classroom, clubs, and volunteering," Becky says. "It's a community unto itself."
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