We hope everyone is having a great start to the spring semester! Last week, Punxsutawney Phil predicted an early start to spring, and, given recent forecasts, we can all be hopeful. Although weather predictions might be hard, it’s easier to predict great impacts occurring on our campus and in our college. In January, our new President, Walter “Ted” Carter, joined OSU and we hope to have him visit CFAES Wooster soon. We also welcomed two new faculty members: Dr. Kirby Krogstad and Dr. Joao Carlos Gomes Neto, both in Animal Sciences. We also heard good news on several research projects including Dr. Shoshanah Inwood’s (SENR) USDA Rural Development-Northeast Ohio Ag Innovation Center project. This project will help grow connections among value-added agriculture producers and improve business development services. Additionally, Dr. Ashley Leach (Entomology) received funding from USDA-NIFA to investigate the effects of insecticides on crop pollination and yield. We have several important upcoming events on our campus (see our calendar in the newsletter), especially on February 15 for the ATI/ACEL Young Ag Professionals Night. And we are all looking forward to May, when ATI will celebrate its 50th commencement ceremony—Congratulations to our students, and all our alumni! And a special thank you to Cora Crilow, a 2nd year agricultural communications student that is helping this semester with our campus newsletter as part of her ACEL practicum. Phil’s predictions only last 6 weeks, but we know that the efforts and impact of our campus and our college will last a lifetime.
