The Five Hidden Gems of CALS

There are many distinct features that define the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences on campus, from its signature clubs to the annual celebration of CALS Week. What you may not know about are the people, places and programs hidden behind the pillars of Curtiss Hall and beyond. Emily Campbell, senior in agricultural communications, reflects on her CALS journey to uncover the “Five Hidden Gems of CALS”.

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1. Kildee 106. Have you ever struggled to find a good spot to dig in and get some homework done? Sometimes it takes a change of scenery to get the academic juices flowing. A few semesters ago, a friend of mine majoring in animal science showed me the Kildee 106 study room. The room is actually split into two sections. The first half is a smaller, shotgun style room with a television monitor for working on presentations or even streaming movies. The other half of the room is larger and features many white boards, a printer and separate work spaces. It is a relatively underutilized space, so if you are looking for a new, more quaint place to study 106 Kildee could be the right fit for you. 2. Agronomy Club’s Friday Popcorn and Donuts. Last semester, I had two Friday morning classes in Agronomy Hall. For weeks, the scent of fresh popcorn would overwhelm me every time I entered the building. When my curiosity got the best of me, I wandered down the hall to find a gaggle of Agronomy Club members. The group was gathered around a popcorn machine and a box of donuts that could be purchased in exchange for a free will donation. With some additional research, I learned there is a 25-year history behind their Friday fundraiser. The profits go back to the club to help with their programs and activities. This is by far the most delicious of all the hidden gems. 3. Farm House Museum. Though the Farm House museum is not an entity of CALS, its close proximity to Curtiss Hall makes it worth mentioning. The Farm House is the oldest building on campus and has been transformed into a museum over the course of the years. Most notably, it was home to some of Iowa State University’s first leaders, from university presidents to college deans. When touring the house, you will learn that the past dean of CALS Charles F. Curtiss and his family lived in the home longer than any other tennant. While most of the furnishings are not original to the house, they are from a fitting historical period to help give you an idea of what it was like to live there. The cost to tour the museum is free and you may be surprised at what you can learn in the Farm House Museum, including the fact that it's haunted. You will have to tag along for one of their weekday tours to learn more about that. 4. Wendy Ortmann in 201 Curtiss. If you are a student in the Department of Agricultural Education and Studies (AGEDS), Wendy Ortmann may be a familiar face. However, for students across many other departments in CALS, Ortmann’s name may not ring a bell. As the AGEDS department secretary, Ortmann offers students a wealth of resources and information. But, her work goes beyond just distributing Registration Access Numbers or scheduling advisor appointments. I could easily spend 10 to 15 minutes in the office before an advisor appointment chatting with Wendy about my semester or the pumpkins her grandkids carved for Halloween. Also, I couldn’t forget to mention the candy bowls: there are multiple and they are always full. 5. Agricultural Entrepreneurship Initiative. Most of us can think of at least one class, club or program that changed the trajectory of our college career. For me, that was the Agricultural Entrepreneurship Initiative (AgEI). I was involved with AgEI through the Economics 334 class: Entrepreneurship in Agriculture. I was also a member of the National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) competition team my freshman year, a club that is closely associated with AgEI. Even for those not looking to start a business, AgEI equipped me and many other students with a variety of skills that will be useful in the workforce. Both NAMA and Economics 334 forced me to think critically about finance, marketing and customer experience in realistic agricultural situations. They also help students start their own businesses through their Student Incubator program. These are just five of many ‘Hidden Gems’ in CALS. There are always new people to meet, places to explore, and new adventures to take on in CALS. Which of these are you going to look into first?