News and Events

Probably the biggest news we have as a group is that we are HERE!  Since officially forming last fall we have organized officers, committees, this website, and a slate of activities starting with our first formal meetings in April.  With the multi-faceted approach, we hope to connect Friends together and in support of the Department.  Check back to this page often for the latest updates.  For more specific news and events be sure to check out the following:

• Newsletter: our formal membership newsletter sent out bi-monthly and published here.
• Member blog: yes, our own blog.  Catch up on almost anything in real-time and post your own happenings here.
• Group events: highlights of upcoming events including sign-up forms, etc.
• Project list: Activities Friends are formally involved in
• Funding list: Projects we are pursuing with your kindly donated gifts

Are we missing anything or know of something Friends should be pursuing?  let us know!

Here is a nice welcome message from the Chair of the Department of Animal Sciences:

A Note From The Chairs of the Department of Animal Sciences

To the Friends of Animal Sciences

Dr. Charles Gaskins, Interim Chair (2006) 

I was the Interim Chair when Everett Martin planted and fertilized a small seed in Mike Dodson’s brain about an Animal Science Alumni Association. I don’t remember how all of this worked for sure, maybe the seed had already sprouted and Martin just laid some manure on it to keep it going. Anyway, Mike pestered me a lot about the idea and I thought that it was great. There is no question that our department can use support from all directions. I was amazed and excited about how many alumni responded and how enthusiastic they were for the idea. Mike got email lists from me and other sources and soon his mailbox was overflowing with responses. I know that he keeps his email on all of the time, even at home because no matter what time of the night I send him an email I usually get a prompt response. Anyway, Mike was excited, but at the same time overwhelmed with the email he was getting. On the one hand he was happy and on the other he was concerned about time that it took to answer all of the email. Regardless, Mike did a great job, delegated some of the authority to willing alumni and now the Association is on it’s way to great and independent success. My reaction to the new association has been what a great thing not only for the department, but also for the alumni. As alumni, you spent four or five years here, maybe a few more for some of you, and you have a lot of ownership in the department. I have always felt that our faculty and staff genuinely care about the education and welfare of our students. Many of you were deeply immersed in departmental activities far beyond just going to class. So over the years we have all been pretty close and the Friends of Animal Science (alumni) association is just one way to formalize and strengthen that bond. One question is, “Where is this group going in the future?” That depends upon all of us. My hope is for better communication between the department and the alumni, strong support for the department and fun and exciting events for all of us. I am looking forward to the first meeting on April 13. I hope to see all of you there.

Dr. Margaret E. Benson; Chair (2007--) 

I am excited to be the new Chair of the Department of Animal Sciences at Washington State University (WSU). Officially I began on February 1, and my immediate goal is to rapidly become knowledgeable about animal agriculture in Washington and the Pacific Northwest. I grew up on a diversified livestock and grain farm in southwestern Minnesota and continue to be a part of our family farm. I earned my BS and MS degrees in animal sciences at North Dakota State University and my PhD in ruminant nutrition from the University of Kentucky. After graduation I joined the animal science faculty at Michigan State University (MSU) in a teaching/research/extension appointment. This experience allowed me to gain an appreciation for each of the missions of animal sciences. My research program was in applied ruminant nutrition of sheep and beef cattle with a focus on developing nutritional management strategies to enhance efficient production. I taught ruminant nutrition, sheep production, introduction to animal science, ethics in animal agriculture, and entrepreneurship in animal science. As the state sheep extension specialist I served as the liaison between the industry and the university. I also served as interim department chair at MSU for two and one half years. I then came to WSU. You might wonder why WSU? As I looked at the Department of Animal Sciences at WSU, I saw a forward thinking department in a progressive college and university that values the contributions that agriculture makes. I am excited about the future of this department and its place in the college and university, as well as its ability to contribute to advancing animal agriculture locally, nationally, and internationally.

I was pleased to learn of the establishment of the Friends of Animal Sciences and look forward to working closely with you in the future. I view our alums as important parts of the department—its past, present and future. Past--because you are the products of our past professional curriculum and departmental endeavors. Present--because your insight helps us identify areas of strength, areas in need of improvement, or emerging issues needing to be addressed. Perhaps the most important role our alums provide is assisting the department in achieving a successful future. The Department of Animal Sciences will be successful if we can position our stakeholders (students, producers, allied industry personnel, and society in general) for successful futures through our research, teaching and extension missions. There is no question that the department must adapt to the changing environment in which we exist. Our student body demographics are changing, student career goals are different and the expertise needed by animal agriculture is also changing. Producers are facing increasingly complex problems that influence their ability to manage sustainable enterprises and they look to us for assistance in facing these new challenges and opportunities. Conducting research that links new fundamental discoveries with application strategies will require new resources. This dynamic environment is challenging but creates an exciting future for the department. Successfully navigating this path will require a dedicated team effort among all who are associated with the department and I welcome the opportunity to work with this group to achieve our aggressive goals. I welcome your input and look forward to meeting many of you at your inaugural event on April 13, 2007. I appreciate your continued interest in the Department of Animal Sciences and promise to work hard to ensure we maintain and deserve your enthusiastic support. All of us in the department welcome your thoughts and ideas.