Higher Education Series: Episode 3 - Agribusiness & Higher Ed

What is a land grant university and why does it matter – especially when it comes to Idaho’s agriculture industry? The third and final episode of the Higher Education Series features the programs and groundbreaking research taking place in the University of Idaho’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS), arguably the R&D arm for much of Idaho’s ag industry. Learn more about U of I led projects in agriculture like the nation’s largest research dairy, methods to study soil deeper than anywhere in the world, and how U of I CALS is in your backyard, contributing to the health and prosperity of Idahoans statewide.

The Higher Education Series is made possible by the generous support of Sparklight! 

Panelists:

Ariel Agenbroad
For over 16 years, Ariel Agenbroad has served southwest Idaho as a University of Idaho Extension professor and educator focused on community food systems, urban agriculture and small farms. Her areas of specialization include home and market vegetable production, food safety, direct marketing of small farm products, organic production and gardening with youth.
 
Mark McGuire
Mark McGuire is a University Distinguished Professor and internationally recognized leader in nutrition, lactation, and the sustainability of agriculture. He serves as Associate Dean in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at the University of Idaho and directs the Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station.
 
Zachary Kayler
Zachary Kayler is an assistant professor in the Department of Soil and Water Systems in the University of Idaho College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. His projects focus on the understanding of ecosystem biogeochemical cycles within natural and managed ecosystems with an emphasis on sustainability, resilience, diversity and adaptation. Among other projects, Kayler is a co-principal investigator on the $19 million Deep Soil Ecotron project that will study soil at depths greater than anywhere else in the world.
  
Pat Purdy
A U of I alum in mechanical engineering, Pat Purdy manages his family’s Picabo-based operation where they raise dairy quality hay, malt barley, and mustard seed in addition to running a cow/calf operation, private fishing club and guiding and outfitting business. Pat is a member of the Idaho Grain Producers Association, previous Idaho Barley Commissioner and currently serves on the U of I College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Advisory Board.
 
Carly Schoepflin (Guest moderator)
Carly Schoepflin is the director for communications and strategic initiatives in the U of I College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. Raised on a wheat and barley farm in central Montana, Carly received her degree in public relations from Washington State University and has experience working in creative agencies and large-scale events production.

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