VOLUME 2024, ISSUE #2 02/15/2024 |
A MESSAGE FROM OUR DEAN Dear friends of the ACES College and Aggies, We would like to take this opportunity to thank our legislators and the executive branch of New Mexico for all the support they have given to the college and to NMSU during this legislative session. We are very happy and hopeful to have a good outlook for the outcome of the final budget for the coming year. We are dedicated on work that is going to benefit New Mexico taxpayers directly on several fronts, as demonstrated in this newsletter. We are working extensively in value-added agriculture and attracting a lot of funds through our outstanding faculty members and their research and extension programs, gaining worldwide visibility and attracting high-quality students for our undergraduate and graduate programs. The college has been very focused on some activities that relate to 4-H specifically, through the program Aggies Next Step, described below. Other activities include the important work being done by the Center of Excellence in Sustainable Foods & Agricultural Systems (CESFAS) with New Mexico wine makers. This work and other CESFAS initiatives are producing substantial investments to support the value-added agriculture industry in New Mexico. We are looking forward to the cultivation of this new year and the new programs and activities to come in the college. Another activity in benefit of the farmers & ranchers of New Mexico is our co-hosting of the Southwest Beef Symposium, happening May 7 & 8 in Roswell, NM and the annual Chile Conference in Las Cruces, as well as a meeting on agrivoltaics, that happened last week. We are extremely proud of all the work that is happening in the college, and we hope that you enjoy this newsletter. Start getting ready for our ACES Open House April 6, from 9 am to noon in Las Cruces, New Mexico. All are welcome! Thank you all for your support and collaboration. |
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Rolando A. Flores Galarza Dean & Chief Administrative Officer |
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| It is our pleasure to inform the ACES community that Dr. Omar Holguin has been selected as the 2024 Recipient of the Donald Roush Teaching Award for the College of ACES. His commitment to teaching excellence and to student success make him highly deserving of this prestigious honor. Growing up on his family farm in Vado, New Mexico, Dr. Holguin developed a passion for the environment at a young age. Memories of picking vegetables on the farm were not the only factors that inspired Holguin to study plant and environmental sciences at NMSU. Dr. Holguin received a bachelor’s degree in environmental science, a master’s degree in agronomy and a Ph.D. in plant and environmental sciences – all from the College of ACES. |
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2024 BEEF QUALITY ASSURANCE AWARDS |
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, announced the winners of the 2024 Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Awards, sponsored by Cargill. The National BQA Awards, funded in part by the Beef Checkoff, annually recognize outstanding beef and dairy producers, marketers and educators.
“These winners are committed to incorporating BQA principles into their day-to-day operations,” said Josh White, senior executive director of producer education and sustainability at NCBA. “Their dedication to animal care and continuous improvement results in high-quality beef for consumers.” 2024 BQA Educator Award
Dr. John Wenzel, New Mexico
When New Mexico brought BQA to the state in the early 1990s, Dr. John Wenzel, DVM, stepped up to teach producers the principles and management techniques to improve beef quality and safety. Traveling thousands of miles and conducting BQA training sessions for hundreds of beef producers, Dr. Wenzel’s BQA education program focuses on building consumer confidence with an end goal of providing the safest and most wholesome beef products possible. His decades of service to his profession, community, state, college and universities along with noted success of numerous programs, contributes to his reputation as a professional influence and quality educator in this industry.
Award winners are selected by a committee comprised of BQA certified representatives from universities, state beef councils, sponsors and affiliated groups, who assess nominations based on their demonstrated commitment to BQA practices, their service as leaders in the beef industry and their dedication to promoting the BQA message to grow consumer confidence.
For more information about each of the award winners, visit www.bqa.org/beef-quality-assurance-awards. |
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Dr. John Wenzel, recipient of the 2024 BQA Educator Award, accompanied by his wife, in the company of ACES Dean Rolando A. Flores Galarza (far left), NMSU Regent Dina Chacón-Reitzel (third from left to right), ACES Department Head of Animal & Range Sciences Dr. Shanna Ivey (sixth from left to right), and representatives from the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. |
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We are delighted to share exciting news with you all. Dr. Chibuzo Chilaka, who completed his PhD in Fall 2023, has achieved a significant milestone in his academic career. He recently co-authored a paper with a group of researchers from New Mexico State University (NMSU) that has been accepted for publication in the prestigious journal Science of the Total Environment. This achievement is a testament to Dr. Chilaka's dedication and expertise in his field. The paper, titled "Improving Aquifer Sustainability Hydrologically, Economically, and Institutionally: Policy Analysis of the Ogallala in New Mexico," addresses crucial issues related to aquifer sustainability and policy analysis, contributing valuable insights to the scientific community. It is worth noting that this research stems from an ongoing USDA grant awarded to New Mexico Tech, with NMSU serving as a subcontractor. |
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Please join us in congratulating Dr. Chilaka on this remarkable accomplishment, and let us extend our appreciation to our collaborators at New Mexico Tech for their invaluable contributions to this work. For more information, contact Dr. Frank A Ward at fward@nmsu.edu. |
Aggie Next Step The 4-H and Youth Development Department’s Aggie Next Step (ANS) program spent four days in Chaves County working with 216 students in grades 9 through 12 from Roswell, Goddard, and University High School AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) and GRADS (Graduation Reality and Dual-Role Skills) programs. Roswell and University high school students completed the introductory module exploring careers, discovering earnings and job security benefits that can result from pursuing higher education, and they investigated the Aggie Next Step roadmap to their post-secondary success. Goddard High School students studied, digital responsibility exploring their digital footprints, creating positive digital portfolios, gaining a better understanding of digital security, reviewing screen time, and discussing security and privacy settings on their devices and applications. The Aggie Next Step (ANS) program is a post-secondary college and career readiness program for youths in 8th through 12th grades. For more information about ANS, please contact Newt McCarty at jnewton3@nmsu.edu. |
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ACES Academic Programs Office Hosts Faculty Development Workshops On Friday, January 12, Academic Programs kicked-off the spring semester by hosting two timely workshops. “Learning to R.I.S.E.: Improving Teaching through Peer and Self-Review” was presented by Stacy Gherardi, interim co-director and associate professor, School of Social Work, and Patricia MacGregor-Mendoza, professor, Languages and Linguistics. The workshop introduced new tools that faculty can use for peer and self-evaluation of teaching developed by the 2023 Digital Faculty Fellows as part of the larger Great Teachers R.I.S.E. teaching initiative. The second workshop, “Teaching Students to Ethically Use ChatGPT and Other AI Tools to Improve their Skills and Extend their Learning” was presented by Betsy Stringam, professor, School of Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Management, and Ryan Goss, associate professor, Plant and Environmental Sciences. The session introduced various AI tools and resources, exploring how to ethically incorporate them into teaching. Presenters also offered insights on addressing AI in syllabi and shared practical examples of integrating AI usage into their respective courses. For more information, contact Priscilla Bloomquist at 575-646-2877 or pbloomqu@nmsu.edu. |
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Presenters Dr. MacGregor-Mendoza and Dr. Gherardi |
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AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION |
Bringing Broadband to New Mexico State University and Surrounding Counties pilot at ASC Farmington. (Supported by National Telecommunications and Information Administration [NTIA] grant) The agricultural research and science centers located strategically around the state find themselves limited in broadband accessibility, with some areas not even supporting a strong cell signal. This limits the types of research that can be done in the area. It also limits the technology that can be used to support the local community. To this end, NMSU ACES IT, AES, and the NMSU Director of Instruction and Research Support teamed up with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program Team, Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth). The Farmington Agricultural Science Center (ASC) is a flagship location for bringing broadband to farming practices in support of the Navajo Nation. To support research in Precision Agriculture, NMSU ACES IT introduced a network of infrastructure across acres of farmland at the ASC Farmington research center. The aim is to provide internet access, powered by solar panels, to remote locations across the center that have poor to no cell phone access. Students and researchers will power and connect IoT devices, like sensors, microcontrollers, and other instruments, to stations scattered across the farmland and supported by this network infrastructure. Each station includes a telescopic mast for safely mounting IoT devices at heights above 25ft, ethernet and Wi-Fi connection to the internet, renewable power sources with support for Power-Over-Ethernet (POE+), programmable 4K Infrared security cameras, and lockable, NEMA-rated enclosures to house IoT devices for researchers and students safely. ACES IT staff traveled from the main campus in November 2023 to work with ASC Farmington personnel to assemble the trailers. Support was provided by the Navajo Agricultural Products Industry IT staff, who provided additional expertise and a bucket truck to help modify the ASC Farmington telecommunications tower, located adjacent to the main office building. We thank the NTIA for their support of this pilot project. For more information, contact Kevin Lombard, Farmington ASC Research Director, at klombard@nmsu.edu. |
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CENTER OF EXCELLENCE IN SUSTAINABLE FOOD & AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS (CESFAS) |
CESFAS Makes Analyzing Wine Easy for New Mexico Winemakers The Center of Excellence in Sustainable Food and Agricultural Systems (CESFAS) at NMSU is set to launch a user-friendly wine quality analysis service. This initiative, championed by CESFAS vice coordinators Dr. Efren Delgado and Dr. Jay Lillywhite, aims to bring positive transformations in our state's wine industry. Dr. Govinda Sapkota oversees the quality analysis lab. Recent steps by CESFAS include the acquisition of a cutting-edge wine analyzer, empowering the center to deliver analytical services to the wines from the land of enchantment and the region. Collaborative efforts with the New Mexico Wine Association underscore the commitment to effectiveness and simplicity for winemakers. New Mexico currently lacks a dedicated wine analysis service—a gap CESFAS is determined to fill. The center is concurrently developing an easy-to-use webpage to order analyses seamlessly. A standout feature of CESFAS's new service is its commitment to delivering results within 48 hours of receiving samples. This rapid turnaround promises winemakers quick and reliable insights into decision-making. The initial focus of the analysis will cover 11 key parameters of winemaking, offering valuable insights to local winemakers. CESFAS, dedicated to making sustainable practices accessible, is confident in fostering collaboration within the local winemaking community. As we anticipate the launch of CESFAS's streamlined wine analysis service, this marks a promising step towards elevating New Mexico's wine industry to new heights. Here's to progress and innovation in winemaking! For more information, contact Govinda Sapkota at govinda@nmsu.edu. |
Climate change has affected the hydroclimatic system, leading to changes in soil moisture, spatiotemporal patterns, and occurrences of droughts and floods. As a result, stakeholders and decision-makers are now relying on data-driven water budgets (DDWB) to ensure sustainable water management. This approach not only benefits agriculture but also helps preserve ecosystems and support communities. Recent advancements in water sensor technology and publicly available water data sets have made it essential to have accurate and precise DDWBs to address climate changes, water management goals, and land use decisions. A DDWB with the ability to process all spatiotemporal scales relevant to water management would also be a most effective tool in addressing water management objectives at both the field and regional scales. Bob Sabie and Sam Fernald from New Mexico State University, along with other researchers from the University of California, Merced, and Utah State University, further explored the concept of such a comprehensive DDWB model by systematically reviewing 81 publications on water budgets from 2012 to 2022. They discovered that using satellite remote sensing was more efficient for larger spatial scales, while ground-based monitoring was more suitable for smaller scales. By integrating these two different methods of monitoring, a comprehensive DDWB can be implemented and effectively used for water management through the alignment of management objectives by decision makers. To enhance collaboration among decision makers, the research team concluded that the standardization of DDWB reporting protocols across various spatiotemporal scales would be necessary. The full research article, A Decade of Data-Driven Water Budgets: Synthesis and Bibliometric Review, can be assessed in the Water Resources Research journal by clicking here. For more information, contact Dr. Alexander Fernald at afernald@nmsu.edu |
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Figure 1. Conceptual diagram showing different water management objectives at field-scale and regional-scale and the relevant measurement scales. |
FAMILY & CONSUMER SCIENCES |
FREE February Workshops / Therapy Sessions / Group Sessions / & Ongoing Services Marriage and Family Therapy Program MFT Program: The mission of the Masters of Science (MS) program in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) is to train students to provide quality clinical services in the field of marriage and family therapy. Specific to this mission, the MFT masters program works to educate culturally competent and social justice-minded MFT clinicians prepared to meet the needs of diverse populations in New Mexico and nationally. Upcoming Events Ongoing Services For more information, contact Cynthia Hopes at choopes@nmsu.edu. |
INNOVATIVE MEDIA RESEARCH & EXTENSION |
Theme Park Kitchen: a food safety game for middle school youth Youth are the next generation of food handlers. Now, an ACES team has released an educational video game that helps them learn about food safety. Theme Park Kitchen is great to play in the classroom, at home, or as part of 4-H or Extension programs. It has three main learning outcomes for players: 1) Wash hands before preparing food, 2) Avoid cross contamination from raw meat and dirty produce to cooked or ready-to-eat foods, and 3) Cook foods to the proper temperature. On Wednesday, January 31, the Extension Foundation hosted a webinar about the game, led by Dr. Matheus Cezarotto, Assistant Professor of Innovative Media, Research and Extension and Extension learning technology specialist. Sixty-seven Extension specialists, agents and 4-H personnel from around the nation attended the webinar to learn about the making of the game and discuss how they could implement it in their programs. Theme Park Kitchen was created with expansion funding from the Extension Foundation USDA-NIFA New Technology for Ag Extension (NTAE) program. The game uses learning content from a previous NMSU Learning Games Lab game, Ninja Kitchen, which our team created in collaboration with Rutgers University food safety researcher Carol Byrd-Bredbenner. |
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In Theme Park Kitchen, the player serves food to customers who arrive on roller coaster cars. |
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NEW MEXICO FFA ASSOCIATION |
FFA Day in Santa Fe and New Mexico Leadership Conference February is the beginning of many exciting events for New Mexico FFA. On February 1st, NMFFA members made the trip to New Mexico’s capitol to visit Santa Fe and the Roundhouse. This event allowed members to speak to legislators, officials, and lawmakers. They get an opportunity to see the legislative process up close, as well as advocate for agriculture at the state level. February 10th through the 12th will be an eventful weekend full of junior high contests and workshops in Albuquerque, NM for the New Mexico Leadership Conference. Leadership development is a core piece of FFA. Current and past state officers, as well as several guests, will be presenting workshops for the students attending. Junior high members will also compete in Creed Speaking, Illustrated Talk, Quiz Bowl, Opening and Closing Ceremonies, and Prepared Public Speaking. They get the opportunity to show off their public speaking skills and build valuable traits! The coming months will be busy, but full of awesome events! |
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For more information about NMFFA and future events visit our website and social media pages Website: http://www.nmffa.org Facebook: New Mexico FFA Instagram: @newmexicoffa |
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NMSU to co-host Southwest Beef Symposium March 7-8 in Roswell The New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service and Texas A&M University AgriLife Extension Service will co-host the annual Southwest Beef Symposium Thursday, March 7, and Friday, March 8, at the Roswell Civic Center, 912 N. Main St., in Roswell, New Mexico. The two-day event will start at 1 p.m. Thursday, March 7, and focuses on the latest issues that impact cattle producers from New Mexico and West Texas. “Tight cattle inventories, drought and volatile markets are only a few of the issues producers in the southwest face,” said Marcy Ward, NMSU Extension livestock specialist. “Therefore, the overall theme of this year’s symposium will be addressing economic and cattle performance trends and offering ideas on how to improve efficiency in the feed yard and the cow herd.” On the first day, attendees will be updated on information regarding late feeding mortality in beef cattle, the 2024 economic outlook and beef quality trends over the last 20 years. The day will conclude with a discussion on genomic testing of commercial herds. On the second day, attendees will learn about resource management with topics including cow size and efficiency; range monitoring with new technology; and prussic acid and nitrate toxicity management. To conclude the day, researchers from NMSU’s Clayton Livestock Research Center will update attendees on current projects. Registration will be $85 per person if received by March 2. Late registration will be $100 from March 3 through March 7. Checks should be made payable to NMSU and mailed to Extension Animal Sciences and Natural Resources, MSC 3AE, P.O. Box 30003, Las Cruces, NM 88003. Checks must be received by Feb. 28. Attendees may also pay at the door. For more information or to register, visit https://nmbeef.nmsu.edu/. For more information on sponsorship and exhibit opportunities, visit https://ezregister.com/events/39911/. For additional information, contact Ward at maward@nmsu.edu or 575-646-5947. |
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NMSU to host food safety certification course in Las Cruces March 12-14 New Mexico State University’s Cooperative Extension Service will host an in-person certification course for food and beverage manufacturing industry professionals. The course, “Preventive Controls for Human Foods,” will be a three-day training offered on NMSU’s Las Cruces campus from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 12-14. The $400 registration fee includes a printed manual, a workbook and a Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance certificate. Registration must be submitted by March 8, and seating is limited. Online registration is available. Participants will learn the key elements of a food safety plan, how to conduct a hazard analysis for biological, chemical and physical hazards, how to develop and implement risk based preventive controls such as process, sanitation, allergen and supplier, appropriate verification and validation procedures, record keeping, and understand the requirements of a recall plan. This course meets the requirement for training required by the Food and Drug Administration Food Safety Modernization Act to become a Preventive Controls Qualified Individual. The curriculum is designed for food industry professionals responsible for a company’s food safety plan in terms of development, implementation or maintenance of activities that impact food safety. It is also suitable for those working in any area of the facility where preventive controls will be used. For more information or to register, contact Luis Sabillón at lsabillo@nmsu.edu, Nancy Flores at naflores@nmsu.edu, call 575-646-1179 or visit the websites at https://foodtech.nmsu.edu/workshops/fspca.html and online registration at https://fspcamar24.ezregister.com. |
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SCHOOL OF HOTEL, RESTAURANT & TOURISM MANAGEMENT |
The School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management Announces Spring 2024 Events We are pleased to announce our HRTM Meals and Events for Spring 2024! We are resuming our student-run lunches on Wednesdays and Fridays beginning February 14th, our monthly TAP Happy Hours beginning February 9th, and are debuting a new event, 575 Food fights, for our local culinary community to compete or be spectators starting on February 26th. We are especially enthusiastic to announce that our Annual Chef Artist Dinner will be at the Los Poblanos Historic Inn and Organic Farm in Albuquerque, NM on Saturday, March 23rd. This special event is being executed in collaboration with our Meetings and Events class, HRTM Alumna, Janet Ortega, Los Poblanos Lead Chef Christopher Bethoney (recently nominated for Best Chef Southwest by the James Beard Foundation), Chef Mike White, and Chef Sean Staggs. Tickets are $200 per person and must be purchased in advance. Seating is limited. https://nmsufoundation.org/givenow/hrtm-guest-chef-dinner We have two additional community events in Las Cruces. Our fundraiser is a Derby and Bourbon Celebration at 100 West Café on Thursday, April 25th. Tickets are $100 per person, available at https://nmsufoundation.org/givenow/hrtm-derby-bourbon-event. For our wine lovers, we will have a Rhone Wine Tasting, led by Mark Burden and HRTM alumna Jasmine Giles from Southern Glazers Wine & Spirits on Tuesday, March 26th in the Bobby Lee Lawrence Academy of Wine. The full schedule of all of our events is at https://100west.nmsu.edu/index.html. Contact our office in Gerald Thomas Hall, room #138, 575-646-7324, or e-mail hrtm@nmsu.edu or more information and event reservations. |
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Exciting developments for a member of our HRTM faculty! We are thrilled to share some exciting news with you regarding the West Federation Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education (CHRIE) 2024 conference in Denver, CO. The representatives of WF CHRIE have recently informed us about the outcomes of the scholarship applications that were submitted last month by Dr. Christina Dimitriou and Research Assistant Louisa El-Abdullah Omar. We are delighted to announce that Louisa El-Abdullah Omar has been selected as the recipient of the $500-WFCHRIE Conference 2024 Student Scholarship Award, while Dr. Dimitriou has been honored with the $500-WFCHRIE Conference 2024 Faculty Scholarship Award. Additionally, we are excited to share that their paper submission, titled “Long-term Effects of Job Insecurity and Financial Stress on Employee Well-Being and Work Productivity in the Hospitality Industry,” has been accepted for presentation at the 2024 WFCHRIE conference. The conference is scheduled to take place from February 1-3, 2024, and will be hosted by MSU Denver. This presents a remarkable opportunity for them to showcase their research findings and engage with fellow scholars in the field. |
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The faculty scholarship award photo captures a touching moment, as Dr. Shane C. Blum (left), who presented the $500 check, was both Dr. Dimitriou's dissertation chair and department chair at Texas Tech University. |
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OPPORTUNITIES FOR INTERNSHIP |
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) New Mexico is excited to announce that the following Internship Opportunity Announcements have posted to USAJobs.gov (see links below): Pathways Internships Title: Student Trainee (Rangeland Management Specialist)
Series: GS-0499-2/3/4
Duty Locations: Truth or Consequences, Tucumcari
Open Period: 02/06/2024 – 02/20/2024
Announcement Number: NRCS-24-12305232-PW-NW-BC
Announcement Link: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/774805500 Title: Student Trainee (Engineering)
Series: GS-0899-2/3/4
Duty Locations: Albuquerque, Las Vegas, Roswell
Open Period: 02/06/2024 – 02/20/2024
Announcement Number: NRCS-24-12304704-PW-NW-BC
Announcement Link: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/774723200# Recent Graduate Internships Title: Soil Conservationist (Recent Graduate)
Series: GS-0457-5/7/9
Duty Locations: Hernandez, Las Cruces, Roswell
Open Period: 02/12/2024 – 02/26/2024
Announcement Number: NRCS-24-12309280-RG-NW-BC
Announcement Link:https://www.usajobs.gov/job/775725100#
Title: Rangeland Management Specialist (Recent Graduate)
Series: GS-0454-5/7/9
Duty Locations: Carlsbad, Deming, Truth or Consequences
Open Period: 02/12/2024 – 02/26/2024
Announcement Number: NRCS-24-12311026-RG-NW-BC
Announcement Link: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/775736900
Title: Civil Engineer/Agricultural Engineer (Recent Graduate)
Series: GS-0810/0890-5/7/9
Duty Locations: Portales, Santa Fe
Open Period: 02/12/2024 – 02/26/2024
Announcement Number: NRCS-24-12309170-RG-NW-BC
Announcement Link:https://www.usajobs.gov/job/775725900# You can review this PowerPoint Presentation for more information about NRCS as an agency and the Pathways Internship. You can always keep up to date with our current openings, upcoming postings, career opportunities and internships, career resources (guides and sample resumes) and more on our “Work for Us” page. We encourage you to apply! |
Click on the following link to give to the College of ACES. Give Now | New Mexico State University Foundation (nmsu.edu) You can also contact Planning Officer, Erika De La O. Medina at erikadlo@nmsu.edu for more information on how to give to the College of ACES. |
The College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences (ACES) annual report provides an overview of accomplishments during 2022, including impacts, productivity
and goals for each unit, area and program. These accomplishments reflect our work in
teaching, research and extension. To view our College of ACES 2022 Annual Report click on the following link: Annual Reports | New Mexico State University - BE BOLD. Shape the Future. (nmsu.edu) |
Our department of Innovative Media Research & Extension produced a great video demonstrating our college. You can access the video by clicking on the following link: ACES About Home (nmsu.edu) |
COLLEGE OF ACES MAGAZINE – FALL 2023 ISSUE |
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The College of Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Sciences is an engine for economic and community development in New Mexico, improving the lives of New Mexicans through academic, research, and Extension programs. |
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