When Andrea Engebretson graduated from Beloit Memorial High School in 1992, she was interested in environmental science or psychology, but was unaware of the types of jobs available in these fields. After attending an advising meeting at the UW-Madison, soil science piqued her interest. Further conversations at a College picnic with Jerry Tyler and Jaya Iyer, professors in the soil science department, convinced her to pursue a major in soil science.

John and Rita Leahy, Edward C. Sloan, and Ed Traisman will be inducted into the Wisconsin Meat Industry Hall of Fame at a luncheon Thursday, May 1 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Madison.

The 2003 State FFA Career Development Events were held April 25 on the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences campus at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Doug Maxwell, emeritus professor of plant pathology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, has won this year”s Chair”s Award for Scientific Excellence from the Board for International Food and Agricultural Development.

Ten students were recognized for outstanding academics or leadership at the Farm and Industry Short Course Graduation.

Low commodity prices have inspired many farmers to look at alternative enterprises, such as poultry production, to increase their farm income. With careful financial planning and management, poultry enterprises can make money for farmers.

Rod Nilsestuen, the new secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection, will be the featured speaker at an Agricultural Issues Forum, Feb. 27 on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus.

Prospective dairy farmers have until April 1 to apply for an innovative program, now entering its ninth year, to help them establish their own grass-based dairy farms in Wisconsin.

Young dairy experts from Green and Richland counties took top honors at this year’s State 4-H Dairy Bowl, held Feb. 1 in Portage.

Wisconsin net farm income has gone from bad to better and back to bad over the past three years. This year, things will likely improve a bit, predict University of Wisconsin-Madison agricultural economists.