CSS News 2003-04 pdf - Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences ...

Chair’s Message
The sound of the future is ringing in my ears! Outside of
my second floor office are the beginnings of a new face
on venerable Johnson Hall on the Pullman campus.
Groundbreaking began in Summer 2003 to build a new
wing along Stadium Way—Plant Biosciences I. The research
and teaching labs in this new wing will support many of our
state and federal research and teaching programs. Check
out the live web cam linked to our http://css.wsu.edu/
web page to view the building progress! The USDA also
approved funding for the design of another addition on
the east side of Johnson Hall, which will provide future
facilities for remaining ARS and state programs. Plans for
additional new buildings at Prosser and Mt. Vernon promise
to provide modernized facilities for our programs at those
locations as well.
We have a new boss with a familiar face! Dr. R. James Cook,
endowed Chair of Wheat Research and CSS instructor of
Crops 403/503, Cropping Systems, has taken on the position
of interim Dean of the College after Dr. James J. Zuiches
stepped down this past summer. Dr. Zuiches was instrumental
in guiding the building projects described above, and he
also successfully lobbied for a change in the name of our
college to the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural
Resource Sciences. Dr. Zuiches was a staunch supporter of
CSS programs and we thank him for his years of dedicated
administrative service to CSS, the College, and WSU.
Dr. Cook is rolling up his sleeves to be an active leader.
In his own words, “The last thing I want to be is a lame
duck Dean.” Dr. Cook is challenging us to redesign our
undergraduate programs under larger cross-unit and
potentially cross-college degree programs such as Plant
Sciences and Agricultural Systems. Dr. Cook provides us
with a strong voice of advocacy for mission-directed,
science-based research, teaching, and outreach.
A continuing decline in state support for higher education
took its toll again this year, as our state funding for CSS
programs was cut by $250,000. Ongoing budget pressures
are forcing us to shift the funding base of our research
technological staff from state to grant support. Fortunately,
our outstanding faculty and staff brought in over $6 million
in new grants and contracts to support our programs this
past year. Unfortunately, the newly created program in
weed science/weed ecology at Prosser was eliminated when
Dr. Marty Williams accepted an ARS position in Illinois.
Additional technologist support at Prosser was also lost with
the budget cut. On the brighter side, we are pleased to
welcome Dr. Richard Koenig and spouse, Dr. Theresa Cerny.
Dr. Koenig is filling the soil fertility research/extension
position vacated by Dr. Greg Schwab, who accepted a
position at the University of Kentucky. Dr. Koenig earned
his Ph.D. in our program (1993) and spent time at Colorado
State and Utah State Universities before coming back home.
Dr. Cerny, an ornamental horticulturist by training, will be
contributing to CSS and Horticulture teaching programs.
We also welcomed geostatistician Dr. Rick Rossi, another
WSU grad, back to Johnson Hall as a member of the Center
for Precision Agriculture team directed by Dr. Fran Pierce.
Dr. Shiou Kuo returned home from his professional leave in
Taiwan where he studied environmental soils issues.
Kudos to Dr. Tim Miller, who was promoted to E-3, associate
extension specialist in 2003; Tim is initiating a weed science
graduate training program at the Mt. Vernon R&E Center.
Thanks to Dr. Bill Johnston for his collaboration with Walla
Walla Community College to institutionalize an articulation
agreement for transferring turf students.
Provost Robert Bates paid a visit to our department and we
gave him an overview of our diverse programs. Dr. Bates
is challenging us to raise our game to the next level. Last
spring we held a statewide faculty and staff retreat at the
Lazy F ranch near Ellensburg. It was a great opportunity
for us to get reacquainted with our statewide colleagues.
We tackled some tough issues of accountability, respect,
team building, and communication; all essential foundations
for moving us to that next level. The retreat provided
an excellent starting point from which our department will
improve our focus and direction.
Operations in the CSS main office are settling down as
new staffers John Brabb, Dori Emerson, and Nancy Bean
are adding new energy and expertise while Mary Kate
Alexander, Deb Marsh, Judi Wutzke, and Paul Gylling
realign their roles and responsibilities to best coordinate
team efforts and to best utilize talents of the new staff.
Improved efficiencies in financial management and
reporting, improved faculty, and student services are being
realized with these changes . . . as the jack hammers and
construction trucks continue to rumble just a few feet away.
• Bill Pan, Chair
On the front cover:
Plant Biosciences Building Groundbreaking, L to R: State Sen. Larry Sheahan;
WSU Regent Peter Goldmark; State Rep. Mark Schoesler; WSU President V. Lane
Rawlins; Joseph Jen, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Undersecretary for Research,
Education, and Economics; R. James Cook, interim dean of the College of
Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences; Antoinette Betschart,
area director of the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service’s
Pacific West area.

Put Me in the
Game, Coach!
So Coach Doba thinks he has it tough
filling positions when players get injured?
We have been continually challenged to
offer the best academic experiences possible
to our students and we are indebted to
several key instructors who have filled the
ranks as faculty retire, positions are lost to
budget cuts, and other faculty take professional
leave. Dr. Cathy Perillo has played an
essential role in teaching many soils courses
while creating some exciting new courses in
sustainable agriculture. Dr. Chris Pannkuk is
lending his international experiences to our
course on World Cropping Systems with Dr. Steve
Ullrich, while Dr. Lynne Carpenter-Boggs, Kathy
Colin-Peck, and Blake Ketchum have stepped up
to fill temporary voids created during faculty
professional leaves being taken by Dr. John Reganold
and Dr. Alan Busacca. Dr. Colin Campbell, scientist
with Decagon Devices, Inc., generously offers his time
and energy to instruct Environmental Biophysics,
a course established by his father, Dr. Gaylon Campbell.
Dr. Perillo, Dr. Joan Davenport and Dr. Stevens taught
Soil Fertility as I stepped into the Chair position. Special
thanks to Joan and Bob for all of that travel between Prosser
and Pullman, and to other faculty such as Dr. Craig Cogger
and Dr. Eric Miltner for making the occasional trek to Pullman to deliver guest lectures! Dr. Gwen Stahnke developed two
web-based courses for our ever growing turf program (61% of CSS undergraduate majors) which she manages from Puyallup.
Dr. Kim Campbell, USDA-ARS wheat geneticist, continues to donate her time and energy in instructing our undergraduate
seminar course and team-teaching our graduate crop breeding course while directing the Central Asia project that was initiated
by Dr. Tom Lumpkin prior to his departure.
• Bill Pan, Chair
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Kathy Colin-Peck speaks on the subject of organic
gardening and farming
Dr. Dave Somers earned a B.S. in Soil Science in 1974 from the University of Maine, and his
M.S. and Ph.D. in 1978 and 1983, respectively under the mentorship of Drs. Andy Kleinhofs
and Bob Warner. He was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Plant Genetic Manipulation
Group, Botany Department, University of Nottingham, UK in 1983 before accepting a
position at the Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, University of Minnesota as
assistant professor in 1984. In 1993, Dave accepted an endowed chair position in the Department
of Agronomy and Genetics titled “Applications of Molecular Genetics to Crop Improvement.”
In 1999, he was inducted as Fellow of the Crop Science Society of America and the American Society of Agronomy.
Recently, he received the Award of Merit from the Minnesota Chapter of Gamma Sigma Delta, the Honor Society of
Agriculture.
Dave has already achieved high distinction in science and he gives much of the credit to his training and experience at
Washington State University, although I must add that his native intelligence and drive for achievement and perfection
also has much to do with it. The Department of Agronomy and Genetics at the University of Minnesota is very fortunate
to have Dave as a faculty member and the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences at Washington State University is very
proud to have him as an alumnus.
Dave enjoys fishing as a compelling hobby, particularly with a fly. While at WSU, he became an avid steelhead fisherman
and we spent many an enjoyable hour together on the river and often discussed science while driving back and forth. I
think that some of our better research ideas evolved from those discussions. Dave continues his love affair with fishing,
but the opportunities in Minnesota are more limited. Therefore, he makes occasional trips back to Washington state to
fish for steelhead. Dave is married to his long-time sweetheart Ann and they have three lovely daughters who are almost
grown up now.
• Andy Kleinhofs, Professor/Scientist
1

Musings of an Emeritus
As an emeritus of the
Department of Crop
and Soil Sciences, I
salute Dr. Bill Pan
and former Chair
Dr. Thomas Lumpkin
for their vision and
leadership. Surely, Tom
is harnessing agronomy
to the problems of crop
production in Asia. Present
Chair Bill Pan has a good feel for
our responsibility to our constituents. With more and more
of our funding coming from out-of-state, it is difficult to
remember we are a Land grant institution with a top
priority of serving the needs of the people of the state.
They expect our utmost attention to serving their needs
and want the closest of communication and support.
We need to be ever mindful that state support is essential
and we must constantly earn it. Failing to do so results in
reduced funding.
The halo over “basic research” is inviting, but we must
never forget that our research must yield value—knowledge—of
some benefit to our state. A former director of
the Washington Agricultural Experiment Station once
touted “basic research,” whatever that is, as many times
more valuable than “applied research.” Whatever kind
of research Orville Vogel used really paid off with the
development of the semi-dwarfs. Gaines in the first decade
returned more wealth to the state of Washington than all
the funds to the Experiment Station from its inception to
that time. And of course, benefits around the world were
many more times that amount. We can’t have victories
like that every year, but we can strive for repeats.
Participant Mary Bodley visits Dr. Gwen Stahnke’s
ornamental grass display at the WSU turf research
facility in Puyallup.
My sympathy to the department
chairman. If he can only figure
out some way to print money,
then everybody will be happy.
The battle for funds is awesome
and requires understanding
and support from all of us.
ARCPACS
It is heartwarming to see the
added emphasis on attention to our
students. We should be sobered by the
fact that only 5–10% of them will be filling positions
in academia. We need to prepare the other 90% for
employment in the non-academic arena. They are the
ones who justify our existence as a department. I hope
we instill in them the philosophy of professionalism as
followed by doctors, engineers, foresters, etc. Indeed, we
are all professionals, and if we are successful in our endeavors,
we must live up to that philosophy of helping others
and helping society. To be identified as professionals in
our field, all agronomists, especially those in non-academic
arenas, should be certified through ARCPACS (American
Registry of Certified Professionals in Agronomy, Crops and
Soils). It provides the right mind-set and identifies us as
truly qualified professionals with valid expertise. It was
none other than our Dr. Jim Engibous who initiated this
institution!
• B. Rodney Bertramson, CPAg
Editor’s Note: Dr. Bertramson was former faculty and
chair of the Department of Agronomy and Soils at WSU
from 1949–1979. At age 90, he continues to attend the
weekly seminar series, and remains involved in many
civic activities around Pullman.
2003 Statewide Tour for Graduate Students
On August 17, Dr. Dave Bezdicek, Dr. Kim Kidwell, and
former Graduate Programs Coordinator Lynn Kamal
headed west with seven graduate students from the Dept.
of Crop and Soil Sciences to participate in a 2 1 /2 day
tour of the Puyallup and Prosser areas. The goal of this
excursion was to expose students to different facets of
agricultural research at our off-campus locations.
Drs. Gwen Stahnke and Craig Cogger coordinated the
Puyallup tour, which consisted of fabulous tours of a
small local organic farm, sustainable organic research
plots, and turf research plots. The group then headed
to Prosser where Drs. Bob Stevens and Joan Davenport
coordinated tours of various research projects involving
grapes, hops, tree fruits, and potatoes.
Dr. Bob Parker served as our tour guide during the
Prosser trip, which included a visit to the Columbia
Crest winery. Students were extremely pleased to
have the opportunity to interact with off-station
faculty, and were all truly amazed at the wide range
of cutting edge research that is being conducted at
our off-station facilities.
• Kim Kidwell, Associate Professor/Scientist
2

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Back to the Future
Where will the future generation of crop and soil scientists come from? Our faculty,
staff, and students hope to inspire that next generation of bright young minds in
K-12 by letting them know about the opportunities in crop and soil sciences.
Over the past year we have put on workshops and tours for K-12 science teachers
and students, participated in various recruiting events, and sponsored high school
science competitions.
Amanda McKinley, B.S. Crop Science, has been a leader in the CAHNRS Ambassadors
Program that has conducted numerous high school visits to inform students about
opportunities for college study.
Laylah Scarnecchia took over the reins of the Crop and Soils Club and organized
the Annual FFA Agronomy Competition in Moses Lake with over 50 high school
students from various Washington high schools. Tim Riebe, Eric Choker, Leah
Baugher, Bruce Frazier, Joe Yenish, Cathy Perillo, Bill Pan, Steve Ullrich, and Brady
Carter assisted in the organization and supervision of this event. Laylah also
organized a summer Ag Teachers Workshop on soil characterization, and weed,
insect, and pathogen identification.
Steve Jones’ research team sponsored a summer workshop for gifted middle school
students from the Spokane-area Libby Center on crop breeding and genetics.
Ann Kennedy’s team put on a soil biology workshop for Pullman area grade
schoolers. Rob Gallagher and Stewart Higgins mentored Pullman High School
students on an organic farming project.
Bill Johnston showed off his turf research plots next to the WSU Student Recreation
Center to a group of visiting high school students during Future Cougar Days while
Bill Pan met with prospective students during the information and recruiting fair in
Beasley Coliseum.
Our faculty and staff at the off-campus research and extension centers have always
been active in their communities. Gwen Stahnke was a science judge at the Western
Washington Fair in Puyallup, and Andy Bary, Eric Miltner and Gwen were science
fair judges for K-12 at the Puyallup Fairgrounds. Bob Stevens is mentoring a couple
of high school students on their soil science projects.
Earning a B.S. in Crop Science (Turf Management
option) has never been easier (i.e. quicker) for Walla
Walla Community College (WWCC) Turf Management
students, who decide to come to WSU. WSU and WWCC
are currently in the process of signing a Memorandum
of Understanding for graduates of the WWCC Associate
in Applied Arts and Sciences degree (AAAS) in Turf
Management who matriculate into the WSU B.S. degree
in Crop Science, Turf Management Option.
The partnership is intended to eliminate duplication
of coursework and better integrate the two turf management
programs to ensure a more efficient pathway to
graduation. Turf students who complete the WWCC
AAAS in Turf Management with a 2.0 cumulative grade
point average will be granted Junior standing at WSU and
will need to take only 60 semester credits while attending
WSU. To assist students and advisors, the agreement
specifies in detail the proposed term-by-term (or semesterby-semester)
course of study as offered by WWCC and WSU.
When the plan of study is followed, WWCC turf students
will now be able to graduate from WSU in two years.
• Bill Johnston, Professor/Scientist
WSU Senior Scientific Assistant Steven Lyon
assists children from the Spokane Libby Center
(a school for gifted children) with
wheat hybridization.
Washington State University was host to
the Washington State Science Teachers’
Association 2003 Annual Conference
on the Pullman campus, and CSS was
a major participant. Kim Kidwell
delivered a keynote address on genetically
modified crops. Mary Fauci and
Dave Bezdicek organized a tour of the
WSU compost facility. Steve Jones lead
a tour of the greenhouse facilities and
discussed crop breeding techniques
while Ann Kennedy offered a workshop
on soil biology. Nancy Bean assembled
workshop materials and posted a
departmental display during the
conference.
These are just some examples of how
our dedicated CSS faculty, staff, and
students are reaching back to the future
crop and soil scientists at the K-12 level.
• Bill Pan, Chair
Turfgrass Management Partnership: WSU and Walla Walla Community College
Teaching Assistant Travis Ricard (L) describing the
characteristics of turfgrass species for vegetative
identification in Crops 301 lab, Turfgrass Culture.
3

In August 2003, in the window between summer and fall
classes, the Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences piloted a new
course in conjunction with the University of Idaho
entitled “Field Analysis of Sustainable Food Systems.”
This was an intensive, week-long immersion course in
which eight upper-level undergraduate and graduate
students and two faculty, Dr. Cathy Perillo (WSU), and
Dr. Cinda Williams (UI), visited a variety of farming,
ranching, marketing, and processing facilities in the
Inland Northwest. Some of these operations were large,
others small; some were “organic,” and others “conventional”;
some fit our pre-conceived notions of practices
and approaches—many did not!
During the days we explored the different operations
and had in-depth discussions with the farmers and site
managers. The evenings were spent in formal and
Teaching the History and
Ethics of Genetics
Most days you cannot turn on the national news or
open up a newspaper without hearing or reading
about the latest genetic breakthrough. These new
genetic discoveries, while offering great hope, in some
cases are also causing society to question what “these
mad scientists” are up to now.
As we teach the next generation of scientists at WSU,
it is imperative that we instill not only an appreciation
for history but also the idea that what we do may have
implications far beyond those that we had anticipated
for the future.
The history and ethics of genetics (Crops 512/MBios 525)
has been taught in the Department of Crop and Soil
Sciences since 1997. The class had 25 students during
Spring 2003 semester and has drawn graduate students
from the University of Idaho and three different departments
on the WSU campus during its six-year history.
The students decide which topics to cover and they have
included: eugenics (the science of human breeding);
science stars of WSU; early plant breeders; theories of
evolution before Darwin; did Mendel fake it? the
relationship between science fiction and science; gene
therapy; science and religion; and genetically modified
turf grass.
Some courses that rely on discussion rather than lectures
can result in a situation where a few students do all the
talking. That problem is overcome in this course because
the majority of the grade is based on preparation and
participation. Each student is required to enter into the
discussions and with the wide range of topics, it is rare that a student does not have
something to say.
Over the years that the course has been taught it has evolved from mainly historical topics
to now include ethical and philosophical perspectives. Students want to do what’s right
when they leave WSU and by learning of the mistakes and triumphs of the past they will
be better prepared to do so.
• Stephen Jones, Associate Professor/Scientist
What is Really Going On Out on the Farm?
informal discussions of our observations, our understanding
of “sustainability,” and understanding how our food
system works with respect to production practices and
environmental stewardship, as well as economic and social
sustainability. Student teams put together oral presentations
and subsequently turned in written analyses of their
experiences, the sites, and the insights they gained.
Students and faculty alike found the experience to be
intensive and highly valuable from an educational perspective.
In the words of one student, “We met visionaries,
realists, idealists, businessmen, healers, and vanishing
tribes.” We would like to make this a permanent course,
continue to offer it using a similar immersion approach,
and invite farmers and other agricultural professionals who
might be interested in taking it for continuing education.
• Cathy Perillo, Instructor
4

Honors and Activities
Frank Young was named Outstanding Weed Scientist by the
Western Society of Weed Science. What’s more, he received
the award at the March 2003 regional meeting in Lihue,
Kauai!
Kim Kidwell is recipient of the 2003 award for CSSA Young
Crop Scientist of the Year for her stellar research in crop
genetics and breeding that blends classical wheat breeding
with current techniques in biotechnology to improve yield
and end-use quality in spring wheat. Her outstanding
teaching at both lower and upper divisions of our Crop
Science program is also recognized. Additionally, both Kim
and Dr. Joan Davenport were selected to be participants in
the 13th annual ESCOP/ACOP-sponsored Leadership
Development Program for emerging leaders in agricultural
experiment stations.
Bob Stevens is a member of the Nutrient and Pest Management
Training Development Team that developed a training
model that will be adopted nationwide by NRCS. They were
awarded the 2003 Department of Agriculture Honor Award
for Maintaining and Enhancing the Nation’s Natural
Resources and Environment. This is one of just a few USDA
Honor Awards that are given each year for notable contributions
to the Department’s mission, the Nation, or public
service.
Gwen Stahnke was named Chair of Division C5, Crop
Science Society of America, at the 2002 annual meeting
in Indianapolis, Indiana. She will serve a one-year term.
This is an elected position, voted on by members of C5.
Ryan Higginbotham, Crop Science M.S. student, was a
“highlighted” graduate student from CAHNRS at the
December 2003 graduation, and Amanda McKinley, double
major in Crop Science and Ag Econ, was the highlighted
CAHNRS undergrad. In words and in true spirit, both
students embody the phrase “World Class. Face to Face.”
Congratulations to Gary Shelton, recipient of the 2003
WSCIA O.A. Vogel Crop Improvement Association Award.
Gary was presented his award at the WSCIA annual meeting
in Moscow, Idaho on November 18. The award was
established in 1973 in honor of Dr. Orville A. Vogel’s
achievements and contributions to agriculture in the Pacific
Northwest. Today, through this prestigious award, individuals
who have made significant contributions to the pure
seed program and/or crop production in Washington
continue to be acknowledged.
The Department of Crop and Soil Sciences safety committee,
chaired by Vic DeMacon, received an award from Environmental
Health Services at WSU for a most active and
effective safety committee.
USDA-ARS Grain Legume Genetics and Physiology Research
Unit continues to sponsor their annual Groundhog’s Day
lentil/legume cook-off. The cook-off had a record number
of participants in 2003—including the renowned Taste E.
Lentil. Recipes and pictures are posted to their web page
at http://pwa.ars.usda.gov/pullman/glgp. Lorna Bell-Burns’
Hot Crab-Lentil Casserole received the overall grand prize
for 2003.
Amanda McKinley, senior in Crop Science, was a recipient
of the President’s Award for 2003, giving recognition to
excellence in leadership and service—to those whose
leadership and service to the campus and the community
will leave a lasting impact. Faculty, administrators, and
peers nominate the candidates; a committee reviews each
candidate on the characteristics of leadership, values, selfawareness,
and responsibility; and then selects the recipients.
From the over 200 nominations submitted, 80 students
were selected for this honor. The recipients represented all
of the academic colleges, all campuses, and undergraduate,
graduate and professional students.
Eighteen graduate students participated in the second
annual Ropes course at Quaker Hill in McCall, Idaho on
September 27. Rope courses present physical and mental
challenges aimed at improveing communication, teamwork,
and self-awareness. This group approached each challenge
with a commendable amount of enthusiasm. From leaping
off a 30-foot pole to leading the blindfolded, each learned
to trust one another and themselves as they pushed their
physical and mental limits. Placing 18 graduate students
simultaneously on a two-foot square platform also instilled
the value of teamwork. Not only did the experience build
strong relationships among Crop and Soil Science graduate
students, but it reminded them of the cultural diversity that
makes this department so unique. Graduate students who
participated, and some that didn’t, helped sell black awned
durum wheat at the Moscow Farmer’s Market to raise funds.
Additionally, many thanks go to the faculty and the
department for providing financial support.
Craig Cogger was presented with the 2003 Kenneth J.
Morrison Award at Spillman Field Day on July 10 in
recognition of his work to improve soil and water quality
and to facilitate recycling of organic wastes. The award
honors the memory of Kenneth J. Morrison, who served
as WSU extension agronomist from 1950 to 1987.
The School of Molecular Biosciences (SMB) at WSU has
awarded Matthew Arterburn, winter wheat breeding
doctoral candidate, with the Stephen Fodor and Janelle
Benoit Fellowship for having the highest GPA earned
among third year SMB graduate students.
Michael Hecht, a physicist with NASA’s Jet Propulsion
Laboratory, delivered the inaugural Gaylon Campbell
Lecture in Environmental Soil and Water Science titled,
“The Phoenix Mission to the Mars Polar Regions: Getting
Down on Dirty” on November 18, 2003. Hecht is lead
investigator for the Microscopy, Electrochemistry, and
Conductivity Analyzer, a soil analysis payload scheduled to
fly to Mars on the Phoenix mission in 2007. The Campbell
Lecture was created to help further understanding of
environmental soil science. It is named for Gaylon Campbell,
who spent nearly 30 years as a professor of environmental
biophysics and soil physics in WSU’s Department of Crop
and Soil Sciences. He retired from WSU in 1998 to become
vice president of engineering at Decagon Devices, a local
manufacturer of biophysical research instrumentation. The
lecture was created through gifts from Campbell Scientific,
Inc., and Decagon Devices, Inc.
5

Honors and Activities (continued)
• • • • • • • • Bill Nye and Steve Jones
Comedian/scientist “Bill Nye the Science Guy” and five members
of his production crew paid Stephen Jones and the winter wheat lab
a visit May 14, 2003 to film the thirteenth episode of Nye’s science
show targeted for adult viewers. The focus of the episode will be
“GM Food.” They were interested in topics including how to
cross wheat and the history of wheat breeding, as well as issues
of concern regarding the private ownership of genes and ideas.
The episode aired fall 2003 and included interviews with
scientists at the University of California, Berkeley and U.C.
Davis. Bill Nye stars as the host of the show designed to get kids
interested in the science of everyday, and some not-so-everyday,
things. On a full range of subjects, including ecology, biology,
chemistry, and physics, Nye gives an easy-to-understand, yet
informative, lesson that both kids and grownups can enjoy.
His shows have received 17 Emmy awards.
Under the direction of advisors Dr. William Johnston and
graduate student Travis Ricard, the Turf Club has continued
to thrive and be a viable outlet for students interested in the
turfgrass world. Membership this year has increased to
eighteen. Incoming President John Hicks, Vice President
Michael Picha, Secretary Casey Krueger, Treasurer Curt
Chambers, and Publicity Chairman John Ball are currently active in the planning, development, and implementation of an
alumni newsletter, coordination of the club spring field trip, planning the annual spring golf tournament fundraiser, and
coordinating guest speakers, as well as involvement in university and Department of Crop and Soil Sciences activities.
2003 CAHNRS Awards • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Faculty Excellence in Extension: Robert G. Stevens.
Stationed at the WSU Prosser Irrigated Agricultural Research
and Extension Center, Bob has conducted field research on
five of Washington’s top ten agricultural commodities. Over
the past 17 years, he has made 567 presentations to various
groups covering a broad spectrum of topics, including
contamination of heavy metals in fertilizers, an issue that
received widespread attention in the media in the late 1990s.
Classified Staff Excellence Award: Debra J. Marsh. Debra
has been the senior secretary for the Pullman-based Crop
and Soil Sciences extension faculty since 2000. Additionally,
she provides media support to the department by way of
web page design, departmental seminars, Tull Tales editor,
and alumni newsletter coordinator.
Team Excellence Award: Columbia Plateau PM-10 Wind
Erosion Quality Project. Since 1993, this multi-agency,
multi-disciplinary team of faculty and staff from WSU, the
University of Idaho, Oregon State University, and the USDA
Agricultural Research Service has been conducting research
that has led to a greater understanding of the physics of soil
erosion in the Columbia Basin Plateau. Their research has
linked high levels of particulate matter of 2.5 microns to 10
microns in size to strokes and heart disease.
Outstanding Senior: Carol Powers. A Pullman native, Carol
received her B.S. in 2003 in Crop Science—Biotechnology
option, as well as a B.S. in Genetics and Cell Biology.
An Honors Program student, Carol conducted molecular
breeding research under the advise of Dr. Kim Kidwell.
She is pursuing her M.S. degree at Oregon State University
working with Steve Knapp, alternative crop breeder, doing
molecular characterization work with cuphea.
ASA 2002 Outstanding Senior: Aivars Nollendorfs. Aivars
received his B.S. in 2003 in Crop Science—Turf Management
option. Aivars celebrated his graduation with a trip abroad
to attend his family reunion in Latvia, where he toured
Europe and played at several notable golf courses. He is
now working for Mountain Star Golf Course, a course under
construction near Cle Elem, WA on the summit off of I-90
where he is doing the grow-in work. Expected completion
date for the golf course is summer 2004.
6

2003–2004 Academic Scholarship Awards
Roscoe & Francis Cox Scholarship Fund:
Jamie Baley
Harvinder Bennypaul
Alysia Greco
Eric Hartvigson
Lori Hoagland
Amanda McKinley
Grant Morton
Claudia Osorio
Eric Page
Jesse Radoslovich
Latha Reddy
Jennifer Reeve
Travis Ricard
Chad Steiner
Canming Xiao
Roy L. Goss Turfgrass Scholarship:
John Ball
John Hicks
Daniel Salois
Washington State Federation of Garden Clubs:
Amanda McKinley
Max Hinrichs, Jr, Scholarship:
Eric Hartvigson
Max Hinrichs, Sr, Scholarship:
John Hicks
Charles Dawson Moodie Memorial Fund:
John Ball
Jeffrey Brown
John Hicks
Christina Maier
Amanda McKinley
Richard Sakuma
Daniel Salois
Brandon Wilhelm
Reynolds-Biersner Scholarship:
Eric Hartvigson
Laylah Scarnecchia
David Soler
Timothy Wagoner
Kyle Watt
O.A. Vogel Washington State Crop
Improvement Association:
Jamie Baley
Greg Van Hollebeke
Travis Ricard
Daniel Salois
Nu Nu Wai
Laura Wendling
Washington-North Idaho Seed Association:
Christina Maier
Amanda McKinley
Alumni Feedback
Tamara Thomas, M.S. in Soil Science, 2002, resides in
Woodinville, WA where she owns Terre-Source (www.Terre-
Source.com), a business that supports the composting/
recycling industry with permit application assistance,
facility design, process consulting, and test interpretation.
They also specialize in environmental oversight of contaminated
site remediation. Tamara enjoys the freedom, the
commute, the time for kayaking, and her cat—but misses
the Palouse—“There’s no where like it on earth!”
Ian Wildey, M.S. in Soil Science, 2002, works for
E.I. DuPont Company in their crop protection division, out
of their Stine-Haskell Research Center in Newark, Delaware.
He really enjoys his job. Ian and his wife recently bought
their first home in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, just outside of
Philadelphia. He invites anyone coming to the east coast to
stay with them, and hopes to see all at the SSSA conferences.
Pam Frohne, M.S. in Soil Science, 1997, accepted a position
as Soil Scientist with the U.S. Forest Service in Ketchikan,
Alaska. Prior to that she worked for Ann Kennedy, USDA
Land Management unit at Pullman. Pam had lots of fun
and adventures, and enjoyed learning about forest soils.
This past year she transferred within NRCS back to the
Willamette Valley in Oregon.
Toby Rodgers, M.S. in Soil Science, 2000, accepted
a Soil Scientist position with the USDA-NRCS Soil Survey at
Mt. Vernon, WA. He is currently mapping soils in San Juan
and Island counties and is soon expected to map soils of
either Mt. Rainier or North Cascades National Park. He is
still very much involved with the Washington Society of
Professional Soil Scientists, and travels as much as he can.
Toby hopes to return to Australia in 2004 to catch up with
old friends. He is a proud uncle (nephew and two nieces),
so trips home are happily spent with all of his family.
Memoriams
Roger J. Veseth, 51, conservation tillage specialist for
Washington State University and University of Idaho, died
September 9, 2003 at Gritman Medical Center. Roger hailed
from Montana and received a bachelor’s degree and a master
of agronomy in soil science from Montana Sate University.
He married in 1982 and worked in North Dakota for a year
before coming to the Palouse to work with conservation
tillage for the two universities. His passion as well as his
job was promoting direct-seed farming. Veseth was the
principal organizer for the annual STEEP conference, which
evolved into the widely popular Direct Seed Cropping
Systems Conference. He developed the “PNW Conservation
Tillage Handbook” that is a reference for issues dealing with
conservation tillage. He co-authored the book “Wheat
Health Management” in 1991. Veseth was also the principle
extension educator on the Columbia Plateau Wind Erosion/
Air Quality Project. He received numerous awards, including
the Kenneth J. Morrison Extension Award and the WSU
College of Agriculture and Home Economic Extension
Faculty Excellence Award. Over the last six months, Roger
courageously struggled to heal from a broken neck and
resulting paralysis. He handled the challenges of his injury
with grace, dignity, and a great deal of faith. Roger enjoyed
playing the mandolin and had played often before the
sledding accident. He played by ear and could pick up any
tune. He loved the outdoors, especially cross-country skiing,
7

unning, hiking, and biking with his family. His greatest
joy was his children and the time he spent with them. He
is survived by his wife, Claire; children Rachel, Brian, Julia,
and Anne; his mother, Clara of Malta, MT; his sister Oline
Barta of Helena, MT; his brother Fred of Malta, MT; and
three nephews and a niece. He was preceded in death by
his father. Memorials are suggested to St. Mary’s Catholic
School Foundation, 412 N. Monroe, Moscow, ID 83843.
David L. Guettinger, 71, former WSU Extension soils
specialist, passed away October 2, 2003 in Seattle, due to
complications from heart surgery. David received his B.S.,
M.S., and Ph.D. in soil science from WSU. After working as
Extension specialist for a number of years, he later joined
Cominco American in Spokane, where he worked for 23
years and retired in 1992. Throughout his life, he served his
church and communities in many leadership roles, and
volunteered with the Service Corp of Retired Executives in
Seattle for 10 years. He was an avid fly fisherman, skier, fixit-man,
pancake cook, and gardener. David is survived by
his wife of 50 years, Audrey, and his five children and their
spouses: Linda and Phil Safar, of Wenatchee; Mary Jane and
Marc Davis, of Bellingham; Julie and Dan Little, Scott
Guettinger and Lisa Emerson, and Teresa and Chris
Piddington, all of Seattle. He is also survived by his sister,
Jessie, and her husband Norm Druffel, of Pullman. David
had 12 grandchildren. Remembrances can be made to the
Colton Educational Foundation, PO Box 109, Colton, WA
99113 or Morningstar Boys Ranch, PO Box 8087, Spokane,
WA 99203-0087.
L. Clint Luce, 78, passed away January 15, 2003 at Pullman.
He received his B.S.(’52) and M.S. (’58) degrees from
Washington State University. Clint built his career as
Whitman County Extension agent from 1954–1988.
After his retirement, he continued to volunteer his services
to the Washington State Fair Commission, the Washington
State 4-H Foundation Trustees, and the Spokane Junior
Livestock show. He is survived by his wife of 57 years,
Ruth, at their Pullman home; his son, David Luce and
wife Mavis Rose of Santa Monica, CA; his daughter Denise
Luce Wirth and husband David Wirth, of Wellesley, MA;
three grandchildren, Philip Wirth, Allan Wirth, and Elaine
Wirth of Wellesley, MA; and one sister, Nova Helvey, of
Springfield, MO. Memoriams may be sent to the Whitman
County 4-H Council, c/o WSU Cooperative Extension,
Whitman County, 310 N. Main, Colfax, WA 99111.
Tracy Vincent, 38, died Monday, March 24, 2003 at Albion,
WA. She was student in the Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences
at WSU at the time of her death. Tracy served in the U.S.
Army following high school, doing a four-year enlistment in
radio communications. She was honorably discharged
following her tour. Tracy attended William Rainey Harper
Valley Junior College in Illinois, receiving her associates
degree in natural sciences. She returned to Washington state
and worked in the fish processing industry in the Bering Sea
for several years. She continued to pursue her degree in
Crop Science at WSU and was applying for graduate school.
A major fellowship she aspired for was approved two days
after her death. Tracy had a green thumb and loved plants
of all types. She was also fond of animals, music, and travel.
She is survived by her mother, Nolda Sharp, of Bothell, WA;
her father, Gerald Lee Sharp, of Palmer, AK; and her sister,
Lynn Sharp of Granite Falls, WA. In memoriam, her friends
and colleagues at WSU gathered to plant a red oak adjacent
to the greenhouse where she worked as a student assistant
with USDA-ARS Western Regional Plant Introduction Cool
Season Food Legume germplasm program.
Welcome New Alums
August 2002:
Michael T. Fitzpatrick, B.S.
Crop Science (Turf)
Tamara N. Thomas, M.S.
Soil Science
December 2002:
Jennifer Mae Noelani Bell, M.S.
Soil Science
Ryan D. Bond, B.S.
Crop Science (Turf)
Samantha M. Bungart, B.S.
Crop Science (Turf)
Ghana Shyam Giri, M.S.
Crop Science
Philip J. Hancock, B.S.
Crop Science (Turf)
James A. Little, B.S.
Crop Science (Turf)
Ian C. Johnson, B.S.
Crop Science (Turf)
Greg J. Stern, B.S.
Crop Science (Turf)
May 2003:
Hesham Mohamed Abdou, Ph.D.
Soil Science
Mark R. Anderson, B.S.
Crop Science (Turf)
John M. Casey, B.S.
Crop Science (Turf)
Patrick M. Christoffer, M.S.
Crop Science (Turf)
Aivars P. Nollendorfs, B.S.
Crop Science (Turf)
Carol A. Powers, B.S.
Crop Science (Biotechnology, Cum Laude)
Renee A. Rathke, B.S.
Soil Science (Sustainable Agriculture)
Greg M. St. Pierre, B.S.
Crop Science (Turf)
Catlynn G. Swan, B.S.
Crop Science (Biotechnology)
Thomas Ian Wildey, M.S.
Soil Science
August 2003:
Christopher M. Kleene, M.S.
Crop Science (Turf)
8

2002–2003 Donor Roll
In appreciation of gifts (>$100) to the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences from
July 1, 2002 to June 30, 2003
Philip Abelson
Agrium U.S., Incorporated
Robert & Carolyn Allan
Otto & Doris Amen
American Malting Barley Association
Andersons, Incorporated
Anne S. Reynolds Charitable Lead Trust
Aventis
BASF Corporation
Bayer Corportion
David & Patricia Bezdicek
E. Donald & Jane Biersner
Stanton & JoAnn Brauen
Kurt & Chris Braunwart
Brotherton Seed
Campbell Scientific, Incorporated
Gaylon & Judith Campbell
Lucille Christianson
Barbara Cleave
Colfax Grange Supply Company, Incorporated
Composting Council of Oregon
R. James & Beverly Cook
Cooperative Agricultural Producers Inc.
Decagon Devices, Incorporated
Norman Donaldson
E.I. Du Pont de Nemours & Company
Tracy & April Eriksen
Fetzer Vineyards
Fleener, Incorporated
Chris & Rosemary Fleener
Markus Flury & Joan Wu
FMC Corporation
Foundation for Agronomic Research
Glen Franklin
Raymond & Julie Frey
Genesee Union Warehouse Company
Curtis Gering
Glenn M. Leitz Trust
Harry & Edith Goldsworthy
Roy & Marcella Goss
Gustafson LLC
Harder Brothers
William Harder
Ross & Kandice Heimbigner
David Huggins & Catherine Perillo
James D. Moore Company
Eugene Kahn
W. Keith Kennedy
John & M. A. Killingsworth
Land Institute
Lehnskov, Incorporated
Michael & Betty Leinweber
Glenn Leitz
Loveland Industries, Incorporated
Joseph Majka
MALTAGEN
Alec McErlich
McGregor Company
Alex & Linda McGregor
Mac & Karen Mills
Monsanto Company
James & Ann Moore
Nu Chem Limited
ProGene, LLC
Timothy & Megan Riebe
W. J. Ringwood
RKJK Farms, Incorporated
Scotts Company
St. John Hardware & Implement Company, Inc.
Charles & Shirley Staib
Syngenta Crop Protection, Inc.
United States Golf Association
Valent USA Corporation
Dietrich & Penny Von Wettstein
Ron & Barbara Wachter
Terry Warwick & Rochelle Bafus
Washington-North Idaho Seed Association
Wheat Growers Association of Whitman County
Gary & Judith Wutzke
9

DEPARTMENT OF CROP & SOIL SCIENCES
WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY
PO BOX 646420
PULLMAN, WA 99164-6420
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
PULLMAN, WA
PERMIT NO 1