Contact: Ron Del Vecchio, head, Agriculture and Natural resources Dept., 218-281-8109 (delve004@umn.edu)

Read the story about the training available to pre-vet students at the U of M, Crookston. The story was featured in AgWeek the week of November 23, 2009.

Contact: Amy Lubarski, Ag and Natural Resources Dept., 218-281-8101 (lubarski@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

An event with a long tradition at the University of Minnesota, Crookston, Ag and Natural Resources Activities Day, is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 4, 2009, and will bring some 1,300 high school students to the Crookston campus.  The competition, held at the U of M, Crookston for more than 30 years, is overseen by faculty in the U of M, Crookston Agriculture and Natural Resources Department.  Last year almost 50 high schools participated in this event.
 
The more than 20 contests range from horticulture and forestry to ag mechanics, livestock, and sales. "Students really enjoy the competition at Ag and Natural Resources Activities Day," said Ron Del Vecchio, head of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Department. "Offering students this opportunity to compete with their peers in the field of agriculture and natural resources proves to be a great time for everyone and especially beneficial for the students."

An awards ceremony culminates the day. Scholarships, plaques and certificates are awarded to school teams and individuals for each contest. More than $32,000 in scholarships are available to award-winning students. Last year, $750 UMC scholarships were awarded for the high individual in each contest; $600 UMC scholarships were awarded for the second place individual; and $450 UMC scholarships were awarded.

The event is sponsored by the Crookston campus Agriculture and Natural Resources Department. If you would like more information regarding Ag and Natural Resources Activities Day events, contact Amy Lubarski at 218-281-8101 (lubarski@umn.edu) or visit www.umcrookston.edu/academics/agri/activities.htm.  

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers more than 25 applied-science undergraduate degree programs and 50 concentrations, including several online degrees, in agriculture; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; math, science and technology; and natural resources. To learn more, visit www.UMCrookston.edu.

Contact: Mike Vivion, chief pilot, 218-281-8114 (mvivion@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Jacob Hindberg, a fall semester 2008 graduate, recentlycompleted the U.S. Border Patrol Academy program in Artesia, New Mexico, and will be initially assigned to a training officer position in Texas.  

Hindberg earned his degree from the U of M, Crookston in aviation with an emphasis in law enforcement.When he completes his Field Training Officer program, he will be assigned to a North Dakota border post as his first permanent assignment.  Hindberg plans to continue building flight time, and to apply to the Aviation and Marine Division of Customs and Border Protection when he meets the minimum flight time requirements.

For more information on the aviation program at the U of M, Crookston, visit the aviation Web page.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers more than 25 applied-science undergraduate degree programs and 50 concentrations, including several online degrees, in agriculture; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; math, science and technology; and natural resources. To learn more, visit www.UMCrookston.edu.
 

Contact: Theresa Helgeson, lab services coordinator, 218-281-8120 (helg145@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director of communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu); Stephanie Onken, communications assistant, 218-281-8446 (onken015@umn.edu)

A team of students involved with the University of Minnesota, Crookston's  Horticulture Club competed and earned third place honors overall at the 37th Mid-American Collegiate Horticulture Society (MACHS) Conference, held October 8-11, 2009, at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  

The team (l to r), comprised of Jennifer Zoch,a senior from Remer, Minn.; Kristine Neu, a sophomore from Pelican Rapids, Minn.;  Jada Ellenberg, a senior from Perham, Minn.; and Stepheni Tietje, a senior from Hayfield, Minn.; placed third overall just after Iowa State and Michigan State.  Their coach is Theresa Helgeson, a lab services coordinator at the U of M, Crookston.

Zoch earned first place honors in individual knowledge and tied for first place in herbaceous identification. Tietje tied for second place in herbaceous identification.

 
Students Theo Lenneman, a sophomore from St. Michael, Minn.; Michael Field, a senior from Spicer, Minn.; Nathan Peikert, a freshman  from Woodbury, Minn.; and Katy Diers, a junior from Grand Forks, N.D., also attended the conference and competed as individuals.

The MACHS organization and contest provide a means of communication between horticulture clubs of participating schools. Sharing knowledge and ideas is an important part of the gathering. The MACHS competition includes collegiate horticulture clubs from 12 Mid-American states. A competition is held in four categories and tours are taken of various horticultural attractions.

The University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers more than 25 applied-science bachelor degree programs and 50 concentrations, including several online degrees, in agriculture; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; math, science and technology; and natural resources. Invent yourself at the University of Minnesota, Crookston - become a leader, innovate through technology and research and secure the career you want. To learn more, visit www.UMCrookston.edu.

Contact: Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Story on Sixth Street Park project by UMNews.

Contact: Lyle Westrom, professor, 218-281-8110 (lwestrom@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director of communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Crookston, Minn.  - Six students from the University of Minnesota, Crookston were honored with the FFA American Degree during their national convention held Friday, October 23, 2009, in Indianapolis, Ind.  The FFA American Degree represents the highest level an individual can achieve as an FFA member.

Students from the U of M, Crookston earning their degree are:

Amanda Adkins, a senior from Detroit Lakes, Minn.
Jonathan Borge, a junior from Ada-Borup, Minn.
Samantha Lahman, a sophomore from Parkers Prairie, Minn.
Michael Kitchell, a senior from Ada, Minn.
Bradley Kappes, a junior from Ada, Minn
Travis Stanton, a freshman from Detroit Lakes, Minn.

According to Lyle Westrom, Ph.D., professor at the U of M, Crookston, this level of achievement represents a lot of hard work.  "Achieving the FFA American Degree takes  both a deep commitment and dedication to FFA," says Westrom. "These six individuals are to be commended for their accomplishment and recognition for attaining this level in the organization."

To qualify to receive the FFA American Degree, a FFA member must have received their State FFA degree, been an active member of FFA for the past three years, and graduated from high school at least 12 months prior to the national convention at which the degree is to be granted.  In addition, members must have a Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) project in place, demonstrating comprehensive planning, managerial, and financial expertise.  

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers more than 25 applied-science undergraduate degree programs and 50 concentrations, including several online degrees, in agriculture; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; math, science and technology; and natural resources. To learn more, visit www.UMCrookston.edu.

Contact: Andrew Svec, director of communications, 218-281-8438 (asvec@umn.edu) Robert Nelson, registrar, 218-281-8560 (nelson@umn.edu) Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director of communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

CROOKSTON, Minn. (October 8, 2009) - The University of Minnesota, Crookston continues on a growth trajectory.  The 2009-2010 academic year marks the second consecutive year the campus has seen record undergraduate enrollment.  As a reflection of that enrollment growth, campus residence halls, including a new apartment-style complex, are at capacity.

According to official enrollment data, the number of degree-seeking students attending the Crookston campus is reported at 1,310 for fall semester 2009.  That number bests last year's historic high mark for undergraduate enrollment and signifies an increase of 8.5% over fall 2008.  It also marks the third consecutive year the Crookston campus has recorded an undergraduate enrollment increase.  The number of degree-seeking students was 1,207 for fall semester 2008 and 1,142 for fall semester 2007.  Total enrollment for the Crookston campus has seen an increase of 3.6 percent, from 2,199 last year to 2,279 this year.

The number of students taking online courses continues to grow as more degree programs are offered entirely online and as more students--the majority of whom are already in the workforce--discover the benefits of online study and the prestige of a University of Minnesota degree.  The number of new online-only students, 107 this fall, has more than doubled as compared to fall of 2008, and online credit hours have increased by 30% percent for fall semester 2009 compared to fall 2008.

Again this year the profile of incoming students reflects improved academic preparation.  For the incoming freshman class, average ACT composite scores increased to 21.8 this year from 21.5 in 2008

This year's student body is also the most diverse in the history of the campus.  Of the 1,310 undergraduates, 99 international students representing 25 countries of origin account for 7.6% of the total, and 149 students of color represent 11% of the total.  

The number of students living on campus is also at a record high.  According to the Office of Residential Life, 563 students currently live in campus residence halls and apartments.  The newly-opened 128-bed apartment-style residence hall, Evergreen Hall, has helped address the demand for campus housing, and it is full, as are three other campus residence halls.  Gary Willhite, director of residential life and security services, said, "There has been increasing demand for campus housing over the past few years.  The fact that return rates for students choosing campus housing are higher than ever not only tells me students are satisfied with their experience here but also reinforces the concept that campus living directly helps retention."

In addition to improved facilities and expanded recruitment efforts, the U of M, Crookston has made strategic choices in widening its academic offerings.  This fall, the first students in a new criminal justice program arrived on campus, and the U of M Board of Regents recently approved two new bachelor's degree programs: marketing and quality management.  Coursework for those two programs--available both on campus as well as entirely online--is set to begin in January 2010.

Growth and change are nothing new to the Crookston campus, as it has seen a significant transformation over the past 16 years since becoming a baccalaureate-level university in the fall of 1993.  At the helm since 2005, Chancellor Charles H. Casey credits the dedication and hard work of the faculty and staff for where the campus is today.  "Students who choose the U of M, Crookston recognize the value of the friendly, personalized atmosphere and of the leadership opportunities provided by our exceptional faculty and staff," Casey said.  "More and more often we hear from students how they recognize the brand name value of a University of Minnesota degree and the quality it represents.  They also seem to understand how the day-to-day use of technology can help them achieve their career goals."  

The U of M, Crookston uses the phrase "Small Campus. Big Degree." when marketing the campus.  That phrase seems to resonate with students.  In a survey of this fall's incoming class, over 72% of those responding cited the size of the campus as the primary reason they chose to attend.  In the survey, which allowed respondents to select numerous reasons, 64% listed the type of academic programs offered as a top reason, 41% cited the U of M, Crookston's use of laptop computers and related technology for all students, and 35% acknowledged academic reputation.  Cost, availability of scholarships and financial aid, and the prestige and recognition of attending the University of Minnesota rounded out the list of top reasons student gave for choosing the Crookston campus.

The University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers more than 25 applied-science undergraduate degree programs, and welcomes students from more than 20 countries and 35 states.  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

Contact: Mike Vivion, chief pilot, 218-281-8114 (mvivion@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director of communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Crookston, Minn.  - Winter is looming! Learn how to get you and your aircraft ready for the weather ahead. The University of Minnesota, Crookston is hosting a FAASafety Team Aviation Safety Seminar on Tuesday, October 27, 2009 in Youngquist Auditorium, Agriculture Research Center. The topics include preparing you airplane for winter and a look at flying light sport aircraft (LSA). Guest speakers include Mike Vivion, chief pilot at the U of M, Crookston and Barb Mack, a designated sport pilot examiner. Applicants may register online by visiting http://www.faasafety.gov.

Vivion has 30 years experience flying in Alaska and will cover topics related to winter preparation for you and your aircraft. Mack will address the different aspects of LSA.  This Wings Safety Seminar is sponsored by the Minnesota FAASTeam. For more information, contact Jim Niehoff at 612-713-4247 (james.niehoff@faa.gov).

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers more than 25 applied-science undergraduate degree programs and 50 concentrations, including several online degrees, in agriculture; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; math, science and technology; and natural resources. To learn more, visit www.UMCrookston.edu.

Contact: Dan Svedarsky, professor, 218-281-8129 (dsvedars@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director of communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Crookston, Minn.  - A grant awarded to the University of Minnesota, Crookston will allow the campus to host a member of Minnesota's statewide initiative to help preserve and protect the environment, known as the Minnesota GreenCorps. Chris Waltz, in the photo, was recently appointed as the local government energy conservation specialist and will be trained for his role as part of a new generation of environmental professionals under the program. He will be located on the Crookston campus and assist local entities (city, county, school district) in the conservation of energy from their buildings and/or vehicle operations. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) coordinates the Minnesota GreenCorps, which is an environmental AmeriCorps program. The Crookston campus was one of 56 applicants selected as one of the 12 sites.

In his role, Waltz will work closely with the City of Crookston  and the U of M, Crookston Sustainability Committee and with Dan Svedarsky, director of the U of M, Crookston Center for Sustainability.  Waltz will be responsible for collecting, benchmarking, and reporting up-to-date data on energy use and reducing greenhouse gas ( GHG) emissions such as carbon dioxide. Another responsibility will be to work with the host site to implement action steps that will have an immediate effect as well as look at how to invest in the future in an environmentally conscious way.

Waltz, a 2009 graduate of the U of M, Crookston, majored in natural resources and led the effort as a student in gaining Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for the new residence hall on the campus. Dubbed Evergreen Hall, the residence facility is the first LEED Certified residence hall in the University of Minnesota system. LEED certification, an internationally recognized green building certification system, means that Evergreen Hall's apartment-style living was designed with consideration for sustainability and less environmental impact.

As a member site, the Minnesota GreenCorps position integrates well with the recent selection of the campus as a winner of Otter Tail Power Company's Campus Energy Challenge. The goal of this first-of-its-kind program is to work with Otter Tail Power Company to reduce electric energy consumption on campus by as much as 15 percent over a two-year period.

Svedarsky is enthusiastic about hosting a Minnesota GreenCorps member and what it means, "This opportunity connects the Crookston campus and community in an effort to become more environmentally conscious and to save precious resources and money," Svedarsky says. "Being a member site for the Minnesota GreenCorps and working with Otter Tail Power Company will help us engage in a real, practical way to employ energy conservation methods to help us make better decisions on the campus, in the community, and as individuals."

The mission of the Minnesota GreenCorps is to provide its members with opportunities to contribute to improve Minnesota's environment, while gaining experience and learning valuable job skills. Local governments and community organizations statewide host Minnesota GreenCorps members and provide day-to-day supervision for members working on projects in the areas of local government energy conservation, school waste prevention, living green outreach, local food systems, and urban forestry. To learn more, visit the MPCA's NextStep sustainability Web site at www.nextstep.state.mn.us.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers more than 25 applied-science undergraduate degree programs and 50 concentrations, including several online degrees, in agriculture; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; math, science and technology; and natural resources. To learn more, visit www.UMCrookston.edu.

Contact: Ron Del Vecchio, department head, 218-281-8109 (delve004@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director of communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Crookston, Minn.  - Articulation agreements completed recently by the Agriculture and Natural Resources Department at the University of Minnesota, Crookston will help students by providing a smooth transition to those interested in pursuing baccalaureate degrees. The Crookston campus has implemented several new articulation agreements with Minnesota West Community & Technical College, and Hocking College, Nelsonville, Ohio, to assist students interested in attaining their four-year degree.

Graduates from Hocking College earning an associate degree in landscape management, parks and recreation, forest management, or alternative energy and fuel cells have the option to continue their education in the Agriculture and Natural Resources Department at the U of M, Crookston pursuing bachelor's degrees in the areas of horticulture, natural resources management, or agriculture systems management - bio-fuels and renewable energy technology.

For Minnesota West Community & Technical College (MWCTC) graduates earning associate degrees in agricultural business, plant science, or agriculture production management there, have the option to earn bachelor's degrees in agricultural business, animal science, and agronomy at the U of M, Crookston.

"These articulation agreements will benefit students and provide them with more career options," said Ron Del Vecchio, Ph.D., head of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Department at the U of M, Crookston. "Cooperative agreements like the ones with Hocking College and Minnesota West Community & Technical College allow students to plan their course of study to ensure that they will fulfill their course requirements and be able to transfer seamlessly."

Articulation agreements are formal arrangements transferring a defined set of academic credits between an academic program of one institution, usually a two-year post-secondary institution, to a program within a college or campus of the University of Minnesota system in order to fulfill general education or program requirements.
 
For more information on the degree programs available in agriculture and natural resources at the U of M, Crookston, visit www.UMCrookston.edu/academics or contact the Agriculture and Natural Resources Department at 218-281-8109.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers more than 25 applied-science undergraduate degree programs and 50 concentrations, including several online degrees, in agriculture; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; math, science and technology; and natural resources. To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu. 

Contact: Ron Del Vecchio, department head, 218-281-8109 (delve004@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director of communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Crookston, Minn.  - The University Teaching and Outreach Center (UTOC) at the University of Minnesota, Crookston will host an open house on Thursday, October 1, 2009. From 4-7 p.m. the campus and community will have an opportunity to meet the faculty and staff from the Agriculture and Natural Resources Department as well as visit the horses, beef cattle and sheep in the UTOC facilities.

Guests can watch the Equestrian teams practice beginning at 4:30 p.m. with horse jumping, and later at 5:45 p.m., the western team will be practicing reining.

Tours will be given every half hour beginning at 4 p.m. and running through 6:30 p.m. by members of the Equestrian Team or Horseman's Association. Students involved in the Animal Science Club will provide tours of the beef and sheep facility. All tours will begin at the south main lobby area doors in UTOC and self-guided tours are also an option during the open house. Visitors will have an opportunity to enjoy refreshments with students, faculty and staff in the Agriculture and Natural Resources Department.

UTOC, dedicated in 1993, serves as the center for animal and equine science on the Crookston campus and features a riding arena, stables, and a tack room for the equine science program. It also houses some 40 plus horses. The arena regularly serves as a host area for regional riding and horse shows. To learn more about the Agriculture and Natural Resources Department at the U of M, Crookston, visit www.umcrookston.edu/academics.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers more than 25 applied-science undergraduate degree programs and 50 concentrations, including several online degrees, in agriculture; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; math, science and technology; and natural resources. To learn more, visit www.UMCrookston.edu.

Contact: Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director of communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Crookston, Minn. - With the new academic year underway, the University of Minnesota, Crookston is pleased to welcome several new faculty and staff members. In an effort to provide students with a quality education and the opportunity to earn a University of Minnesota degree, the seven new faculty and staff will help provide the education and applied learning that have become hallmarks of the Crookston campus.

The campus announces the hiring of the following new faculty and staff:  

Kara Bowen

Kara Bowen has been hired as a lecturer in accounting in the Business Department. She holds an M.B.A. from the University of Phoenix and has as an adjunct faculty member at Dickinson State University, Dickinson, N.D. She also served as a finance and administrative manager with Steffes Corporation in Dickinson.

Jamie Fagerholt

Jamie Fagerholt has been hired as a program advisor in Student Support Services. She holds an M.B.A. from St. Cloud State University and earned her bachelor of business administration from the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks. Most recently Fagerholt, who is originally from Williston, N.D., served as a project manager for the Donaldson Company in Minneapolis, Minn.  Her major responsibilities in Student Support Services on the Crookston campus include providing assistance and academic support to students in their quest for academic success.

Rachel Lundbohm

Rachel Lundbohm has been hired as an instructor in marketing and management in the Business Department.  She holds an M.B.A. from the University of North Dakota, where she most recently served as a marketing instructor in the Marketing Department as well as marketing coordinator for the Student Wellness Center there. Lundbohm also worked as a marketing and business consultant for Backes Construction in St. Joseph, Minn., and for Angle Outpost Resort, Angle Inlet, Minn.

Karen Miller

Karen Miller has been hired as a lecturer in communications in the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Department. She holds a master of arts degree in English from the University of North Dakota (UND), Grand Forks. She is currently completing a doctorate in English also at UND. Miller has taught as an adjunct on the Crookston campus since 2005. From 2000 to 2006, she taught at UND in the English Department.

Rob Proulx

Rob Proulx has been hired as a lecturer in agronomy in the Agriculture and Natural Resources Department. He holds a master of science degree in applied plant sciences with a specialization in agronomy/agroecology from the University of Minnesota. He earned his bachelor's degree in agronomy from the U of M, Crookston in 2006 and taught courses in crop and weed identification, grain and seed evaluation, and integrated crop management on the Crookston campus this past spring semester.

Heather Sperling

Heather Sperling has been hired as an online student support service coordinator in the Center for Adult Learning. The Center for Adult Learning is serving as the University's digital campus calling center serving all five campuses. The calling center maintains student support and referrals and to answer and respond to student inquiries concerning University of Minnesota for-credit and non-credit online programs. Sperling is a 2005 graduate of the University of Minnesota, Crookston.

Kristie Walker, Ph.D.

Kristie Walker, Ph.D., has been hired as a lecturer in golf and turf management in the Agriculture and Natural Resources Department. She earned her doctorate and master of science, both in agronomy, from Purdue University. She has a strong background in soil science and has done research involving nitrogen applications on turfgrass species as well as management factors affecting putting green speed. She taught classes in the area of golf and turf management at the Crookston campus spring semester 2009 on an interim basis.

Oxana Wieland, Ph.D.

Oxana Wieland, Ph.D., has been hired as a lecturer in economics in the Business Department.  She holds a doctorate in economics from Baikal State University of Economics and Law, Irkutsk, Russia, as well as a master of education degree in teaching mathematics from the University of Minnesota. While at Baikal State University in Russia, she served as an assistant professor teaching economics, management, and statistics. She also served as a permanent trainer and advisor for Baikal State University's Center for Improvement of Qualification. Most recently she has taught mathematics at Brooklyn Center High School, Brooklyn Center, Minn.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers more than 25 applied-science undergraduate degree programs and 50 concentrations, including several online degrees, in agriculture; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; math, science and technology; and natural resources. To learn more, visit www.UMCrookston.edu.

Contact: Mike Vivion, chief pilot, 218-281-8114 (mvivion@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director of communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Crookston, Minn.  - Two alumni from the University of Minnesota, Crookston were recentlyhired by the State of North Dakota. Amy Brown, '08, and Cory Detloff, '09, recently graduated from the State of North Dakota's 106th Law Enforcement Training Academy in Bismark, N.D.

In the photo, Amy Brown is standing in the center row on the far right and Cory Detloff is seated in the front row, third from left.

Brown, a graduate in natural resources and agricultural aviation, has assumed her duties as a game warden/pilot with the North Dakota Department of Game and Fish.  

Detloff, an agricultural education and natural resources graduate, has assumed his duties as a game warden for North Dakota Department of Game and Fish.  

The Law Enforcement Training Academy ran for eight weeks, covering North Dakota statutes, law enforcement skills, investigative techniques, and more.  Prospective sheriff's deputies, highway patrol personnel, corrections officers, and game wardens, attend the same academy.

For more information on agriculture and natural resources opportunities at the Crookston campus, visit www.umcrookston.edu/academics/agri.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers more than 25 applied-science undergraduate degree programs and 50 concentrations, including several online degrees, in agriculture; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; math, science and technology; and natural resources. To learn more, visit www.UMCrookston.edu.

Contact: Laura Bell, lab services coordinator, 218-281-8131 (lbell@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director of communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Crookston, Minn.  - College students from around the area are invited to attend College Outdoor Skills Day taking place on Thursday, September 10, 2009, from 4 to 7:30 p.m. at the Crookston Gun Club, located north of the campus. This free event is designed to help students experience new outdoor activities or sharpen the outdoor skills they already have.

Programs will be offered throughout the evening, including fly-fish casting, target archery, slingshots/wrist rockets, outdoor survival, outdoor first aid, rifle shooting, trap shooting, and tree stand safety. These events are free, but students interested must pre-register. For more information or to register, contact Laura Bell, lab coordinator and naturalist at the U of M, Crookston, at 218-281-8131 (lbell@umn.edu).

This event is sponsored by the University of Minnesota, Crookston, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, West Polk Deer Hunters, Crookston Gun Club, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Federal Cartridge, and the U of M, Crookston's Natural Resources Club and Student Chapter of the Wildlife Society.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers more than 25 applied-science undergraduate degree programs and 50 concentrations, including several online degrees, in agriculture; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; math, science and technology; and natural resources. To learn more, visit www.UMCrookston.edu.

Contact: Paul Aakre, assistant professor, 218-281-8104 (paakre@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director of communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

In the photograph, Dave Volker (left), tractor operator from the Polk County Highway Department, and Junior Thomas Haarstick (right) stand by the tractor modified to run on straight vegetable oil.

When faculty and students work together on research the benefits are many and a project underway at the University of Minnesota, Crookston has the potential to benefit agriculture as well as the environment. This summer Junior Thomas Haarstick, Vergas, Minn., and Assistant Professor Paul Aakre from the Agriculture Department are testing a tractor they converted to run on straight vegetable oil (SVO). The tractor, which is currently being used to mow county ditches, began using SVO on June 15 and to date has logged some 160 hours, adding about 30 hours per week.

 "The tractor operates using a two-tank system," explains Aakre. The tractor starts on diesel fuel and a switch is made to the vegetable oil when the operating temperature is high enough and the exhaust temperature is hot enough on the tractor."

A conversion unit from the German company, Elsbett AG, was attached to a New Holland tractor this spring in order for it to use the vegetable oil as fuel. A tank on the front of the tractor holds the necessary diesel fuel for starting and then a switch is made either automatically or manually to the SVO in the tractor's main fuel tank.

The SVO, a byproduct of crushing canola seed, is filtered for use in the tractor. Since the SVO has a higher viscosity than diesel fuel, a heat exchanger is used to heat the oil to improve its fluidity. The Environmental Protection Agency provided an exemption to test the SVO in the tractor.

Haarstick, an agricultural systems management major, worked on mounting the conversion unit, preparing the tractor, and doing much of the electrical work. His student research is funded in part by an undergraduate research grant he applied for with Aakre. "Being involved in SVO research has shown me that hard work will pay off," Haarstick says. "I know there will be benefits working on research that only a select few are attempting."

Using a locally produced product and saving fossil fuel are just two of the benefits of running a tractor on SVO. The project is part of ongoing research by Aakre using vegetable oil as fuel. He worked with Jade Estling, a 2009 graduate of the U of M, Crookston, on setting up a small scale bio-diesel lab in 2007.

Support for the project came in part from the Northwest Regional Sustainable Development Partnership (NWRSDP). The NWRSDP serves northwest Minnesota and works to foster development of agricultural, tourism and natural resources systems that are profitable for citizens, while enhancing environmental quality and supporting rural communities.  The Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) are a joint program of the University of Minnesota's Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships, the Southwest Regional Development Commission, Green Institute, The Minnesota Project, and the Minnesota Office of Energy Security, Department of Commerce. CERTs works to connect people with the technical resources needed to identify and implement community-scale energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers more than 25 applied-science undergraduate degree programs and 50 concentrations, including several online degrees, in agriculture; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; math, science and technology; and natural resources. To learn more, visit www.UMCrookston.edu.

Contact: Terrill Bradford, agriculture instructor, 218-281-8108 (tbradfor@umn.edu); Chuck Lariviere, business instructor, 218-281-8175 (clarivie@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director of communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

In an effort to integrate more study abroad options into the curriculum at the University ofom the agriculture department including Associate Professor Harouna Maiga, and instructors Chuck Lariviere, and Terrill Bradford, visited the French National Agricultural Research Institute (INRA) in Paris, France, and its allied agricultural universities.  

While in France from June 23 to July 1, the group made several stops including a visit to Tours, France, where they investigated a variety of options for collaboration and connection with INRA. They had an opportunity to establish contacts and plan to continue conversations in the future.  The trip was funded in part by a grant from the University of Minnesota's Office of International Programs and professional development funds.

Integration of study abroad into the curriculum offers a variety of options for students to gain international exposure, and it moves the Crookston campus toward the University of Minnesota's goal of achieving 50 percent of U of M graduates participating in a study abroad experience.