Pond's Ponder

Often, time is spent talking too much and doing too little. Benjamin Franklin expressed it best:

“Well done is better than well said.”

It is the hard work of the Paul Engler College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences that creates success. Today celebrates and honors the efforts of those who propel the future.

You're Invited!

Researching Aoudads in West Texas

Tanner Sargent, M.S. Biology, under the guidance of Dr. Ray Matlack, James A. Davidson Professor of Wildlife Biology, started a research project on aoudads, an exotic ungulate in West Texas commonly confused with a Bighorn Sheep. Wildlife Biology seniors, Cooper Buxkemper and Brazos Massengale, have assisted on the project. At the study site, the aoudads are using rock shelters that contain pictographs and other artifacts from more than 8,000 years of human use. They are also studying the vegetation damage that differs from the surrounding areas.

They started the research project this summer at the Hueco Tanks State Park and Historic Site, outside of El Paso. They just returned from their second trip, where they set up a few game cameras and met with biologists from the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TWPD).

The study's first phase consisted of determining when and which animals (males or females, young, etc.) are using the shelter. The study will expand to include vegetation sampling to understand the aoudad's impact on native plants. They are in discussion with TPWD to capture and place collars on animals to study their movements.

The Future of Horticulture

Dr. Lance Kieth, Couch Family Professor of Extension Education and Associate Dean of External Relations and Recruiting, served on a panel discussion for the educational session, Cultivating Collaboration: Navigating the Future of Horticulture with University Department Leaders, at the Texas Nursery & Landscape Association's annual expo in San Antonio, TX, on Thursday, August 15.

Congratulations CAB Scholarship Winners!

Certified Angus Beef (CAB) announced four students and two alum as this year's Colvin Scholarship winners. Those named include:

2024 Graduate Colvin Scholarship Winners:

Megan Eckhardt, Ph.D. Agriculture
Kasi Schneid, Ph.D. Agriculture
Becca Grimes Francis '20, '22
Taylor McAtee '22

2024 Undergraduate Colvin Scholarship Winners:

Ryan Heitschmidt, Sr. Animal Science
Helene Keiser, Jr. Animal Science

RadNet Radiation Research

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency RadNet system monitors air radiation in 50 states, 24 hours a day for seven days a week. RadNet sites will detect higher than normal radiation levels in the event of a radiological incident.

WTAMU's Natural Sciences Building is home to one of these sites. Students such as Maria Pantazi, Agriculture Ph.D. candidate, maintain the system under the guidance of Dr. Jim Rogers, Professor of Environmental Science.

Regardless of weather, filters are changed every four days (about 90 times a year), and have for the last six years.

Cotton Maturity Podcast Now Live!

Dr. Craig Bednarz, the Stan and Gerry Sigman Associate Professor of Water Resources and the Director of the Semi-Arid Agriculture Systems Institute, was invited to speak on a podcast with Grow: Plant Health Exchange to discuss his cotton maturity work.