Iowa State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

🎉 Welcome back, CALS students!

We're excited to see campus buzzing with energy as a new semester begins. Whether you're returning to Ames or joining the Cyclone family for the first time, we're glad you're here.

As you settle in, be sure to check out Welcome Weekend activities and events happening across campus. It's a great way to meet new friends, connect with organizations and kick off the year strong.

🔗 Welcome Weekend: https://studentaffairs.iastate.edu/welcomeweekend

New students can also learn more about Destination Iowa State, your guide to getting connected and making a successful transition to Iowa State.

🔗 Destination Iowa State: https://www.iastate.edu/admission-and-aid/new-student-programs/destination-iowa-state

kinda chic to keep yourself up to date with all the innovation and entrepreneurship happening in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences! STORIES Magazine has officially arrived in your mailbox!

Iowa State University Alumni

Big congratulations to incoming Iowa State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences student TJ Goecke and his family!

Their Red Angus bull, "Big E," tipped the scales at an impressive 3,026 pounds to win the 2026 Iowa State Fair Super Bull Contest on Aug. 13.

For 25 years, Iowa State University's Iowa Environmental Mesonet has helped turn weather data into practical tools for farmers, researchers, forecasters and decision-makers across Iowa and beyond.

What started as a way to make weather information more accessible now handles millions of requests daily and supports everything from precision agriculture to severe weather monitoring.

Read more ⬇️

Iowa State University Department of Agronomy

Iowa Environmental Mesonet serves the state for 25 years Twenty-five years ago, Iowa State University rolled out the Iowa Environmental Mesonet website. Since then, it has become the central hub for all things weather-related in Iowa with a reach far beyond the state. But what is a mesonet?

Check out the Iowa State University Livestock Judging Team at the Iowa State Fair!

🌪️ President David Cook is a fan of the Iowa State Livestock Judging Team — are you? 🌪️

If you’re a livestock judging fan and looking to get a little practice in at the Iowa State Fair, come join us for the Youth Livestock Judging Contest!

📍 Livestock Judging Pavilion
⏰ Registration: 3:30–4:30 p.m.
⏰ Start Time: 5:00 p.m.

Class List:
Breeding Heifers
Breeding Heifers
Market Hogs
Breeding Gilts
Breeding Ewes
Market Lambs

We need your help, too! If you have livestock at the Iowa State Fair that you would be willing to let us use for a quick 10-minute exercise in the ring, please contact Will Taylor at 765-480-3920. We greatly appreciate everyone who helps make opportunities like this possible for young livestock evaluators!

Come out, test your skills, and enjoy some livestock judging at the Iowa State Fair!

👇 Full contest rules and schedule are in the comments.

Take a trip through time with Iowa State at the Iowa State Fair!

All across the fairgrounds, you'll find amazing Iowa 4-H exhibits, hands-on activities and even a chance to learn how Iowa State veterinary students help keep fair animals healthy.

Whether you're a proud alum, a future Cyclone or just looking for something fun between corn dogs and butter sculptures, stop by and see us!

Read more ⬇️

Iowa State University Iowa State Fair

Iowa State’s rich history comes to life at Iowa State Fair - News Service All Articles Iowa State’s rich history comes to life at Iowa State Fair August 04, 2026 Guests visit Iowa State University's mascot, Cy, during the 2025 Iowa State Fair. (Photo by Chris Gannon) AMES, Iowa – Visitors to the Iowa State University exhibit at the 2026 Iowa State Fair will take a tri...

After Hurricane Melissa destroyed crops across Jamaica, farmers faced a major challenge: finding quality seed to begin growing again.

A donation of vegetable seeds offered a path forward, but first the seeds needed specialized testing to meet Jamaica's plant health requirements. The ISU Seed Science Center helped make that possible by providing the required testing free of charge.

The result? Tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, cucumbers and more are now helping farmers rebuild their operations and support Jamaica's long-term food security.

Read more ⬇️

From Ames to Jamaica: Seed Science Center Testing Supports Hurricane Recovery When Hurricane Melissa hit Jamaica in October 2025, the Category 5 hurricane caused catastrophic winds, brought about heavy rainfall and resulted in widespread flooding, all of which severely damaged agricultural production on the island. Since the crops had been destroyed and the farmers were engag...

Iowa State is strengthening its economics program with the addition of five new faculty members, bringing expertise in agricultural trade, cooperatives, crop and livestock markets, energy, water quality and more. Their research, teaching and extension work will help support Iowa farmers, agribusinesses and rural communities.

“We are very excited to have five such talented economists joining us at Iowa State,” said Peter Orazem, interim chair of the Department of Economics. “They will be adding to our long tradition of informing farmers and the citizens of Iowa about the current state of the agricultural economy and of the factors shaping rural incomes in the future.”

Read more about them ⬇️

ISU Extension and Outreach - Agriculture and Natural Resources

New slate of economics professors hired at Iowa State University Four new faculty members will join the Department of Economics at Iowa State University later this month, with a fifth arriving in January 2027.

Iowa State University and the American Farm School have received approval to establish a new partner location in Thessaloniki, Greece. The partnership builds on three decades of collaboration between the two institutions.

The new location, called AFS University of Science and Technology, will offer degree programs in food science, biochemistry, horticulture and agribusiness, helping prepare future leaders in agriculture, food systems and business from Greece and around the world.

Read more ⬇️

Partnership with American Farm School in Greece nears finish line - Inside Iowa State All Articles Partnership with American Farm School in Greece nears finish line July 28, 2026 Author: Rob Schweers Iowa State and the American Farm School have received approval from the Greek Ministry of Education to establish and operate a partner location in Thessaloniki.The new institution cre...