PAT BAGLEY, now in his second year on the faculty, has maintained a busy schedule of teaching, research and service activities this past year. He attended the joint meetings of the American Society of Animal Science-Dairy Science Society in Baltimore, Maryland last summer and served as Chair of the Pastures and Forages subcommittee for the program. Bagley also serves as Chairman of the Terminology Committee in the International Grassland Council. Bagley had five journal articles accepted for publication by the Journal of Animal Science, served as a co-author of a presentation at the Animal Science Meetings, and was a co-presenter of a scientific paper presented at the Brazilian National Grazing Conference. Bagley's current research is centered on working with antioxidants in animal feeds and he is now completing a research project with ALPharma, a pharmaceuticals firm, exploring the value and use of antibiotic-mineral mixes fed to grazing cattle. This work is being conducted with 46 steers at the SHSU Gibbs Ranch. In the past few months, Dr. Bagley has been developing a new course entitled "Animals in Society," one of the first of its kind in the United States. It will be taught here for the first time in the spring 2001 semester. Dr. Bagley serves as advisor for the SHSU Chapter of Delta Tau Alpha-National Agriculture Honor Society and to the Phi Kappa Theta fraternity.

ROGER HANAGRIFF, Lecturer of Agribusiness, is nearing completion of the coursework required for his Ph.D. at Texas A&M University. His dissertation research is now underway. Though busy with his teaching responsibilities along with taking classes, Hanagriff also manages to serve as Assistant Coach of the SHSU Rodeo Team and Co-Advisor of the Rodeo Club. Hanagriff will be sharing some of his research findings soon. His papers on "Perceptions of Essential Knowledge Related to Agribusiness Education" and "On Campus Agricultural Student Perceptions of WWW Supported Instruction" will be presented at the 2001 Southern and Western Association of Agricultural Scientists Meetings. He is also scheduled to present research entitled "A Formative Evaluation of a Veterinary Distance Education Program" to the National Distance Education Conference in January 2001 in Austin. His current research interests revolve around determining the agribusiness topics most important and relevant to secondary agriscience teachers in Texas. Hanagriff has served this past year as financial consultant for Beefmaster Cattlemen, L.P., in an effort to improve their marketing of Nolan Ryan's All Natural Tender Aged Beef. Yes, he has met Nolan Ryan. Last summer, Hanagriff required his AGR 377 class to conduct a financial and production review of a 400-head cattle operation in New Mexico. This is one of many instances in which he attempts to have his students go beyond the walls of the classroom, applying their knowledge to real world applications, a technique he uses with great success.

STANLEY KELLEY, Associate Professor of Animal Science, maintains a busy schedule advising the Block and Bridle Club, Beef Cattle Show Team, Livestock Judging Team, and the SHSU Ag Council. This past summer, Kelley organized a Meat Goat Clinic held at the Agriculture Center, drawing over 100 participants. He was invited to give presentations recently to the Texas and Southwestern Cattleraisers Association and the International Brangus Breeders Association on various aspects of beef cattle management.

ROBERT LANE, Professor and Chair, is currently working on a research project funded by the U.S. Army at Ft. Hood to determine which soil characteristics within three defined watersheds contribute greatly to soil erosion and sedimentation. Military activities disturb the soil and vegetation and he is working with Mark Leipnik of the Texas Research Institute for Environmental Studies and others to help the Army develop land management systems aimed at reducing soil erosion from military bases across the U.S. Their current grant is funded at $225,000 and includes funding for three graduate assistantships and several undergraduate student workers. Lane is also working with undergraduate students in chemistry and agriculture to monitor soil and water quality from land that has received treatment with biosolids as a nutrient source. Lane finished his term as the President of the Agricultural Consortium of Texas last fall. He is currently serving on the Board of Directors and as Chair of the Legislative Committee of the American Association of State Colleges of Agriculture and Renewable Resources (AASCARR). With the new Farm Bill being drafted, he and his committee will be working closely this year with congressional aides and representatives in Washington D.C. to provide input that will benefit the non-land grant AASCARR member institutions.

ANDREW LEE joined the faculty as Assistant Professor of Agribusiness in January. Dr. Lee received his Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from Texas A&M University. A feature article on Dr. Lee will be included in the next newsletter.

DAVID MOORMAN announced his retirement last May. Though now officially retired and employed half-time, due to an ongoing national search for his replacement, he agreed to stay on full-time through the fall semester. As he has done for the past several years, Moorman and his band of agribusiness students conducted the Market Analysis component of the Ag Sales Career Development Event at the National FFA Convention. With his annual involvement in both the state and national contests, his work is greatly appreciated by many. Last January, Dr. Moorman flew to the Southern Association of Agricultural Economics meeting in Kentucky, expecting to be joined by a team of agribusiness students prepared to compete in the Quiz Bowl Competition. Unfortunately, the team, traveling by van, was ice bound and snowbound in Texarkana and never made it to Kentucky. Dr. Moorman enjoyed the meeting nonetheless. Moorman is serving as co-advisor of the Agribusiness Association with Ms. Amy Smith, Lecturer.

JOE MULLER, Assistant Professor of Agricultural Mechanics, has served on the National FFA Ag Mechanics Committee for the past 16 years and was honored with receiving the Honorary American FFA Degree at the 1999 National FFA Convention in Louisville. Dr. Muller is completing his second year as a member of the Advisory Task Force for the National Council for Agricultural Education. His responsibilities include helping to plan and implement new and emerging technologies in agriculture into the U.S. high school curriculum. The last committee meeting was held in Phoenix, Arizona in June. Currently Dr. Muller is conducting a national survey of secondary agricultural mechanics instructors identifying concepts, principles, and applications of technology needed by entry-level workers in Food, Environmental, and Natural Resource Systems in 2005. Dr. Muller co-advises the Ag Mech Club with Dr. Harrell and is co-advising the SHSU Ag Council with Dr. Kelley.

R. KRAIG PEEL, after having served last year as a Lecturer of Animal Science in the department, was invited to join the faculty this fall as Assistant Professor. Peel completed his Ph.D. this past August at Texas A&M University. While completing his graduate work at Texas A&M, Peel was involved in a variety of research projects involving animal reproduction, carcass quality concerns and various aspects of animal nutrition. His doctoral research focused on grading alternatives for sheep carcasses while his master's research was in the use of ionophores in ruminant diets to increase productivity of grazing animals. Peel is a frequent judge at 4-H and FFA sheep and meat goat shows and is committed to the promotion of youth activities through educational events and seminars throughout the state. Peel also serves as the SHSU Meat Goat Show Team Advisor. Kraig and his wife Shirley have three children, Shayla (7), Kerri (5), and Kace (3).

HERB SCHUMANN reports that since he is on modified retirement, he and his wife have enjoyed several trips since last October. They traveled to northern California last October and this past May they went to Quebec and Ontario. The first part of July they were in the Washington D.C. area and then in the latter part of July they went to Branson, Missouri. Dr. Schumann says that he is primarily focusing on his ranching operation and trying to cope with drought or floods. Schumann was awarded the coveted Golden Horizons Award at the state FFA Convention in Corpus Christi last summer. This spring will be Dr. Schumann's last semester to teach for the department, following a productive storied career. We will all miss his tremendous enthusiasm and words of encouragement.

AMY D. SMITH had her fourth child, Chayse Lee Smith, on October 26, 1999, and was back in class the next week! Mrs. Smith has been busy helping reconstruct the Agribusiness Club this year. She has been surveying recent graduates to find job opportunities for our students. This information will be used to give our students a better view of careers, jobs, and salary ranges. Smith has also created a resume bank including students that are looking for employment and will make them more accessible to the professional world. In addition to assisting with the Area IX and State FFA Farm and Ranch Management Career Development Events, Smith is advisor to the Agribusiness Association and is attempting to start chapters of the National Agricultural Marketing Association (NAMA) and Sigma Alpha (Professional Agricultural Women Society) at Sam Houston State.

DOUG ULLRICH, Assistant Professor of Agricultural Education, is currently completing work on two major research projects. He is compiling results from last year's survey of SHSU Agriculture Alumni. The results of the study will help the department develop goals in curriculum improvement and career placement. In the other study, Ullrich is analyzing results from a questionnaire completed by Texas Agriscience Teachers regarding job satisfaction and morale within the teaching profession. These results may be helpful in formulation of public policy affecting promotion, benefits and salaries of Texas teachers. In a series of four projects linked with the UT-Tyler Health Sciences Center, Ullrich has been engaged in a study entitled "Safety Procedures, Education & Standards in Selected Texas Ag Education Programs." In that project, he visited 100 agriscience programs throughout Texas to gather data on and document safety issues and concerns. This work has led to Ullrich receiving another grant of $20,000 to develop a safety handbook for teachers. Dr. Ullrich has published articles on "Safety and Health Attitudes and Beliefs of Entry Year Ag Teachers in Texas"and "Safety and Health Education Analysis of Texas First Year Teachers." Dr. Ullrich also serves as the advisor of the SHSU Collegiate FFA Chapter.

SUDEEP VYAPARI, Assistant Professor of Horticulture, was elected last spring to the SHSU Faculty Senate. He continues to serve as a committee member of the SHSU Academic Challenge Contest and as an Advisor of the Education Committee for the Mercer Arboretum in Houston. In addition, Vyapari serves as advisor for the Horticulture Club and the SHSU Indian Student Association and is a member of the Working Committee on Human Issues in Horticulture in the American Society for Horticultural Sciences. Currently Dr. Vyapari is working on a research project concerning writing in agriculture courses, and he is involved in a pilot project on the Junior Master Gardeners program. He is compiling and evaluating data on the feasibility of introducing the program into elementary schools within Huntsville ISD.