Alumni NewsletterF a c u l t y o f A g r i c u l t u r a l a n d F o o d S c i e n c e s

S P R I N G 2 0 0 7 www.umanitoba.ca/afs

Celebration of a Century!The AgCentennial celebrations held last summer drew close to 600 Aggie and Home Ec. alumni and guests. The weekend kicked off with individual class reunions on the Friday night. On Saturday, visitors attended a welcome ceremony on the Fort Garry campus that featured special guest speakers and alumni Don and Elaine Triggs of Jackson-Triggs Vintners.

Tours of campus and the Faculty’s two research farms were held Saturday afternoon. And on Saturday night, the grads two-stepped to the Foster Martin Band at a traditional Manitoba social held at the Victoria Inn. A pork barbecue was held at Kelburn Farm just south of Winnipeg on Sunday, with horse-drawn wagon rides and children’s activities.

Donors to the AgCentennial Scholarship Fund were recognized at a special reception on November 6, 2006, the 100th anniversary of the opening of the Manitoba Agricultural College. The $300,000 fund, from agribusiness and private donors and matched by the Province of Manitoba, will create the AgCentennial Scholarships aimed at students entering the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences degree and diploma programs.

100th Graduation Wraps Up CelebrationThe final event of our AgCenten-nial celebrations will be the 100th Diploma Graduating Class con-vocation and dinner on May 4, 2007. The convocation ceremony for the 2007 graduates will be held in the afternoon, followed by a special banquet at the Fort Gar-ry campus. All alumni and friends of the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences are invited to join us. Banquet tickets are $50 and can be reserved by contacting agcentennial@umanitoba.ca or calling us at 474-9435.

Order Your Copy Today!The Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences is publishing a 100th Anniversary Book entitled “Times of their lives - Milestones, memo-ries and mischief” that documents the Faculty’s significant events and notable people over the last 100 years. The cost of the book is $39.95 plus GST and shipping. For more information or to order a copy, contact (204) 474-9435 or email agcentennial@umanitoba.ca.

Guest speakers Don (BSA/66) and Elaine Triggs (BHEc(Hons)/66) entertain alumni at

welcome ceremony

Marc Boulanger (BSA/98) and daughter Peyton enjoy the barbecue at Kelburn Farm.

Join us at the 100th Diploma Graduation banquet on May 4, 2007

Reunions

Please take a few moments to peruse this year’s Alumni Newsletter. Read about the significant developments in our education and research pro-grams, and some of the exciting new infrastructure we now have. Discover the staff, students and alumni of the Faculty who have been recognized for their academic, research and commu-nity accomplishments.

Our centenary year was a busy one and is indeed still ongoing. We were proud to host the AgCentennial cel-ebration last summer - it was a great party! Our alumni had the opportunity to get together and to help us mark the great accomplishments of the Faculty. We were also delighted with the amazing fundraising efforts that created the AgCentennial Scholarship Fund, a $300,000 endowment that will ensure that future generations of Aggies walk through our doors. I cannot thank the donors to that fund enough for their foresight and generosity. I invite you to join us for the final celebration of the AgCenten-nial, the 100th Diploma Graduation on May 4, 2007. All alumni, degree and diploma, are welcome to take part in this special, once-in-a lifetime event.

Greetings!

increasing employment demands of the agrifood industry. Simply stated, we need more students and as part of that imperative, we are now looking abroad for potential candidates. We do continue to enthusiastically market the Faculty to young people around Manitoba and I thank you for your own efforts in spreading the good word about the education and career oppor-tunities we offer.

I enjoyed meeting so many of you this past year during the AgCentennial and I continue to be impressed by the immense pride which is expressed by our alumni. I thank you for your contin-ued support of your alma mater, and look forward to seeing many of you at the 100th Diploma Grad!

Michael TrevanDean, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences

Livestock Research Centre Takes Shape at Glenlea

In other developments this past year, I am happy to report the com-pletion of the first stage of facilities for the National Centre for Livestock and the Environment located at the Glenlea Research Station south of Winnipeg. We kicked off the official fundraising campaign for the Centre, which includes the second phase for Glenlea Farm Education Centre. The Richardson Centre for Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals, located in Smartpark on the Fort Garry Campus, was officially opened last spring. Another highlight this sum-mer was the renaming of the Animal Science Research Unit to the T.K. Cheung Centre for Animal Science Research, in honor of alumnus Dr. Stan Cheung.

In September 2006 our enrolment rose by 4%, but we are beginning to feel the crunch of declining youth population, a phenomenon reflected across the country. Meanwhile, the job market is flooding with opportu-nities as baby boomers begin early retirements. There has never been a better time to be in the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and yet we are struggling to fill the

The Stars Aligned…The special events of this past sum-mer brought together the Faculty’s deans past and present. From left to right, Harold Bjarnason (1999-2004), Michael Trevan (2004-present), Jim Elliot (1989-1999) and Bob McGinnis (1979-1989).

molecular virology and biosensors and will be working with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to develop dispersion models for avian influenza virus.

Walt Nilsson (BSA/80) has joined the Faculty on a part-time basis to man-age the new Internationally Educated Agrologist Pilot Program. The IEA program will offer training and work experience for new immigrants to Manitoba who have formal educa-tion in agriculture in other countries and want to work in the agriculture industry in Canada. First intake of par-ticipants into the program is planned for September 2007. Walt is also instructing a public relations course for diploma students.

The past summer also brought changes to the Dean’s Office. Dr. Karin Wittenberg has been ap-pointed Associate Dean (Research) to replace Dr. Rachael Scarth, who is on leave at the University of Victoria. Dr. Merv Pritchard has been ap-pointed Associate Dean (Academic) to replace Dr. Bernie Dronzek, who retired in August. Merv also continues to serve as the Director of the School of Agriculture.

Dr. Fawzi Razem was appointed Assistant Pro-fessor in the Department of Plant Science last September and will be an integral part of the new research initiative on the develop-ment of high yielding winter wheat as a feedstock for ethanol production. Fawzi also brings additional molecu-lar and physiological expertise to the department for its undergraduate and graduate teaching programs.

Dr. David Levin joined the Depart-ment of Biosystems Engineering as an Associate Professor in September as a key player on the Husky Energy

NSERC biofuels research team. His expertise in molec-ular biology, functional genomics, and biotechnology will be used to enhance ethanol and H2 production from wheat starch or cellulosic agricultural residues. David also has expertise in

Warm Welcomes

Dr. David Levin

In August, Dr. Bernie Dronzek retired from the Faculty after an impressive 44 years of service. During that time, he made outstanding contributions as professor, Associate and Acting Head of the Department of Plant Science, and for the last 17 years as Associate Dean (Academic). His guidance and support of our students and academic programs has been invaluable. Bernie’s dedication to the University of Manito-ba extended beyond the Faculty to his service for University governance and St. Paul’s College. His encyclopedic knowledge of all things administrative was legendary - if you had a question, Bernie almost always had the answer! We wish him all the best in his well-deserved retirement.

Professor Herb Lapp, who retired from the Faculty in 1986 after 33 years, passed away in March 2006. He served as head of the Department of Biosys-tems Engineering (known at that time as Agricultural Engi-neering) from 1958 to 1967. Herb was well-known for his work on international projects in Nigeria, Thailand and Peru. He was also an authority on alternative fuels long before it was fashionable, in particular studying methane gas extracted from animal waste.

Fond FarewellsIn June, Dr. Jim MacMillan retired from the Department of Agribusi-ness and Agricultural Economics. Jim’s research has focused on many aspects of international and Canadian agricultural economics. Jim served as Department Head for 11 years and as Director of the Solomon Sinclair Farm Management Institute for five years.

Dr. Lloyd Campbell, Animal Sci-ence, retired in July after 35 years with the Faculty. An active teacher and researcher, his studies focused on evaluation of canola meal, feed energy determination, and use of enzymes to improve feeds. Lloyd has been appointed as senior scholar in the Department of Animal Science.

In Memoriam

Building Renamed to Honor CheungIn recognition of the generous contri-butions to the Department of Animal Science and agricultural research in the Faculty by alumnus Stan Cheung, the Animal Science Research Unit on the Fort Garry campus was recently renamed the T.K. Cheung Centre for Animal Science Research. At a dedication ceremony on July 21, a new sign and plaque for the building were unveiled. Stan received his BSA, M.Sc. and Ph.D. from the University of Manitoba and also received an honor-ary doctorate of laws in 1991.

President Emoke Szathmáry and Stan Cheung in front of the T.K. Cheung Centre for Animal Science Research

Dr. Fawzi Razem

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Celebration of a Century!

CLOCKWISE STARTING UPPER LEFT: Earl Geddes, (DipAgric/72) on left and Jim Downey, (DipAgric/64); Michael Trevan and President Emoke Szathmáry unveil AgCentennial plaque on November 6, 2006; Wendy Kramer, (BSc(Agribus)/01) on left and Lorne Hamblin (BSA/75); Howard (BSA/52) and Violet Motheral, and Alice (BA/52) and Ted Poyser (BSA/48); honorary chair Dr. Peter Kondra (BSA/34, MSc/43); wagon rides at Kelburn Farm.

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Canola Genomics Gets a BoostLast June, the Province of Manitoba announced $600,000 in funds for canola genomics research at the University of Manitoba. The genom-ics research team, led by Dr. Genyi Li of the Department of Plant Science, will be working to improve canola seed for animal feed applications. The funding adds to research support re-ceived from Genome Prairie for a total of $1.2 million research residing at the University of Manitoba.

Richardson Centre Opens DoorsThe Richardson Centre for Functional Foods and Nutraceuti-cals held its grand opening in May 2006. This $31-million facility will enable researchers to identify and enhance health-promoting compounds in prairie crops and develop them into marketable food supplements and products. Many of the Faculty’s research-ers, especially in the Food Science area, are involved in the Centre’s research program. As well, two of the Faculty’s former administra-tors, Harold Bjarnason and Digvir Jayas, were driving forces in the Centre’s conception and develop-ment.

The Push for CharityThe 25th annual Aggie Bed Push was held on a beautiful fall weekend to raise funds for the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba. Each year, Agricultural and Food Science students push a custom-made bed on wheels over 200 km from Brandon to Winnipeg to support a community charity. This year, they raised $4,500 to support the pediatric medical research, equipment and programs at the Children’s Hospital of Winnipeg.

Dr. Genyi Li, right, describes his canola genomics project to Genome Prairie president and CEO Jerome Konecsni

Special Thanks to Our Alumni We would like to acknowledge the people who alone or as part of a corporation have pledged to put their money to work for the Faculty. They’ve told us to use it for scholarship and bursary funds or to put it in the Faculty Endowment Fund and use it when we need to. All of their gifts are generous and most appreciated.

This money has made a big difference to the Faculty – it has, for instance, helped students struggling to pay their education bills, paid for new research equipment, refurbished classrooms, purchased projectors and sent students on field trips.

Think about joining this very special club. Check Development and Advancement Service’s website at www.umani-toba.ca/admin/dev_adv/, call 204-474-9195 or 1-800-330-8066 or email development@umanitoba.ca.

F. A. BallDr. G. Murray and

Dallas L. BallanceJean BarnabeGlenn and Kathryn BartmanovichStanley C. BearElizabeth Bigelow-Sellick and

Dr. Charles C. BigelowJanice BlairRaymond D. BollmanSijgje BorstlapMarc J. J. and

Lindsay L. BoulangerBryan A. BowdenAlvin M. BrackenWilliam B. BraunGailAnn Breese and

Curtis N. JohnsonGarry A. BrownGordon E. and Mona G. BrownRobert J. BrysonGarth F. ButcherHelen E. ButcherAllan R. G. CalderMurray D. CameronBruce D. and Lesley L. CampbellColin J. CampbellD. Allan CampbellMavis E. and Dr. A. Barrie

Campbell, O.C.Monica H. and Jared CarlbergJohn M. ChangDarren M. ChapmanDr. Hsin K. ChenDr. Stan T. K. CheungLloyd N. ChiykowskiKevin R. ChorneyStephen C. and

Cynthia D. CohlmeyerLorne K. Colpitts and

Catherine I. McKinnonGeorge A. and Lorraine ComrieScott E. CorbettJohannes F. M. CorbeyDr. Murray CormackMichael G. and Karen CostelloLindsay R. CoulthardG. Resby CouttsMuriel CowanGeorga D. Crichton and Dr. Alistair

M. ShaftoGordon J. DamanHilary E. M. and Marc A.

DandenaultRonald De RuiterTrevor S. DeCorteNadia N. DeenL. G. DelichteMurray N. DepapeRaymond E. DowbenkoJennifer W. DronzekDavid J. DrozdRon DubinskyMilton C. J. DueckMichael DuguidDanielle M. and Kent DunbarCharles D. DyckKenneth R. EinarsonBernhard EiseleAdeline A. EliasBeverley A. and Douglas J. EmekAbram E. EnsEsther Eva (estate)Betty EwensonSandra M. and David G. FalkI. John FedorkiwJ. Douglas FehrDr. Adam I. FenglerPetra G. FioreF. Michael FisherFrederick N. FisherRobert G. FisherDr. Donald N. Flaten and

Tanis MinishDavid A. ForsterDora Y. K. Fox and Dr. Stephen

L. FoxDr. Karen J. and Charles

Framingham

Donald A. FraserGerald E. FriesenCharles J. FroebeJocelyn G. and Harold E. FroeseD. Glenn FultonErin M. GalbraithDamien M. GallopWilliam E. GeddesDrs. Margaret L. and

Francis G. GiesbrechtWilly GinterDonna L. GislasonFredrick D. GouldYvonne L. and

William G. GrabowskyPerry E. Graham and Louise

LefebvreRobert P. GrahamDr. J. Rodrique P. GregoireEric B. GregoryLana L. GrenierDouglas B. GrossartCalvin R. GustDaniel J. R. HacaultMichelle R. and

Robert H. HagborgMrs. R L. Halstead (estate) and

Dr. Ronald L. HalsteadJohn S. G. HareElizabeth HassanAllan W. HeamanGlenda HedinJohn and Gloria HedinKarl A. HedlinAllan D. HeiseC. S. HendersonCurtis R. HiebertWilliam H. HildebrandtProf. Neil J. HollidayMerianne L. and

Frederick A. HolmHeinrich B. HuegingSheri L. and Todd J. HyraClaudia G. and John A. S. IsfeldWilliam G. H. IvesDonna M. JensenDonald J. and Daphne J. JohnsonElaine F. and Dr. Kenneth C.

JohnsonStephen R. JohnsonWilliam E. P. KaminskyMark D. KeatingChristopher D. and Alana J.

KelbertChristopher J. KellyMichael J. KellyElaine M. KendallDr. Won K. KimRonald C. and Dawn L. KirbysonRyan G. KlymRose and Dr. Peter A. KondraDr. Juanita C. KoppKenneth L. KovacsDaniel N. KraftMyrna L. Kraft and Dr. Daryl F.

Kraft (estate)John W. KroekerAnastasia M. KubinecGuy J. Lafreniere and Marion E.

Lafreniere (estate)Neal K. LarsonJames S. LawrenceJohn E. LawsonJean A. Le SannRaymond R. LeBlanc and Mary A.

De PauwLarry T. LentonJoel P. LeSannDouglas H. A. LindbergShawn L. LivingstonShirley E. and Dr. William H.

Loewen, C.M., C.A., F.C.AJames C. LoweD. G. LumgairVictor and Elvira J. LysackJeffrey W. MacdonaldWilliam R. MacklemHugh M. MacLean

Dr. David H. MacLennan, O.C.Beryl M. and Larry N. MaguireAlan A. MalcolmsonHolly L. MayerStephen L. MazurOwen J. McAuleyMark A. McDonaldJames A. McFaddenMargaret and

Donald J. McFaddenLawrence G. McFarlaneDr. W. D. McGinnisThe Hon. Pearl McGonigal, C.M.

and Norm CoghlanG. W. G. and Lorna L. McGregorJames R. McGregorFraser W. McIntoshJ. Gordon James and and

Christine D. McKenzie David G. H. MclellanPatricia C. McNabbAdrian MeasnerSteven G. and Coral A. MeggisonDr. Vinay K. MehrotraDr. William O. S. Meredith (estate)Prof. Gordon F. MillsJ. Bruce MollisonGarry R. MooreGerald W. and Carol MooreDavid L. MorantzToby E. MorantzJohn R. MurrayHans G. Nass (estate)Barbara F. and

Dr. Donald L. NelsonLesley W. J. NernbergDr. Xianzhou NieTrenton NowosadDr. Loreen A. OnischukGlen G. OrsakPaul S. and Patricia L. OrsakThomas PageDavid B. ParkerJason L. ParkerRobert J. ParkerG. Keith PattersonTwylla K. PawlinskyJohn R. A. PeachTed T. PelukLeonard J. and Carol PennerP. Otto PennerRonald A. PetchSiegried C. PetersArthur PetkauDavid R. PetkauTerry M. PetrowRonald G. PettittAllan J. PhilipCalvin C. Pitura and

Barbara J. Strath-PituraCarolyn J. and

Lawrence J. PorhownikJames G. PotterDr. Mervyn K. PritchardStewart G. Pugh (estate) and

Eva M. Pugh (estate)Sandra L. and Robert M. RaeburnBeverley A. and A. Brian RansomDonald E. RansomDouglas K. RedekopTodd R. ReichardtAndrew J. ReimerDarrell I. ReschkeDonald B. RichmondDiane L. RobertsMr. and Mrs. J. Alden RobertsonLorne M. RobsonMark S. RoedRobert RomainAlex A. RomanykHugh T. RossDr. and Mrs. Gordon G. RowlandDr. Gabriel L. RoyJeannette RubinyiHarold R. RudyRichard W. and K. Joan RuePhilippe R. SabourinTracey M. Salamondra and

Jonathan P. Whetter

THANK YOU to: Ag-Quest, Inc.Agrico Canada LimitedAgricore UnitedAnimal Nutrition Assoc of

Can Manitoba DivBayer CropScience IncBrightstone Colony Farms Ltd.Canada Iceland Foundation Inc.Canadian Dairy CommissionCanadian Imperial Bank of

CommerceCanadian Wheat BoardCargill LimitedClearview ColonyCredit Union Central of MBCrystal Spring ColonyDairy Farmers of ManitobaDecker Colony Farms Ltd.Donner Canadian FoundationDow AgroSciences Canada Inc.East-Man FeedsElite Swine Inc.Elm River ColonyFaculty of Agricultural & Food

Sciences StudentsFarm Credit CanadaFeed-Rite Ltd (Division of Ridley Inc)Genesus/KPAGlenway Colony Farms Ltd.Greenwald Colony Farms LtdHog Days CommitteeHollmfield Colony Farms Ltd.Integrated Crop Management

Services Inc.Iris Meck Communications Inc.James Richardson & Sons, LimitedKeystone Agricultural Producers

(KAP)Lakeside ColonyLandmark Feeds Inc.Manitoba Ag DaysManitoba Egg ProducersManitoba Pork CouncilManitoba Pulse Growers

Association IncManitoba Turkey ProducersMaple Leaf Foods Inc.Money ConceptsMonsanto Canada Inc.New Rosedale Colony Farms Ltd.Newdale Colony Ltd.Nutri-Health GroupOak Bluff Colony Farms Ltd.Penner Farm ServicesPioneer Hi-Bred LimitedThe Puratone Corporation Ltd.Quarry Intergrated

Communications Inc.Richardson Foundation Inc.Ridgeland ColonyRiverbend Colony FarmsRiverside Colony Ltd.Souris River ColonySpring Valley ColonySpringhill Colony Farms Ltd.Starlite Colony FarmsSteinbach Credit Union LimitedSteve’s Livestock Transportation LtdSunnyside ColonySyngenta Crop Protection

Canada IncTD Canada TrustWestgenWingham Colony Farms LtdWinnipeg Commodity ExchangeWinnipeg Livestock Sales Ltd.David G. AbbottTyler S. AdamsonLola L. and Wayne R. AndersonDr. Margaret J. AndersonStewart C. AndersonGerald S. and Mary B. AshcroftMrs. H E. Bagnall (estate) and

Herbert E. BagnallEdward M. and Phyllis M. BaileyJ. David Baker

Michael C. SandersLloyd O. A. SandmoenDr. Lee M. SanfordAllison SchoofsDerek R. SchoonbaertErica Schultz and Archimedes G. GamvrelisGloria E. and Prof. Marvin E. SealeDr. J. Lawrence SernykLaura and Dr. Leonard H. Shebeski, O.C.Daryl L. and Marianne H. ShirtliffShirley and Brian P. ShirtliffeKim M. ShuklaEdna SiemensDr. Leonard B. SiemensSteven G. SiemensJeffrey D. SigurdsonMark E. SimmonsGrant G. and Valerie L. SissonsNorman D. SissonsDr. Kenneth D. SloikC. Bruce SmirlDr. C. Beverley SmithDr. Robert J. SoperReginald L. SpeersDr. Allan L. SteinhauerArthur F. StewartHeather J. and Colin J. StewartRoslyn L. and Alexander W. StewartJohn M. StiverColin F. StockhausenWelland StonehouseDr. Elwood W. Stringam and Gabrielle M. Stringam (estate)Richard B. StringhamBrenda Suderman and Albert J. SiemensVivian M. SullivanPatricia A. and Dr. E. Maitland SundmarkHoang V. TangGordon and Deborah TaylorArthur N. TennenhouseLeona and R. Real Raphael TetraultNormand TherrienDrs. Karl H. and A. Christine TibeliusDr. Khusi R. TiwariBarbara M. and William H. ToewsGarry A. and Ethyl L. ToltonGlen A. TorgersonJames N. TownsendDr. James S. TownsendG. E. TrottShelley M. and Gary C. TurnbullRobert W. TurnockEmmanuel R. and Susan M. Van De VeldeDavid J. and Dianne L. VargaHenry D. VerhoevenFr. Daniel WachJeffrey A. WardropDavid G. WarnerM. J. WarwickHerbert J. WatsonIan W. and Barbara D. WatsonMargaret J. WattSandi and Dr. Noel D. G. WhiteWayne R. and Faye M. WhiteDelmont R. WhitesideD. Leonard and Phyllis WiebeGarry R. WiebeErnie A. WiensSidney D. WilkinsonDwight C. C. WilloughbyJohn K. WilmotHelen J. and Dr. Arthur G. WilsonDr. Maria K. WittenbergChristine WolfD. Diane WrefordEdward J. WytinckDouglas S. YoungIvy and Norval C. Young

List includes donors of $100+ to Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences affiliated funds. Information provided by Development and Advancement Services for the period of January 1, 2006 through to December 31, 2006.

AccoladesSeveral noteworthy awards were bestowed upon staff, students and alumni in the past year…

Fundraising Kicks Off for NCLEA $9 million fundraising campaign was launched in July 2006 for the University of Manitoba’s new National Centre for Livestock and the Environment, an innovative agricultural research facility located at the Glenlea Research Station south of Winnipeg. Ted Bailey (BSA/66), Chair of the Fundraising Committee, reports that a total of $4.5 million has been raised to support the new National Centre, which in addition to serving as a multi-disciplinary research site will house the Glenlea Farm Education Centre. Initial infrastructure funding for the Centre was through grants from the Canada Foundation for Innovation and Manitoba Research and Innovation Fund. The fundraising campaign’s lead donor, Manitoba Pork Council, has provided $1,360,000 in support. To contribute to the campaign, contact Dr. Karin Wittenberg at 474-6082 or km_wittenberg@umanitoba.ca.

Alumnus Bruce Campbell (BSA/58) was recognized by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Manitoba Chapter, as the 2006 “Outstanding Philanthropist”. This award is pre-sented to a Manitoban with a proven record of exceptional generosity. Bruce has been a strong supporter of the Faculty and the University of Manitoba, and in 2005 he and his wife Lesley established the Bruce D. Campbell Bursary award for degree and diploma students.

Ying Chen, Biosystems Engineering received the Glenn Downing Award. This award is presented annually to the CSAE/SCGR member who has pro-duced outstanding work in industry, teaching, research, or extension in the area of Power and Machinery.

Gary Crow, Animal Science, was pre-sented with the 2006 Teaching Award of Merit from the National Association of Colleges and Teachers of Agricul-ture.

Martin Entz, Plant Science, was selected as a 2006 Merit Award winner by the American Forage and Grass-land Council, presented to recognize superior contributions in some phase of forage and grassland agriculture.

Dilantha Fernando, Plant Science, is the recipient of the USA/Sri Lanka Foundation 2006 Life Time Achieve-ment Award. This award is given to an individual who has contributed to the world through exceptional scientific contributions. Dilantha also received

the Spot Award from United States Department of Agriculture for outstand-ing service to the US National Sclerotinia Research Initiative. He was also named a University of Manitoba 2006 Outreach Award winner.

Rick Holley, Food Science, was selected as a University of Manitoba 2006 Out-reach Award winner, given to recognize exemplary contributions to the broader community.

Digvir Jayas, Biosystems Engineering and Associate Vice-President (Research) for the University, was named an Agri-cultural Institute of Canada Fellow. AIC Fellowships are granted to persons of integrity with noteworthy accomplish-ments in various areas of Canadian agriculture including scientific achieve-ment, scholarship, leadership, breadth of knowledge and experience.

The late Dr. Eugene Lange was induct-ed into the Manitoba Agricultural Hall of Fame in July 2006. Dr. Lange was best known as the first Director for the School of Agriculture.

Danny Mann received the Young Engineer of the Year of CSBE, given to recognize the outstanding work of a young engineer of the Society for his/her outstanding contributions to Canadian agricultural, food, and/or biological engineering.

Mario Tenuta, Soil Science, was named a Canada Research Chair in Applied Soil Ecology. His research into improving soil management practices and developing bio-indicators of soil health is aimed at

reducing greenhouse gas emissions from soil and reducing dependence on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Ma-rio was also received a 2006 Rh Award from the University of Manitoba, given to researchers who display exceptional innovation, leadership and promise in their fields.

Our students:Biosystems Engineering M.Sc. student Khizar Mahmood won the “Top Manitoban” submission in the 2006 Sustainable Development Research Competition put on by Engineers Without Borders, the International Institute for Sustainable Development and Manitoba Hydro.

A team of Food Science students won the 2006 Canadian Institute of Food Science and Technology Marvin Tung Cup Challenge. The challenge, which tests knowledge of food science and related subjects, pitted the U of M team against six other top Canadian universities.

Two University of Manitoba students Richard Cuthbert, Ph.D student in Plant Science and Suresh Neethira-jan, Ph.D student in Biosystems Engi-neering - were among the five Canadian Wheat Board 2006-07 Graduate Fellowship recipients.

The Canadian Association of Profes-sional Apiculturists awarded Entomol-ogy Ph.D. student Rassol Bahreini the Student Merit Award, given to recognize outstanding achievement by a student in the field of apiculture.

Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Manitoba

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3T 2N2 (204) 474-9295

Email: agfoodsci@umanitoba.ca Website: www.umanitoba.ca/afs/

MAGA UpdateThe Manitoba Agriculture Gradu-ates Association (MAGA) is a non-profit organization representing both alumni and students of the faculty. If you’re a grad of the U of M’s Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, you should think about joining.

MAGA’s main objectives include pro-viding scholarships for both diploma and degree students and acknowl-edging alumni who have made sig-nificant contributions to the industry with a Certificate of Merit. MAGA also sponsors the Diploma Teacher of the Year awards. MAGA is able to support these awards through its an-nual and lifetime memberships.

This year, MAGA has added to its objectives to serve as a “social club” for graduates of the Faculty. The or-ganization organized a very success-ful AgDaze Social at the Canad Inns in Brandon during the 2007 Ag Days show, and plans are already under-way for a similar event next year.

To join MAGA, visit the website at www.umanitoba.ca/afs/maga/ and click on “Join” to access an application form, or, make out a cheque payable to “MAGA” ($20.00 for an annual membership, $100.00 for a lifetime membership) and mail it along with your name and contact information to: Mary Phillips, 1329 Rosser Ave. East, Brandon, MB R7A 7J2

Endowment Fund Provides Teaching ResourcesThe Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences Endowment Fund receives con-tributions from alumni, students, staff and friends of the Faculty, and stands at over $1.3 million to date. Each year, the interest generated by the Fund is used to provide teaching and other resources for the Faculty. In 2006, the Endow-ment Fund committee approved 29 projects with a total value of $90,000 in the form of computer equipment and software, classroom enhancements, teaching materials, and assistance for field trips and visiting lecturers. As well, funds were allocated for bursaries to assist diploma, undergraduate and graduate students.

The Endowment Fund committee welcomes proposals from students, staff and alumni for projects consistent with the Faculty’s academic goals. For more infor-mation on the Fund, please contact the committee chair, Dr. Karin Wittenberg at (204) 474-6082, or visit www.umanitoba.ca/afs/staff/endowment.html.

Faculty News and Events OnlineIf you would like to stay current with the happenings of the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, check out the biweekly e-newsletter staff.matters archived at www.umanito-ba.ca/afs/staffmatters/. It features quick highlights of upcoming events, staff and student news in the Faculty. You can also sign up to receive the newsletter via email by contacting us at agfoodsci@umanitoba.ca.

The Manitoba Ag Grads Association presented Certificates of Merit to Cam Brown and Herb Watson at the Faculty’s diploma graduation ceremony last spring. Cam and Herb are alumni of the Faculty who received the certifi-cates in recognition of their outstanding contributions to Manitoba’s agricultural community.

From left to right, certificate of merit recipients Cam Brown, Herb Watson and MAGA president Lyle DePauw

Cam Brown graduated with a Bach-elor of Science in Agriculture in 1952 and a Master of Science in 1955. He spent much of his career in grain marketing, and today runs a consult-ing business. Herb Watson graduated with a Diploma in Agriculture in 1966 and is a recognized hog and potato producer near Treherne, MB.

Certificates of Merit Awarded