Experience CALS
Experience CALS: A day behind the scenes for alumni and friends
Friday, April 1, 2022
Celebrate Virginia Tech’s sesquicentennial with the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Virginia Cooperative Extension, whose roots run deep as the foundation of the university’s land-grant model!
This inaugural event will show our gratitude to our supporters and welcome all of our alumni and friends to experience firsthand the driving force of impact and innovation that is CALS and VCE.
Join us for a look behind the scenes with tours, immersion into student classroom experiences, 4-H STEM presentations led by Extension professionals, and faculty-led “CALS Talks” showcasing our teaching, research, and outreach missions.
Experience the beauty of Blacksburg in the spring on self-guided tours of the Hahn Horticulture Garden, the Holtzman Alumni Center Museum, and scavenger hunts around campus to qualify for special V.I.P. experiences and prizes.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (subject to change)
Attire: Hokie Casual/walking shoes
Rain or Shine
Some tours and meals are outdoors or under tents
Some tours have capacity limitations
Morning Programming
Welcome and Breakfast with the Deans (7:30 - 9 am)
Dr. Alan Grant, Dr. Saied Mostaghimi, Dr. Susan Sumner, Dr. Tom Thompson
Dr. Chevon Thorpe, Dr. Cathy Sutphin, and Vernon Meacham
Hahn Horticulture Garden
Session 1 Tour Options (9:30 - 10:30 am)
Integrated Agriculture Technologies Learning Sandbox
Dr. Mike Evans, School of Plant and Environmental Sciences
349 Smyth Hall
Lyme Disease Research
Dr. Brandon Jutras, Biochemistry
360-366 North Wing, Steger Hall
Leadership Discussion with Agricultural, Leadership, and Community Education faculty and students
Dr. Eric Kaufman, Dr. Curtis Friedel and ALCE students
232 Litton-Reaves Hall
What's in your water Virginia?
Dr. Leigh Anne Krometis and Erin Ling, Biological Systems Engineering
Group will meet in 108 Human & Ag Biosciences Building I then move to the BSE Water Quality Lab in 302 Human & Ag Biosciences Building I
Session 2 Tour Options (10:45 - 11:45 am)
Soybean Breeding Program
Dr. Bo Zhang, School of Plant and Environmental Sciences
533 Latham Hall
COINS Demonstration
Dr. Olga Isengildina Massa, Agricultural and Applied Economics & COINS members
302 Hutcheson Hall
Leadership Discussion with Agricultural, Leadership, and Community Education faculty and students
Dr. Eric Kaufman, Dr. Curtis Friedel and ALCE students
1890 Litton-Reaves Hall
Hokie Bugfest
Hokie Bugfest Team
1810 Litton-Reaves Hall
Lunch Programming (11:30 am - 1 pm)
Gameday Tailgate
Fightin' Hokies Lager development
Dr. Sean O'Keefe, Food Science and Technology
CALS Academic Programs information table
East End Zone Club, Lane Stadium
Afternoon Programming
Session 3 Tour for all (1 - 2 pm)
Turfgrass Programs
Dr. Dan Sandor, Dr. Mike Goatley and turfgrass students
Worsham Field/Lane Stadium (meet in East End Zone Club, Lane Stadium)
Session 4 Tour Options (2:30 - 3:30 pm)
StREAM Lab
Dr. Cully Hession, Biological Systems Engineering
BSE Research Building, 120 Inventive Lane
Bee keeping
Dr. James Wilson, Entomology
Alphin-Stuart Livestock Teaching Arena Classroom, Plantation Road
Precision agriculture and drone demonstration
Dr. Hasan Seyyedhasani, School of Plant and Environmental Sciences
1880 Pratt Drive, Room 1008, VT Corporate Research Center
World Crops cooking demonstration
Dr. Ozzie Abaye, School of Plant and Environmental Sciences
405 Wallace Hall
Session 4 Tour Options - FULL 2 hours (2:30 - 4:30 pm)
Floral arranging
Barbara Leshyn, School of Plant and Environmental Sciences
101 Saunders Hall
Animal impacts on climate change/Companion animals
Dr. Robin White and Dr. Erica Feuerbacher, Animal and Poultry Sciences
Campbell Arena, Plantation Road
Session 5 Tour Options (3:45 - 4:45 pm)
Bee keeping
Dr. James Wilson, Entomology
Alphin-Stuart Livestock Teaching Arena Classroom, Plantation Road
World Crops cooking demonstration
Dr. Ozzie Abaye, School of Plant and Environmental Sciences
405 Wallace Hall
HNFE Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism Lab
Dr. Enette Larson-Meyer, Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise
2270 Kraft Drive, Suite 1000, VT Corporate Research Center
Session 5 Tour Option giving extra time for travel (4 - 5 pm)
Dairy Facility
Dave Winston and Catherine Parsons, Dairy Science
Kentland Farm, 5250 Whitethorne Road
Evening Programming (6-8:30 pm)
Reception and Stationed Dinner
CALS Talk: 4-H STEM Programs - Dr. Erika Bonnett
CALS Talk: Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise - Dr. Michelle Rockwell
CALS Talk: Center for Advanced Innovation in Agriculture
and Agricultural Research and Extension Centers - Dr. Matthew Chappell
Meet the State FFA Officer Team and State 4-H Cabinet and Ambassadors
Hahn Horticulture Garden
Tours will be selected during registration. Some tours have capacity limitations.
There is no cost to attend.
Hotel room blocks are available until March 10 at the following hotels under "Experience CALS":
The Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center
(540) 231-8000
“CALS Volunteer and Donor Appreciation” room block
Rate: $169+
Hilton Garden Inn
(540) 552-5005
“VTALUM” room block
Rate: $119+
Hyatt Place Blacksburg
(540) 739-3600
(540) 739-3600
"G-AGLI" room block
Rate: $129+
Questions:
CALS Advancement
calsadvancement@vt.edu
Jamie Lucero '21, Director of Alumni Relations (540) 231-9666
Tara Nepper, Assistant Director of Alumni Relations (540) 231-5532