By: Alexandra Cantrell, ASAS Science Policy Summer Intern

July 28, 2016 – After spending two months in Washington D.C. I have come to love the rich history of the city itself and the impact that the people living in this district can have on the world. I always knew that Capitol Hill dictated the way our country is run, but it did not truly resonate with me until I started touring the halls of our government buildings. I now understand that our nation’s capital has a profound effect on our culture and the way our society thinks. My first realization of this was in the Supreme Court building, which showcases the history of our past justices. To portray the development of law, throughout the building there are friezes of different philosophers and great lawgivers of history such as Moses, Aristotle, and Chief Justice John Marshall.

Another exhibit that caught my eye was the showcase of Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. I had the opportunity to meet her once when she attended the opening of the Cowgirl Hall of Fame in Fort Worth. It was great to have a chance to learn about her in more detail. As a fellow Texan, rancher, and woman, she inspired me with her dedication to the law. Even though she was probably not an Animal Science major, I consider her a role model for what people in agriculture can accomplish in government and policy.

Under the checks and balances within our government, the legislative branch is intended to make the laws, the executive branch is meant to enforce the laws, and the judicial branch must interpret the laws set by the government. Many of the cases heard by the Supreme Court over the course of our history have shaped who we are as a nation today and it humbled me to walk through the displays within the building.

My passion for agriculture began when I was just a freshman in high school. I was accepted into the James Madison Agriscience Magnet Program where I began to study agriculture. I went into college knowing what I wanted to study and had already gained four years of meaningful, hands-on, practice.

Fast forward to completing my internships and earning a degree after studying agriculture for nearly ten years, I reflect on what prepared me to be successful in my internships and there are three things that immediately stand out to me: an ability to effectively communicate, an understanding of my field, and a willingness to continually learn. My predominant role as an ASAS Science Policy Intern was communication— communicating with leaders within the organization, with members, and readers. Within my congressional office, communicating well with office staff, members of congress, and especially constituents was a key aspect of performing well. What prepared me to communicate well with others, was my experience in customer service. A job as simple as managing the front desk at a water park resort taught me how to be patient, to ask the right questions to find solutions, and to have proper decorum. Another major aspect of interning for the American Society of Animal Science as a Science Policy Intern is understanding what major or current issues agriculturalists are facing and finding sources that you may continually refer to in order to remain informed.

Although I spent a majority of my internship studying crop insurance rather than an animal science based issue, I was able to attend briefings and find resources that I could learn more from. In retrospect, I would have chosen an animal science related issue to follow throughout my internship and covered that issue in my previous editorials. However, most importantly, my foundation had been established and my willingness to learn was ever-present. Although crop insurance was not a familiar topic to me, the experience has diversified my agricultural knowledge and has taught me that there is more to agriculture than livestock.

Tyler is a senior earning a dual degree in animal science and agricultural communications and journalism at Texas A&M University.

Raised on her family’s commercial sheep and cattle operation, Tyler developed a love for agriculture at a young age. Growing up, she was heavily involved in both 4-H and FFA, showing lambs and competing in judging and leadership activities across the state.

Tyler continued her involvement in agriculture by participating in a variety of student organizations and activities at Texas A&M. During her three years at the university, she has been an active member of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Student Council, Pi Beta Phi Sorority, Saddle & Sirloin, Aron and Mary Lois Savell Leadership Mentor Group, Study Abroad, and the 2016 Texas A&M Meat Judging Team. In 2015, Tyler testified to the Natural Resources Committee at the Texas State Capitol in Austin.

We are pleased to introduce you to Ben Rietmann, Oregon State University. Ben is one of six ASAS Science Policy interns currently in Washington, D.C. Ben is interning with the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).

We are pleased to introduce you to KathrynAnn Fields, one of six ASAS Science Policy interns. KathrynAnn will be interning in the Washington D.C. office of Congressman John Carter.

KathrynAnn received her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Food and Resource Economics from the University of Florida in 2013 and 2015, respectively. In August of 2016, she joined the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University where she will receive a Master’s of Public Service and Administration with an emphasis in agricultural policy in May 2018.

KathrynAnn is a native of Gainesville, Florida with a family ranch background. She is a member of Gamma Sigma Delta Honor Society and Alpha Zeta Agriculture Honor Fraternity. She has received numerous scholarships and awards. In spring 2015 she received a scholarship to attend the International Livestock Forum in Fort Collins, Colorado and in spring 2016, to attend the International Livestock Congress Conference in Houston, Texas.

Prior to attending the Bush School, she completed an internship with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association in Washington, D.C. in spring 2015 where she learned how a lobbying organization affects agricultural policy.

ASAS has chosen six Science Policy interns for summer 2017. We are pleased to introduce Alyssa Condon, who is interning in the Washington D.C. office of Congressman Joe Courtney. 

Alyssa writes:

I am going to be a senior at the University of Connecticut. Currently, I am double majoring in animal science and resource economics. I originally entered UConn as a pre-vet student, but during my studies I fell in love with agriculture and changed my course.

On campus, I am a member of Sigma Alpha, the professional agriculture sorority. This past year, I served as philanthropy chair, coordinating our community service events. I also served as secretary of UConn’s chapter of Block and Bridle, and next year will be the Vice President of Dairy Club. I’m also an ambassador for the College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources. As an ambassador, I represent the college at open houses and speak to prospective students about choosing UConn.

Rachael writes:

I am from Pompeys Pillar, Montana, where I grew up on my family’s cattle ranch. I plan to continue being involved in the operation while also pursuing a law career with the hopes of being involved in a rural practice.

I am a junior at Kansas State University where I am majoring in Animal Science. This is my second semester at KSU. I was previously enrolled at Butler Community College in El Dorado, KS, where I received an Associate Degree in Agricultural Sciences while competing on the track and field and volleyball teams. In track I earned All- American honors three times for my performance in the pole vaulting event at the National Junior College Athletic Association National Championships.

Here's an update from Rachael Buzanowski, one of our D.C. interns who is spending her summer in the office of U.S. Senator Daines.

Daniel Munch, one of the ASAS Policy Interns, has written about his summer experience. Read more on how Daniels summer went in Washington, D.C.

Stephanie McBath, one of the ASAS Policy Interns, has written about her summer experience. Read more on how Stephanie's summer went in Washington, D.C.

Elizabeth Frey, one of the ASAS Policy Interns, has written about her summer experience. Read more on how Elizabeth's summer went in Washington, D.C.

This study aimed to assess the ruminal microbiome, metabolome, volatile fatty acid concentrations, and amino acid profiles of Holstein cows with different milk protein concentrations. Previous studies have reported that ruminal microbiota can affect the lactation performance of dairy cows. However, little is known about the composition and function of ruminal microbiota in dairy cows differing in milk protein concentrations.

Our objective was to determine the safety, efficiency, and effects on immunity and nasal shedding of respiratory pathogens for high-risk cattle administered an intranasal (IN), trivalent (infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus [IBRV], parainfluenza-3 virus [PI3V], and bovine respiratory syncytial virus [BRSV]) respiratory vaccine with parenteral, bivalent bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), or a parenteral, pentavalent (BVDV type I and II, IBRV, BRSV, and PI3V) respiratory vaccine, compared to an unvaccinated negative control.

This study evaluated the effects of concentrated brewer’s yeast on gut health in dogs. Nineteen Siberian Huskies and one Alaskan husky were blocked and randomly allocated to one of two groups. Treatment dogs received a yeast supplement for 10 wk, while control dogs received no supplement.

Three experiments were conducted to evaluate fermented corn protein (FCP) in nursery pig diets. Fermented corn protein is produced when protein and yeast fraction syrup from ethanol production is added back to high protein dried distillers grains to further increase CP and Lys content.

Beef is a beneficial food source, and improving muscle yield and quality has become a hot topic in the beef industry. Therefore, our study aimed to explore effective methods to improve bovine muscle cell differentiation to increase beef production.

Having been awarded the Corbin Award in Companion Animal Biology is an honor. Dr. Corbin was a broad expert with diverse experience and the professional goal that I maintain for myself.

The objectives of this review are to 1) provide an overview of how inflammation is related to the metabolism and nutrition of dairy cows; 2) present some nutritional approaches that can be applied to modulate the immunometabolism of dairy cows; 3) point-out the state-of-the-art and the frontiers in knowledge regarding how these nutritional approaches interact with metabolism and immune system in dairy cows.

Tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort.) is a widely used cool-season forage among beef cattle, horses, and sheep farmers worldwide. The popularity of tall fescue relies on the superlative productive characteristics, such as biomass production and nutrient quality in different climatic and edaphic conditions.

Johnsongrass [Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers.] is a perennial warm-season grass that was originally introduced to the United States as a forage in the 1830s in South Carolina. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of maturity stage at harvest on herbage accumulation, ensiling characteristics, and nutritive value of Johnsongrass.