ACES Award of Merit Nominations due to the ACES Alumni Association.

Deadline Extended to November 1, 2017.

Nominations due to Tina Veal, ACES Alumni Director - vealt@illinois.edu 

Board Meeting

ACES College Connection

Join us for Salute to Agriculture Day!

The College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) invites you to attend Salute to Agriculture Day at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign on Saturday, September 9. Prior to watching the Illini take on Western Kentucky, we invite you to enjoy a tailgate including a short program hosted by Orion Samuelson.

Midwest Barbeque Buffet includes:

• All-Beef Hamburgers
• BBQ Pulled Pork
• Traditional Baked Beans with Bacon
• Vinaigrette Cole Slaw
• Assorted Cookies
• Cash bar will be available

Learn more about the event and reserve your tailgate tickets at the Salute to Ag Day webpage.

Stress is a part of life – but it doesn’t have to rule your life! Join us for a Twitter chat on August 24 from noon to 1 p.m. CT with ACES experts Dr. Erica Thieman, assistant professor of agricultural education, and Chelsey Byers Gerstenecker of University of Illinois Extension to learn how stress and recovery work in humans and impact brain health. They will also share strategies to tackle stress and increase recovery to help you bounce back quicker from difficult experiences. Use #askACES to ask your questions and engage in the conversation

Once used as toys, unmanned robotic vehicles are quickly becoming a valuable tool for agriculturalists. Both unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), commonly known as drones, and unmanned ground vehicles, or small agricultural robots, are capturing the attention of hobbyists and agribusinesses alike. How are these tools used and why? Join us for a Twitter chat on July 11 from noon to 1 p.m. CT with ACES experts Dr. Girish Chowdhary of the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering and Dennis Bowman of University of Illinois Extension to learn about the roles of unmanned aerial and ground vehicles in the future of agriculture. Use #askACES to ask your questions and engage in the conversation!

Milk has long been called “nature’s most nearly perfect food,” but in recent years there has been growing uncertainty among consumers about milk and dairy products for humans. What are the facts about milk, and what claims are based on faulty information or misunderstanding? Join us for a Twitter chat on June 22 from noon to 1 p.m. CT with ACES expert Dr. Jim Drackley of the Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Illinois to discern truth from myth.

Food insecurity is a leading healthcare crisis in the United States. Central to our efforts to reduce food insecurity is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program). Join us for a Twitter chat with ACES expert Dr. Craig Gundersen of the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics on May 18 from noon to 1 p.m. CT to learn more about food insecurity, the many benefits of SNAP, and the threats that are currently being posed to this program.

Join us for an open discussion about how we are going to adaptively manage forward to strengthen the foundation of the College of ACES. The following topics will be included in the discussion:

• Six-month progress report
• Implementation strategies for expanding our funding base
• Framing Extension 3.0

You are invited to enrich the conversation by asking questions and/or providing input during the discussion. This is your opportunity to share your ideas and perspectives of important initiatives.  

The Town Hall is open to all ACES faculty, staff, students, and alumni. Seating is limited. If we reach capacity or you cannot attend in person, the event will be livestreamed. You may watch the livestream or join the event via Skype for Business. You may also attend by phone at 888-983-3631. When prompted, enter the conference ID 93495605.

A reception will follow the ACES Town Hall in the Heritage Room from 3:30-4:30 p.m.