Q&A with ASTE faculty member Brian Warnick

1. Where did you grow up? Lyman, WY

2. What Universities did you get your degree(s) from and why did you choose to go there?
BS – USU – 1994 – I chose Utah State because it is a family tradition. I am a 4th generation Aggie. My great-grandfather graduated from USU in agriculture in 1915.
MS – USU – 1998 – I chose to do my master’s degree with Gary Straquadine in secondary/post secondary agricultural education. This was a great choice!
PhD – Oregon State University – 2004 – I had the opportunity to work with some great people and to have a faculty position in agricultural education while working on my degree. We really enjoyed the Corvallis area and the Oregon Coast.

3. What got you interested in Ag? I always enjoyed the time I spent working on my grandparents’ farms and we always had livestock when I was growing up, but a career in agriculture was not on my radar screen initially. My bachelor’s degrees are in biology teaching and special education. During my first teaching job at Box Elder High School I was given an opportunity to teach agriculture classes and help advise the FFA chapter. I absolutely loved it!!! I was hooked and have never looked back.

4. What do you want to achieve while here at Utah State University? My goal is to fully prepare my students to become successful agriculture teachers and extension educators so they can make a positive difference in the lives of the next generation of agriculturists.

5. What are some of your hobbies? I enjoy golfing, gardening, Aggie basketball and football, and spending time with my family.

6. What is your favorite food? My wife’s chocolate chip cookies!

7. Who has had the biggest influence in your life? There are many great people who have influenced my life, but I would say my parents, my wife, and my kids have had the greatest influence in my life.

8. Where is your favorite vacation spot? Oregon Coast

9. What is your favorite season? Aggie Basketball Season! I also enjoy spring and fall in Cache Valley.

10. Do you have a favorite quote, if so what is it? I have lots of favorite quotes, but my current favorite quote is “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”

Groundbreaking for new building set for tomorrow

The College of Agriculture at Utah State University will break ground on a new building located on the east side of the University’s historic quad that will be the center for 21st century agriculture research and teaching. The prestigious location highlights the continuing commitment of Utah State University to agriculture research, the agricultural industry and USU’s land-grant mission. The $43 million building will take two years to complete.

A groundbreaking ceremony is Tuesday, May 4, and begins at 2 p.m. at the building site. All are invited.

News of the groundbreaking follows the passage and signing of House Bill 282, sponsored by Sen. Lyle Hillyard and Rep. Fred Hunsaker of the Utah legislature. The bill released bond funds for the building approved by the legislature in the 2008 legislative session.

The 125,000-square-foot building will feature two main sections. The first will be comprised of three stories of high-tech laboratories and research space to be used by students and faculty. It will also house a new university-operated computer lab, lecture and classroom space and public areas. The second section is a four-story structure that will face south and house the faculty and administrative offices, replacing the existing Ag Science Building finished in 1955.

“What an exciting moment in the history of the College of Agriculture,” said Noelle Cockett, vice president for Extension and Agriculture. “We appreciate so much the support that was provided in securing the building’s funding. The research, education and outreach of those within the building will continue to make a significant contribution to Utah, and their outcomes will span the globe.”