Mixing, kneading and smelling the aroma of baking bread in the farm home where she grew up is a special memory for Krista McCarty. It's how she remembers her mom, who died of cancer when McCarty was just 11 years old. "We would spend Saturday mornings baking bread, just the two of us," McCarty says. In part, those memories inspired McCarty, a senior, to pursue a major in food science. She thought about becoming a nurse, but discovered food science after taking a tour of General Mills when she was 13 years old. She's continued her focus on grains into her college career. This spring McCarty and the Iowa State University Food Product Development Team entered a gluten-free item into a national product development competition to be held in June. McCarty came up with the idea, which must be kept top secret until after the competition, after taking a gluten-free cooking class. She says people with Celiac disease, also known as fluten intolerance, don't have as many choices in the marketplace so products like this could have a competitive advantage.

The entire Ronald Zelle family of Waverly was awarded American FFA Degrees at the organization's national convention in October. Ronald ('83 agricultural and life sciences education, MS '87) is the agricultural education instructor and the FFA adviser for Nashua Plainfield Schools. He was awarded the Honorary American FFA Degree teacher award in recognition of his educational achievements. His wife, Mary Beth ('86 agricultural and life sciences education), received the Honorary American FFA degree in the other community members division. Their daughter, Debra, a junior majoring in horticulture, and son, Benjamin, a sophomore majoring in agricultural business and computer science, were awarded American FFA Degrees for their participation in FFA.

Cy isn't shy. Cy dances, hugs and throws high-fives to enthuse and entertain Iowa State University fans. Matt Burt, a junior in agricultural business, has been watching Cy all his life. His parents and older brother went to Iowa State, and he grew up attending Iowa State games. Burt always knew he would be a Cyclone. He never guessed he would be Cy. Last year he went to the mascot squad tryout so he could try on Cy's suit just once before he graduated and say he'd been Cy for 15 minutes. After attending a meeting before try-outs he decided to take the challenge and compete. "They gave us directions on how to plan a five minute skit," Burt says. "It was very competitive." Along with running with the Iowa State flag and performing the Cy strut, Burt and his friends put together a winning skit. They had Cy working out to the theme song from the Rocky movie; challenging volunteers like Burt whose dedication and enthusiasm make Cy shine.

Do you believe there's something inherent about agriculture or life sciences that (pardon the express) provides a rich soil for growing entrepreneurs? Roger Underwood: Absolutely! Agriculture and life sciences are changing rapidly due to the many "input" advancements in seed (genetics), equipment and services and "output" advances such as food, energy and feed utilization. In all of these changes there is unending opportunity for entrepreneurs to create new value. Entrepreneurs thrive when any market is changing rapidly so the ag and life sciences markets are ripe for entrepreneurship. Charles Sukup: There really is something with agriculture and the people in it that see the day-in and day-out risk that contributes to an entrepreneurial attitude. Farming is being independent and being an entrepreneur. You're in control of many things, but in the big picture you;re not in control of weather, government programs or markets. You have to focus on what you can control. That is a good analogy for all sorts of entrepreneurs.

In 1894, Alle Buck's great, great grandfather got off the train near Rhodes, Iowa and bought a farm with his brother. Today, Buck calls it home. "We've farmed this land for over 100 years and it's in my blood," says Buck, a senior in animal science. Buck is proud of her fifth-generation farm and even more proud that she's a third-generation Iowa State student in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Her grandfather and grandmother met at Iowa State and together they raised six children who all attended Iowa State, but she's the first woman to pursue a career in agriculture. "My three uncles and my dad majored in agriculture," Buck says. "It wasn't easy for women to pursue degrees in agriculture back then, like it is now." After graduation this summer, Buck plans to build and run a swine finishing facility with her brother-in-law. Raising livestock has taught her about life. The key, she says, is putting their needs first.