Red Bluff Daily News

November 02, 2012

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Dykier highlighted Fewer than 3 percent of stu- dents in the Col- lege of Agricul- ture are carrying double majors and only one student is major- ing in both ani- mal science and agriculture with an option in crops, horticul- ture and land resource management. For senior Casey Dykier, Dykier the college's highlighted student, the two majors combine the best of both agricultural worlds. Dykier has found her calling of reaching out to ranchers and producers by helping the University of California Cooperative Extension with research projects. During the summer of 2011, Dykier interned for the University of California Cooperative Extension in Tehama County under the supervision of Livestock, Range and Natural Recourses Advisor Josh Davy. Dykier helped set up and monitor research pro- jects, went on farm calls and collected data. know which variety is most productive in fall, spring, and winter. Dykier added. "Josh point- ed out that I had done so much work on it that I should make it into an hon- ors project that will be used towards my major." This fall and winter she "During my internship I became very interested in this particular study and wanted to stay involved after my internship," Empty Main Street building comes to life A common project con- ducted at the University of California Cooperative Extension is seed trials, including clover, perenni- als, natives, and annuals, or irrigated pasture perennials. Dykier said she spent most of her time on an ongoing three-year comparison between the control of annual forages and numer- ous dryland perennials, including Perla koleagrass, several wheat grasses, Berber orchardgrass and others. "The reasons for con- ducting this project was due to observations of many successful plantings from decades ago have been grazed out," Dykier said. "Also, many producers aren't very interested in perennial plantings, or maybe they don't realize it's an option." Dykier said the goal of the project is to compare production of pounds per acre of growth through fall, winter and spring. The other main objective of the study is to determine which varieties become estab- lished and successful in this area. "We studied this by counting plants per square foot and percent cover over the three years since planti- ng," Dykier said. "Basical- ly, I walked up and down transects all day with a ring and counted plants. I also entered most of the data into Excel and we are still in the process of reviewing the data and making con- clusions." will be working on putting together a research paper for her honors in the major course and could potential- ly be published through the University of California Cooperative Extension. As a fourth year student at Chico State, Dykier is not only working on her research project, but she is also busy as Alpha Zeta Chancellor, competing at the Farm Bureau Discus- sion Meet in December and continuing to help with Chico State College of Agriculture events that take place in the spring. She is also a grader for several professors at Chico State. When she gets a chance, she returns home to Red Bluff where she often helps move and check cows on her family's 500-acre ranch and rides her own and other horses. For all of her accom- plishments, research and academic efforts, she has been awarded several dif- ferent scholarships and awards. In 2011 she received the prestigious Robert Merton Rawlins Merit Award, in which Dykier was nominated by faculty for her academic and professional achieve- ments, community service and evidence of intent to pursue an education. She has also been Once the data is com- plete, the information will benefit producers in several ways. It will inform them of the different varieties tested and the idea of planting dry- land perennials on range- land. It will also provide a comparison of 10 different varieties for establishment, within two different soil types. Lastly, it will let them awarded two scholarships outside of Chico State: the Tehama County Cattlemen Association's Ron S. Knight Memorial Scholar- ship and the Farm Bureau's Rustici Livestock and Rangeland Scholarship. The Knight scholarship is awarded to successful applicants who demon- strate a combination of great promise and a desire to work in Northern Cali- fornia following gradua- tion. The Rustici scholar- ship is for students who intend to pursue a career with a focus on rangeland management, with an emphasis towards cattle and sheep ranching in con- junction with good range- land practices. The Red Bluff Art Association, Corning High School students and students of Di'z Art will fill the large building, 623 Main St., formerly known as Heartfelt Designs, Nov. 2-3 during Red Bluff's 10th Annual Historic Downtown ArtWalk, sponsored by the Tehama County Arts Council. According to RBAA's Art SEEN Coordinator Sue Holmes, many local artists will be on hand Fri- day evening from 5 until 9 to meet and greet the pub- lic as they view the numerous original fine art pieces, art prints, sculp- ture, greeting cards and other unique artisan works such as painted gourds, saw blades and rocks. At the door they'll enjoy music by the Flash Back Band. Burnsini Vineyard will pour wine for tasting, and RBAA members will have tables filled with finger foods. "We are delighted to learn that the international women's performance and Friday, November 2, 2012 – Daily News 7A Courtesy photo Sampling finger foods are Donovan Turley, Arlene Winslow, Joyce Turley, Marjorie Curl, Chrissie Clapp and Phylis Wathen at ArtWalk 2011. competition chorus Cali- fornia HEAT - Sweet Adeline's will drop by around 6:50 or 7 p.m. singing four-part, a capel- la harmony in barbershop style," said association President Connie Maxey. The building will remain full of art for pub- lic viewing on Saturday from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Boyd wins Giant Pumpkin Contest at 429 lbs. Special to the DN The Tehama County Farm Bureau Giant Pumpkin Contest was a success with a 429 pounds pumpkin taking the cake to take home the prize for heaviest pumpkin. The pumpkin was grown by Todd Boyd who placed first in the expert category with Eddie Boyd coming the closest to Todd's pumpkin, bring- ing a 404 pound giant. Mark Gilles took third with his 295 pound pump- kin. Nicky Parks took first with a 60 pound monster followed very closely by Sophie parks who brought a 54 pounder to the contest. Jacob Thomp- son took third with a 39 pound pump- kin. In the intermediate category, In the junior category, Ryder of JP Enterprises took first with a 194 pumpkin followed by Jaycee Pray with a 115 pounder and Caden Ferrari with a 76 pound pumpkin. The Tehama County Farm Bureau would like to give a huge thank you to its sponsors: Green Waste of Tehama, Courtesy photo Todd Boyd had the heaviest pumpkin at the Tehama County Farm Bureau Giant Pumpkin Contest. Pictured, from left, are Farm Bureau Manager Kari Dodd, Boyd and Contest Committee Member Danielle Zane. AG-LAND Investment Brokers, Mat- son and Isom, Crain Ranch, Los Molinos FFA, Mill Race Dryer and the Tehama District Fairground. Upon graduation, Dyki- er will go to graduate school. She will continue to study rangeland manage- ment to prepare her for her career goal with a Coopera- tive Extension or the Natur- al Resources Conservation Service. After graduate school, Dykier would like to find a job in Northern California.

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