Weigand Named 2023 Don & Jane Good Outstanding Senior
MANHATTAN, Kan. –Macie Weigand of Monona, Iowa, has been selected as the 2023 Don & Jane Good Outstanding Senior.
While an undergraduate student in Animal Sciences and Industry (ASI) at Kansas State University, Weigand was a member of the 2022 National Champion Meat Animal Evaluation Team, 2022 Livestock Judging Team and the 2023 Champion KSU ASI Academic Quadrathlon Team. Weigand served as the assistant coach for the 2023 National Champion Meat Animal Evaluation Team.
Weigand served as K-State Block & Bridle president and is a member of K-State Collegiate Cattlemen’s. Additionally, Weigand was an ASI Mentor, meeting with prospective students and their families and assisted with departmental events.
In addition to being a member of competition teams and a leader within departmental organizations, Weigand was involved in a variety of research projects. She participated in an independent study with Ashley Hartman, ASI doctorate student, titled “Impact of Structural Traits on Semen Collection Training and Lesion Characteristics in Duroc Boars.” Additionally, she did an independent study with Dr. Cassandra Olds, Department of Entomology, titled “KDR and Super KDR Gene in House Fly Pesticide Resistance.” As part of the Undergraduate Research program, her project was at the Swine Research Unit and it compared five diets and was titled “Effects of Microencapsulated Zinc Oxide on Nursery Pig Performance.”
Weigand has traveled internationally to the Agribition Livestock Exhibition and this spring will attend the Switzerland studying abroad trip with Dr. Scott Beyer.
“Macie took full advantage of opportunities available within the ASI Department,” says Mike Day, KSU ASI department head. “Her participation in academic and competition teams, dedication to research, and efforts to understanding agriculture abroad are notable. It is truly evident that Macie has a passion for teaching others about the agriculture industry and how their food is produced. We are excited to see the research she continues to do within our department.”
Weigand took advantage of experiences preparing her for a career within the industry. During the summer of 2022, she was a cattle field sales intern for Merck Animal Health. In this role she primarily focused on the sale of Safe-Guard Dewormers in the Midwest, met with current and potential vet clinic and producer customers, and pulled complimentary fecal sample kits.
In May 2022, Weigand spent two days in Schuyler, Nebraska, helping collect data for the National Beef Audit. Her role was helping record information from the kill floor like ear tag identification, breed type and sex to be utilized in the report for future improvements to the beef industry.
Weigand plans to pursue a master’s degree at K-State with Dr. Dale Blasi in ruminant nutrition focusing on ways to improve animal health in receiving cattle. She is also going to work with Dr. KC Olson on some burn studies, as well as feeding garlic in free range cattle mineral to help with pest management both internally and externally in cattle. She will also continue to serve as a graduate assistant coach for the meat animal evaluation team.
“I’m excited for my future academic path and the opportunity to influence the next group of students at K-State,” says Weigand. “My long-term goal is to find a career in extension or academia that allows me to continue to do research and pass on my knowledge to the livestock industry in a way that continues to provide a safe, nutritious and environmentally conscious food supply.”
The Don and Jane Good Outstanding Senior Award was developed in 2010 to recognize those that exceed expectations of involvement in the animal science department. These criteria were developed to match the legendary example set by Good: moral character, scholarly achievement, leadership skills, participation on judging teams, foreign and domestic travel, potential of contributing to humankind in the future and written and oral communication skills.
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The Kansas State University Animal Sciences and Industry department serves students, livestock producers and the animal and food industries through teaching, research and education.The K-State ASI department prepares students for careers in the animal and food industries. The curriculum includes the study of nutrition, reproduction, genetics, behavior, meat science, food science with production, management, and agribusiness skills.