NC State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

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NC State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

We transform challenges into agriculture and life sciences opportunities. The future poses stark challenges for food, agriculture, energy and the environment.

At the NC State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, we transform those challenges into opportunities that benefit everyone. We prepare our students and stakeholders to thrive in a global marketplace. We pursue cutting-edge research on campus and at 18 stations across the state, and we put those results to work in all 100 North Carolina counties. We create innovative public-private partnershi

ps to solve the problems facing the planet. We’ve lived NC State’s land-grant mission since the university first opened its doors; no college can claim deeper roots in North Carolina. Today, we strive to bring the fruits of our teaching, research and extension to the whole world.

06/05/2026

CALS alumnus Tate Mayo is preserving his family's farm and textile legacy while leading his hometown of Tarboro, North Carolina, into the future.

Mayo, who earned his bachelor’s degree in agricultural science in 2016, grows cotton on his family's land and uses it to supply Mayo Mills, which has been producing socks in Tarboro since 1932.

“Through farming cotton and turning it into finished products, I’m able to maximize our land use and keep the textile industry alive in my hometown,” he said.

By controlling the process from field to finished product, Mayo is not only creating high-quality, locally sourced goods but also supporting the long-term sustainability of both agriculture and textile production in eastern North Carolina.

Read his story at the link in our comments.

06/03/2026

CALS food science alumni have some pretty sweet jobs! Come along for a day in the life of Hannah Klemmer '21, the director of research and development at Alamance Foods, as she takes you through her workday.

06/02/2026

What's better than barbecue? Barbecue and Howling Cow ice cream, of course. 🍖🍦

At NC State's cult-classic BBQ Camp last weekend, NC State Howling Cow Ice Cream brought out their brand new food truck to serve scoops. From whole hog and brisket to Wolf Tracks and Butter Almond, devoted BBQ Camp students tasted some of the best flavors NC State has to offer.

BBQ Camp is an annual two-day seminar that teaches participants about the science behind low and slow. It is highly sought after, with over 200 people on the waitlist, and is the only university-level, science-based course of its kind in the Southeast.

Interested in getting on the BBQ Camp waitlist? Send an email to [email protected].

06/01/2026

CALS students are about to be getting their hands dirty with a first-of-its-kind tractor — one that runs on fuel harnessed right on the farm. 🚜

New Holland donated two T6.180 Methane Power Tractors — the first natural-gas powered tractors in North Carolina — to NC State this spring.

NC State Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering Professor Jason Ward will train precision agriculture students on the tractors starting fall 2026. Professors Stephanie Kulesza and Mahmoud Sharara will lead research and extension efforts on the new technology by harvesting biomethane produced from biodigesters in waste management systems, such as swine lagoons, and using it as fuel.

05/29/2026

Meet CALS graduate Ava Knudsen! 👋🎓

Knudsen is from Charlotte, North Carolina, and majored in horticultural science with minors in entomology, plant biology and agribusiness management. She had the opportunity to study abroad in Valencia, Spain and, in addition to her studies, worked at the JC Raulston Arboretum her junior and senior year.

Her advice to future CALS students? “Each class should be thought of as a privilege, rather than a burdensome obligation. Make the effort to show up and make connections with your peers.”

After graduation, Knudsen headed to Pennsylvania to work at Chanticleer Garden.

Congratulations, Ava, and welcome to the CALS Alumni Pack!

05/28/2026

Meet CALS graduate Jasmine Alston. 👋🎓

Alston is from Greensboro, North Carolina, and graduated earlier this month with a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science. During her time at NC State she studied abroad in Nagoya, Japan, where she worked as an undergraduate research assistant in an animal science lab and performed research on animal reproduction.

Her advice for future CALS students? "Spending time with friends is as important as studying, so make the time for your besties." ❤️

After graduation, she will be working at a veterinary clinic for a year before pursuing her master's in animal science.

Congratulations, Jasmine, and welcome to the CALS Alumni Pack!

05/27/2026

Did you know that a CALS alumna's research with the Artemis II crew is helping fuel future astronauts? 🚀🍽️

Grace Douglas, the lead scientist for NASA's Advanced Food Technology research, is using feedback from the Artemis II team, including three-time NC State alumna Christina Koch, to guide food systems for future long-term missions. Her work will help provide a safe, nutritious and palatable food system to promote astronaut performance on those missions, including ones to Mars.

"The information we get from how the food system was used on this shorter mission can help guide development and evaluation of interventions as these highly resource-constrained missions get longer," she said of the research.

Douglas, who earned a master's in food science and a doctorate in functional genomics from NC State, pursued food science as a career with the goal of working for NASA.

We talked to Douglas about her career path to NASA and her work fueling astronauts. Hear what she has to say at the link in our comments.

05/26/2026

Driven by the values she learned as a member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, CALS graduate Stella Hardin is making an agricultural impact that honors her roots. 🎓

Hardin, who graduated earlier this May with a degree in agricultural science and a minor in extension education, developed her passion for community and environmental stewardship from her upbringing. As the undergraduate student speaker for the NC State Department of Agricultural and Human Sciences, she emphasized agriculture's importance and the impact graduates will have on the world.

“Everybody on this planet depends on the work that happens in our fields, our labs, our research centers and in our communities,” she said. “Everyone here has been entrusted with a duty to assist in transforming agriculture for the ever-changing needs of society in a way that also replenishes what we take.”

Read her story at the link in our comments.

05/22/2026

CALS graduate Deana Poteat is hatching an impactful career in food animal medicine. 🐣

Poteat's love for domestic animals started at an early age, and she came into NC State planning to study animal science and then apply to veterinary schools. That passion grew to include the health and well-being of food animals, particularly poultry, after taking classes in the NC State Prestage Department of Poultry Science and finding her community.

“I really didn’t realize how much hands-on experience I would get through the classes and labs, and especially going into my internships with two poultry companies,” she said. “I think CALS has really set me up for success.”

This fall she will be following her passion as a Food Animal Scholar at the NC State College of Veterinary Medicine & Veterinary Hospital. After vet school, she envisions working for a large poultry producer where she can contribute to maintaining a safe, reliable and affordable protein source while providing the best care for the birds.

Learn more about Poteat and her journey at CALS at the link in our comments.

05/19/2026

A love for animals led Alexia Alexander to NC State CALS. Now, as a graduate, she's on a path toward a thriving career in veterinary medicine. 🩺

Alexander, who grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina, graduated last weekend with a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science. She made the most of her time at NC State, mentoring and guiding students as a CALS Ambassador, finding community within NC State's Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority chapter and working at an avian and exotic animal care practice, where she will move into a treatment role this summer.

“I came into NC State knowing what I wanted to do, but I didn’t know how to get there," she said. "I grew into the woman I’m supposed to be.”

In the fall, she plans to work in laboratory animal medicine at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Her plans after that include applying to veterinary school in the 2027-28 cycle, with NC State at the top of her list. She’s also considering a master’s degree in animal science to keep her options open.

Read more about Alexander and her time at NC State at the link in our comments. 💬

Address

2501 Founders Drive, Patterson Hall 112
Raleigh, NC
27695

Telephone

+19195152011

Website

https://cals.ncsu.edu/

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