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CapitalPress.com
Friday, May 20, 2022
People & Places
Scientist focuses on solving
problems facing aquaculture
Established 1928
Capital Press Managers
Joe Beach ..................... Editor & Publisher
By CAROL RYAN DUMAS
Capital Press
HAGERMAN, Idaho —
The University of Idaho’s
newest and only second-ever
extension aquaculture spe-
cialist, Jake Bledsoe, is from
Indiana but is no stranger to
the Gem State.
He did his graduate
research and was a teaching
assistant at the university in
Moscow from 2016 to 2020.
He was also a postdoctoral
researcher with USDA Agri-
cultural Research Service at
the Hagerman Fish Culture
Experiment Station.
That postdoctoral work
involved genetically character-
izing fish that could tolerate a
plant-based diet and working
with Ken Overturf, a USDA
ARS fish geneticist. When that
project concluded in October
2021, Bledsoe took a position
with USDA ARS as a research
geneticist in Orono, Maine,
working on genomic selection
in Atlantic salmon.
“I loved the work we were
doing out there, but this posi-
tion opened up,” he said.
In addition to being an
extension aquaculture special-
ist, the job offered an assistant
professor position directly
affiliated with the university’s
Aquaculture Research insti-
tute. He returned to the uni-
versity and Idaho in February.
“I’m really fortunate
to have spent time here. I
already established a lot of
relationships and really love
the Idaho industry. I couldn’t
turn it down,” he said.
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Entire contents copyright © 2022
Western
Innovator
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JAKE BLEDSOE
published every Friday.
Age: 33
Position: Assistant
professor/aquaculture
research and extension
specialist, University of
Idaho
Location: University
of Idaho Aquaculture
Research Institute, Hag-
erman
Carol Ryan Dumas/Capital Press
Jake Bledsoe displays a rainbow trout at the University of Idaho fish hatchery in Ha-
german.
Another big appeal was
working with graduate stu-
dents, mentoring them
on projects and oversee-
ing grants. On the flip side,
working with fish farmers
will keep him from getting
into a “science bubble,” he
said.
He met quite a few fish
farmers while doing his post-
doctoral work and is famil-
iar with the big players. Now
he’ll get to meet a lot more
and find out more about their
challenges, he said.
“Meeting with stakehold-
ers, in general, is a big prior-
ity. The goal is to get to know
them so I know their prob-
lems, then use research to
solve the problems,” he said.
Bledsoe’s research back-
ground is in fish physiology
and genomics, with a partic-
ular expertise in understand-
ing the roles that microbes
play in aquaculture — from
healthy gut microbiota to dis-
ease-causing environmental
pathogens.
“I plan to use an integrative
and collaborative approach to
come at research questions
from multiple perspectives to
overcome problems related to
feed costs and sustainability,
losses to disease, water qual-
ity management and genetic
improvements,” he said.
One of his early extension
priorities is workforce devel-
opment to recruit, retain and
provide continuing education
to make sure the industry has
employees capable of meet-
ing its needs.
Another is water policy to
ensure aquaculture operations
are regulated fairly and main-
tain compliance.
Yet another is marketing to
help identify new regional and
national markets and hosting
community-engagement mar-
keting opportunities.
“I am honored to be given
the opportunity to serve Idaho
aquaculture, an industry I’ve
learned to love over my last
six years in the area,” he said.
His predecessor, Gary
Fornshell, left big shoes to fill
Education: Doctorate,
natural resources and fish
physiology, University
of Idaho, 2020; master’s
degree, animal science,
Southern Illinois Uni-
versity, 2015; bachelor’s
degree, aquatic sciences
and associate’s agricul-
tural economics, Purdue
University, 2012
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with all the great impacts he
had on the industry, he said.
“But thanks to all the
warm welcomes, support and
guidance I’ve received in the
first few months on the job
from Gary and the industry, I
feel very well positioned and
am excited to get to work on
solving industry problems,”
he said.
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Services planned for Anne Marie Moss
Anne Marie Moss, 52, of Salem,
died of metastatic breast cancer on
April 22.
She was the communications
director for the Oregon Farm
Bureau.
She was at her home when she
died, surrounded by her family who
adored her. She was pain free and at
peace.
She was born Feb. 1, 1970, in
Muncie, Ind., the daughter of James
Hamm and Dianne (Doke) Moss.
Anne Marie spent her entire child-
hood in DeKalb, Ill. She was a grad-
uate of DeKalb High School class
of 1988 and graduated from Indi-
ana University in 1992, with a dou-
ble major in journalism and Span-
ish and a minor in art history. Anne
Marie earned a master’s degree at
the University of Texas with a major
in international communications.
Between these degrees, she served
as a VISTA volunteer in Albuquer-
que, N.M. There she worked with
impoverished families, tutored,
acquired computers for a local com-
munity center and organized a mural
project.
Following her graduation from
the University of Texas, Anne Marie
worked for mag-
azines in London,
Chicago, New Orle-
ans, Portland and
Salem, where she
held a variety of jobs
in writing, photogra-
Anne Marie phy and editing.
Her
favorite,
Moss
and most long last-
ing job, was with the Oregon Farm
Bureau. She served as its communi-
cations director for over 18 years.
While there, Anne Marie won
numerous national awards for her
writing, photography, publications
and social media. As an editor, one
colleague reported, “She could take
100 of someone else’s good words
and turn them into 20 great words.”
Anne Marie loved travel and
adventure. She was a lifelong learner.
Her curiosity about different cultures
inspired her to live in England, Costa
Rica, Spain and Mexico. She also
visited many other countries around
the world.
She admired and collected art,
loved music and attended many con-
certs. Anne Marie enjoyed a great cup
of coffee and some quality chocolates.
She was a disciplined athlete and
a graceful dancer. She participated in
half and full marathons, triathlons,
and many races of varying distances.
On two occasions, she participated in
Oregon’s famous Hood to Coast team
race. Anne Marie climbed moun-
tains, biked, hiked and camped. She
could build a fire from scratch within
minutes.
She loved being outside and
enjoyed the beauties of nature. Flow-
ers, trees, oceans and mountains all
spoke to her soul.
Anne Marie was a person of
exceptional kindness and generosity.
She always put others before herself.
She was modest and uncomplaining
(even when beset by extraordinary
emotional or physical pain). Anne
Marie had a fabulous sense of humor
and was known for her hysterical
one liners and puns. She was a dot-
ing daughter, sister, aunt and caring
friend. She will always be remem-
bered for her gorgeous smile.
She is survived by her parents,
Jim and Dianne Moss; her sis-
ters, Sarah Robinson (fiancé Terry
Briggs), Jenny Boisselle (Kris) and
Amy Keck (Jason); nieces and neph-
ews, Logan, Drew, Jessica, Pierson
and Campbell; and a long list of
aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
Anne Marie was predeceased by
her grandparents, Mary Rose and
Ernest Doke and Mildred and E. Her-
bert Moss and several other aunts,
uncles and cousins.
The world has lost a beautiful soul
who was cherished by many.
A Celebration of Life will be held
at 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 8, 2022,
at Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm, 33814
South Meridian Road, Woodburn,
Ore. Colorful clothes are encouraged.
Donations can be made, in mem-
ory of Anne Marie, to the Anne Marie
Moss Scholarship started by Ore-
gon Farm Bureau. Make checks to
the Oregon Agricultural Education
Foundation and note, on the check
, the money is for the Anne Marie
Moss Scholarship. Mail to OAEF,
1320 Capital Street N.E., Suite 200,
Salem, Ore., 97301 or METAVI-
VOR, a 501c3 nonprofit that focuses
100% on metastatic breast cancer
research.
Condolences to the Moss family
may be mailed to, 227 West Royal
Drive, DeKalb, Ill., 60115.
The family wishes to thank Dave
Dillon, Barb Iverson, Bethann Lyons
and Dr. John Strother.
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Scientists grow plants in lunar dirt, next stop moon
By MARCIA DUNN
AP Aerospace Writer
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — For
the first time, scientists have grown
plants in soil from the moon collected
by NASA’s Apollo astronauts.
Researchers had no idea if anything
would sprout in the harsh moon dirt
and wanted to see if it could be used
to grow food by the next generation
of lunar explorers. The results stunned
them.
“Holy cow. Plants actually grow in
lunar stuff. Are you kidding me?” said
Robert Ferl of the University of Flori-
da’s Institute of Food and Agricultural
Sciences.
Ferl and his colleagues planted
thale cress in moon soil returned by
Apollo 11′s Neil Armstrong and Buzz
Aldrin, and other moonwalkers. The
good news: All of the seeds sprouted.
The downside was that after the
first week, the coarseness and other
properties of the lunar soil stressed
the small, flowering weeds so much
that they grew more slowly than
seedlings planted in fake moon
dirt from Earth. Most of the moon
Include a contact telephone number.
Letters to the Editor: Send your
plants ended up stunted.
The longer the soil was exposed to
punishing cosmic radiation and solar
wind on the moon, the worse the plants
seemed to do. The Apollo 11 samples
— exposed a couple billion years lon-
ger to the elements because of the Sea
of Tranquility’s older surface — were
the least conducive for growth, accord-
ing to scientists.
comments on agriculture-related public
issues to opinions@capitalpress.com, or
mail your letter to “Opinion,” c/o Capital
Press. Letters should be limited to
300 words. Deadline: Noon Monday.
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CALENDAR
Submit upcoming ag-related
events on www.capitalpress.com
or by email to newsroom@capital-
press.com.
SUNDAY-TUESDAY
MAY 22-24
Alltech One Conference: Cen-
tral Bank Center, Lexington, Ky. The
conference will focus on collabora-
tive solutions for agriculture. Web-
site: https://one.alltech.com
TUESDAY-
WEDNESDAY
MAY 24-25
Habitat Working for Farmers
(online): 8 a.m.-noon. Oregon Soil
and Water Conservation Districts and
the Oregon IPM Center have teamed
up to bring you a virtual conference
on practices Western farmers are cur-
rently using to develop habitats that
conserve agricultural biodiversity and
their associated benefits. Website:
https://bit.ly/3ifLti9
WEDNESDAY MAY 25
Becoming Firewise — Fire
Resistant Landscapes and
Homes: 6-8 p.m., Treasure Valley
Community College Science Cen-
ter, Room 104, 650 College Blvd.,
Ontario, Ore. Scheduled instruc-
tors are Al Crouch, fire mitigation
specialist with U.S. Bureau of Land
Management Vale District, and
John Rizza, regional wildland fire
specialist with Oregon State Uni-
versity Extension. Contact: 541-
881-5755 Website: http://tvc-
cfirewise.eventbrite.com
WEDNESDAY-
THURSDAY
MAY 25-26
Roots of Resilience Graz-
ing Conference: Pendleton Con-
vention Center, 1601 Westgate,
Pendleton, Ore. Dave Pratt,
a Ranching for Profit emeri-
tus, will kick off the confer-
ence Wednesday morning with
“Three Secrets to Increasing
Profit,” how livestock manag-
ers can improve sustainabil-
ity by improving their finan-
cial bottom line. After lunch,
Chris Schachtschneider, OSU
Extension, will demonstrate
low-stress livestock han-
dling in the Happy Canyon
Arena. Thursday’s events move
north to the Gardena School,
Touchet, Wash., for a presenta-
tion by internationally known
soil health expert Nicole Mas-
ters. After lunch, the confer-
ence moves to Tumac Farms,
where there will be a field prac-
tical with Masters. Website:
https://rootsofresilience.org/
grazing-conference-2022
facebook.com/CapitalPress
WEDNESDAY
JUNE 1
2022 Wheat College:
9 a.m.-3 p.m. Ritzville Fairgrounds,
811 E. Main St., Ritzville, Wash.
AMMO — the Agricultural Marketing
and Management Organization —
continues to support the ag industry
by offering this year’s Wheat College
in person, providing information on
the opportunities available to max-
imize yield in the Pacific Northwest.
An event of the Washington Associa-
tion of Wheat Growers, sponsored by
the Washington Grain Commission
and AMMO partners. Pesticide cred-
its requested. Register by emailing
lori@wawg.org or call 509-659-0610.
RSVP by May 25 to be entered to win
a Blackstone grill.
THURSDAY
JUNE 2
Sustainable Produce Summit:
1-7:30 p.m. Marriott Desert Springs
Resort, Palm Desert, Calif. The sum-
mit will focus on sustainability.
Website: https://www.events.farm-
journal.com
FRIDAY-
SATURDAY
JUNE 3-4
facebook.com/FarmSeller
twitter.com/CapitalPress
youtube.com/CapitalPressvideo
Index
West Coast Produce Expo:
Marriott Desert Springs Resort,
Palm Desert, Calif. The expo will
focus on marketing and manag-
ing risks. Website: https://www.
events.farmjournal.com
Markets .................................................10
WEDNESDAY-
FRIDAY JUNE 8-10
Accuracy is important to Capital Press
staff and to our readers.
World Pork Expo: Iowa
State Fairgrounds, Des Moines.
The world’s largest pork indus-
try trade show will feature edu-
cation, innovation and net-
working. Website: https://www.
worldpork.org
Opinion ...................................................6
Correction policy
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factual error in a headline, story or photo
caption, please call the Capital Press news
department at 503-364-4431, or send
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