Campus farm manager Mark Salwasser has played a vital role overseeing the 1,000-acre University Agricultural Laboratory and its 18 campus farm units that serve the academic, research, and community and industry outreach efforts for the Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology.

Since starting full-time on campus as a vineyard manager in 1991, he has also served as a field crop manager, orchard manager and farm coordinator over the course of his 32 years working on campus.

Faculty, staff and students will miss the 1988 plant science alumnus and his wealth of experience, tireless dedication and vision after he retires on Friday, May 5. In his retirement, he looks forward to spending more time with his family and grandchildren, serving his church and helping with its food booth at the Caruthers Fair each fall, and enjoying sprint car races as an observer.

Learn more about his roots on the farm that go back as a student assistant with the campus vineyard and Viticulture and Enology Research Center in this recent interview.

Faculty and staff are also invited to a Jordan College retirement event for him from 2 to 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 2, at the Vintage Room next to the campus fountain.