We are very pleased to introduce our newest employee at AMTS—Sam Fessenden. Sam will be joining us in October providing Technical Support, Training, Program Sales, and Marketing as well as project development. A recent PhD graduate of Cornell, Sam brings a very detailed understanding of the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System, both in its past, present, and future versions to help AMTS customers better formulate rations.
King Ferry, NY, USA
Water Skiing
Sam was born and raised on a 650 cow family dairy in upstate New York (USA) with his parents and three siblings. In 2002 when his family left the farm, they moved nearby and kept some beef cows. He was very involved in FFA while at Southern Cayuga High School and decided to pursue his interest in cattle by focusing on ruminant nutrition. With multiple family ties to Cornell University Dairy Science Department, and a strong interest in microbiology, Sam spent his undergrad years at Cornell University. While there he worked in the VanAmburgh lab group with CNCPS model development. He assisted with bringing the Van Soest lab manual into publication. Sam then went to the University of Minnesota for his Masters to study with Dr. Marshall Stern where he focused on in vitro rumen digestion and microbial metabolism. He returned to Cornell to obtain his PhD working again with Dr. Mike VanAmburgh. At Cornell he focused on rumen metabolism, predicting nutrient supply in lactating dairy cattle and continuing evaluation and development of the CNCPS.
Drs. Fessenden and VanAmburgh
Sam has been able to satisfy his enjoyment of travel combined with gaining greater understanding of the challenges and opportunity facing ruminant nutritionists and producers on a global basis. While at University, Sam managed to parlay traveling to various countries into work or school trips. This allowed him to spend a semester in New Zealand (necessary trip to Australia because it was close), spend summer internships and curriculum building in Italy, somehow he wrangled a talk in Germany during Oktoberfest, and, –not sure how this happened nor how it is related to actual work—spent St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin.
New Zealand
Oktoberfest
He has traveled extensively throughout the United States attending various conferences. He and his fiancé, Brenda Reiter, recently spent a week in Alaska where Brenda caught a fish much larger than his. Sam’s interests include cooking, hunting, traveling, farming, fishing, and wood work.
Sam will be based in Minnesota. His AMTS responsibilities will fortify his Delta Miles account and should keep him in Medallion Status. Sam will assist the team in model and biology support, technical support, and program development. Basically, he will be doing everything and be everywhere.
Welcome Sam! Woot Woot!