Ag Science Club ropes in $500 from new council
In its first official meeting, the 2004-05 Associated Students of Utah State University gave away $500 for belt buckles.
That is, $500 for belt buckles, scholarships and other needs for the Aggie Classic Jackpot, a steer and heifer show put on by the Animal Science Club each year for the past 20 years. The event is scheduled for Saturday.
Darren Neilson, a junior studying animal science joined with Agricultural Senator Chad Warnick in asking for the money from the Capital and Support fund.
“[The Aggie Classic Jackpot] is a huge draw,” Warnick said. “It just keeps getting bigger every year.”
Putting on a successful show this year is extra important, Neilson said, because of some trouble surrounding the event in past years.
“We’ve had a black eye in years past,” he said. “Three years ago we canceled the show, two years ago something else happened, last year was our first year back.”
Neilson said the request for extra funding would be a one-time thing and could hopefully give the show the momentum it needs to get more of its own sponsors next year.
“We just kind of got behind the eight ball this year and we need a little help,” Neilson said.
The total cost for the event is about $3,000. Neilson said the College of Agriculture donated $400 and the Animal Science Club matched that donation. Other valley individuals and businesses have also made donations to help the event.
At the Jackpot, individuals ranging from 8 to 19 years old bring their animals and have them weighed. The largest animal receives a $500 prize and second place receives $250, Neilson said.
“This is basically our service project to the community,” Neilson said. “We have a steer sale in the fall and that’s our money maker.”
Neilson said the Animal Science Club could use more of its own funds to pay for the event, but then it wouldn’t have as much money to purchase steers in the fall.
Warnick said the show has been used in the past, and been successful, as a recruitment tool for the university.
“Whenever we get kids up to our campus, the chances of getting them to come to our university grow exponentially,” he said.
Warnick said it is important that a successful show be put on this year so that the momentum from last year’s Jackpot doesn’t go to waste.
“If it’s that big of a show this year, next year they’re going to have more sponsors,” Warnick said.
Neilson said the money donated to the club from ASUSU could be used however they wanted it to be.
“You guys are probably laughing at belt buckles,” he said. “Western people kind of like them, I guess.”
-str@cc.usu.edu