Baby animals, cows and students brave the weather for National Ag day on the Quad
It might have been a little too cold to milk a cow on the Quad at Utah State University, but members of the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences were undeterred.
The celebration of National Ag Day occurred on the Quad March 20, complete with free milk from Gossners’, informational facts about agriculture and, of course, baby animals.
Holley Stringham Students and community members come to National Ag Day on the Quad March 20, 2018.
Members of the CAAS council have tried not once, but twice to bring cows up to the Quad for milking demonstrations, with little success. They have been beat out by the weather both times, but decided that National Ag Day was the perfect time to bring baby animals from the American West Heritage Center, as well as the USU South Farm to USU’s campus. This experience provided people of all ages the opportunity to learn just a little bit more about agriculture than they might have not known before.
Melissa Rasmussen serves as a member of the CAAS Council, and mentioned the importance of the event not just for students, but for everyone.
“(National Ag Day) is all about raising awareness about agriculture because it’s a big deal for Utah State, since the College of Ag is where it all started,” Rasmussen said. “A lot of people don’t have as much exposure to it now, so any exposure we can give to the student body, it’s important to give students experiences they wouldn’t otherwise have.”
Rilee Scoresby The Dairy Club members recruiting on the Quad for National Ag Day
Rasmussen hopes that students as well as the community had a fun time, learned some new facts, and now knows that the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences exists on campus.
Katelyn Rindlisbaker is an agricultural communications and journalism major, with a strong love of all things agriculture. She grew up in the agriculture industry and delights in being able to teach others about what she knows and finds important.
“I want people to know that agriculture affects their lives so much more than they realize. This is a great chance to show them and remind them of that,” Rindlisbaker said.
Rindlisbaker enjoyed being able to watch the little kids have a fun and exciting experience.
Holley Stringham Students and community members come to National Ag Day on the Quad March 20, 2018.
“It’s really neat to see this younger generation wanting to participate and be out here with all these animals,” she said. “The best time to help others learn about agriculture is when they are young, because they have such open minds and they love all the baby animals.”
Christy Achen is a member of the USU Dairy Science club and grew up on a dairy farm. She appreciates the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences’ desire to help educate the USU community on an up-close and personal basis.
“I think it’s important that we continue to share what we do as farmers because there’s less of us, and there is going to continue to be less of us. We should be willing to talk to others about where their food comes from and give them opportunities to learn about agriculture and see it up close,” Achen said.
She also says she loves the baby animals.
“Having animals on campus is something new for people to see. Not often do people have the opportunity to see farm animals, touch them or interact with them,” Achen said. “It’s great for anyone who hasn’t grown up on a farm.”
Rilee Scoresby Chelsea Parke and Smokey the miniture horse make their appearance from The American West Heritage Center on the Quad
— kortni.marie.wells@aggiemail.usu.edu
@kortniwells