CAAS holds annual Day on the Patio
The College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences highlighted the college’s clubs, student organizations and local businesses at the annual CAAS Week event, “Day on the Patio” Sept. 19.
CAAS Senator Dexton Lake said the event was designed to showcase the ever-growing and changing possibilities for students in the college.
“It’s more of an opportunity for people to get to know what’s going on within the college and the different types of degrees and opportunities that are available for students when they get involved in CAAS,” Lake said.
The event included several booths from CAAS clubs, such as the animal science club, the dairy science club, plant science club and many agriculturally minded businesses.
The animal science club even brought along animals from the Animal Science farm, located about 10 minutes Southwest of Utah State’s main campus.
One of the animals at the event was a calf that had been born that morning, only hours earlier.
Animal Science club member Dalton Gibbs said the event was fine for the newborn calf, despite him being so new.
“The more they’re touched, the friendlier this calf will be,” he said. “And this one has already had time to be with his mom and develop that connection. Plus, he’s going to go back to his mom, so it’s perfectly fine.”
The newborn calf was a hit with students passing by the event on their way from classes. Many students stopped to take pictures with the animal and give him a pat on the head before continuing on their way.
In addition to the animals and booths, shish kabobs were being sold for one dollar each, all proceeds going to a CAAS student in need. There was also a mechanical bull. Ten percent of the profit from the bull would have been going to CAPS mental health services.
“The nice thing about all of our events this week is that they have a better purpose. A better purpose than what’s being presented,” Lake said.
For example, the helicopter landing was done in memory of an aviation student, Frank Marino De Leon Compres, who died in a plane crash July 2016.
The Day on the Patio raises money for a mental health and a CAAS student in need.
Friday’s tractor parade was held in remembrance of the 8 CAAS students and their instructor who died in a van crash in 2005 on the way back to campus following a field trip.
The Ag Products barbecue held Saturday, Sept. 22, sold tickets to raise money for CAAS student scholarships.
Lake feels that the Day on the Patio is an important event for the entire student body, as they all benefit from agriculture and applied sciences in some way.
The programs are always changing and evolving, Lake said, there is always something new and cutting edge to learn in CAAS.
He said this event is a great one to make CAAS more accessible to other students outside the college.
“It’s a really great way for us to reach out to other students and say ‘Hey, come check out our college. We’ve got something new for you,’” he said.
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