Golf tourney pits students against profs to raise money
As Ag Week comes to a close with new and old traditions being celebrated, students and faculty team up and tee-off to raise money for scholarships.
Adopting the name “Drive for Five,” agriculture students competed in a long-drive tournament at Birch Creek Golf Course in Smithfield with their professors on Wednesday. With a goal of earning $5,000, the students came out on top with $2,700, while the instructors from various departments in the college brought in $1,300. Nevertheless, the goal was met and the competitors were ecstatic as the Ag Council presented the golfers with a check for $5,000.
The idea for the event was originally materialized by Agriculture Senator Logan Ipsen and members of the Ag Council. But the activity was a victory for the Agriculture students, thanks to the help offered by a management and human resources class from the business college. McKenzie Anderson, current Business senator said she approached Ipsen about helping with the event for a class. She said when word got out about the fundraiser, the College of Business ambassadors and Business Council jumped on the bandwagon to help with the cause. The MHR class consisted of about 40 students, but they also found nearly 50 community members and 20 other students and faculty to join their efforts, Anderson said.
“They all volunteered to help a fellow college,” Anderson said. “It’s not an opportunity we often get.”
Anderson said the business students were in charge of planning, finding sponsors, advertising and putting on the main event. Golfing is not a hobby that agriculture students or professors often boast about, but many agreed that it was a chance to get involved on an even playing field for a common cause.
Brynn Campbell, a junior in agriculture education, said, “I’m not usually much of a golfer and I kind of got volunteered. So I practiced once and decided I would do it to help out my classmates.”
Campbell wasn’t alone in picking up a driver for the first time. Assistant Professor Rudy Tarpley represented the agriculture systems technology and education department and said he was a little scared when he accepted the invitation to drive a golfball.
“I had a feeling of pure fright,” Tarpley said. “It can be scary to swing a club in front of your students. It is fun create a fellowship with these kids, but if we can raise money for scholarships it is a bonus.”
Ipsen said he hopes similar traditions will be continued in succeeding years. He said many of this year’s Ag Week activities served as fundraisers for the student body and all of the proceeds can be attributed to them and their dedication to improve the college and further unite as friends, peers and classmates.