Pretty in Plaid
In the college of Natural Resources, showing off your scruff is not only acceptable, but a source of competition. A long tradition in the college of Natural Resources (NR), the Loggers Ball, will be held Saturday where students can come dance, eat, and judge beards.
Kicking off its 69th year, the Loggers Ball will be held at Hamilton’s Steak and Seafood and was organized by the Natural Resources student council. Jason Carlisle, NR senator, said the event provides students and faculty a chance to relax and “associate in more casual ways” and promote tradition on campus.
Three contests, “King of the Forest, Queen of the Woods,” costume and beard, will be held that night and Jen Christopherson, president of student council for college of NR, said hopefully the beard contest will draw more people in. Categories include patchiest, most creative, longest, manliest and most classy.
Carlisle said the informal atmosphere is what makes the Ball enjoyable.
“Expect a good time,” Carlisle said, “First and foremost what students can expect is a lot of flannel.”
Senior Donovan Birch, a Forestry Club member, said the event use to be much bigger and has kind of died down in the past years, with around 110 people attending last year. He said even though anyone can attend, usually it is just the students who are in the natural resources college. Historically the event was held by the Forestry Club, Carlisle said, but recently the college has taken it over.
Birch said he thinks because the number of NR students has declined, the number of those in attendance has declined as well. He said the Forestry Club is one of the longest running clubs in USU history and have made a good partner in the plans.
A passion for the outdoors is what got Carlisle interested in the Natural Resources department along with “influential” science classes that guided him to Wildlife Science. He said being senator has been a great opportunity to serve students and what out what other people need.
“It’s definitely been a learning experience, trying to utilize the college’s resources to meet the needs of the students,” he said.
The Forestry Club isn’t just about fun and games, however. Birch said the club plans to help clean up the Stokes Nature Center as their end of year project. One of the most striking factors of the college is the nature of the students.
“Natural Resource majors in general are fairly untraditional students,” he said.
Tickets will be sold in the TSC for $12 and at the door for $15.
– k.vandyke@aggiemail.usu.edu
– megan.b@aggiemail.usu.edu