Putting the ‘Ag’ in Aggies
Members of the USU College of Agriculture will be chanting, “We put the ‘Ag’ in Aggies,” as they remember, socialize, play, serve, learn and live during the annual College of Agriculture week, Sept. 22-27.
“This is the chance for the students of the College of Agriculture get to show others what they feel in their hearts, and the true spirit of agriculture,” Amy Peterson, an agriculture council member, said.
To give the students a “taste of ag,” Peterson said the college has focused each day on one word that describes the College of Agriculture.
Monday was dedicated to Memory. This day was dedicated to remembering agriculture in the state of Utah, and those who devote their lives to it, Peterson said.
Some of the activities included presenting a basket full of Utah agricultural products, donated by Utah’s Own, to USU President Stan Albrecht.
“We really want to show the pride that we have to President Albrecht for Utah agriculture,” Braden Jensen, USU College of Agriculture senator.
Beyond the presentation of agriculture products, the college also hosted their annual tractor parade.
Jensen said the tractors traveled in memory of those lives lost in the van accident of 2005, from the Agriculture Systems and Technical Education, ASTE, building on 800 East to the center of campus.
After the parade, nine tractors remained on campus as a memory of the nine lives lost.
“This is a chance for us to remember those people who lost their lives and had a strong passion for agriculture. They definitely knew what it meant to be an Aggie,” Jensen said.
Students from the College of Agriculture also gathered Monday evening to view a short historical slideshow presentation in memory of the College of Agriculture, Jensen said. After the presentation, students watched a John Wayne movie.
Tuesday, on the other hand, was full of different activities. Socialize was the main focus of the day’s activities.
“Farmers love to sit around talk. It takes the average farmer 20 hours to get to the bank because he has to stop and talk to everyone and their dog before he gets there,” Peterson said.
With that image in mind, she said anybody would know that members of the college love to get to know one another.
USU students will have that chanceWednesday, as the college dedicates the day to fun and service.
On Wednesday afternoon, the green-patch of grass on the Quad will look like a county fair, Jensen said.
Students will have the chance to see cows, pigs, country-swing dancing, log carving and much more, he said. The activities will continue from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
After finishing up on the day on the Quad, students are invited to help with a mini-park service project. Students will assist the Cambell family in presenting a park to Bill Cambell, an emeritus faculty member of USU, for his 80th birthday party.
“This gives us the opportunity to show the students of USU that the College of Agriculture loves to help other people,” Peterson said. “We’re not just those red-neck hicks that sit on a fence.”
Her point may be proven, as the college of agriculture celebrates Thursday, as Academic Day.
On this day, USU Students will have the opportunity to meet academic advisors from the college and learn about the different majors offered in the college, Jensen said.
At 11 a.m., advisors and students will also compete in a pie eating contest sponsored by STAB.
Thursday evening, on the other hand, is a chance for the students to show “their serious and mature side” Peterson said, as they gather together for an awards and honors banquet.
“Food is definitely something the College of Agriculture loves,” Jensen said.
For this reason, the college will end Thursday evening with a banquet and start Friday morning with a breakfast.
On Friday, the college is planning to Live agriculture by providing the campus community with a Chuck Wagon Breakfast on the TSC Patio from 8 to 10 a.m.
Friday evening students will “live agriculture” by attending the USU College Rodeo, at the Cache Valley Fair Grounds.
After the week is over “we hope that the university will really feel our passion for agriculture and be a little more educated about it,” Peterson said, “because we put the ‘Ag’ in Aggies.”
–tamralwatson@cc.usu.edu