Students, family, faculty, alumni, donors and friends from the College of Agricultural Sciences gather in the MU ballroom once a year to recognize student accomplishments throughout the year. Throughout the evening awards are given for Distinguished Professor, New Professor, Club of the Year and outstanding Students. Recognition is also given to the Agricultural Executive Council, Ambassadors for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources as well as scholarship recipients and graduating seniors.

National and University Award Winners

Savery Outstanding Doctoral Student

Patricia Aron

Savery Outstanding Master’s Student

Rachel Crowhurst

Capital Press Outstanding Senior in Agriculture

AnnaRose Adams

Burlingham Undergraduate Student of Excellence

Thomas Griffin

The Distinguished Professor Award was presented to Dr. Jeffrey Stone from the Botany and Plant Pathology Department.  Dr. Stone is a research professor in the Department of Botany and Plant Pathology.  He is continuing his research in mycology, ecology and evolutionary biology of fungal parasites of conifers.  Additionally, he is being recognized as an outstanding professor for both the undergraduate and graduate programs. Dr. Stone does a great job working with new software; the tasks assigned in many of the Botany classes use SimBio which models and reinforces the most important concepts of the course material but also allows many of the distant education students to experience a virtual lab environment.  Professor Stone’s willingness to try new things that enhance the student learning experience is a great example of how he works to improve the academic programs here at Oregon State University.

Dr. Misty Lambert was awarded as the Distinguished New Professor Award, this past year Dr. Lambert has served as the co-advisor for Collegiate FFA.  In this position she has surpassed the expectations of an advisors duty.  She is always coming up with ideas to increase our membership or new ways to involve the chapter in community and campus life.  Coming from Missouri she has brought many new ideas.  Currently she is helping to organize the Leadership Academy for next year; this academy will mentor students on leadership projects within the College of Agricultural Sciences.  Her overall professionalism and kind demeanor makes Oregon State University very lucky to have her as a professor.

The high traffic campus of Oregon State University had an eerie feeling at 6:30 in the morning without a student in sight. Annually at the beginning of May, the Agricultural Executive Council hosts “Ag Day” in the Memorial Union Quad at the heart of the campus in conjunction with the FFA CDE Days. The purpose of Ag Day is to enable current students, as well as perspective FFA students to see what all the 30 + clubs and organizations of the College of Agricultural Sciences has to offer. Diversity is widespread within Ag Day; everything from Greek row representatives, all the way to the organic growers club.

Smack dab in the middle of the MU Quad sat stacks of tables and over a hundred chairs to be unfolded and set up across the Quad.  Equipped with toasted bagels, and Starbucks Coffee, the Agricultural Executive Council was ready to begin one of our biggest events of the year. After setting up the area, it was time to roll in the big rigs; the council knew that it is the huge tractors and brand new trucks that really draw in the student’s attention. With the help of Alpha Gamma Rho, we were able to bring in both John Deere and New Holland tractors. As well as having Dodge, Chevrolet, GMC, Ford, and Toyota pick-ups as far as the eye could see through oak and blooming rhododendron pathways.

As the sun began to rise higher in the sky, club members, ambassadors from the College of Agricultural Sciences, and various students began to show up in the midst of the morning. At 9:00 sharp Ag Day had begun with all booths in place, and university students everywhere. Ag Exec sold tee-shirts that said, “The Heart of Oregon State- Agriculture,” on the front; as well as, “Farm Today, or Starve Tomorrow” on the back. The shirts were a huge hit and sold out within the hour. As the day continued on it was great to see instructors, faculty members, and even deans from numerous colleges becoming active with the festivities offered. Nearing lunch-time, Young Cattlemen’s Association offered a fantastic lunch and Ag Exec had gallons upon gallons of ice cream for a tasty dessert.

As 3:00 in the afternoon neared, clubs had started to pack up their booths and the conclusion of Ag Day had begun. With the help with many students from the college, the clean-up of the MU Quad was fast and efficient. All tractors and pick-ups were required to be delivered back to the dealerships; Ag Exec and AGR jumped on the opportunity to return them. In the end, Ag Day was a huge success with hundreds of students from the numerous colleges at OSU shuffling through club booths, pick-up truck exhibits, and even beer production enactments, all realizing the true heart of Oregon State. Agriculture.

Every year, the Agricultural Executive council sponsors a bus tour to a region in Oregon so students can visit various agricultural businesses.  This year, the students traveled to the area around Medford and visited Del Rio Vineyards and Winery, Crater Animal Clinic, Gary West Smoked Meats, Harry and David, Rogue Creamery, Lillie Belle Farms’ chocolate factory, the tasting room for Daisy Creek and Madrone Mountain wine, the Grange Co-op, Ashland Greenhouses and OSU’s Southern Oregon Research and Extension Center.

To see photos from the industry tour please follow the link below.

Photos by Tiffany Woods.

On April 20^th, The Oregon State University Chapter of Alpha Gamma Rho is excited to hosts its annual “Alpha Gamma Rhodeo” philanthropy, which benefits Heifer International. Alpha Gamma Rhodeo is an Agricultural Olympics styled competition with individual events including a Swing Dancing competition, pedal tractor race, and milk chugging contest, among others. New this year, sororities are allowed to nominate one of their members to apply and run for the position of “Rhodeo Queen,” who will be crowned the night of the Rhodeo and featured on the Alpha Gamma Rho composite the following year. If you are interested in participating or looking for more information, please contact Chris Ottoboni at 415.517.4438.

All proceeds will be lumped into a donation to Heifer International, which is a “worldwide organization whose main goal is to end starvation in third world countries. Heifer International gives families a source of long-term sustainable agriculture through gifts of livestock and knowledge.” Last year the event raised over $2000 dollars, and we hope to raise even more this year. Alpha Gamma Rho is a proud supporter of Heifer International in their pursuits of teaching the less fortunate how to sustainably and productively use livestock. For more information: http://www.heifer.org/

Alpha Gamma Rho is a nationwide fraternity with the purpose “To make better men, and through them, a broader and better agriculture.” The local chapter is proud to be active in the OSU College of Agricultural Sciences and Greek Community with young men in leadership positions within the College and various clubs. For more information: http://www.agrsatoregonstate.com/

The Food Drive at Oregon State University has been a long successful tradition that occurs every February. The event brings the entire student body together to help feed the hungry and support the Linn-Benton food Share. This year, club members from the College of Agricultural Sciences joined together raising over 200 pounds of food for the cause!

Every Thursday (all summer too!) the Organic Growers Club will meet at 4:30-dark at their farm for work parties, free dinner will be provided. Anyone interested can request to join their list serve to receive notices on bike convoys and information about their weekly veggie sales, which are held on Fridays from 8-5.

The Organic Growers Club will also be hosting a huge event at their farm on Earth Day (April 22^nd)! Busses will be available to transport students from campus to the farm, as there is limited parking available. As always, bikes are encouraged! There will be numerous activities to participate in including; the planting of 10,000 onion starts, farming demonstrations, live music, FREE food and a small farm petting zoo with goats, alpacas, baby chickens, ducks and geese. Children are welcome, however the club requests that dogs stay at home.

Other clubs are welcome to participate in this event and are encouraged to contact Bridget Chipman at chipmanb@onid.orst.edt or Abah Ghupta at guhptab@onid.orst.edu for more information!

After a long week of classes and studying the students from the College of Agricultural Sciences gathered together for the annual CAS dinner and dance. The meal consisted of beef provided by the Meat Science Club, chips, salad and homemade root beer from the Food and Fermentation club. After dinner, students hit the dance floor and learned some new dances from the members of the Country Western Dance Club. A night filled with friends, dancing and good food was just what the students needed to relax after a busy week

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Faculty members and representatives from each club were invited to attend an etiquette dinner hosted by the Agricultural Executive Council. The dinner was held February 23^rd at the Corvallis Country Club. The guests were able to eat a delicious meal of Caesar salad, chicken Parmesan, vegetables, bread, dessert and soda. Students were able to enhance their professional development skills, meet peers from other clubs and network with faculty of the college.

For the first time in four years the Oregon State Dairy Club held the Beaver Classic Sale on Saturday, February 5^th, 2011. There were 19 consignments and two embryo packages coming from Washington and Oregon.  The Club was fortunate to have one donation calf from SAR-BEN FARMS INC. located in Saint Paul, Oregon.  In addition, to the cattle auction there was a silent auction that included items from Muck boots to baskets full of Dairy-related items graciously donated by a wide variety of supporters.  Dinner and beverages were provided to the attendees by the Dairy Club before the sale began.  Friends and families gathered for an eventful evening of fun, food, and fantastic cattle.  It was a great sale and the Oregon State Dairy Club hopes to see more people and participation at the 2013 Beaver Classic and get it back to a semiannual event.

This spring, the Agricultural Executive Council will be leading the Annual Industry Tour to Southern Oregon, specifically the Medford area on April 8^th-10^th. The cost of the tour is only $20, which covers your lodging, transportation, and about half of meals. We will leave Corvallis at 8AM on Friday and return on Sunday around 6PM.

Tours include:

Del Rio Vineyard (One of the first vineyards in Oregon)


Crater Animal Clinic (5 Vets, 20 staff person)


7 Oak Farms (fruit orchard)


Cole River Fish Hatchery (Largest hatchery in Oregon)


Harry and David (nationwide fruit/gift basket distributor)

Ashland Greenhouses (100 year old company)


Gary West Smoked Meats


Full Circle Bison Ranch


Hillcrest Orchards
Rogue Creamery (Artisan Cheesemakers)


Roxyanne Winery (Organic/Sustainable)

Interested students can join the group on Facebook or email Thomas Griffin at griffint@onid.orst.edu to receive email updates on the tour. Space is limited and is assigned on a first come, first serve basis. Bring $20 to the February 9^th (or future) Ag Exec meetings to reserve your spot! Hope you can attend!

Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=181413225231955