History:

The Oregon State University Sheep Club has been an unofficial club on the Oregon State campus since 1998. The club was started by a group of students interested in the sheep industry and it slowly gained popularity after its inaugural year. The club was based around a flock of student managed sheep that they were responsible for and this drew dedicated students from a variety of majors. However, since its start, the Sheep Club has faced inconsistent participation and club membership, preventing the club from gaining official recognition by Oregon State University and the College of Agricultural Sciences.

Purpose:

As of Fall 2011, a group of dedicated OSU students have been working to make the OSU Sheep Club an officially recognized club on the OSU campus. We currently have 20 members, which is a huge increase from last year’s 4. The Sheep Club aspires to provide OSU students with an opportunity to experience the activities of sheep production as it would occur at various parts of the industry on any scale of production. Activities include hoof trimmings, vaccinating, lambing, ultra sounding, etc. The Sheep Club is currently looking into opportunities to show ewe lambs once we have some available to show and enough interest is shown. The club ultimately wants to further the knowledge and skills of students wishing to be involved with sheep production and the sheep industry. We are a hands-on club that aims to get students involved with our flock and have them experience sheep production for themselves.

Events:

This year, the Sheep Club is participating in Agricultural Awareness Day on May 8, 2012. We will have a paper machete sheep along with a display posted about how sheep production contributes to other industries in “Feeding the Future”. We will have a prize wheel as well where people can answer questions about sheep and their production to win great prizes! The Sheep Club is also planning on representing OSU at the 2013 Ag Fest.

Contact Information:

The Sheep Club is always looking for new members who are interested in gaining some hands on experience with sheep. Club meetings are typically held twice a month at the OSU Sheep Center (although this is subject to availability of sheep to work on/with) and there are always opportunities available to get involved with the OSU Sheep center. For more information about Sheep Club, you can find us on Facebook (search OSU Sheep Club) or email the club at osusheepclub@gmail.com.

A film based on the Greenhorns Documentary will be shown in Gilfillan Auditorium Friday April 20, from 6-8 p.m.. The film will broadcast the lives of American farmers and the young farming community. It will also show the importance of farming and agriculture for those considering a career in the industry. After the film local farmers will be sharing their experiences and be available for answering questions.The  farmers that will be attending include Chris Hansen of Mosaic Farm, Hank Keogh of Wild Garden Seed/ Avoca Seed, Erika Dorondo of Evergreen Farm, and Rachel Prickett of Provenance Farm. For more information about the event please contact Amy Garrett at Amy.Garrett@oregonstate.edu, or Becky Rubenstrunk at ssi.outreach@oregonstate.edu.

Applications for New Professor of the Year, Professor of the Year, and Club of the Year are now online. Any student in the College of Agricultural Sciences can make a nomination for these awards by filling out the application. The Winners are selected by the Agricultural Executive Awards Committee and will be announced at the Celebrating Student Excellence Awards Night on May 23. Please submit your applications by May 11 by 5:00 p.m. to Strand 137 or they can be emailed to Thomas Griffin at griffint@onid.orst.edu.

The Agricultural Executive Council is currently accepting officer applications for the upcoming 2012- 2013 school year. The mission of Ag Exec is to promote activities within the college of Agricultural Sciences, along with acting in corporation with the  administration of CAS to further public relations  improvements to the college. Ag Exec officers work in a professional manner to serve students in the College of Agricultural Sciences and strive to be positive leaders. There are several officer positions including Executive President, Vice President, Director of Correspondence, Director of Finance, Director of Public Relations, Director of Agriculture Day, and Director of New Fields. Applications and Resumes are due Friday, May 11 by 5:00 p.m. to Thomas Griffin at griffint@onid.orst.edu.

Applications can be found on the Ag Exec website at http://agsci.oregonstate.edu/agexec.

The Oregon State University Turfgrass club spent five days attending the 2012 Golf Course Superintendants of America (GCSAA) Industry Show and Educational Conference this past winter term. The conference was held at the Las Vegas convention center and consisted of over 500 booths with vendors and a variety of speaking events including golf course maintenance, crew management, and public relations topics. The Turf Club competed in the annual Collegiate Turf bowl, which consisted of a series of complex tests. The tests are composed of grass and weed identification, equipment maintenance, business operation, budgeting, and cultural practices. There were a total of 50 schools and over 100 students competing, Oregon State having two teams that placed very well. At the trade show several OSU students were able to receive interviews with potential job opportunities. Lyle Gibbs will be interning at the Rock Creek Cattle Company’s golf course this summer in Montana, and Tyler Gabriel accepted a job as an assistant in training with Yocha DeHE Golf Club in Brooks, California. The conference was a great networking opportunity for the Oregon State students and many were pleased to see them attending. Next year the turf club will be attending the 2013 Industry Show in San Diego, California.

Sigma Alpha, the Agricultural sorority on campus will be holding spring rush April 9-20. Sigma Alpha is a professional sorority that focuses on leadership, scholarship, fellowship, and service. Activities include OWA, Ag in the classroom, Monday night meetings, and other exciting social events. Sigma Alpha rush is completely free and anyone interested in, or studying Agriculture can attend. If you would like to become more involved and make lifelong friendships the first informational meeting will be held April 9 at 7p.m. in the MU, room 206. For more information please contact Alexandra Hogansen. hogansea@onid.orst.edu.

The Oregon State University IHSA Western Team won Semi Finals this past weekend in Ocala, Florida. The show consisted of a two-day event with riders competing in their individual classes. Hard work paid off for the western team including Elizabeth Whitman, Cole Newman, Katie Dovenberg, Danielle Lorenz, and Kathryn Sargent as they successfully earned a position to represent Oregon State University at Nationals. Stephanie Borgen will also be competing individually in the beginner class. The National IHSA competition will be held May 2-6 in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Jon Calhoun was one of nine students from across the nation selected to be on the Student Advisory Team for the Agricultural Future of America. The team serves as organization ambassadors, act as student advisors for the organization, and aid in planning the AFA leadership conference. Calhoun will receive media, public speaking, and communications training, as well as gain leadership experience and work with corporate and association leaders. He is looking forward to representing Oregon State University by being a part of this amazing organization.

To find out more information about the AFA organization please follow the link.  http://www.agfuture.org/s/1342/index.aspx?sid=1342&gid=1&pgid=556

The AWFC at Oregon State University will be hosting the annual Conclave event held March 28 – 30 in Peavy Arboretum. Conclave was started in 1939 and is the largest logging sports event in the Northwest. Ten college teams from all over the Northwest will be participating in the competition consisting of ax throwing, log climbing, and chopping. Volunteers are needed to help run this event successfully.

If you are interested in volunteering please contact Susan Torgerson at torgerss@onid.orst.edu.

Warren Gawlik, president of the Oregon State University Turfgrass Club was awarded student of the month in February. Gawlik is very dedicated to the club and has even developed team building exercises to make meetings more enjoyable, and build stronger relationships with one another. He created a calendar to communicate more clearly with members, as well as providing emails, texts, and Facebook posts. His hard work has successfully increased the participation and involvement of members. Gawlik will be graduating June 2012 with a Horticulture major, and turf management option.

College of Agricultural Sciences students Jon Calhoun and Rozalyn Patrick were selected to attend the 39th annual National Ag Day held in Washington DC March 6-8. The Agricultural Future of America (AFA) chose to sponsor 40 students throughout the Nation for this event, Calhoun and Patrick proudly representing Oregon State University. While in DC students will attend information sessions, receive training about agricultural policy, and promote agriculture to state legislatures. Ag Day is hosted by the Agricultural Council of America (ACA), and is a campaign to teach others the importance of Agriculture, learn how fibers and food are produced, and encourage appreciation for agricultural uses in every day life.

For more information about AFA and National Ag Day please follow the links below.

http://www.agfuture.org/s/1342/index.aspx?sid=1342&gid=1&pgid=467

http://www.agday.org/media/pr5.php