The annual Dean’s Reception to Rising Scholars was held Thursday October 4 to honor outstanding transfer and incoming students within the College of Agricultural Sciences. The Ag honors program was started in 1984, with over one million dollars awarded to students in the last 25 years to over 1000 recipients. To begin the evening Dean Dan Arp and Associate Dean Dr. Green welcomed students and congratulated them on their accomplishments. After students, faculty, and staff introduced themselves Stephanie Jenck spoke on behalf of the Ambassadors for Agriculture, Forestry, and Natural Resources. She emphasized having strong donor relationships, and shared her story of what student involvement at OSU meant to her. To end the evening Jon Calhoun spoke about the Agricultural Executive Council and encouraged students to get involved in clubs within the College of Agricultural Sciences. He also let students know how professional and personal development is associated with becoming involved. Photos of new student scholars will be hung on a bulletin board in Strand Hall.

The Agricultural Executive council went on a retreat to Eagle Crest this past weekend September 28 to 30 in order to plan the upcoming school year. The officers have worked very hard to renew the constitution, set budgets and goals, and prepare new activities for the students in Agricultural Sciences. Goals consisted of actively engaging clubs and increasing attendance at events, providing CAS students with more informational opportunities, facilitating and developing CAS community service, developing a public relation campaign to enhance the image/ pride of CAS to students, supporters and the general public, and re-establish strong involvement in campus leadership opportunities. New additions have also been added to Ag Exec including bringing back “Battle of the Aggies”, and creating a Pinterest devoted to Agriculture. A new name for the New Fields blog is also underway; please let one of the officers know if you have any suggestions. We look forward to an amazing year full of positive changes!

The Agricultural Executive Council hosted the annual fall gelato social to welcome new students on Thursday September, 20. Gelato was served as a treat to faculty and students as they socialized and had an opportunity to learn about new clubs within the College of Agricultural Sciences. Three new clubs attended the social including the Agricultural Education club, Sheep club, and PEAC (Preparing and Exploring Agricultural Careers) club. Dean of the College, Dan Arp concluded the day by giving students advice on how to feel more comfortable at OSU and encouraged them to step out and become involved in new activities and organizations.Overall it was a fun filled day full of catching up and meeting new people after the long break.

The annual Celebrating Student Excellence dinner was held in the Memorial Union Ballroom Wednesday May 23.  Faculty, students, donors, alumni, parents and friends gathered in celebration of student accomplishments over the past year.  The Agricultural Executive Council, Leadership Fellows, and Ambassadors for Agriculture, Forestry, and Natural Recourses were recognized for their leadership achievements. In addition awards were given for Distinguished Professor of the Year, New Professor of the Year, Club of the Year, and outstanding students. A delicious meal was served along with a slideshow being shown featuring club’s activities and involvement in the College of Agricultural Sciences. It was a great night filled of celebration and accomplishment.

Professor of the Year

Dr. Diebel is a professor in the Agricultural Recourses and Economics Department (AREc), and teaches a variety of classes ranging from introduction to micro economic principles to environmental economics and policy. In addition to teaching she is also an internship advisor to students majoring in Environmental Economics and Policy, and is an advisor for the AREc quiz bowl team. Students know her for her friendly open door meeting policy, helping students whenever they need.

New Professor of the Year

Dr. Sidlauskus is a professor and advisor within the Fisheries and Wildlife Department. In addition to his teaching and research studies he is a very active advisor to the American Fisheries Society and Wildlife Society Student Chapters, and is in charge of the OSU Fish Collection . Outside of OSU Dr. Sidlauskus helps the community by leading outreach tours for local grade schools.

Club of the Year

The Fisheries and Wildlife Club has grown tremendously over the past year, and strives to help students achieve goals through academics and professionalism.  The club is also actively involved in volunteer projects applying principles students learn in the classroom. Each year the club attends the Annual National Meeting where members develop networking skills with industry professionals. At the meeting they were awarded the Western Division Student Subunit of the Year by their national organization.

The Agricultural Executive Council held officer elections last week for the upcoming 2012-2013 school year. There were an outstanding group of qualified applicants, and we are thankful to all who applied. The new officer team is as follows.

President: Jon Calhoun
Vice President: Ashley Florence
Director of Correspondence: Katie Bartholomew
Director of Finance: Kenzie Smith
Director of Public Relations: Derek Burbank
Director of Ag Day: Kelsie White
Director of New Fields: Danielle Lorenz

The Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity held their 10th annual Alpha Gamma Rhodeo philanthropy this past week May 8-9. Proceeds raised went to support the Oregon FFA Foundation and FFA organization in order to help pay for career development events, proficiency awards, state convention, and scholarships. This will help to develop future leaders in agriculture throughout the state of Oregon. Tuesday’s events were held at the Benton County Fairgrounds and consisted of tractor races, hay bucking, swing dancing, best daisy duke, and a milk chugging contest. After the variety of events Kappa Kappa Gamma and Theta Chi took the win. On Wednesday The Alpha Gamma Rhodeo queen pageant was held at the AGR house. Each sorority had a designated girl that would run for queen and represent their house. Events consisted of a barrel race, roping competition, interview, extemporaneous speech, and baking contest.  After the competition Rozalyn Patrick from Kappa Kappa Gamma was crowned the Alpha Gamma Rho Rhodeo Queen.

The Agricultural Executive Council hosted the annual Agricultural Awareness Day this pas week May 7-8. This year “Ag Day” was a two-day event working towards the goal of 5 days in the future. Monday started off the week with a workshop and speaking event presented by Angela Mayfield. Mayfield is a current Instructional Designer for Vivayic, and is dedicated to helping others become engaged in agriculture.  FFA and College of Agricultural Sciences students gathered in La Selles Stewart Center Monday night to learn how to promote the agricultural industry and educate others proactively on the importance it has in every day life.

The Memorial Union quad was filled with College of Agricultural Sciences students bright and early Tuesday morning preparing to share the importance of agriculture to other students and faculty on campus. This year’s Agricultural Awareness Day was based on the question of how 9 billion people will be fed in the world by the year 2050 with less farmland. Clubs within the college set up booths with tractors, animals, grass, grains, and more to exemplify the various aspects and commodities of agriculture in relation to the theme. The Young Cattleman’s Association and Dairy Club provided lunch to onlookers, as the Country Western Dance Club demonstrated line dances. This year the Agricultural Executive Council also prepared an OSU themed basket so that individuals who visited every booth could enter to win.

The Agricultural Awareness Day was a huge success, and we plan to make improvements every year in order to educate students and community members on the importance of agriculture.

The Oregon State University Intercollegiate Equestrian Team traveled to North Carolina this past week May 1-7 for the National IHSA Horse Show. The show was a four-day event held at the Raleigh Horse Complex consisting of hunt seat and western events. The western team including riders Elizabeth Whitman, Cole Newman, Katie Dovenberg, Danielle Lorenz, and Kathryn Sergeant successfully won the National Title. The team’s hard work definitely paid off making history for OSU, and being the first time ever winning an IHSA National Championship.

The Agricultural Executive Council hosted their annual industry tour this past weekend in Eastern Oregon. The tour consisted of 26 students in the College of Agricultural Sciences gaining knowledge of a variety of agricultural related industries. These tours included the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm, Full Sail Brewery, Thomas Angus Ranch, Oregon Trail Interpretative Center, Columbia Basin Experiment Station, Mary Hill Museum, and Cathedral Ridge Winery. It was a very successful and fun weekend, and we highly encourage students to participate next spring.

The Oregon State University Intercollegiate Equestrian Team will be holding a fundraiser April 25 at Woodstock’s Pizza. Funds will be used to help the western team and 3 Individual riders  travel to the National competition in North Carolina May 1-7. When you order a pizza and tell them you are supporting OSU IHSA some of the proceeds will be donated to the team. The event will be all day so please come and show your support. If you have any questions please contact Lea Hoover at hooverl@onid.orst.edu.