Utah State University's College of Agriculture

The Stories of a Senior in Spring Semester

2012-03-09T07:20:00.001-08:00

As I finish out my final spring semester as an undergraduate at Utah State, I am happy to be involved in all the great things around campus. As an Ambassador (which, by the way, I love and will miss dearly), it has been my pleasure to be a part of the new Agricultural Sciences building as it has been completed and opened for business. For more information on that you can read earlier posts, I will simply say that it was a great experience and I look forward to seeing how the building will be used and enjoyed.

Another part of spring semester at Utah State is elections week! I’m not generally super involved with anything political but this year I had a really good friend running for office, and therefore offered to help him with his campaign. This included wearing the same shirt for four days with his face and slogan on it (don’t worry, I washed it), standing outside in the freezing cold to hand out fliers (yes, I am a really good friend), and talking to everyone I know and telling them to vote. And you know what I discovered? It was really fun! It also had some added benefits because I was able to talk to many of the other candidates and become familiar with their platforms, therefore making my vote more educated and allowing me to spread that knowledge to others I talked with.

Braving the crazy snowstorms, the freezing winds and the random changes of weather that are always part of Cache Valley, but seem to be intensified this winter, has been another interesting part of this semester. During elections week we had some sunny times and some snowy times. During the various events for the Agricultural Sciences Building we would stand inside and watch it go from sunny to cold and blustery and suddenly start snowing. I think Mother Nature has a hard time making up her mind this winter? I’m not going to complain too much, though, because I have really appreciated the lack of snow. But despite the crazy weather, this has been a fabulous semester full of new adventures and wonderful experiences. As excited as I am to move on in my education by completing my student teaching in the fall and graduate (yay!), I am saddened to be leaving campus. But don’t worry, Utah State, I love you so much that I will be back next spring to start my graduate work. You can get rid of me that easily. Go Aggies!!!

Celebrating our Land-Grant Heritage

2012-03-01T08:17:00.004-08:00

This year we celebrate the 150^th anniversary of President Lincoln’s signing of the Morrill Act of 1862 that established the land-grant system of public colleges and universities. This act would later influence the founding of the Agricultural College of Utah –now Utah State University– as Utah’s land-grant university. I had heard the phrase “land-grant university” before, but never really understood what it meant. I certainly do not claim to be an expert now, but I feel like I have gained a little better understanding and a great appreciation for this act that created access to public education across the nation. I also take more pride in the mission statement of USU “to be one of the nation’s premier student-centered land-grant and space-grant universities by fostering the principle that academics come first, by cultivating diversity of thought and culture and by serving the public through learning, discovery and engagement”.

In reflecting about recent events within the department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning over the last month or so I am reminded of how the goals of USU and the land-grant system to serve the public through learning, discovery and engagement have shaped my own education.

The LAEP department once again completed its annual Charrette, which is basically an intensive design workshop. Typically a local project or location is selected as the Charrette topic and students are tasked with producing design solutions to address specific problems and needs. During a one-week period, all LAEP students are divided into teams led by a student leader and each team focuses on one aspect. The process includes interaction with local residents, city council members, and mayors in developing solutions for growth, development and planning issues of an area. After a week of intense teamwork the groups present their ideas to each other and the local community.

This year our Charrette focused on the Bear Lake Region. We divided into 15 teams with topics addressing local and regional issues like growth and development of individual cities, parks, trails/trailheads, open space preservation and of course the lake itself. It was an incredible process as everyone in the department devoted their attention to the issues facing the Bear Lake Region. Through discussion and research we addressed specific concerns of communities and regional groups and produced ideas that we feel will help citizens in that region to recognize the potential the Bear Lake Valley has and how they can play a role in shaping its future. We are excited to take those ideas back to the community in a formal presentation in Garden City on March 28!

The Charrette is a greatly anticipated event each year in LAEP because of the real-world experiences it provides and because it gives us a chance to serve the public as a land-grant institution should: through learning, discovery and engagement.

I invite everyone to check out our final 2012 LAEP Charrette posters for the Bear Lake Region which are hanging up in and around FAV Room 221 through mid March, and I would certainly encourage everyone to stop by the photo exhibit describing USU’s history as a land-grant university located in the Merrill Cazier-Library until March 27^th!

--Allan Perry, Ag Ambassador

Most exciting place on campus!

2012-02-22T10:50:00.000-08:00

The College of Agriculture is an exciting place to be at this point in time. First, the new Agricultural Sciences building stands next to the quad as the newest addition to the beautiful campus of Utah State University. We are excited for the ribbon-cutting ceremony, which will be on the 29^th of February. President Albrecht will be there along with various donors, faculty and students to celebrate this amazing moment in Utah State University history as well as the College of Agriculture. This building is stationed as a monument as it mirrors Old Main, which stood for so long as the Agricultural College of the state of Utah. We are proud of how this University started and the roots that made this school what it is today. We hope that everyone will join us on the 29^th for the ribbon cutting of the new building!!!

Next, the new 2012-2013 Ambassador applications are due on the 17^th of February. I personally am excited to see and meet the new ambassadors for the upcoming year. It will be sad to see those ambassadors who have done so much this year and past years to leave. I have become great friends with them and hate to see them go. But I look forward to those who will carry on as the new College of Agriculture Ambassadors!!

The new Vet program, which is a 2-2 year program connected with WSU, has accepted their first students. It is exciting to see this new program get started. With such a few number of Vet schools now in the U.S., Utah State University will continue to show why it’s the best school in the state of Utah and one of the premier universities of the great United States. This program will bring so much to the College of Ag and we look forward to it.

We look forward to the incoming students who will join us at the College of Agriculture in the upcoming year. Like I said, the College of Ag is the most exciting place on campus. So many things are happening and we are proud of where the college is headed.

-- Kyle Tuttle, Ag Ambassador

New Building is Coming Soon!

2012-02-17T10:48:00.000-08:00

I hear it all the time….what’s that new building on the quad? It looks pretty cool. That’s right it’s pretty cool – it’s the new Ag Science building, and it’s almost finished! Everyone in the College of Ag can’t wait for the end of this month to roll around for the ribbon cutting ceremony and to be able to finally see the final product of what has been in the making for years. The new building will house a few of the departments of the college, offices, classrooms, and even a café (yes, they will be serving Aggie Ice Cream!) on the ground floor. Best of all, the folks over at Aggie Ice Cream are concocting a new flavor in honor of our awesome new building. So come on over and check it out. We’d love to take you on a tour of campus and show you what the College of Ag is all about.

-- Jillian Cartwright, Ag Ambassador

*The Ribbon Cutting for the new Agricultural Sciences Building will be on Feb. 28 at 2 p.m. in the buildings lobby.

A Cheap Way to Eat!

2012-01-26T14:34:00.000-08:00

When I came to college in 2009, I lived in the freshman dorms. I quickly became acquainted with on-campus dining, and with my new best friend, “the Freshman Fifteen.”

The next year, living in a condo with a kitchen and determined to lose the extra weight, I embarked on a journey, to learn to cook.

I am of the opinion that food should be enjoyed. That would be easier if I was rich, but I am not. Nevertheless, there is no excuse for eating macaroni and ramen noodles for every meal. In fact, taking the time to make a meal is a lot cheaper than buying a meal packaged for convenience.

Now that I’m a newlywed, I’m learning even more about eating inexpensively. I always thought paying $2.50 for a loaf of bread was cheap, until I started making my own bread for $.20 a loaf. This has required a lot of experimentation, and I’m still not very good at it. But if you’re ever wondering if you can forget to add salt, over knead the dough and forget to punch it down and still have edible bread, the answer is yes. Weird bread, but edible.

You can also freeze pizza crust dough (accidentally), defrost it partially in a hot bath of water, and have edible pizza. Pizza without a lot of meat on it is healthier and less expensive. I don’t miss the meat, but my husband does.

If you buy a case of tomato sauce at Lee’s for $.54 a can, use it for everything. Tomato paste, tomato juice, tomato soup- they’re all made of tomatoes for crying out loud! Adapting recipes is tricky, but with some practice it becomes less intimidating.

I am by no means a chef, or even a “good” cook. Two out of five of the meals I made this week were burned. But burned parts can be scraped off. Even if it takes a few tries, learning to cook your own food is an investment. You’ll not only save money, but you’ll learn skills you can use throughout your life, plus, I think it’s a lot of fun. Hopefully you’ve learned from the tips I’ve gleaned in the past year or so. Happy cooking!

- Rachel Fry, Ag Ambassador

A FRESH Start to a New Semester!

2012-01-19T14:20:00.000-08:00

Welcome back to a fresh, new semester! Though some time spent out of school with family and friends was nice, it feels really good to start spring semester with renewed energy (no pun intended). I've been really enjoying the variety of classes I have this semester and am really looking forward to all the new things I will learn in them. The class that I'm probably looking forward to the most is Sociology of the Environment and Natural Resources; so far, it is amazing to learn how much the idea of "nature" is created by human culture and how strongly it influences how culture is formed. I'll confess though, it's a close tie between that class, water aerobics and landscape construction (in which we are designing an outdoor classroom for landscape architecture students - we will also be building the classroom this fall!).

Aside from school, life is wonderful! Logan is beautiful in the winter, and now that we've finally gotten some snow, my friends and I have been trying to take full advantage of it. We spent Sunday afternoon snowshoeing in Logan Canyon and soaking up the blue sky, snow and beautiful mountains surrounding us. Our group rented snowshoes from the campus Outdoor Recreation Program (ORP) with the free $20 credit each student gets every semester (a free afternoon of snowshoeing - what could be better than that?). There are no doubts that we will be going again soon!

Overall, it's been a great few weeks here in Logan. While I don't want time to pass by too quickly, I'm looking forward to what this semester holds and the great experiences I'm going to have! Until next time, GO AGGIES!!

- Whitney May, Ag Ambassador

Free Money?

2012-01-12T08:44:00.000-08:00

Did you hear? They are handing out money! All you have to do is put your name into the hat and give them about 1 hour worth of work! That hour could be worth over $1000!

Obviously, this doesn’t sound very realistic; at least not where I come from. These days money is getting tighter and it is harder to find jobs to make that money. However, there really are people giving out money. These people are here at Utah State University! What I’m talking about is the scholarship selection committee at Utah State and even more specifically in the College of Agriculture. I do not know of an easier way to earn money than filling out scholarship applications so I will talk a little more about the importance of them.

To begin, scholarship applications are due by February 1, 2012! That is coming up very soon. The first tip I have is get working on the scholarship applications right now! Second, even though I said this is one of the easiest ways to earn money, it should not be taken lightly. More people every year need and want scholarships. If you slack and just throw together your application then you might be left wanting. Take this seriously, answer the questions honestly and fill out as many scholarship applications as you qualify for.

The scholarship application process in the College of Agriculture is unique because you answer questions about yourself and are then referred to possible scholarships available to you. This is very helpful and makes it so you don’t have to fill out 100 different applications and write the same information on each. Take advantage of this!

Lastly, the College of Agriculture has the most scholarship money per student enrolled so you are much more likely to get a scholarship if you are in an agricultural major. Most scholarships are awarded on need. For those of you who don’t have the “need” don’t get down on yourself. There are many scholarships based on merit as well. So get on it! Do not waste time! The free money doesn’t last long and once it is gone, it’s gone. If you have any trouble with filling out applications contact someone in the office of the College of Agriculture at (435) 797-2200 or go to www.ag.usu.edu. Good luck!

Jimmy Lotspeich, Ag Ambassador

2011 Coming to a Close!

2011-12-15T09:39:00.000-08:00

The year has come to a close and I couldn't have wished for a better semester! I've enjoyed so many activities with other Ag students this fall, including Ag month, Ag Day BBQ, recruiting at various high schools, and listening to Temple Grandin's lectures during her visit to Cache Valley in the first week of November. The College of Agriculture has provided me with so many great opportunities and fun times! With the end of the semester here and finals over with, I can look back over the past few months and love the classes that I took. (I didn’t love them a week ago, that's for sure) My professors are fabulous! They are easy to talk to and are more than willing to help me out if ever I need it. The one thing I've noticed about professors in the College of Agriculture is their passion for the subject they teach. Whether it is soil science, weed biology, or graphics, they love what their doing and it definitely shows. For example, I might not be that interested in the subject matter, but when the professor is enthusiastic during lecture, its hard not to show the same excitement, even if it is just a weed. Fall 2011 has been a great semester, one of learning, good times and meeting great people! I'm excited to see what lies in store for next semester. Bring on the New Year!

Recruiting!

2011-11-16T11:07:00.000-08:00

What a great time to be an Aggie! With our recent domination over BYU in basketball, my Aggie Pride is burning bright. Not to mention that November is a great time to be in Logan – there are still a few leaves hangin’ around, the fall afternoons are perfect and it’s still chilly enough at night to be able to wrap up in a blanket, enjoy some soup, and watch the latest Redbox flick.

For me, November also means recruiting at high schools, which is always a good time. The past couple of weeks, I’ve visited some great students at Provo High and Lehi High. I love being able to talk about the College of Agriculture and all the amazing things that we have going on. As a dietetics major, I especially love talking to kids that love science and nutrition as much as I do (shout out to all those AP Biology classes I visited). We also have a new Equine Science program that I am so excited about. I’m not a horse person at all, but this program makes me want to strap on my cowboy boots and learn how to ride. There is always something going on in the College of Ag. Like I said, it really is a great time to be an Aggie.

-- Jillian Cartwright, Ag Ambassador

A Semester in Review...

2011-11-12T11:04:00.000-08:00

The semester is quickly coming to an end. It seems like just yesterday I was getting back from Wyoming after a fun summer working on a vacation ranch nestled in the quiet hills just outside of Jackson Hole, WY. We had a good time I’ll never forget. We made friends, made a little cash, broke horses, broke trails and well, broke one of my buddies arm. Good memories were made underneath that Wyoming sun.

Now at home on the frontlines, life continues on. It has been busy the last couple of months with so much to do and think about. College of Ag month was a ball! The Utah Agricultural Products Barbecue (Ag BBQ) couldn’t have been much better than the beef shish-ka-bobs being sold on the northeast corner of the Aggie practice field that day. The only thing that could have topped it off was a win for the Aggies over a Colorado State team that overcame us in overtime. Although victory hopes were shattered after a failed two-point conversion try by the Aggies, anyone who was at the Ag BBQ went home with a satisfied belly.

Of late, one of the things that has been on the agenda has been visiting various high schools around the state to let juniors and seniors know of the many possibilities located in the College of Agriculture. It has been an eye-opening experience that has reminded me of why I came to Utah State in the first place, especially why I came to the College of Ag!

I was born and raised on a 200-acre farm in Flowell, Utah. My father’s business began to grow like a wild fire when I was 10 years old. Since that time I have practically lived in a swather, cutting anything from small grains to hay to some sedan grass here and there. Sure enough my dad’s custom harvesting business has become one of the biggest operations this side of the Rocky Mountains. We travel to New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, California and Colorado to chop feed. Because of my love for agriculture and the memories it had given me, I knew my home had to be somewhere in the College of Agriculture. Most people understand that Utah State is the only place to be if agriculture is your love. I received a small scholarship, which helped aid my decision.I haven’t looked back and I continue to look forward to the great days ahead.

The last semester has been a growing phase in which I have learned that agriculture is much more than just farming and ranching. Agriculture encompasses so many things that we don’t have the time or the space to talk about them here. It is amazing to me how many opportunities are offered in the College of Ag. If students only knew of the scholarship money, the faculty, the respect for one another and the love for learning to serve those around us, this would be the only college on campus. Agriculture is the backbone of USU. Although there may be many different bones in the spine representing the different departments, we all work together as one to better our community and ourselves. We love to serve others and that’s why we are here. We are used by anyone with an appetite and a need for nourishment. We go unnoticed by most and aren’t the ones in the headlines. Our egos are small but our hearts are big. We love the land and our neighbors. Our word means more than our signature, and a handshake is more binding than cast-iron shackles. We love what we do and we love the College of Agriculture. Yes, that’s why I am here. I love this way of life and wouldn’t have it any other way.

-- Kyle Tuttle, Ag Ambassador

On and Off the Campus Fun!

2011-11-12T10:56:00.000-08:00

Winter is here! The temperature has dropped, snow is on the ground and the sidewalks and streets are icy, but that doesn't stop the fun here in Logan. Last Wednesday and Thursday night I was among the crazies who set up a tent on the Hyper field to be some of the first in the door for the BYU, USU basketball game. Was it worth it? Absolutely! Camping on campus was amazing, not to mention the BBQ we had Thursday night with smores included. Amongst all the excitement on campus I also work at a production dairy in Lewiston, UT on the weekends, and even with the snow and the cold the work doesn't stop. I get so used to working in my rubber boots, jeans and a T-Shirt, that when winter hits, my movement seems limited to the added layers and gloves that I am required to wear to prevent freezing. Oh, but how grateful I am to have such equipment/clothing to survive the arctic-like cold. I love the change in seasons! Going from hot summer days to frozen winter nights brings variety, change and the excitement of, "What's the weather going to do tomorrow?" Until next time stay warm and Happy Thanksgiving!! GO AGGIES!

-- Jacob Miller, Ag Ambassador

Aloha Hawaii!

2011-10-22T12:49:00.000-07:00

I just got back from a trip to American Society of Horticultural Science Conference. It was held in Hawaii and it was beautiful! I went to present some undergraduate research I have done on strawberries. It was an incredible experience. We went for a drive around the island and I saw an avocado tree, of course I made the driver hit the brakes and launched myself out of the car. I ran full speed toward the biggest avocado I have ever seen. All the sudden I realized, “shoot, that’s a cliff.” As I was teetering over the edge I decided I couldn’t get my avocado. The good news is I found a fruit stand down the road and bought an identical one for a dollar. Thanks for the great trip USU!

-- Tiffany Maughan, Ag Ambassador

My research poster on strawberries

Farming in Hawaii

Internships Make All the Difference...

2011-10-16T09:45:00.000-07:00

One of the greatest opportunities that comes with going to college is having your summers free to explore your interests through internships and other experiences. Last summer I had a great internship experience. I worked as a research assistant during the school year for one of my professors and she recommended I apply for an intern position with the Bureau of Land Management. She knew the position would require some work in ArcGIS, which is a computer program I had been using to conduct research with her. I wanted to develop my skills in the program so I followed her suggestion and applied for the position.

I was lucky enough to be hired as a student intern at the BLM Utah State Office working directly with a USU alumnus who also graduated from the Landscape Architecture & Environmental Planning department. I spent the summer working on Visual Resource Management projects throughout the state of Utah. The BLM’s Visual Resource Management program is tasked with ensuring that the scenic values of its public lands are considered before allowing uses that may have negative visual impacts. This requires conducting inventory and analysis of scenic quality across all BLM managed lands and preparing data and maps that can be used in the planning and management of those lands. It was a great chance to see beautiful places all across the state of Utah and continue developing and using skills I had learned at school to turn our analysis into usable information for the BLM. I was exposed to an area of my profession that I knew little about before and worked directly with many amazing professionals!

Summer may seem like a long way away right now, but it’s never too early to start making plans and looking for things you can do to expand your education and have some great experiences outside of school. Talk to your professors and see what recommendations they can make for internships or experiences that relate to your interests. Look for the opportunities that are out there to develop yourself professionally, and don’t be afraid to try something new! Remember, summer comes and goes quickly, so take advantage of the free summers you have during college.

-- Alan Perry, Ag Ambassador

AgriFuture Conference a Success!

2011-10-10T10:34:00.000-07:00

I had the opportunity to attend the AgriFuture conference held in Laramie, WY along with two other USU COA Ambassadors- Cody Swainston and Jacob Miller. We were able to go thanks to the scholarships provided to us by Mr. Blackham, the Utah Commissioner of Agriculture and Food. This was the second annual AgriFuture conference, which was put on by the Wyoming Department of Agriculture, Wyoming Rural Development Council and other partnering agencies.

The purpose of the conference was to bring people together in order to allow for discussion and education about the issues facing agriculture as well as to brainstorm ideas to help agriculture in the future. The conference also provided a great way for producers, leaders, students and professionals, to come together and network. The activities included speakers, break-out sessions, and discussion groups.

The keynote speaker this year was Dr. Lowell Catlett, a noted economic futurist from New Mexico State University, who talked about the coming golden age of agriculture. Listening to Dr. Catlett was an inspiring way to kick-off the conference. Soon afterwards, we split up into breakout sessions which included: I graduated with an Ag degree, now what?, Local/Global: Feeding the neighbors and the world, Energy in Agriculture-Back to the Future, and The Media and Agriculture: Wait, that’s not what I said! By choosing two of these smaller classes to attend we got the opportunity to focus our attention on issues more relevant to us individually. The second day was mainly focused on discussion and problem solving. We again broke into small groups with a goal to discuss and pinpoint the future problems in agriculture and come up with solutions to those problems. At the end of the conference each group presented their ideas in front of the rest of the conference. As a whole, we decided we need to work on is increased advocacy or agricultural advocacy. Personally, I know I will be trying harder to do my part on this end of things.

Besides attending the conference we also had the opportunity to do and see other things in Laramie. In particular, we had the opportunity to tour the University of Wyoming campus after meeting some of the UW College of Agriculture Ambassadors at the conference. With their direction, we also got to visit the animal facilities for UW. It was interesting to compare their campus and facilities to the ones we have at USU.

In my opinion, the whole experience was a great success! It is the responsibility of each of us involved in agriculture to learn about current issues as well as to be prepared for future issues that we will face. Going to this conference was a great way for me to get involved in both of those things.

-- Karmella Dolecheck, Ag Ambassador

Cody and I presenting on our discussion group’s results

The Utah State University representatives at the 2011 AgriFuture Conference: Jacob Miller, Karmella Dolecheck, and Cody Swainston

Welcome to the College of Agriculture Blog!

2011-10-01T07:30:00.000-07:00

Utah State University was founded in 1888 as the Agricultural College of Utah. That’s more than 120 years! While buildings have come and gone, degrees have changed and technology has advanced, our college has stayed as strong as ever. We want to make sure you stay updated on all the College of Ag happenings.

Check back frequently, as we’ll be posting news, upcoming events, videos, job and internship opportunities and links to the latest and greatest in the College of Ag. Whether you’re a prospective student, a current student, an alumnus, or you simply have an interest in agriculture, there’s something for you here.

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USU's Old Main Present Day

The Agricultural College of Utah