Mark Your Calendar for Ag Awareness Week

Agriculture is the backbone of daily life, providing the food we eat, the clothes we wear and even the coffee that fuels our mornings. It’s easy to lose that connection when modern grocery stores and retail shopping seem worlds apart from the farms where our goods start out. 

As one of North Carolina’s top industries, agriculture and agribusiness employ more than 750,000 people and generate an economic impact of more than $100 billion annually in the state. And March 17-20, agriculture will take center stage at  NC State University when agricultural honors fraternity Alpha Zeta hosts its annual Ag Awareness Week to highlight the industry’s importance across the state and beyond. Daily activities will take place on Wolf Plaza and Stafford Commons from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

As part of the weeklong series of events, Wolf Plaza and Stafford Commons will transform into a bustling farm, with cows and goats, a tractor and a plant display. Ag-related student clubs, including the Animal Science Club, Agronomy Club, Agricultural Business Management Club and Dairy Science Club, as well as North Carolina Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers and Ranchers organization, will be on hand throughout the week to talk about how students can get involved. Alpha Zeta will also hold a silent auction to support the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle. 

“Agricultural Awareness Week serves as a vital opportunity to bridge the gap between consumers and agricultural producers. By showcasing live animals and engaging with the community through our clubs, we highlight the importance of agriculture and share our passion for the industry,” says Isabella Dean, Alpha Zeta’s president and a senior majoring in agricultural science. 

For Dean, who grew up on a beef cattle farm in Virginia and participated in 4-H, agriculture is deeply personal. “I’ve always known that I wanted to be involved in agriculture,” she says. “It’s a fundamental part of our world and plays a crucial role in our daily lives.”

Along with the daily activities, special events will take place on the following days and times:

• March 17: Ag Olympics – To kick off the week, professors and agricultural leaders will compete in an Olympics-style event at noon on Stafford Commons.
• March 18: Ag Forum – This year’s Ag Forum topic will feature two speakers discussing growing with and without GMOs. The event will be held at 6 p.m. in Room 1404 in Williams Hall.
• March 19: Ag Trivia – Alpha Zeta wants everyone to learn more about agriculture. This event will allow participants to bring a group of friends or meet new people to create a team and compete in a trivia game full of agricultural facts. The event will begin at 6 p.m. in Room 1403 in Williams Hall.
• March 20: Ag Pageant – The pageant consists of three categories: farm attire, business attire and entertainment. All students are welcome to participate. The winner will receive an Ag Awareness Week merchandise item of their choice and a custom sash. The registration deadline to participate is noon on the event day. The pageant will begin at 6 p.m. on Stafford Commons. In the event of rain, the pageant will take place in Williams Hall. Register now.

Dean hopes the week’s events will make more people think about where their food comes from and inspire more students to consider agriculture as a potential career path.

“When you think about it, without agriculture, we would have nothing — we’d be hungry and lacking essential resources,” she says. “Agriculture provides so much and has played a vital role in shaping the world we live in today.”

For more updates on Ag Awareness Week, follow Alpha Zeta on Instagram @alphazeta.ncstate. 

This post was originally published in College of Agriculture and Life Sciences News.