Agriculture quietly powers nearly every part of our lives — from the ingredients in our meals to the fabrics in our closets to the coffee in our cups. Yet in an era of one-click shopping and stocked supermarket shelves, it’s easy to forget that each of those everyday essentials begins long before the checkout line, rooted in fields, soil and the work of farmers.
To ensure the next generation is connected to agriculture and the opportunities within the field, agricultural honors fraternity Alpha Zeta will host its annual Ag Awareness Week, March 9-12, bringing one of the state’s top industries to the forefront of campus life at NC State University.
As part of the weeklong series of events, Stafford Commons will transform into a lively farm, featuring animals such as cows, goats and sheep, along with a tractor. Ag-related student clubs, including the Animal Science Club, Agronomy Club, Agricultural Business Management Club, and Dairy Science Club, will be on hand throughout the week to talk about how students can get involved.
Daily activities will take place on Stafford Commons from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Special Ag Awareness Week events will be held on the following days and times:
- March 9: Ag Olympics – To kick off the week, professors and agricultural leaders will compete in an Olympics-style event at noon on Stafford Commons.
- March 10: Ag Forum – This year’s Ag Forum topic will focus on artificial intelligence in agriculture. The event will be held at 6 p.m. on Stafford Commons.
- March 11: Ag Trivia – Alpha Zeta wants everyone to learn more about agriculture. This event will allow participants to compete in teams in a trivia game full of agricultural facts. The event will begin at 6 p.m. in Williams Hall, Room 1404.
- March 12: 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 5 p.m. on March 11. The pageant will begin at 6 p.m. on Stafford Commons.
“The goal of Ag Awareness Week is to bring the farm to campus and allow everyone the opportunity to experience agricultural life and see animals provided from the small ruminant and beef education units,” says Alpha Zeta member Kerrigan Bauserman, who serves as chair of the group’s Ag Awareness Week committee. “It is also our hope that people get to interact with the clubs and organizations tabling on site and learn more about the opportunities our industry provides.”
Having grown up in a small rural community in Virginia, where she raised Hereford cattle with her family, Bauserman, a junior majoring in agricultural science with minors in animal science and poultry science, feels a deep connection to agriculture. It’s a passion she’s nurtured through involvement in 4-H, FFA, and the state and national Hereford associations.
She hopes Ag Awareness Week will spark a similar interest in agriculture for members of the Wolfpack community and beyond.
“Awareness of agriculture among the general public is important because agriculture plays a vital role in everyone’s lives,” Bauserman says. “It is an industry that feeds and clothes us, so it is an industry we must take care of.”
For more updates on Ag Awareness Week, follow Alpha Zeta on Instagram @alphazeta.ncstate.
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