Monday, October 29, 2012

See Blue…and Blue Jackets!!!




When the last full week in October rolls around, memories start flowing back into my mind. Last week,  people from all over the United Sates boarded airplanes or made road trips to Indianapolis, Indiana for the National FFA Convention.  I have been in FFA since I was a freshman in high school and I am still a member to this day.  This years’ National FFA Convention was a special one for me because I received my American Degree, which is the highest degree that an FFA member can obtain. It requires dedication, hard work, and a passion for agriculture. FFA has made an everlasting impact on my life. It has made me the person I am today. Whether I was competing on my chapter’s Parliamentary Procedure Team, saying an impromptu speech, or trying to see if I could meet at least one person from every state, I loved every moment! The words “I believe in the future of agriculture, with a faith born not of words but of deeds - achievements won by the present and past generations of agriculturists; in the promise of better days through better ways, even as the better things we now enjoy have come to us from the struggles of former years…” are permanently implemented in my head, as I’m sure they are for many people. The adrenaline rush that each and every one of you get when you are in the mist of competing is priceless!  
 
                However, you don’t have to be in high school in order to enjoy the atmosphere of convention. Colleges and companies from every part of the United States attend convention in search of students and employees. The University of Kentucky College of Agriculture was there this year in search of blue jackets that want to become a Wildcat! The College of Agriculture Ambassadors and UK Ag Education students worked the UK booth all week.  Not only can people check out colleges that they may be interested in, but college students can look into graduate school or even start networking to line up a job for after graduation.  There are numerous opportunities that are given at the National FFA Convention.  I hope you took advantage of them. Even though I am unable to attend convention as a College of Agriculture Ambassador this year, I know that those who went had a blast!   
As a Kentuckian, I am proud to say that the Convention comes back to Louisville next year!  I hope Louisville is prepared to be flooded with a sea of blue jackets once again! Maybe after their interactions last week and in the years to come, many will want to continue to “see blue.” at the University of Kentucky!

Congrats to Joenelle Futrell & OTHERS on being named a National FFA Officer!
On a side note, we are excited that one of our own Wildcats was chosen to serve as the 2012-2013 National FFA Eastern Region Vice-President.  Joenelle Futrell will serve Kentucky and the nation as she and five other National Officers will lead the 550,000+ member organization for the next year.  During her year of service, she will travel over 100,000 miles and have the opportunity to speak to thousands of FFA members and interact with agriculture, education, and government officials.  She is the eleventh National FFA Officer from Kentucky and the first female National FFA Officer from Kentucky.   Futrell is a member of the Daviess County FFA Chapter and is a junior at the University of Kentucky where she is majoring in Agricultural Education.

 Hanna is a senior at the University of Kentucky, majoring in Agricultural Biotechnology.  She is from Chaplin, Kentucky.  Her goal is to attend pharmacy school.  She is involved with UK Block & Bridle, and is a COA Agricultural Ambassador. Hanna also received her FFA American Degree. 

Lexington PARK(ing) Day



The past couple of years, the landscape architecture department here at UK has gone through a huge transformation. The department has changed the class curriculum, created a study abroad requirement, and most importantly, hired their first extension position. Through this new position, the program has already become more involved in the community, starting with PARK(ing) Day, which took place on September 21st, 2012.

PARK(ing) Day originated in California, and has turned into a worldwide event. This fall was the first year Lexington has ever participated in the event, thanks to the landscape architecture department faculty. The purpose of the event is to transform metered parking spaces, found in urban areas, and design them into a form of public space. The event lasted from 12pm to 8pm, and there were a total of 11 parking spaces taken over by landscape architecture students and local businesses.  Each group was permitted to use the space however they felt necessary. Short St. came alive that night in a way that many had never seen before. People of all ages were fascinated by PARK(ing) Day, and very curious as to what was going on. It was a great way for the landscape architecture department to become more involved in the community, and teach others about our profession. It also showed people what they could do as individuals to help the city of Lexington flourish. Mayor Gray was even found enjoying the event! PARK(ing) Day Lex was a great hit, and we hope to continue this experience next fall.  For more information, you can check out one of the community partners at http://fayettealliance.com/successes/parking-day/.





 Hillary is studying Landscape Architecture.  She is from Cincinnati, Ohio.  She is an Ag Ambassador and member of the UK Club Volleyball team.

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Internships: That Extra Push



Internships. This word can bring many emotions:  excitement, uncertainness, and anxiety. 

With today’s job market becoming more and more competitive, having an internship on your resume can give you the extra push you may need to land that dream job.  Some people also get the benefit of working for the company they interned with. The best way to start looking for internships is to attend a career fair, just like the one coming up this month at Good Barn. (Note: The UK Ag Career Fair will be held on Tuesday, October 23 from 12 Noon- 4 PM at the E.S. Good Barn.)  Companies come prepared to look for possible interns when they visit college campuses and the representatives are great sources of information. Not only can they tell you about the company, but they can also tell you how they themselves got their current jobs. 

The next place to look is your inbox. The Office of Academic Programs and Advising Resource Center send out numerous emails about companies looking for interns, extension opportunities, and job openings. The UK Career Center also sends out notices.  Some days, I see these emails and they head straight for the trash! (Which I’m sure most of us have been guilty of doing) So, on my search for internships for this upcoming summer, I have been paying more attention to my inbox. Want to get a lot of different intern options? Your advisor and professors are another great resource! They have made connections not only while they were job searching, but also while they have been working for the University! 

Now that you have all of these different intern options, it is time to narrow your search. My personal goal is to have my top internships picked out by Thanksgiving and I will apply to them by Christmas, but you can apply all throughout the spring semester too! Just make sure you know the deadlines to your top picks.  

 I have a few main things I look for while searching for internships. This first is the job type. I would love to do public relations or marketing for an agriculture company. I really enjoy working with people and would love the opportunity to work with producers across the state or country. The second thing I look for is location. I would like to either work for a company within the state of Kentucky or work out West. Getting to explore the area and learn about the people would be half the fun! What company I will be working for is another selling point. I would like to work for John Deere, Monsanto, or Syngenta, but my options are always open. Lastly, I look at whether or not it is paid. Yes, this is point some students forget until they have already gone through the application process. If you are looking for your internship to also be your summer job, make sure you read the fine print. 

Remember to breathe and don’t forget that everyone in the College of Agriculture is here to help you on your search to find an internship you will love! 

 Kellie is studying Agricultural Economics.  She is from Hodgensville, KY.  She is involved in UK Ag Student Council, Agribusiness Club, and is an Ag Ambassador.   

Fall is Fun & Fantastic!



Fall.  The weather is cooling down from summer, the leaves are changing, and midterm season is upon us. While a stressful time in the classroom, there are plenty of ways to reward yourself for a good grade, or to take a break from studying. I love the colors of the trees and the leaves floating through the breeze on my walks to class. The beauty of the season is almost too good to be true; so why spend your time inside studying when you can be outside studying or relaxing outside? UK and the city of Lexington has plenty to offer during the fall months when the weather is beautiful, or on a gloomy day when you want to have fun inside.


Photo: I love Fall! :)))The UK Opera Theatre just presented The Phantom of the Opera at the Lexington Opera House. I must admit, I have never been to an Opera, and I didn’t get to attend this one, but the reviews were excellent.  It is on my bucket list and hopefully I can attend one of their future productions!  http://www.ukoperatheatre.org/  

Football season is my favorite time of the year! It is Homecoming Week on campus and there is lots of Wildcat spirit around.  This Saturday, our Wildcats take on the Georgia Bulldogs.  The Wildcats have been improving this season and are hoping for a win against the Bulldogs!  Go Cats!  For more details, check out UK SAB: http://www.uksab.org/  

Big Blue Madness is always a great time as we anticipate the approaching basketball season.  This is the first practice for the Men and Women's Basketball team, as well as an introduction of players to the fans. With anticipation built up from winning the 8th National Championship this past spring, students and fans were eager to see what the new team will look like, with hopes of bringing home banner number 9 this year.  

October also means thoroughbred horse racing at Keeneland.  The fall race meet is October 5-27th, and people from all across Kentucky and the world to watch these horses race, place their bets, and socialize. Make your way down Versailles Road in Lexington and treat yourself to a fun day of friendly betting. 

A lot of you may disagree and call me crazy, but Halloween is my favorite holiday. Take the changing leaves and add those scary decorations and I am a happy girl. Living in a residential neighborhood in Lexington makes this time even more exciting for me as I get to buy candy and wait for the arrival of the different heroes, princesses and little boogie monsters. The record number of trick-or-treaters last year was 32, so we are hoping to surpass that number this Halloween.  If anyone has suggestions on a costume, let me know!

The cooler temps also bring the need for coffee or hot chocolate.  What UK student wouldn't be obsessed with Starbucks when we have 4 locations on campus and other locations throughout the city?  There are also lots of local coffee places around the  Salted Caramel Mocha, and  Pumpkin Spice are just a few of the flavors that they have to offer. Treat yourself to a delicious hot treat and enjoy the fall weather.

However you decide to spend your fall, UK and Lexington has lots of great options.  I hope to see you out and about enjoying all that this time of year has to offer.


Gabrielle is studying Agricultural Education.  She is from Gamaliel, KY.  She is involved in UK Dairy Judging, and is an Ag Ambassador.