Seeing Blue in Arizona

Last week a group of the Ag Ambassadors went on a trip to Tucson, Arizona to attend the 2013 Ag Ambassador Leadership Summit. When I found out that I was going on this trip, I was absolutely ecstatic. Before arriving, I expected the trip to consist of bonding with my fellow Ambassadors from UK and seeing the Grand Canyon. Little did I know I was wrong. I was introduced to some of the best people that I have ever met and we all had a common bond- our love for agriculture. 

Ag Ambassadors from the University of Arizona, University of Georgia, University of Florida, and The Ohio State University attended the Leadership Summit as well. Throughout the week we traveled all over the state of Arizona learning about agriculture and even crossed the state line into California! On the first day we started with introductions and a presentation from Dow AgroSciences, who was a sponsor of the Ag Ambassador Leadership Summit. As I looked around at my fellow Ambassadors, I know immediately it was going to be a great week. The room was full of diversity, but we were all similar in our passion for agriculture. The group traveled to Mount Lemmon where we saw awesome scenic views and learned about the different landscapes that are found in Arizona. As we started to climb the mountain, the weather was warm and sunny, but in a matter of minutes we were surrounded by snow! I never thought that I would see snow in Arizona! 

             Throughout the course of the next couple days, we visited Santa Rita Experimental Range, Yuma Valley Experiment Station, the Mexican border, Greenpack processing plant and the GRAND CANYON, among other places! I learned more than I ever thought I would by attending the Leadership Summit. My entire life I have lived on a tobacco farm. Legal immigrant workers are hired to help out with the manual labor. Being able to see where their journey starts (at the Mexican border) was eye opening. I didn’t realize the strict policies that are enforced when crossing the border and how hard it actually can be to legally get to the United States. Not only are people crossing the border each and every day, but goods are as well. Every truck that comes into the United States has to be checked to insure that foreign diseases will not get into our food supply. Living in Kentucky I had never really thought about how this could impact me, but now I do. At the experiment stations, we learned about wildlife and crops. When we visited the Yuma Valle y Experiment Station I ate the best piece of broccoli I had ever consumed in my entire life! To make it even better, the broccoli came right out of the field. I picked it myself! Another aspect about Arizona that I was astonished about was how scarce their water supply is. Arizona receives 3 inches of rain every year on average! Whenever farmers are growing crops, they have to order the amount of water they will need one week in advance. Yes, I said ORDER. This made me realize how much I take advantage of water availability in Kentucky. The Grand Canyon was definitely a sight to see. It was beautiful and something everyone should experience in their lives. 

            Overall, the people that I met on this trip were awesome! I loved Arizona and didn’t want to leave. Also, I was privileged to eat “legit" Mexican food from the region while I was there. The guacamole was by far the best I had ever had! The 2013 Ag Ambassador Leadership Summit is an experience that I will never forget because not only did I gain knowledge about agriculture, but I made memories that will last a lifetime!

Go BIG BLUE!

Hanna

So, I’m Accepted! Now what?

Kendall and members of the Ag Ed Society

I remember the day I got my acceptance letter to the University of Kentucky like it was yesterday.  It was my job to bring in the mail, because I was the first person home in the afternoons.  After I submitted my application, I practically ran to the mail box every day, shuffled through the mail, and then walked, disappointed, and without a letter from UK, into the house.  Finally, after about two weeks of that awful routine, there was a white envelope with my name written in blue ink.  The butterflies took flight in my stomach and my hands started shaking as I removed my letter from the mailbox and painstakingly, broke the seal.  I took a deep breath as I pulled out the single sheet of paper and opened it… and screamed and jumped as soon as I saw the word, “Congratulations!” 

            Being accepted into a prestigious university is a milestone in our lives, and I’m sure your reaction was similar to mine.  The best part about this milestone is that you get to have four years of this life changing experience!  However, it can be intimidating as you make the transition from high school to college.  UK will send you great (and very detailed) information about what you need to do in order to schedule classes and choose a major, but most students have a lot of questions that only other students can answer.  So, I have decided to compile my advice to a new freshman and answer some of them.

Kendall’s Tips to Freshmen

 

1.      Send in your housing information as soon as possible!  If you want a specific dorm or roommate, it is essential that you beat the crowd and get your application in early. 

2.      Most of the students who live in dorms live on South Campus.  From the dorms there, it takes about ten minutes to walk to K Lot (Commonwealth Stadium- most of you will park here) and about eight minutes to walk to the College of Agriculture.

3.      If you want to apply for a Living Learning Community, there is a separate application from the original dorm application!

4.      As soon as you get your roommate assignment, contact them!  Start the process of getting to know each other early, so that way you will already have at least one friend when you move in.  You can also coordinate things like microwaves, fridges, dishes, etc., so that you won’t have two of everything!

5.      Campus can be big, but never fear!  There is a dependable bus system AND you can rent a FREE bike.

6.      If you live on campus, you get at least five meals a week on campus.  Make sure you try Ovid’s, which is located in the library! 

7.      If you are living on South Campus in the dorms, you want an R3 parking pass.  Make sure you buy your parking pass at 12:01 a.m. on June 1^st, because they run out of the good ones quickly!  If you can’t get R3, you will want to get a K Lot pass.  And YES- you do need a pass if you are planning on parking on campus- they will ticket and tow cars without passes!

8.      Make friends with the upperclassmen in your major.  They will be able to give you great advice about which classes you need to take and can be good resources when you need help.

9.      Create positive relationships with your professors!  On the first day of class, introduce yourself.  Participate in class, sit near the front, and ask questions.  This will help in many ways, as you will secure references and they may recommend opportunities to you.

10.  Buy a good umbrella and keep it in your backpack!  It does rain here, and if you have a lot of walking to do, I promise that you will want one!

11.  Join some clubs!  This is where you will make a ton of friends and begin to build your resume through service and leadership opportunities! 

This list could on and on.  College has taught me so much, but I will say the most important lesson I have learned is to simply enjoy the opportunities I have been given.  While four years of college seems like an eternity, I promise it will fly by.  This is one of the best times of your life, so make sure that you enjoy every second of it.

So, you’ve been accepted.  Now, it is up to you to make this experience the best it can be for you, because no two college experiences are the same.  I have given you some basic information that you need to know before you come to UK, but remember, the most important is to simply enjoy every second of this wonderful journey you are about to embark on.  Your time as a UK Wildcat may have started at the mailbox, like mine, but one thing is for sure: it is the adventure of a lifetime, and it will take you far beyond the mailbox.  Congratulations all new Wildcats, and we cannot wait to see you on campus in the fall!

 

Go Big Blue!
Kendall