National FFA Week: Looking Back & Looking Forward

Happy National FFA Week everyone!

 

Whether you were an FFA member or not, this week is special in that people across the country are all celebrating American Agriculture and the continuing of educating our youth about it. For those of us who were always extremely involved in our home chapter’s FFA Week activities, this week can serve as a sad reality that yes, “I really am growing up.” We went from one year leading multiple philanthropy events, fundraisers, and workshops, to studying for the next test and making it through the first year of college. The first year I spent this week as a college student, there was a feeling of disconnect.  I felt like I was losing a part of myself since FFA was gone. I decided my friends at school didn’t understand, and that there was nothing that could fill that hole being an FFA member left behind. I couldn’t have been more wrong. For all of you new college students dwelling in what FFA and 4-H “was” for you, I’m here to tell you what they still ARE for you.

1.      It’s not actually over.

No, you can’t compete in Parliamentary procedure anymore or go to monthly meetings, but there are a lot of things you still can do as a college student. For FFA members, you are still eligible to show livestock, submit Supervised Agricultural Experience Proficiencies (SAEs) and apply for your American Degree. For 4-H members you can still attend State Conference, show at your county fair one more time, and be a Teen Leader at 4-H camp. There are always more activities to participate in just talk to your county agent or advisor and keep going!

2.      Become an active alumni.

Wow, that word made you feel old right? Well as much as I hate to say it, the day you graduated high school you became the alum of numerous organizations. But push away that negative connotation of the word and look at it just like a milestone- a sign of hard work to become the person you are today who will accomplish great things. Being an alumni is your chance to give back and help those after you have the opportunities you had. Even if you’re the definition of a broke college student, find a way to give back whenever you can. Send an encouraging text, stop by a practice when you are in for a weekend, or even volunteer with another chapter or extension office.  Anything you do will mean something to those members, teachers and agents.

3.      Join something new.

College gives us the opportunity to not only expand on what we enjoyed in high school but also to really find out more about ourselves. So maybe your college doesn’t have Collegiate 4-H or FFA. Joining organizations that aren’t identical to the clubs you were a part of in high school gives you the chance to find new interests and find that group of people that can be your support group and feel like family, just like you have had in years past.

4.      Share what you have gained.

You know how you can’t stop talking about all the awesome things FFA did for you or how you wouldn’t be the person you are today without 4-H? Well why not share this with others. Those new organizations you are joining are looking for passionate, hard working and strong willed people just like you to get active in their club and take future leadership positions. Why mope about what you miss when you can start planning for what you are going to implement to make your new organization even better? Be that active new member who isn’t afraid to speak up in front of the group and can work with any team. You’ll be amazed at how much joy can be attained just by finding your place and sharing your ideas. 

5.      Become an AGvocate.

Okay... the play on words may be cheesy, but the longer you are in college the more you will understand the increasing need for more of these. AGvocates are those that simply advocate for the agricultural industry. This seems like a quite a job for just a college 19-20 year old student but our voice is more important than you know. It’s the small things that can make the biggest difference. Using social media to highlight the positive side of our industry, such as posting pictures of feeding hay or tweeting about vaccinating your weaned pigs, every little bit helps. We don’t have to inform the world about agriculture all at once. We can start with our peers, the future consumers, and work our way up from there.  Use social media to also learn how others are being Agvocates and share others' experiences.    

I hope these tips help you to make it through National FFA Week with a more positive and enthusiastic outlook. Remember the more involved and immersed you get within your college and organizations the better your overall experience will be. The National FFA Organization and 4-H have given you these skills and experiences for you to share with others- don’t let them down!

Renee is a sophomore from Princeton, Kentucky and is studying Agricultural Economics.  She was involved in FFA and other activities in high school, and has involved herself as a CAFE Ambassador, a member of Sigma Alpha, Block and Bridle and other activities at UK.  

A Homecoming for UKAg

School is officially in full swing and all the students are back to their busy lives. This past week has been no exception. Ag Roundup is the biggest event of the year for the College of Agriculture. Many of you are probably wondering what Ag Roundup is. Ag Roundup is a series of events hosted by the College of Agriculture Ag and HES Alumni Association that all include great food and socialization.  

UK President, Dr. Eli Capilouto, addressed students at Roundup. 

The event began on Wednesday with Staff Appreciation Day. Thursday was one of the biggest days of the week, with the Lexington Rotary Club and prospective students coming to campus for the day. Students were greeted by Ag Ambassadors who were able to answer questions and give tours of campus. Student speakers entertained the Rotary Club while lunch was served by the Block and Bridle club. Friday of Roundup week is Leadership Day. Legislative leaders, public officials and college leaders from around the state come to campus to enjoy the day with other leaders and students. Other events that occur during Ag Round Up include reunions for different majors within the College of Agriculture and HES, as well as an Ag Ambassador Reunion and AGR and Farmhouse Fraternities reunions.  Finally, Saturday is considered the ”Homecoming of the College of Agriculture.”   Alumni from the College of Ag and HES come to Lexington to enjoy a day of fellowship and fun with other College of Agriculture graduates and friends.

UK Ag Ambassadors enjoying the meal on Saturday.

Ag Roundup is a great time for staff, faculty, leaders and alumni to come together and reunite; but, it is also a great time for students to network and meet prospective employers. It is a time to sell yourself to alumni that might be interested in hiring you for a job one day. The UK Ag and HES Alumni Association does so much for students of the College of Agriculture, and this is a time for us to show our appreciation and learn from them and their journeys as past students. Ag Roundup is a hectic week for students involved, but it really pays off in the end because of the fun and memories made with other students and College alumni.

 

Kelsey, pictured on the left, is a first year ambassador from East Liberty, Ohio.  She is a Community & Leadership Development sophomore.  She is involved with UK Block & Bridle and is a UK 101 peer mentor.

UKAg Roundup: The Senior Perspective

UK's #SeeBlue Door of Opportunity

Throughout last week, a busy bustle stirred around the College of Agriculture as students, faculty, community leaders, and alumni gathered to celebrate our annual event, Roundup.  This event is a time for fellowship for those with a passion for the University of Kentucky and the College of Agriculture.  Reunions are held where memories will be shared and new students will enter our facilities to see where new memories will be made.   

As a senior this year, I have taken a step back to cherish each moment of this event and to soak up the prestige and family atmosphere that runs deep throughout the college.  Whether it be hanging out with a professor that was teaching me in a classroom setting earlier that morning, quizzing an alumni member to find out how campus has changed, spending quality time with my peers, or eating delicious food,  this is an experience and a place that I am so proud to say that I am a part of.  Being able to communicate with so many people that you may have never met before, but share the same since of pride with, creates an instant bond and is overall personally rewarding.  As students, we are so fortunate to have an opportunity such as this to network with others in a laid back and fun atmosphere.  I challenge each and every student within the college to participate in Roundup in the years to come and to reap the benefits whether small or large.   

Overall, I look forward to returning each year as an alumni member to reminisce and to sing the fight song just as I do now.  For others, I hope you get to experience the same feelings and excitements when it comes to the College of Agriculture that I do and always continue to SeeBlue.  Go CATS!    

  

Sara Kate is a senior studying Food Science.  She is from Hickman, KY.  Sara Kate is member of Alpha Delta Pi & an Ag Ambassador.   

  

The Alumni Take on Finals Week (and beyond)

It’s finals week. As a college student the past 4 years, this week was one of excitement, depression and panic.

Now, as I sit in my office at the Nelson County Extension Office- it’s just another week. When I get a break, I check out my friend’s social media posts and read about them staying out too late last night and having to study all day today. I read about how they just went to Walmart in their PJs to get some colored pencils for their final project. Sometimes it’s 1:00 in the afternoon and I read that they’ve just woken up. That’s when the jealousy kicks in. I worked late last night but this morning, I had to wake up, dress nice, and be in the office ready to roll. I have to answer phone calls and handle questions and remember to mail out the newsletter. I have to report every move I make 15 different times in 20 different places.

Sound terrible?  It isn’t.

I worked late last night with some awesome co-workers looking at other extension offices because we’re about to remodel ours. I woke up this morning and got to dress nice. Surprisingly, once you graduate, you’ll remember how much you enjoy making yourself look presentable. While sweat pants and ponytails are comfortable and convenient, a skirt and cute flats bring on compliments I rarely remember getting in the halls of Ag North. When I got to the office this morning, there were cookies on the counter and Christmas tunes on the radio. I sat in the front office with my secretaries for the first 15 minutes laughing about nothing. A pretty good way to start the day if you ask me.

It’s only 10:00 a.m. and I’ve already updated the webpage, answered a few questions about our barn quilt program, mailed some information to some people and am flipping through pictures of a craft day I did last week with some really awesome little kids. I’m currently looking at buying a house, I just got a new car and I haven’t eaten Ramen noodles since I walked across the big stage and shook the Dean’s hand to get my little piece of paper. 

Do I miss college? Yes. I can’t lie and say the big girl world is always better. But do I love the real world? You bet. There’s something about walking into your own office that instills a sense of pride like nothing else can, finally being seen as a respected co-worker instead of a young college kid. I get to plan classes and programs to help families and kids improve their nutrition, finances and way of life. I get to go to schools, other counties and other states. Two weeks ago, I taught kids how to save money and helped them decorate piggy banks to take home. Last Wednesday, I had a class teaching 23 women how to make snowmen decorations out of yarn. I GET PAID TO MAKE SNOWMEN. Does it get much better?  

The best part about what I do? I’m using my degree to do it. How might you ask did I end up making snowmen and piggy banks with a degree from the College of Agriculture? I have a degree in Family Studies- a major in the School of HES, a small part of the College of Ag. A lot of people get confused as to how the two relate. Let me try to clear that up: the School of Human Environmental Sciences (HES) is home to the following majors: Human Nutrition, Dietetics, Family Studies, Family and Consumer Sciences Education, Merchandising, Apparel and Textiles, and Hospitality Management and Tourism. Think about it: Agriculture isn’t just cows, sows and plows. It produces the food we eat. The same food chefs cook to serve you at your favorite restaurant, and the same food you buy from the grocery store (Crazy right?). It also produces the fibers that your clothes, pillow cases, sheets and home interior items are made from. 

Say you’re considering being a hotel manager. You need to know the most effective way to manage the establishment and understand your consumer.  You’ll need to know just what type of cleaning method you need to use to get that stain from that cotton pillow a guest just used (gross right? But you get my point). Welcome to Hospitality Management and Tourism. Home: School of HES, College of Agriculture. 

Let’s say you want to be a doctor but you aren’t really interested in a traditional major. Welcome to Human Nutrition. Home: School of HES, College of Agriculture. 

Say you’re looking to help people get their diet back on track. You’ll need to know the nutritional components of every food known to man. Welcome to Dietetics. Home: School of HES, College of Agriculture. 

Say you’re looking to dress some fabulous performer to perform on the Grammy stage (dream big kids). You’ll want to know what fabrics flow just right and which one’s won’t rip if a cameraman steps on the train. Welcome to Merchandising, Apparel and Textiles. Home: School of HES, College of Agriculture. 

Say you want to help families get their nutrition, finances and lives back on track. You realize that running a home is no different than running a hotel. Welcome to Family Science.  Home: School of HES, College of Agriculture. 

For me, I knew I wanted to work with families and help kids have bright futures. I wanted to help families realize their value. I wanted to help kids be as lucky as I was growing up, with a family who could afford the clothes I wore and the food I ate. Most of all, I wanted to make a difference. Even if that meant helping one family, I was going to do it. Now, being the Family and Consumer Sciences Agent at the Nelson County Extension Office, I get to do that every day. 

 Dayna sitting at her desk in  Nelson County

 My diploma proudly displayed on my shelf, I’m constantly reminded of how lucky I am to have gotten a job in this market.  People right now are so caught up in how bad the economy is that they say college isn’t worth the time and money. Me? I’m a proud success story who wouldn’t be where I am without my college degree.

And it isn’t just the classes that prepared me for this job. It was the professors, the faculty, the staff, my advisor, my friends, my fellow Ambassadors and my mentors who prepared me.

I can honestly say I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing had it not been for a few people in the College of Ag. One convinced me to go there, helping me find a major I was interested in. One made me fill out the application (against my wishes might I add) to intern with Cooperative Extension, now my full time employer. Others nominated me to be an Ambassador, where I got skills I couldn’t have learned anywhere else. And others didn’t do anything but say “hey” as I passed through the halls or sit and eat with me in the Ag North deli. But I’m here because of them. 

As a recent alumni of the College of Ag, I vividly remember the frustrations of the college world. I remember dreading class, forgetting homework, sleeping in and not having a clue what was going to be on the test I was walking in to take. I remember forking over thousands of dollars of hard earned money thinking, “this better be worth it one day.” And let me tell you- it is. Hang in there.

If you’re a freshman- congratulations!  You just survived your first semester of college. Cherish the rest of them because they FLY by. Stay up late laughing with friends, get up early to cram for your 8 a.m. test, and eat too many fries at K-Lair. Go to hockey games at midnight and basketball lotteries until 2 a.m. Support the soccer team and buy t-shirts from the MAT club. Buy cupcakes at the bake sales and take your resume to the Career Fair just for some feedback. Go to Ag Bash and Round-Up. Rub Patterson’s toe before a big exam. Join any club you’re even remotely interested in, even if you’ve never done something like it before. Visit the farms, thank your professors and worry about your homework. 

If you’re a senior-  congratulations!  You’re about to enter into your last semester of college. Cherish it because it goes faster than all the others. But the good news? The real world is waiting just on the other side of that Rupp Arena stage with welcoming arms and it isn’t half as scary as people make it sound. Lexington and the life you knew is just a drive away and big kid jobs do come with vacation days.

If you’re a high school student thinking about going to college: do it. Yes, it’s hard at times.   No, it isn’t always fun and freedom.  Yes, it’s expensive (thank you scholarships).   But the hefty price tag is so worth the family you gain and the benefit you’ll get in the end.  

I promise it’s worth it. GO CATS!

Dayna P., '10