Blessed to give, not to have: UK DanceBlue Reflection

For The Kids (FTK).  Just three words- three small words- but the meaning behind those three words goes so much deeper.  In 2014, approximately 10,450 children under the age of 15 will be diagnosed with cancer.  This is a number that is much larger than it should be.  No child should have to go through this type of physical and emotional pain, but on February 22-23, 2014, 836 students at the University of Kentucky stood for 24 hours to fight against childhood cancer.  836 students participated in Dance Blue a 24 hour, no sitting dance marathon.  $1,436,606.24 (that’s 1.4 MILLION dollars!!) was raised toward UK’s Child Hematology/Oncology Clinic to help ease the pain of the childhood cancer patients across the bluegrass. 

            For the first time since 2007, the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (CAFE) participated in a university wide, Dance Blue Marathon.  In August, a group of students decided that the CAFE should give back and participate in UK Dance Blue.  From September to January, students in the CAFE fundraised, sent donor letters, and emails to help raise money for Dance Blue.  The support that we got from our families, our friends and staff/faculty in the CAFE was endless.  Together, we had eight students on the CAFE Dance Blue team and with the help of many people we raise $2,900 towards the University of Kentucky Dance Blue Marathon.  For our first time having a team in a few years, I am so proud of what we accomplished.  I am also thankful for the kind words, Facebook "likes," support, money raised, smiles and high fives we got along the way from so many.  What I am especially proud of is our attitude towards the marathon.

            Around 12 hours into the marathon, I started to get a little discouraged.  Would I be able to make it to the end?  What if I could not finish?   But it was also around the 12-13 hour mark that I really started to realize who I and the other 835 students were dancing for.  The kids that we danced for have a disease that is constantly damaging their body.  These children do not get to “sit” down after the 24 hours is up.  The kids and their families will forever deal with the aftermath of cancer; even if they survive, cancer will always live with them.  This truly is a sad reality.  It break my heart to hear the number of children who have cancer and to see the strength in the children that were at Dance Blue. When I signed up to participate in Dance Blue, I knew the reason why I was dancing, but it was not until I was really struggling that I really understood who I was dancing for.  

            Around the time that I had this realization, my attitude towards the whole dance changed.  During the 11 minute line dance, which was done at the top of every hour, I was more energetic. I found myself giving words of encouragement to the dancers around me. And most importantly, I found myself not giving up.  If I found myself getting tired, I constantly reminded myself that I am completely capable of standing for 24 hours for someone who cannot and I was surrounded by 835 other dancers that were completely capable and willing to for 24 hours to help those around us.

I am proud of what we accomplished in 24 hours.  I am proud of the amount of people who did not give up.  I am proud of the amount of money that was raised.  I am proud of all of the people who came to support this event.  I am proud of all the leaders on the Dance Blue committees. But what I am most proud of is being a part of a University that wants to make a difference in our state and in our country. As humans, we are called to help those around us who are not capable of helping themselves.  We are designed to be loving, selfless, beings.  FTK are three words that kept us all going.  When our muscles ached, FTK.  When we felt tired, FTK.  When we did not think we could last the full 24 hours, FTK. I was blessed with the ability to stand for 24 hours for someone else and I was blessed to give, not to have. FTK.

Kelsey is a junior majoring in Community & Leadership Development.  She is from Pendleton County, Kentucky and is active in Sigma Alpha, UK Ag Ambassadors, UK Ag Student Council and other things across campus.  She was also a past Kentucky 4-H Officer.

Be Bold. Be Beautiful.Be Empowered.

In becoming a College of Agriculture, Food and Environment Ambassador, I did not know what to expect nor did I understand what I was in to at the time. All I knew was that I was applying for something great and maybe I would be selected.

When I received the phone call that I,Kenya ,had been selected to be apart of the 2013-2014-ambassador team I could not believe it. Not because I was unsure of myself but because I had accomplished something great. I challenged myself and conquered, I put myself out there and achieved.

Now that I am an ambassador, my experience has been great nonetheless. I am surrounded by great people each time we get together; people that I would not know or hold a conversation with if it was not for being an ambassador. Not because I would not want to but because the opportunity would not be there. I am also placed in positions that challenge my nerves and the fear of speaking in front of people on demand. I now understand that I can speak publicly in a group or in a crowd and there is nothing to be afraid of. I am geared with the knowledge of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment that I would not have had if it were not for this experience. As I continue to go through my college career, I would not trade being an ambassador for anything, as it is helping to empower me to do great things and inspiring me to help others challenge themselves.

Representing this fine college in all that it is and all that is shall be has been nothing but an honor and privilege.

I want to wish the best of luck to all of my fellow Wildcat classmates as they have finals next week. 

Be Bold. Be Beautiful. Be Empowered.

You will do fine!

 Kenya is a Family Science junior from Louisville, Kentucky.

Growing Trees Is Like Growing Gold

The Eastern Kentucky Coal Fields of the Cumberland Plateau

The eastern Kentucky Coal Fields of the Cumberland Plateau is a distinctly unique physiographic region of Kentucky with a rich cultural heritage.   Eastern Kentucky is especially known for its verdant mountainous terrain, diverse and beautiful hardwood forests, turbulent history, and its proud and fiercely independent inhabitants. I grew up in the gently rolling foothills of the Cumberland Plateau in Laurel County Kentucky where I have descended from generations of farmers, woodsmen and mountain folk who knew how to live off the land. My heritage and upbringing has defined me as a person and has established my destiny—I’ve been called a farm girl and I’ve been called a tree nerd and my response is always a smile of delight and a beam of pride!

 Growing up on a small sheep and goat farm, I understood from an early age why my family was heavily invested in growing vegetables, fruit trees, honey, and livestock. The forests on my family’s hill farm were a source of profit for us as we cut firewood, gathered nut crops, hunted squirrels, and harvested saw logs for lumber.  As I grew older, I realized the importance of agriculture in sustaining human populations across the United States and the globe.  But it wasn’t until I began my studies in Forestry at the University of Kentucky (UK) that I fully understood the importance of forests in an agricultural context.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture houses a multitude of agencies, including the U.S. Forest Service.  In the same way, the UK’s College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment (CAFE) is

 far-reaching in its diversity of academic departments and programs.  The CAFE’s Department of Forestry has enabled me to appreciate the practice of forestry as a farming enterprise.               

UK Forestry students planting native hardwood seedlings on a surface mine in Pike Co., KY

Trees are a crop just like corn or tobacco. The differences between trees and row crops are obvious. A crop of soy beans will take one year to mature, whereas in southern pine plantations, foresters may harvest their stands anywhere between age 15 and 35 years depending on what the wood will be used for (i.e., saw timber, biomass, pulpwood, etc.).  High value hardwoods like oak, hickory, walnut, and black cherry require a longer time for the trees to fully mature and be ready for harvest (80+ years).  Perhaps the most significant aspect of forests as an agricultural resource is their capacity to provide a suite of ecological services while growing wood products for human use.  No one can dispute the value of forests for their ability to clean the air and water, provide wildlife habitat and recreation, and protect the soil from erosion, as well as provide valuable wood products, fuel, and wood    fiber – growing trees is like growing gold!

                During my studies in the UK Forestry program, I learned that planting trees and restoring the ecological services of the original forests on drastically disturbed sites is a better reclamation strategy than establishing an herbaceous cover of grasses and legumes.  I learned that foresters, reclamation practitioners, and soil scientists are planting trees on barren, unproductive surface mined land in my eastern Kentucky homeland.  Green Forests Work (GFW) is a non-profit organization that was founded in the UK Department of Forestry in 2009.  GFW is dedicated to restoring healthy, productive forests on surface mined land initially reclaimed as unproductive grasslands.  Their mission extends throughout the entire Appalachian coal fields, which spans across eight states- from Pennsylvania to Alabama.

                  Forests are a renewable resource. By reestablishing forests where we have barren land, the economic opportunities provided by GFW will not only provide for the Appalachian people today but will put those lands on a path that will ensure that a forest is available for use by future Appalachian citizens.  Support for GFW is growing and I am optimistic that in time a skilled green workforce can be developed to restore, protect, and manage this natural resource that is so vital to the region’s current and future prosperity. Native trees that are being planted on these surface mines will grow into functioning forests, providing humans with key ecological services and economically valuable wood products for generations to come.  For more information on GFW see www.greenforestswork.org.

Hannah is a senior forestry major from London, Kentucky.  

She Goes Out Walking....

Note: While the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment does think it's a good idea to clear your head and walk around campus and Lexington, make sure you are following these safety tips as presented by the UK Police Department.

Recently, I have taken a few walks around campus in the middle of the night. A contrast from the usual shuffle, energy, and sunshine, it is peaceful and quiet. On my walk, I reflected on some of the opportunities I have at UK. 

At UK there are thousands of organizations to get involved in. You can learn a martial art, a new language, get fit, or watch movies. There are so many people here that you will find people that share your passions, dreams, and truths. You’ll be busy balancing work, classes, a social life, your health, your family, and sanity. Let’s focus on that last one.

At college, it is incredibly easy to get overwhelmed. Personally, I want to experience everything so I always say “yes”. There are endless opportunities in college and the most important part is that you have enough time to enjoy them. What is the point of doing everything if you’re rushing between events and meetings and are constantly thinking about the next thing you have to do. Live in the moment. Sometimes it is better to be more deeply involved a few organizations so that you can be a part of the leadership and gain skills that future employers are looking for. A lot of people can show up to meetings and manage their time to make sure they can get from one commitment to another, but being able to organize a group of people and have them work together towards a common goal is an accomplishment. And when the teams that you dedicated so much time to finally succeed, you have to be in the moment to enjoy the accomplishment.

Knowing the resources on campus will also help you stay sane. There’s free tutoring for all students and a great variety of centers that can help with everything from getting involved with community service to helping students who have sprained their ankle and have a “roller” so they have to figure a new way around campus. Another often overlooked resource on campus is the professors. Whether you’ll want to get involved with research or need some help with class, professors are always available. They have office hours at which you can reach them and a majority of them are willing to help students who need further guidance or review of the materials.

In order to stay sane, I also encourage you to take an occasional walk at night. Not only is it beautiful, it is an escape of the fast paced, demanding world that continuously surrounds us. Our brains need time to wander and it is actually proven that people who regularly take short walks in nature, such as parks or the UK arboretum, are actually more mindful that others. So taking time out of your day to not think about anything specific can help you focus more in the future. Make sure you think about what you want to get involved in once you get to college- just make sure to include seeing campus from a different perspective. 

Daniella is a sophomore studying Agricultural Economics.  She is from Washington Court House, Ohio.  

Where can Landscape Architecture take you?

Argentine Asado in Cordoba: Blood Sausage,

 Brains, Kidney, Intestines, and Chorizo

Landscape Architecture is defined as the partnership of disciplines including design thinking, fine arts, architecture, and other design oriented themes for the creation of projects ranging from public parks and parkways to academic campuses or urban city master plans.

Many of us are unaware of this intriguing profession, one that can take you around the world and back, maybe even the moon one day. The University of Kentucky Landscape Architecture Department has done just that; they are now requiring their students to study abroad at least once while in the five-year program. 

Fitz Roy Spires in Patagonia,

 with Katelyn Nixon.

This past summer eight students including myself traveled to South America for two-weeks and some stayed for an additional two-weeks!  This was an experience of a lifetime and would not have been possible without Landscape Architecture.  While on this trip I caught a wicked awesome bug and it has yet to leave, it’s the travel bug!

Our journey began in the capital city of Chile, Santiago, then continued west across the Andes Mountains and into Argentina.  In Argentina we visited several cities Mendoza, which has some tasty wine, Cordoba, Rosario, and Buenos Aires, the capital. I wish I could show you every picture from the trip however it may take several weeks and that would only cover the first half of my trip, the second half of my trip was not school related but was equally as epic.  The picture above is one of the more memorable meals on the trip, it consisted of almost all parts of a cow and it was delicious!

I spent the last two-weeks of my journey in Patagonia where I was able to complete a dream of mine which is represented in the picture above.

Charlie is a senior in Landscape Architecture.  He is from Bowling Green, Kentucky.  

So I went to the Career Fair…Now What?

Earlier in the semester, the College of Agriculture, Food & Environment hosted over twenty agricultural companies at our annual Career Fair.  Students labored over their preparations for the Career Fair: we searched for the perfect professional outfit, brushed up our resumes with a fine toothed comb, and practiced our handshakes- all for the sake of securing an interview for a job or internship.  Now that the Career Fair is over, we’re done, right?

WRONG!  We are done with the hard part- making a good first impression with the recruiters.  Now, however, we have the opportunity to not only remind our potential employers of our names and credentials, but we also have the opportunity to impress them with our follow-up etiquette. 

What exactly is follow-up etiquette?  It is the simple steps we can take to ensure the connections we made at the Career Fair are solidified.  The day or so after the Career Fair, be sure to contact the employers to whom you spoke.  Sending a quick, simple e-mail thanking them for taking their time to come to the Career Fair and reminding them that you are interested in their company can help you to stand out above all the other people they met at the Career Fair.  If you spoke with them about something unusual, such as sports during your initial introduction or connection, mention it in your e-mail.  You want the employers to read it and think, “Oh, right, I remember this person…” 

Countless interviews, internships, and jobs have been won at Career Fairs, and the Career Fair hosted by the College of Agriculture, Food & Environment this week is no exception.  Who knows?  Maybe it will be YOU who earns one of those coveted positions at the prestigious companies who were on campus - just remember to use your follow-up etiquette and solidify the connections made.  

Looking for help o your internship or job search within the College?  Contact Amanda Saha, the College's new Director of Career Development & Enrichment.  

- Kendall

Kendall is a senior majoring in Agricultural Education.  She is from Georgetown, Kentucky and will be student teaching in the spring.  After graduation, Kendall would like to work in the education sector.

Big Blue Madness is a way of UK life

I camped out for Big Blue Madness. Big Blue Madness is the first public basketball practice for the University of Kentucky’s Men’s and Women’s basketball teams. While a practice like this at many other universities would go unnoticed by people who do not live in or near the college town, big blue madness is a completely different story. People from all over the state and neighboring states come to Lexington to fight for campsites where they camp out (in tent city) for three days in order to receive tickets to this free event.

I am from St. Louis, and while my mom is a UK College of Ag alumni, I had never heard of this event until I came to school here last year and witnessed the madness with my own eyes. The madness I mean is seeing these people fighting one another for spots in tent city at 5 in the morning on Wednesday to camp on the UK campus and sit there for three days. I initially thought to myself that these people were crazy, but as I attended basketball games throughout last year I saw that they weren’t crazy, but that they were loyal. After experiencing the basketball games last year and the amazing recruit team we have this year I knew that I wanted to become one of the “crazy” loyal fans that got tickets to Big Blue Madness. 

With that in mind my friends and I woke up at 3 am that Wednesday to stand in line until 5 am where we dashed across Avenue of Champions to steak our tents before someone else grabbed our spot. We were there all day and only left to go to class; work; back to the apartment to make food, shower, etc. While camping in tent city I was surrounded by other people who had the same passion as I did. We were a small community who all bonded and got along because we all were loyal, and we all cared for the family that makes up Big Blue Nation. These people had a passion for watching Kentucky basketball and for believing in our team and the success they could have this year. These people were willing to miss work, to give up running water, to survive away from their house and live in a tent for the sole purpose of getting tickets to a basketball practice. Living in Mizzou territory I could tell you that many Mizzou fans would never even think of doing this and this fact is one of the few important reasons why I chose the University of Kentucky.

Katlyn is majoring in Agricultural Biotechnology and is from St. Louis, MO.

The Last Time Around

Senior Year holds several  "last time" events, such as: my first last day of school on campus, my last time as a student at UKAg Round Up, my last semester as a CAFE Ambassador, my last semester to pull all- nighters with friends in the Ag North Lobby studying, and my last time going to CSF to get pancakes at midnight to take a break from studying for finals. Thinking about all of these things that I will do for the last time this semester makes me a little emotional. It is so hard to believe that my time here at UK as a student and ambassador in the College of Agriculture, Food and the Environment  is coming to a close in a few short months.

            The thought of senior year brings up all these "last time" events, but because of a bold step that myself and 26 other girls took last year I also had a "first time" experience this semester which I will always be grateful for. The Beta Omicron chapter of Sigma Alpha Professional Sorority for Women in Agriculture was activated March 23rd, 2013. I was blessed enough to be a charter member with 26 other brave and wonderful girls.

            Last week we held our "first" rush to find the alpha class membership candidates to help grow our organization. The numerous bonds that were created and strengthened last week is a true testament to what this organization has done for me in the few months that I have been a member. I'm blessed that I had an amazing leader ask me to be a part of this group and I will continue to talk to girls about the wonderful things personally and professionally that this organization will do for women in agriculture.

            My first and last time events will continue throughout these next few months and they will be nothing short of amazing, just like my career here in the College of Agriculture, Food, and the Environment. I am thankful for all of the "first" and "last time" events that this College and University have been a part of because it has played a huge role in the forming of the woman I have become. 

Gabrielle is a senior from Gamaliel, Kentucky.  She is majoring in Career & Technical Education and will student teach in the spring.

Finding my home in the College of Ag, Food and Environment

       On the close of the first week of the brand new academic year, I find it fitting to share with you my personal experience thus far with UK and the College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment.  

Choosing to attend the University of Kentucky was automatic for me.  My older brother and sister both went to school here,and consequently I grew up visiting them in Lexington and hearing about their many experiences.  When it was my turn, I was so excited to finally come to UK, but a part of me was apprehensive.  I knew that UK was a large university with hundreds of opportunities, which intimidated me as an incoming freshman coming from a small town and a high school where everyone knew my name.  

I quickly learned in my first week of school as a freshman about the family atmosphere of UK Ag.  Walking into my introductory biotechnology class, I was astonished to see that only about 40 other freshman students were in my major.  I loved that I was able to know almost every student by name by the end of the year.  Not to mention, some of my fellow classmates are now my closest friends.  The apprehension I had once felt faded away in no time.    

As I continued my journey as a UK Ag student, I began to appreciate all of the amazing attributes of the college.  My advisor here in the college, Dr. Bruce Webb, has made a huge impact on my academic experience.  Not only does he help me schedule my courses, but he also informs me of opportunities that he thinks would interest me.  He knows me personally and my goals for the future so he is able to be so much more thanjust a class scheduler.  Not to mention, he ended up being my genetics professor in the ABT program! Other faculty members in the college have gone out of their way to get to know my fellow classmates and me.  In fact, our Associate Dean for Instruction, Dr. Larry Grabau, even attended our Ambassador retreat at Red River Gorge this past weekend.  This is the kind of family environment that has been cultivated in our college since its very beginning.  

Enrolling in the Agricultural Biotechnology program here at UK Ag was the best academic decision I have ever made.  I have most definitely found my home within the College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment.  I am so very thankful and proud to be a member of this wonderful family.

Toria is a junior Agricultural Biotechnology major from Hebron, KY.