UK a natural choice for the equine field

Although the equine program at the University of Kentucky is just a few years old, the benefits of going to school in the “Horse Capital of the World” are so numerous, students everyday see the result- building connections in the field and getting guidance for their future careers.  

A recent tradition that has been started for those Equine Science and Management program is our annual Equine Career Fair held on campus. This fair has become not only a fantastic resource for students to make connections for their mandatory internship (required for all equine majors but students absolutely love the hands-on experience), but it also gives students a chance to see the plethora of job opportunities in Lexington and beyond.  This year in particular, students at UK (and even a few students from other colleges) gathered on our campus to talk to industry leaders in areas such as equine rescue and training, racehorse businesses, equine farm management, saddlebred training, equine research, graduate school preparation, Keeneland, Equine Hospitals, Flying Darby opportunities, Therapeutic riding facilities, and much, much more.  For students who were looking for ways to get involved in the industry, they were able to talk directly to employers and fill out volunteer applications, internship forms, or gain a greater idea of what was required to reach their current goals.   

 For more information, and to see other equine related information, as well as to see pictures and students participating in a multitude of events and programs, check out the Equine Student Hub.  

I hope if you are interested in pursuing a degree in the Equine industry, you will look more into our program and hopefully, like me, see the many opportunities that are available to students.  See Blue and Go CATS!

Veronica is an equine science/pre-vet student from Maryland.  She is a Resident Advisor on campus and is involved in many campus activities.

August is Pretty Much Kentucky's Best Month (tied closely with 11 other ones)

It’s August.  That means two things in Kentucky that are near and dear to me: the Kentucky State Fair and the start of UK’s fall semester.

The KY State Fair Bears

I’ve been going to the Kentucky State Fair since I was a child.  I remember the smell of the food stands, the obligatory picture with Fair and Faira Bear (which I loved), riding a few rides, walking through the livestock barns to visit people we knew, and going to 4-H Cloverville to check out how my 4-H projects did.  The Kentucky State Fair has been in business since 1902 and is one of the best (well….best in my opinion) fairs in the country.  Being a 4-H member, it was a pilgrimage making the trip from Monroe County to Louisville to see how my entomology project had done, how was our tobacco entry compared to others across the state, or if my brother’s woodworking project  got a blue ribbon.  We loved our time in Cloverville, but the fair was always about celebrating this great state: our food, our culture and heritage, our talents, and for a young 4-H or FFA member, our dreams.  The fair is a great melting pot for our diverse state.  No matter if you are from Paintsville or Princeton, Tompkinsville or Covington (this was a really hard decision to pick four city names), we are all proud citizens of the Commonwealth of Kentucky for the next few weeks- and beyond.  The fair runs August 16-26 and I hope you have plans to attend.  Check out their website to plan your visit and see the wonders that are the State Fair.  I’ll be there with my Kentucky bells on.

August also means that it’s time for classes to begin at the University of Kentucky, and other colleges, too.  One of my favorite sounds is the Wildcat marching band practicing the UK Fight Song across campus on Stoll Field.  On a good day, like yesterday, I could hear it when I went home from work.  Classes begin here August 22^nd and campus is abuzz with students here for sorority recruitment, RA training, and now K-Week.  If you don’t know what K-Week is, do yourself a favor and check out their website.  The basic gist of this week is that it is the OFFICIAL orientation to being a Wildcat wrapped into over 200 events and sets the stage for a truly great year.  There’s free food for days.  One student told me that if you paid for food during K-Week, you weren’t doing something right- and I totally agree.  We are having New Student Orientation on Tuesday, August 21 at 1:30 PM in Seay Auditorium of the Ag North Building.  If you are one of our incoming students into the College and reading this, you will want to be there.  You can meet faculty and staff, students and even the Dean.  With the start of classes also means football season and the excitement of the fall semester.   

We’ll leave all of that excitement for another post.  Keep on rocking in the free world.....

- Jason Headrick

Jason Headrick is the director of student relations in the UK College of Agriculture.  He works with prospective students & families with admissions and the college selection process.  His email address is jason.headrick@uky.edu.  

Sweet Summertime

Once again the school year has come to an end for UK students. Finally, it’s summertime. Bags have been packed, dorm rooms cleaned out and the journey home completed. The next twelve weeks until the fall semester begins are to be relished upon, soaking up every last drop of freedom and sunshine for most students.

Then there are the recent graduates of our prestigious university. A portion is headed back to school in the fall to pursue masters and doctoral degrees, others are starting “big kid” jobs and some are still determining just what their future might hold. 

I fall into this last group, 2012 alumnus of the University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture, Bachelors of Science degree in Agricultural Economics. In the days since I made the walk across the stage and received my diploma and a handshake from President Capilouto.  

COA ambassadors at Disney

I have been asked countless times “How does it feel to be a graduate?” And to that I answer this, it’s bittersweet. I have grown to love this place, but more importantly the people here. For the past week, I have been in denial that it would all end so soon, that my time here at UK was over. But then I remembered one very important thing- while the places and people surrounding me may change, the memories in my heart will always remain. I will always BLEED BLUE no matter where life may take me. 

Jennifer and her graduation gift- a metal chicken.

As I look back on my four years here, I can’t help but smile. They have been the best years of my life, filled with countless lessons, amazing friends, epic adventures and the best of times. The big blue nation has given so much to each and every one of us, students and alumni alike.   While each of us will be spending our summers’ differently, one thing will always remain the same: we will all BLEED BLUE!  

 

Jennifer is a 2012 graduate of the University of Kentucky, majoring in Agricultural Economics.  She is from Coatesville, Indiana.  Jennifer was a member of  UK Block and Bridle, Students Today, Alumni Tomorrow (STAT), Agriculture Student Council, and was COA Agricultural Ambassador for three years. Jennifer has accepted a full-time position with Dow AgroSciences.

Happy Holidays to the Big Blue Nation!

This one was just fun and captures everything that a UK fan has been going through the past 26 years with our football woes against the University of Tennessee- until this year.  UK defeated Tennessee by a score of 10-7 and the streak ended.  

The University music programs held a Holiday Collage and the GrassKats (bluegrass music, of course) performed this song and we had to share.  It is sure to be a Wildcat classic.  To truly appreciate it, you have to be in the holiday mood, and be a part of the Big Blue Nation.  But if you stumble upon it, it's clever and original!   

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxfbDFSge8w&feature=youtu.be&noredirect=1

Hope you and your family have a great holiday season and a great start to 2012!  We'll be back in the new year with all kinds of great things!

GO CATS!