A Big Blue Year in Review: 2013 Edition

[Author's Note: To put yourself in a proper frame for reading, please turn on your favorite holiday music, sit by a fire (or candle), pour yourself some coffee, hot cider, or hot chocolate, and enjoy.]

2013 has certainly been a great year for the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment!  We have so much to be reflective on in this season of togetherness and celebration of love.  Below are some reasons that 2013 has been such a banner year for us all.  This is no way serves as an official list, but one of reflection and promise as we look toward a bright 2014. Check out the University's holiday greeting and then come back to check out the rest of the blog........

What's In a Name?
This year brought on a name change for our College. Our new name has stirred emotions of alumni, students and others, bringing on much discussion.  The new name, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment truly does encapsulate who we are and what we do by today's standards.  For those in the industry, agriculture is such an implied word.  But what about for generations removed from the farm? The addition of "...,Food and Environment" helps focus on some of the pressing challenges for the industry in the future and helps with public education on some of the issues we are working so hard to research, educate and extend ourselves into Kentucky's communities.  The name change allows the general public to better understand who we are: The landgrant College focusing on contributions and innovations in animal sciences and animal health; in crop, plant and food production; in the health and well-being of Kentuckians through nutrition, family development and activity; in food production, development and food security; in environmental stewardship through design, alternative fuel approaches, woodland and natural resource management; and in personal development through leadership, economic and humanitarian measures.

In short, the new name allows us to prepare for the challenges of 2014 and beyond.  We are poised to better tell our story and continue making a difference in the lives of Kentucky and beyond.





Our Students
Our student body currently sits at its largest in UK history.  The University is now nearly 30,000 Wildcat strong.  The many accomplishments of our students through awards in undergraduate research, leadership roles taken throughout campus and nationwide in organizations, and the high academic caliber of our student body make this a big pride point among our Big Blue Nation faithful.  As a top ten research college of agriculture, we hold high esteem for the accomplishments of our students- in and outside the classroom.

Our college's largest undergraduate and freshman classes have came the past two years.  As over 400 freshman and transfer students have entered our door, our undergraduate student enrollment is at 2699 students, and with adding graduate students, we sit at just shy of 3200 total students. The scholastic achievements of our students make them our college's most academically talented group in our history.  This year's mid-fifty percantile for our incoming class was a 22-27 ACT and a 3.3-3.9 high school GPA.  One of our incoming freshman, Megan Harper, of Calloway County, was named a Belles of the American Royal and Agriculture Future of America Scholar.  Others received many top scholarships from around the University and around the country.

Our students continue to impress through academic research, like Devin Henry through the agricultural biotechnology program, Amanda Pesquira who received the Alltech Young Scientist Award, or landscape architect students, Jared Kailen, Justin Menke, and Thomas Wortman, who received Oswald Awards for research and creativity.

Our UKAg students hold leadership positions across the ranks of campus as well.  DanceBlue is a student-ran philanthropy on campus and involves many of our students.  This year's overall student chair is Claci Ayers, an agricultural biotechnology student and UK's current Homecoming Queen.  Many of our other students, including Christa Childers, a dietetics student, who serves on the Family Relations Committee, and Alex Bugg and Kaitlin Klair, serving as team captains of the CAFE Cow Tippers DanceBlue Team, a group consisting of students from across the College. DanceBlue is one of my favorite things our students do each year and it truly brings our campus together.  If you have never been, try and check it out February 22-23, 2014. The video includes last year's reveal and the group dance number at the end, and is sure to inspire you and get your toe-tapping.

Our faculty and staff
We are widely known for our committed faculty and staff that serve the College in so many ways.

We began 2013 with two of our professors, Dr. Roberta Dwyer and Dr. John Grove, being named Outstanding Teachers at the University.  We will begin 2014 by having another recipient, Dr. Mark Coyne, receiving the same distinction.

On a national front, Dr. Bill Silvia, Animal Sciences, was recognized as a Regional National Teacher by the USDA and APLU. Also from Animal Sciences,  Dr. Debra Aaron received the Distinguished Service Award from the Southern Section of the American Society of Animal Science.

Dr. Kelly Webber, Dietetics and Human Nutrition, received a NIH grant for work on weight loss.  The year's Patricia Brantley Todd Award Recepients were recently named from our School of Human Environmental Sciences, including Jason Hans, Family Science,  for the teaching award.

Some of our student programming won awards at the annual NAADA Conference, including programs for National Ag Awareness Day and Ag Bash.

Leadership
Finally, we want to thank and acknowledge the leadership and administration of Dr. Scott Smith.  Dr. Smith leaves our College where he has been Dean since 2001.  We appreciate his work and commitment to the Commonwealth and wish him the best, although he's not going very far and will be teaching some sections of GEN 100 for our students.

We also want to welcome Dr.Nancy Cox into the role of Dean effective January 1, 2014.  We know that she will be a visionary dean and lead UK Ag to even greater heights.

In Summary......
It's been a great year to be a Wildcat, and hope that some of you who may be prospective Wildcats or parents of a soon-to-be-Wildcat see the many proud accomplishments for our College this year, in years prior and in years to come.  How will you prospective Wildcats engage your potential here at UK and make your mark?  We look back on an exciting year for our College, and look forward to the greatness that 2014 will bring for our UK Ag Family.  

Remember that our Incoming Freshmen Scholarships are due January 15, 2014!

Happy Holidays!!

- Jason H.

Jason Headrick is the Director of Student Relations for the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment.  He is a 2002 graduate of UK with a B.S. in agricultural communications and is set to complete his MA in May 2014.  He serves on the board for the National Agricultural Alumni and Development Association.  He also is on the board for the Fayette County UK Alumni Club.  

The Importance of Future Agriculturalists

I was born on a family farm in a small community named Stanley, Kentucky.  It has been a blessing from God.  For, I believe that family farming is much more than just acres of pliable soil; it is a tradition.  To me, a family farm is like an age-old tree. Alive for many centuries, a tree will bear many fruits and it will pass those fruits on until some grow and become another tree. It is the same with family farming. Family farming continues throughout the generations and is passed on to new ones. Just as the tree holds all of the generations of the family in its roots in the land after the death in the family, the family name too will live on forever in the soil of its crops. 

It has become a recent concern of many agriculturalists all across the nation that the future of family farming is in a troubled state. It has always been a rising concern. This metaphor is a good reason why I believe family-farming operations are an essential part of the tomorrow of agriculture.  I am aware of the average age of the current U.S. farmer, which is 55, and do know that this number is not good for the future of agriculture, but I also realize that there are many strong farming operations out there today, with my family’s being one of them.

 I look around my own community and see family farming operations of 5000 acres or more and watch them continue to grow each year.  Farmers do not only drive a tractor to plant and harvest a bountiful crop to feed millions in the world. They also farm because it is a love they have, and that love is spread throughout future generations of the family.  In the 1800’s, children were expected to carry on the family farm in hopes to be as successful as their parents, and I believe this practice still happens in this day and age.  As it is quite evident, traditions and practices are different than those of the 1800’s.  College is a common course of action today and therefore many more careers are available to the public, which eventually led to the decrease of family farming operations.  Although there are many more career paths to be chosen from, there are many young adults, along with myself, choosing a career path in agriculture.

The University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (CAFE) has over 2500 students working towards making the tomorrow of agriculture more efficient.  The University of Kentucky ‘s land grant institution gives College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment students many opportunities, such as hands on experience on university research farms, research labs, and a high quality education that is incomparable to any other.  It is important to have land grant institutions such as the University of Kentucky across the nation, because without the prestigious research and education conducted by these schools, agriculture would not continue to strive and improve like it continues to do so today.

Agriculture is a key part of everyone’s day-to-day life. No person can live without the essentials that agriculture provides. With UK students contributing to the production of these essentials, agriculture can continue to flourish.  The UK CAFE recognizes that the average age of the American farmer continues to increase, therefore they are making strides to ensure this trend does not continue. As agriculture becomes more necessary, due to the increasing demands because of rising populations, the University of Kentucky is developing research and education to ensure that there are always future agriculturalists to continue America’s finest tradition and necessity.

In conclusion, from only being at the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment for a little over a year, I have already come to realize how influential my agriculture education will be when I have a career in the agricultural industry and carry on my own family farm. With that being said, I could not be happier with the decision I made two years ago to come to the University of Kentucky. I would not be the person I am today without the education I have received and the people that I have met. I know myself, along with many others at the University of Kentucky, are working to become future agriculturalists in order to make the tomorrow of agriculture the best it has ever been. 


Lauren is a sophomore from Owensboro, Kentucky.  She is a Horticulture, Plant & Soil Science major, specializing in Agronomy.

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.

Growing future scientists isn't all that UK Horticulture, Plant & Soil Sciences does...but it's a BIG part!

Wow, last week was AMAZING!  During October 16 – 19, thousands of students, professors, and other individuals in the public and private sectors of plant and soil science met in beautiful (and warm) San Antonio for the annual ASA-CSSA-SSSA Meetings.  While there, I had the opportunity to attend symposia on just about anything and everything imaginable, but some of my favorites were the presentations on plant genetics and the new technologies that will help us meet the nutritional needs of a growing population.  Plus, I had the chance to speak with graduate school representatives, recruiters from private industry, and other students in plant and soil sciences from around the nation. 

There were numerous activities throughout the week, to say the least.  Just walking around in the exhibition hall where the graduate students were presenting their research posters was somewhat overwhelming.  The research that is currently being conducted in the agricultural sciences is absolutely phenomenal.  Yet, even more exhilarating is the prospect of improving the lives of people all across the world by using this and subsequent research and by training young individuals who want to make a difference.

Actually, this brings me to why I was able to attend the annual meetings both this year and last year.  I am a Golden Opportunity Scholar alumnus, and this year was the fifth year anniversary of the program.  Each year, the Golden Opportunity Scholars Institute fully funds the travel, lodging, and registration expenses of a few undergraduate students in agronomy, crop, or soil science so that these students can attend the annual meetings.  Since this year marked the fifth year anniversary of the program, alumni were also given financial support to return for the reunion.  I was able to reunite with the other 2010 scholars and to meet scholars from this year and from years past.  Certainly, the connections that the current scholars and alumni made will prove valuable as we progress into our respective careers.

As part of the program, each student is paired with a mentor according to his or her interests.  It is the program’s hope that the mentoring relationship extends beyond the duration of the meetings.  For me personally, the mentor-mentee relationship has been invaluable.  It led to an internship in a field of research that I love, and my mentor gave wonderful advice when I asked him about graduate school.  And, he is simply an awesome individual who is willing to invest his time, energy, and knowledge in helping train young individuals who are interested in plant breeding.  This program is truly a golden opportunity.

To think that I would not have had these experiences if my advisor, department chair, and another UK professor had not nominated me to be a Golden Opportunity Scholar and helped me put together my application is mind-boggling.  But, this is a perfect example of one of the reasons why I love being a Plant and Soil Science student at UK: the professors care about their students and are willing to go the extra mile to ensure that their students succeed.  These professors invest their time in training their students so that we, as college graduates, are prepared for the thousands of jobs that become available in plant and soil science each year in the United States alone.  Hats off to UK’s Department of Plant and Soil Science for a job well done!

Carrie B., Future Plant Geneticist