This year”s Ag Days will feature dancing, football, a petting zoo and expert teaching in various scientific studies.
The annual event will be held Friday and Saturday on the University of Idaho campus and is aimed at attracting students to UI”s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences.
“It”s just a great way for students to learn a little bit more about what college has to offer,” Paulette House, assistant director of recruitment said.
Founded in 1987, Ag Days is a recruitment event that has spent 37 years sponsoring the search for high school students interested in studying science – especially those wishing to study agriculture at UI.
Students come from all over Idaho as well as neighboring states, including Washington, Oregon and Montana, to participate in workshops taught by UI students and professors.
House said 347 students are registered to attend Ag Days this year – the biggest turnout the event has ever seen.
Representatives from the University of Arkansas will also be attending to determine how they can incorporate a program similar to Ag Days at their school, House said.
Arkansas representatives decided to attend this year”s event after representatives from both schools attended a conference for the National Agricultural and Alumni and Development Association this summer. UI representatives gave a presentation on Ag Days and the celebration of Idaho agriculture.
The event will include 45-minute onsite and offsite workshops as a way for students to learn about different careers and programs offered at UI.
House said workshops range in topic from watching a cow get an ultrasound to learning about product development and the agriculture economy.
The event generates support from various agriculture related companies and organizations every year.
House said CHS Primeland, a local cooperative with CHS Inc. is a national organization known for promoting agricultural education and development. It will provide funding for 3-4 buses to bring students to UI from Southern Idaho.
Future Farmers of American and 4-H groups will also be there to judge livestock and dairy farming and distribute awards, House said.
Last year, Basic American Foods sponsored a dinner for the event. In turn, coordinators for Ag Days focused the event around the School of Food Science. This year, they will continue the tradition of a “departmental highlight” by focusing on the Department of Plant, Soil and Entomological Sciences (PSES).
“It”s one of our smaller departments and it”s just bursting with opportunities for students and jobs,” House said. “But not a ton of people know exactly what it is or that there are jobs as a soil scientist.”
On Friday, many classrooms will be open to high school students so they can participate in hands-on activities with UI faculty and students, including holding live insects in an entomology lab and learning what happens to soil during an earthquake.
Besides experiencing the educational aspects of UI, students will also get the chance to show their school pride by forming the ceremonial “football funnel” for the Idaho Vandals before watching them face Georgia Southern at the Kibbie Dome.
House said Ag Days changes the lives of high school students by providing them opportunities to connect with people that can help them in their careers.
“It”s just a great way for students to learn a little bit more about what college has to offer,” House said.
Taylor Nadauld can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter at @tnadauldarg