SIFE Brings Wisconsin Dairy Farmer John Vrieze to U of M, Crookston Nov. 2, 2006

CROOKSTON, MN (October 31, 2006) – University of Minnesota, Crookston (UMC) Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) welcomes Wisconsin Dairy Farmer John Vrieze to campus as part of the SIFE Speaker Series. Vrieze will discuss the process called “manure digesting” on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2006, at 7 p.m. in Kiehle Auditorium on campus. The event is sponsored by SIFE and is free and open to the public.

John Vrieze specializes in high-quality dairy production through years of genetic management. Along with his great cows, Vrieze is also a strong proponent of the “bio” cycle on the farm, using the manure from cows to produce natural gas, which is then sold. The process is called manure digesting.

Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) is a nonprofit organization that gives students the tools to learn the free enterprise system in real working situations. SIFE challenges students on more than 800 college campuses nationwide to take what they're learning in the classroom and use their knowledge to better their communities.

The University of Minnesota, Crookston (UMC) delivers more than 24 different undergraduate degree programs, including online options, in agriculture; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; math, science and technology; and natural resources. UMC is dedicated to helping students and the region aim higher, reach further, and dream big dreams. To learn more, visit www.UMCrookston.edu.

Successful Ag Activities Day Held at U of M, Crookston Hosting Some 1300 Students

CROOKSTON, MN (December 7, 2006) – For the last 25 years, Ag Activities Day has been held at the University of Minnesota, Crookston. The day gives high school students the chance to participate in activities in agriculture resulting in scholarship awards. This year’s event held Friday, Dec. 1, 2006, hosted some 1,300 high school students from all over the region who came to participate in 18 contests ranging from Ag Mechanics, Ag Sales, and Dairy to Wildlife and Hippology.

In the afternoon, an awards ceremony was held to announce the individual winners, as well as to recognize the top three teams.  Each team score was tabulated from the top three individuals from each participating school or chapter. This year $32,000 of scholarship money allowed the awarding of individual UMC scholarships in the amount of $750 for the first place individual, $600 for the second place individual and $450 for the third place individual.

First place individuals were Austin Link, New York Mills, Minn., in Dairy Judging; Kristine Neu, Pelican Rapids, Minn., in Nursery and Landscape; Andrew Thronson, Mahnomen, Minn., in Soils; Victoria Peterson, Long Prairie, Minn., in Hippology; Paul Schiller, Stillwater, Minn., Forestry; Stephanie Amiot, Thief River Falls, Minn., in Small Animals; Jeran Hilde, Ada Borup, Minn., in Dairy Foods; Nolan Jeral, Hawley, Minn., in Ag Sales; Ben Fuglie, Ulen-Hitterdahl, Minn., in Farm Management; and Jake Hein in Wildlife and Nicole Chessmen in Floriculture both from Grand Rapids, Minn.Mahnomen, Minn., had three first place finishing teams in Farm Management, Dairy Judging and Soils. Pelican Rapids, Minn., had two teams taking first place finishes in Nursery/Landscape and Ag Sales; and Grand Rapids, Minn., had two first place finishes in Floriculture and Wildlife. Teams taking first place in other contests were Thief River Falls, Minn., in Small Animals; Lake Park-Audubon, Minn., in Meats; Greenbush-Middle River, Minn., in General Livestock; Ada-Borup, Minn., in Dairy Foods; and Hawley, Minn., in Hippology.

Ag Activities Day fits the mission of the UMC Agriculture Department to provide exemplarpolytechnic learning through teaching, applied research and collaborative outreach interactions. Students participating in the activities learn skills to help them in future educational and leadership pursuits. To view all the results of the Ag Activities Day contests, visit www.crk.umn.edu/ag/AAD/2006Results.htm

The University of Minnesota, Crookston (UMC) delivers more than 24 different undergraduate degree programs, including online options, in agriculture; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; math, science and technology; and natural resources. UMC is dedicated to helping students and the region aim higher, reach further and dream big dreams. To learn more, visit www.UMCrookston.edu.

These high school students from Fertile, Minn., were part of the 1300 students particpating in Ag Activities Day.

True Grit Award Winners Named at U of M, Crookston’s Ag Arama

CROOKSTON, Minn. (January 29, 2007) – Winners of the True Grit Award were  announced at Ag Arama at the University of Minnesota, Crookston (UMC) on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2007. The award is the most coveted of all awards at the annual competition, and this year, three students were selected for the recognition.Kelli Pulford, Richville, Minn., Thor Vettleson, Trail, Minn., and Gretchen Smeby, Grygla, Minn., were this year’s recipients.

The True Grit Award is dedicated to the memory of Todd Opsahl a UMC student in 1973-74. Opsahl was extremely active in campus activities especially in the Ag Division where he studied animal science. Todd’s life was cut short by leukemia. In his remembrance, the True Grit award is presented to the student who best demonstrates Todd Opsahl’s active participation and encouragement of others.

Ag Arama is an annual winter competition that features contests for students in agronomy, animal science, horticulture, and natural resources. Through these contests the event allows current students to showcase their knowledge and skills in their major area of study and gives them a chance interact with each other, with alumni, and with faculty members. Ag-Arama is planned and operated by a committee of UMC students and advised by UMC faculty members.

For information on programs in agriculture, natural resources and horticulture at UMC, visit http://academics.umcrookston.edu or call 218-281-8569.

The University of Minnesota, Crookston (UMC) delivers more than 24 different undergraduate degree programs, including online options, in agriculture; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; math, science and technology; and natural resources. UMC is dedicated to helping students and the region aim higher, reach further and dream big dreams. To learn more, visit www.UMCrookston.edu.

Kelli Pulford, Thor Vettleson, and Gretchen Smeby

Royalty Crowned at U of M, Crookston’s 2007 Ag Arama on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2007

CROOKSTON, Minn. (January 29, 2007) – Coronation at Ag Arama 2007 was held at the University of Minnesota, Crookston (UMC) on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2007. Royalty crowned were King Cory Detloff, Bertha, Minn., Queen Amy Konradi, Canby, Minn., Prince Matt Przekwas, Roseau, Minn.,  and Princess Danika Kent, Lancaster, Minn.

The faculty of the agricultural management division at UMC nominate the candidates and a panel of judges selects the male and female students they feel best reflect the goals and spirit of the UMC Agricultural Management Division. Selection is based on congeniality and involvement in the division along with campus activities.

Ag Arama is an annual winter competition that features contests for students in agronomy, animal science, horticulture, and natural resources. Through these contests the event allows current students to showcase their knowledge and skills in their major area of study and gives them a chance interact with each other, with alumni, and with faculty members. Ag-Arama is planned and operated by a committee of UMC students and advised by UMC faculty members.

For information on programs in agriculture, natural resources and horticulture at UMC, visit http://academics.umcrookston.edu or call 218-281-8569.

The University of Minnesota, Crookston (UMC) delivers more than 24 different undergraduate degree programs, including online options, in agriculture; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; math, science and technology; and natural resources. UMC is dedicated to helping students and the region aim higher, reach further and dream big dreams. To learn more, visit www.UMCrookston.edu.

King Cory Detloff, Queen Amy Konradi, Prince Matt Przekwas, Princess Danika Kent

UMC Dairy Judging Team Captures NACTA Awards

UMC Students placed first in the senior division of the annual National Judging Competition of the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA), held April 22-24, 2004.  UMC teams traveled to Black Hawk College’s East Campus in Kewanee, Illinois, where they earned the overall NACTA Sweepstakes Trophy among several other awards, many within the Dairy Judging Contest

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Team members:  (from left) Coach Lyle Westrom, Jonathan Gorentz of Dent, Brent Arndt of Lakefield, Mike Hendrickx of New York Mills, Nathan Spatz of Lebanon, PA

Second Place Team – Dairy Judging Ayshire           
            First Place Individual – Mike Hendrickx
First Place Team – Dairy Brown Swiss
            First Place Individual – Mike Hendrickx
            Second Place Individual – Nate Spatz
            Third Place Individual – Jon Gorentz
Second Place Team – Dairy Holstein
            Second Place Individual – Mike Hendrickx
First Place Team – Dairy Judging Jersey
            First Place Individual – Mike Hendrickx
Third Place Team – Dairy Shorthorns
First Place Team – Dairy Reasons
            First Place Individual – Mike Hendrickx
Third Place Team – Overall Dairy
            First Place Individual – Mike Hendrickx

Posted May 2004

UMC Earns Top Honors at Minnesota Beef Expo



Eleven members of UMC's Animal Science Association traveled to St. Paul October 17-19 to compete in judging at the Minnesota Beef Expo.  UMC's teams did exceptionally well, placing in the top three with each respective team.  UMC students also swept the top three as individuals.  In first place overall (below from left) was Staci Slykerman, second place was Kim Rankin, and third place was Chris Hanson.  Each individual judged six classes of heifers, calves, and steers on Friday morning.  According to Statci Slykerman, "This is the first judging contest we have been in this year.  To do this well was really awesome!"


October 2002

UMC Places at Dairy  Expo 

Twelve UMC students traveled to Madison, WI, to attend the World Dairy Expo, October 2-6.  UMC fielded two judging teams--practical and traditional. UMC's practical team placed third overall and third in linear judging.  The traditional team took second place in Guernseys and tenth place overall.  Practical team members were (below from left) Jennifer Goeller, Dustin Hollerman, Ellen Larson, and Mike Hendrix.



Traditional team members were (below from left) Karen Ballou, Tim Adams, Sara Ehlers, and Staci Slykerman.


October 2002

Students Learn "In the Field" -- Literally

 

Hands-on learning is an integral component of the polytechnic philosophy of UMC.  On Thursday, September 26, 2002, Harouna Maiga of the Animal Science Department and his students enrolled in Agro 3130 “Forages Class in the Field” toured Kaste, Inc. Forages Seed Production Farm near Fertile, MN.  The class learned about the seed production of and marketing techniques for native grasses and legumes.  Producer Garth Kaste gave an excellent tour of the operation.  Afterward, the class had an interactive discussion with Kaste on issues such as forages species, planting time, equipment, harvest, seed cleaning, packing and storage, and marketing.
September 2002