Heinze Receives True Grit Award at UMC Ag-Arama

Barb Heinze of Elrosa, Minnesota, was the recipient of the 2001 True Grit Award at the 26th Annual Ag-Arama, held recently at the University of Minnesota, Crookston (UMC).  Heinze is a senior majoring in horticulture at UMC.  Her parents are David and Carol Heinze of Elrosa.

Richard Nelson, Director of UMC’s Center for Agriculture and Natural Resources, says, "Barb Heinze is one of the most dependable and hard working students I know.  Because of her energy and involvement, she has gained as much from her UMC education as she possibly can, and she has given much to UMC in return."

The True Grit Award is the most coveted of all awards presented at UMC’s Ag-Arama.  The award is presented annually to the student who best demonstrates the active spirit of Todd Opsahl, a UMC student in 1973-74.  Most students and faculty around Opsahl did not know that he was suffering from terminal leukemia, a disease that took his life shortly after he left college.  Despite this condition, Opsahl was extremely active in campus activities, especially in the agriculture division where he studied animal science.  In remembrance, the True Grit Award is presented to a current student who has demonstrated a spirit of active, enthusiastic participation and leadership and who encourages others to participate in agriculture-related activities.

In addition to her studies in horticulture, Heinze serves as vice president of the UMC Horticulture Club.  She is employed as a student worker in the Center for Agriculture and Natural Resources and has been active in planning and coordinating Ag-Arama and Ag Activities Day, an agriculture competition for high school students hosted by UMC each year in early December.   She also played a pivotal role in the planning and coordination of UMC efforts in hosting the 2000 National Association of Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA) National Judging Contest last spring.

Ag-Arama is the annual winter competitive and fun event focusing on agriculture and natural resources.  It features contests in agronomy, animal science showmanship, horticulture, mechanized agriculture, and natural resources.  The event allows UMC students to showcase their knowledge and skills in their individual interest areas and gives them a chance interact with each other, with faculty members, and with UMC alumni through the various contests.  Nearly 300 people attended this year’s events.

For more information about the events visit the Ag-Arama website:  http://webhome.crk.umn.edu/clubs/agarama/.

 

Posted  02/16/2001
Contact: Andrew Svec, 218-281-8435

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