UMC’s 29th Annual Ag-Arama Set for January 31
Ag-Arama, the annual winter competitive and fun event that focuses on agriculture and natural resources, will be held Saturday, January 31, at the University of Minnesota, Crookston (UMC) in the University Teaching and Outreach Center (UTOC) on the north side of the campus.
Ag-Arama features contests 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 advised by UMC faculty members.
Some of the student competitions will take place prior to January 31. The contests in horticulture and agronomy will take place Friday, January 30.
The majority of events, however, will be held Saturday, January 31, in UTOC. All of the Ag-Arama events that day are open to the public, as well as to the UMC community and students. UMC alumni are especially encouraged to attend.
Animal science showmanship contests begin Saturday, January 31, at 8:30 a.m. in UTOC Arena, and they will run until 12:30 p.m. Students will compete in Western and English horse showmanship, lamb lead, and dairy, beef, sheep, and swine showing. There will be two categories for each species, novice and experienced. The novices are paired with experienced students prior to the contest to prepare. Several natural resources contests—including men’s and women’s crosscut saw contests, log splitting, and the log toss—will also take place.
At 9 a.m. the Agriculture Industries Trade Show begins, and crop samples will be on display throughout the day. Other activities on Saturday morning include games for everyone such as the human tractor pull contest, a cow milking contest, egg tossing, cow pie bingo, ping pong, and five ball.
Lunch will be served picnic style for $3.00. The awards ceremony begins at 2 p.m., with the coronation of Ag-Arama royalty set for 3 p.m.
A special dedication of a newly installed public art piece created by Minneapolis-based artist Susan Warner will also take place during the program.
This
year Ag-Arama is dedicated to Gene Miller
(right), former faculty member for the Northwest School of Agriculture
(the precursor to UMC) and research scientist at the Northwest Research
and Outreach Center. When the transition to college level education began
on the Crookston Campus in 1966, Miller was involved in launching the
first instructional programs in mechanized agriculture and agricultural
aviation.
All UMC alumni are also invited to attend a social in their honor. That event will be held from 5:30-7 p.m. at the Irishman’s Shanty in Crookston.
Saturday’s events will culminate with the annual Ag-Arama Dance featuring the band SubZero at the Crookston Armory from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. There is a $7 cover charge, and is open to those 16 and older unless accompanied by a parent. A driver’s license or other valid I.D. is required for those 16 and older (student I.D. card does not count). For more information or to request disability accommodations call 218-281-8101.
For a full schedule of events visit the Ag-Arama website: webhome.crk.umn.edu/clubs/agarama.
Posted 01/14/2004
Contact: Andrew Svec,
218-281-8435