6th annual ‘Celebrate Agriculture Week’ to include chili cook-off, farm safety night, career networking event

Northwest Missouri State University will recognize the role agriculture plays in its region with a week of activities Oct. 31 through Nov. 5.

“We host this week of events to focus in on the importance of agriculture,” Dr. Rod Barr, the director of the School of Agricultural Sciences, said. “One percent of the population feeds 100 percent of the population, which is why we want to educate attendees of what is happening within the agricultural industry and the significance of the industry.”

The week’s events will be at the University’s Agricultural Learning Center (ALC), located on the R.T. Wright Farm at 22893 U.S. Highway 71 in Maryville. Additionally, agricultural student organizations will compete throughout the week and earn event participation points in a supremacy contest.

The celebration begins at 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 31, with a chili cook-off and costume contest that will include chili entries from agriculture student organizations and be hosted by the professional ag sorority Sigma Alpha and the Block and Bridle club.

The public is invited at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 1, to the ALC, where the Collegiate Farm Bureau and the collegiate FFA club will discuss ways to increase farm safety.

At 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2, a career networking event will host various agriculture-based employers to discuss businesses and internship opportunities for students.

The agriculture honor society Delta Tau Alpha, Agronomy Club and Horticulture Club will host a game night with board games and tournaments of cornhole, water pong, pitch and Jenga at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3.

At 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4, Alpha Gamma Rho and the School of Agricultural Science will host a barbecue cook-off.

Collegiate Farm Bureau will host its annual Fill-a-Ford canned food drive event from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4, and from 7 to 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov 5. Proceeds will be donated to the Bearcat Food Pantry.

To conclude the week, the School of Agricultural Science will host a pancake breakfast from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. Nov. 5 with Chris Cakes.

About the School of Agricultural Sciences

Housed in the Dean L. Hubbard Center for Innovation, Northwest’s School of Agricultural Sciences offers programs in agriculture business, agriculture education, agriculture media, agriculture science, agronomy and animal science.

The 29,500-square-foot multipurpose ALC, which opened in 2021, enhances the School and its curriculum while addressing infrastructure needs at the 448-acre Wright Farm, which is home to beef, swine, dairy, and sheep enterprises as well as row and forage crops. the ALC enables further innovation and partnerships while addressing best practices for the Northwest campus and agriculture sciences.

For more information about the School of Agriculture Sciences and its programs, visit www.nwmissouri.edu/ag/.