Many CoAg undergraduates know
that their bachelor of science degree will not be the final
stop in their educational attainment. A significant number
continue their educational pursuits to obtain the master’s
degree, and some continue on to receive their doctorate degrees.
The sound academic foundation that our CoAg students receive
also prepares them for admission to many different types of
professional schools.
Three CoAg departments (animal sciences, fisheries
and allied aquacultures and poultry science) have curriculum
tracks that are specifically designed for those who want to
receive additional training in the medical area. Most of the
students who are enrolled in these programs of study intend
to go on to veterinary school; however, others may choose
to go to medical, pharmacy, nursing or physical therapy school.
The heavy emphasis on the sciences that is required by these
curricula provides a sound foundation for any of these advanced
areas of study.
It is well known that the AU College of Veterinary
Medicine is one of the best in the country. Because of this,
many students come to Auburn for their undergraduate studies
to help with their acceptance for the study of veterinary
medicine. Recent history has shown that students who complete
their undergraduate studies in our College stand a very good
chance of acceptance (approximately 40 percent acceptance
rate) and an even better opportunity to do very well in their
studies. For the past year, 43 percent of the in-state entering
class for the AU College of Veterinary Medicine came from
the College of Agriculture. The remaining students came from
other programs on campus and all other universities. In addition,
some of the “at-large” students (those from outside
Alabama and Kentucky) came from undergraduate programs in
our College.
Other types of professional education and associated
degrees that are pursued by some of our graduates are the
master of business administration (MBA) and the juris doctorate
(law degree). The basic areas of study provided by our programs
(particularly in agricultural economics) provide a sound foundation
for the MBA and law degrees. The practical applied orientation
of our programs fits very well with these professional studies.
For example, in law school a student will study contracts,
business enterprises, environmental law, tax law and property
law. Because agricultural economics graduates have exposure
to these topics in their undergraduate studies, they have
an advantage over those who have a more traditional pre-law
programs in history or political science.
In short, the College is a great place to start on
the path of professional careers in a wide range of fields.
The Most Recent
Class…
Ever wonder about the details of each graduating CoAg
class? Here are some details from the class that “walked”
(matriculated) in December 2003.
A total of 45 CoAg students completed their studies
and graduated fall semester 2003. Twenty-five of these students
majored in horticulture, six in animal sciences, five in agricultural
economics and rural sociology, four in agronomy and four in
poultry science.
A review of the exit evaluations completed by these
students revealed that they were very pleased with the education
they received in the College and from their selected disciplines.
On a scale from 0 to 10 (with 0 representing “would
not recommend” and 10 “recommend very strongly”)
the weighted average was 9.1 for the question “How strongly
would you recommend the College of Agriculture to a potential
student?” The weighted average was 8.8 on the related
question of “How strongly would you recommend majoring
in your degree discipline to a potential student?”
As is typical for students who graduate in December,
the job market is somewhat tight. Fifty-three percent of those
who graduated last semester had not yet secured full-time
employment; however, several of these students indicated that
they had possibilities that they were considering. Twenty
percent had already accepted full-time employment and 27 percent
were remaining in school for advanced study (either graduate
or professional school).
CoAg Well Represented
at 2003 Sunbelt Ag Expo
The College of Agriculture was well represented at
the 26th Annual Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition (EXPO) held
last October in Moultrie, Ga. Known as “North America’s
Premier Farm Show,” EXPO had one of the most successful
years in its history with nearly 1,200 exhibitors displaying
products and services related to the agricultural industry.
The weather was perfect and record crowds came from throughout
the Southeast to see all that the exhibitors had to offer.
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Since the construction of its permanent building
on the EXPO grounds three years ago, the AU College of
Agriculture has become an even more prominent and permanent
fixture at the EXPO. The attractive building with its
bold AU emblems on the sides and Auburn flag flying high
reminds visitors that CoAg is a leader in agricultural
teaching, research and extension.
According to Bill Hardy, associate
dean for teaching, the College’s exhibits were some
of the best at EXPO. All eight CoAg departments were represented,
displaying examples of academic programs, research activities
and |
| At
the 2003 Ag Expo, David Cline demonstratd how fish can
be grown in a temperature-controlled year-round environment. |
extension initiatives. A highlight of the AU exhibit and
of the EXPO was presented by the Department of Fisheries and
Allied Aquacultures. This exhibit, which was put in place
by Jesse Chappell and David Cline,
demonstrated how fish can be grown in a temperature-controlled
year-round environment. In addition, the exhibit showed how
nutrients generated in the water by the fish can be used to
fertilize plants, thus providing a self-contained fish farm
and hydroponics system. The research-type facility clearly
illustrated possibilities that are available for innovative
farming operations.
Other exhibits included the continuously popular fire
ant-eating phorid flies that were demonstrated by Research Fellow
Fudd Graham and Research Assistant Vicky
Bertagnolli, both from the Department of Entomology
and Plant Pathology. A discussion of the growth and marketing
of satsuma oranges was presented by Ben Campbell,
a graduate student in the Department of Agricultural Economics
and Rural Sociology. Agricultural Program Assistant Kirk
Iverson from the Department of Agronomy and Soils displayed
different types of turf and demonstrated the characteristics
of each. The Department of Horticulture exhibit, developed by
Academic Program Specialist Cynthia Channel-Butcher,
illustrated all areas of study available in that curriculum
and other options available at Auburn University.
The Department of Animal Sciences exhibit, developed
by Professors Frank Owlsey and Bill
Jones, emphasized changes in their undergraduate
program to meet today’s needs. In addition, cooked pork
samples were provided to demonstrate the impact of production
methods on consumer acceptance of meat products. Professor
Joe Hess developed the Poultry Science exhibit,
which helped visitors identify the different parts of a chicken
anatomy. In addition, information was provided about employment
options available for poultry science graduates.
The exhibit presented by the Department of Biosystems
Engineering under the coordination of Assistant Professor
Oladiran Fasina was also very popular with
those who visited the CoAg building. This exhibit served to
generate significant interest from many potential students.
Jonathan Melton, a senior in biosystems engineering,
demonstrated a quarter-scale, pulling tractor that students
from the department built for national competition. Along
with generating interest at the CoAg building, Melton and
the tractor attracted attention as they led the antique tractor
parade throughout the EXPO site.
Representatives from the Dean’s office (Associate
Dean Bill Hardy and Assistant Dean Bill Alverson) and several
Ag Ambassadors were on hand throughout the three-day show to
interact with potential students and to help ensure that all
who were interested received information relative to all available
CoAg academic programs.
Visitors to the CoAg building were also treated to high-quality
entertainment including 12 members of the Auburn University
Singers and the Enterprise High School FFA String Band and Quartet.
Mark Oct. 19-21, 2004, on your calendar to join the
College for the 27th Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition.
Student Awards
and Recognitions
Several students in the College of Agriculture were
recognized during fall semester because of their outstanding
academic accomplishments.
Nicole Makowsky, a pre-veterinary major from
Montgomery, Ala., was selected to be the student graduation
marshal for fall graduation (December 2003). With this honor,
Makowsky led the CoAg processional at graduation and was recognized
individually for this honor and for completing her undergraduate
studies with a perfect 4.0 grade point average. In addition
to graduating from the College in December, Makowsky also
completed her first semester in the Auburn University College
of Veterinary Medicine. As an undergraduate, Nicole was a
member of the Pre-Vet Club, Block and Bridle, Chi Alpha and
served as an Honor’s College Mentor.
Five CoAg students were recognized during fall semester
for their outstanding academic accomplishments through induction
into Phi Kappa Phi. Phi Kappa Phi recognizes outstanding scholarship
with membership by invitation only to the top 5 percent of
the graduating class. Students in the junior class may be
invited to membership if they have a minimum overall grade
point average of 3.795.
Graduating CoAg seniors who were selected were Jenny
Childers, Andy Leslie and Bill
Miller. Childers is from Birmingham, Ala., and majored
in horticulture. Leslie majored in poultry science and is
a native of Langston, Ala. He also received a minor in business.
Miller came to Auburn from Fayetteville, N.C., and graduated
in horticulture with a minor in agronomy.
The outstanding academic accomplishments of two juniors
permitted their induction into Phi Kappa Phi. They were Karen
Burks and Sara Choquette. Both students
are animal sciences-pre vet majors. Burks is from Fairhope,
Ala. and Choquette is from Anniston, Ala.
The exceptional academic accomplishments during the
past academic year of Nick Patterson, a sophomore in animal
sciences-pre vet from Florence, Ala., prompted Phi Kappa Phi
to recognize him as one of the University’s Outstanding
Freshmen.
Several CoAg students also were recognized through selection
for membership in Gamma Sigma Delta—The Honor Society
of Agriculture. Graduating seniors selected were Nikolaus
Mahrt (animal sciences), Bill Miller (horticulture),
Clint Tyus (horticulture) and Ray Willet
(horticulture).
College of Agriculture
to Host NAADA 2004 Conference
Visitors from agricultural colleges across the United
States will be in Mobile, Ala., June 13-16 when AU’s
College of Agriculture hosts the 2004 National Agricultural
Alumni and Development Association (NAADA) national conference.
NAADA is composed of representatives who advance agriculture
through serving alumni, development and student professionals
by expanding the human and financial resource bases of the
nation’s agricultural colleges.
“This is the first time Auburn University has
served as the host institution since NAADA was organized in
1976,” says John Jensen, interim CoAg dean. “We
look forward to the more than 200 representatives who will
be attending from across the United States to improve their
professional duties and at the same time learn about Alabama
agriculture and Auburn University.”
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The conference will include educational sessions
for professionals and students, guest speakers and four
agricultural tours.
Among the tours will be a visit to the Alabama
State Docks to view its export of agricultural products
from Alabama and the Southeast and to learn about its
bio-security measures. Another tour will focus on ecological
research related to the Mobile Bay |
| An
estimated 200 representative from across the United
States will be attending the NAADA Conference in Mobile,
Ala. |
area and will include stops at the new Auburn University
Shellfish Laboratory, the Dauphin Island Estuarium and Sea
Lab and the Alma Bryant High School Aquaculture Program. A
third tour will visit Flowerwood Research Farm and Weeks Bay
in Baldwin County. The fourth tour will offer a behind-the-scenes
exploration of Bellingrath Gardens and will be directed by
Bill Barrick, executive director of Bellingrath
Gardens and a CoAg alumnus.
During the meeting, student agricultural ambassadors
from several universities will participate in seminars on
leadership and confidence-building as well as a tour of agriculture
and aquaculture sites in Baldwin County. Elisabeth
Opt’Holt, president of the AU Agricultural
Ambassadors, is spearheading the student program.
A highlight of the conference will be a seafood feast
and entertainment on the deck of the battleship USS Alabama,
which is docked in Mobile Bay, on June 15. Auburn Agriculture
alumni will be invited to attend that feast and help welcome
the NAADA visitors to Alabama. For more information call the
College of Agriculture at 334-844-2345.
AG COMMUNICATIONS
SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWED
First Ag Communications Scholarship to be Awarded Fall 2004
The Gene Stevenson and Joe Yeager Scholarship in Agricultural
Communications has been endowed with funds from the sale of
Inside Ag Hill, a history of agriculture at Auburn.
The scholarship is the first offered specifically to students
majoring in agricultural communications and will be awarded
beginning the fall semester of 2004.
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“It’s important to do everything we can to
get our young people interested in writing and reporting
about agriculture,” says Yeager, co-author of the
book and retired head of AU’s agricultural economics
and rural sociology department. “The general public
doesn’t realize the importance of agriculture and
what goes on between the farm gate and the consumer. We
need to get that message out.”
Inside Ag Hill,
written by Stevenson and Yeager, has been praised by reviewers
for its intriguing stories and engaging narrative style,
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Two-for-One
Sale |
its candid discussions
of controversial and sometimes divisive moments in Ag Hill’s
history and for its focus on the personal stories of Ag Hill’s
founders.
“The book focuses on people,” comments Stevenson,
editor emeritus of what once was the Alabama Agricultural Experiment
Station’s (AAES’s) department of Research Information
(now Ag Communications and Marketing). “People made Ag
Hill what it is, so we tried to cover a lot of them and that’s
the thing that people who read our book notice.”
Stevenson grew up on a farm in Harvest, Ala., and came
to school at Auburn in 1947. He was bitten by the Auburn bug
and has spent most of his adult life in the town. After completing
a self-designed degree in agricultural journalism, he went to
work for Farm and Ranch Magazine in Nashville, Tenn.,
and then was called into active duty with the U.S. Navy during
the Korean Conflict. Stevenson returned to Auburn in 1955 as
an assistant editor with Research Information (then known as
the Publications Department). He became the department’s
head and editor in 1982, and was also an assistant director
of the AAES from 1990 until he retired in 1991.
Yeager, a Cullman County farm boy, came to Auburn in
1939 as a student and immediately fell in love with the town
and the college. Except for a stint in the military (U.S. Army)
and time away working on his Ph.D. at Purdue University, Yeager
spent his entire adult life in Auburn. He joined the faculty
of AU’s Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural
Sociology as an assistant professor in 1951 and worked his way
quickly through the ranks to become professor and soon department
head, positions he held from 1964 until he retired in 1991.
The two began researching Inside Ag Hill in 1997 at the
request of Jim Marion, who was then CoAg dean and director of
the AAES. They scrutinized thousands of documents and conducted
scores of interviews to gather the information contained between
the covers of Inside Ag Hill.
Though Yeager and Stevenson consider themselves more
storytellers than historians, the book was meticulously researched
and documented and is considered the most complete history of
Ag Hill ever written. Funds from future sales of the book will
go towards Ag Heritage Park—a site on the AU campus devoted
to the past, present and future of AU’s agricultural program.
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