College of Agricultural Sciences celebrates National Ag Day with outreach event

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — On March 18, Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences and the University Park Undergraduate Association marked National Ag Day, an event designed to recognize and celebrate the many contributions of the agricultural industry.

“It was important to celebrate all the ways, big and small, that agriculture sustains us every day,” said Megan Marshall, director of student recruitment and activities in the college’s Office for Undergraduate Education. “One of our goals was to highlight the breadth of the agriculture industry.”

Producers, agricultural associations, corporations, universities and government agencies also celebrate National Ag Day to educate the public on the impact of agriculture in everyday life. 

This year, students from the college brought National Ag Day to the broader student body at University Park. The event included trivia, robots in action, and cookie and ice cream giveaways. Students also could test their taste buds with miracle berries, create seed balls in time for spring and see critters in the insect zoo.

Students representing a variety of agricultural clubs and organizations set up displays in the HUB-Robeson Center. Organizations in attendance included Agribusiness Management Club; Agricultural Robotics Club; Collegiate Cattlewomen; Entomology Graduate Student Association; Environmental Resource Management Society; Penn State FFA Alumni and Supporters Society; Food Chemistry Club; Food Science Club; Poultry Science Club; Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS); Student Farm Club; Pre-Vet Club; and Small and Exotic Animal Club.

Logan Quinn, of Sykesville, Maryland, is a second-year graduate student pursuing a master’s degree in education policy and leadership. As a graduate intern in the Office for Undergraduate Education, Quinn was one of the students who helped plan and manage on-site logistics for participating student groups and attendees on National Ag Day.

Quinn is the Region 1 graduate student vice president of MANRRS. She and other MANRRS representatives were in attendances and hosted ag trivia during the event.

“My favorite part of the experience was visiting the student organizations, learning more about their clubs and participating in their activities,” Quinn said.

Sarah Beaver, of Eldred, is a second-year agricultural and extension education student. She also represents the college as an Ag Advocate, is a member of the Ag Student Council, and is the college’s University Park Undergraduate Association representative. Like Quinn, Beaver was part of the planning committee behind National Ag Day.

“We wanted to upscale this year’s event from what it’s been in the past,” she said. “We started planning and recruiting clubs to attend back in November.”

Beaver spoke to attendees at the event about the agricultural industry’s importance.

“The biggest impact of this event was bringing agriculture down from Ag Hill to the central part of campus,” she said. “For months, it was just a vision, so seeing people from across the University engaging and interacting with the ag clubs was such a cool experience. Our purpose was to raise awareness and advocate for agriculture at the University level, and I feel like we did that.”

Quinn added that the event was significant for the Penn State community, especially for students.

“It provided an opportunity to showcase agriculture, natural resources and related fields to a wider audience,” she said. “I hope attendees gained a deeper understanding of the impact of the agriculture industry and the incredible work being done by the students in the college.”