10th annual Ag Day on campus brings alpacas, agricultural leaders

The 10th annual Ag Day on campus took place on April 19 on the University Center Mall. The event was open to all students, all community members, and all staff. 

At 10 a.m. a red ribbon cutting ceremony took place because this was the tenth anniversary of Ag Day. Speakers such as Alice in Dairyland and Princess Kay of the Milky Way were guests at the ceremony. The ribbon cutting was also live streamed on Facebook at UWRF Ag Day on Campus for community members to see who were unable to make it.

Michelle Stangler is a sophomore on campus studying agricultural marketing communications and agriculture business. She had a large role in planning this year's Ag Day on campus.

“From there we will have keynote speakers every half hour in a tent just outside of the University Center,” said Stangler before the event. The speakers varied from the speakers for the red ribbon cutting ceremony to Wisconsin Fairest of the Fair and Wisconsin State FFA officers.

There was also a milk chug contest at noon.

“The winner will get a $100 Kwik Trip gift card. We have four of those that will be given throughout the day as well as over 300 Culver’s tokens, over 300 dried cranberry samples and over 400 shirts to give out. We have so many fun things planned,” said Stangler. The day concluded with a free dinner and keynote speaker Kim Bremmer.

A variety of agricultural companies were in attendance as well as multiple College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Science organizations. Farm animals such as lambs, calves, alpacas, pigs and more were also relaxing for students to see on the UC Mall.

“This year’s theme is let the good times grow. And so we really wanted to showcase how agriculture is moving forward. We know that the end consumer has so many questions and this event does that,” said Stangler. “We have so many people involved in agriculture that are doing so many great innovations and different ways that we are moving forward to protect and value that end product.”

The idea behind the event is for anyone and everyone to attend, whether you know a lot about agriculture or nothing at all.