UK Agriculture Week celebrates dynamic Kentucky industry
LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 15, 2024) — The University of Kentucky welcomes the community to participate in and celebrate National Agriculture Week 2024, March 18-22. Hosted by the UK Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (CAFE), along with sponsors and partners, the week offers events to explain how agriculture touches everything and everyone.
“National Ag Week is about appreciating the contributions of agriculture industry and its profound impact in Kentucky,” said Nancy Cox, vice president for land-grant engagement and dean of Martin-Gatton CAFE. “We deeply appreciate this robust, vibrant industry and its pivotal role in our state’s economy. Let us unite as a community to honor and champion the diverse individuals, groups, communities and organizations during this recognition week and throughout the year.”
The week’s events include:
- Ag-vocacy Day — 12:30-3 p.m. Monday March 18, Jacobs Science Building. Explore ways to get involved and get connected to student and professional organizations in a student involvement fair.
- Ag Trivia Night — 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, March 19, Wise Bird Cider. Join students, faculty, staff and alumni for a fun evening in testing ag knowledge. Sponsored by the UK M-G CAFE Alumni Association.
- Careers & Commodities — 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 20, Agriculture Science Center North. Network with employers and commodity partners. Get a free T-shirt celebrating Ag Week. Login to register through Handshake here.
- Ag Day Party — 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 20, Agriculture Science Center North lobby. The UK Collegiate Farm Bureau is hosting a party for agriculture in Ag North. All students are invited for fun games and fellowship.
- Health & Wellness — 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 21, Funkhouser Room 307. Grab a seat for movie night, enjoying free snacks from The Campus Kitchen while watching Before the Plate.
- Question, Persuade and Refer (QPR) Mental Health Training — 6 p.m. Thursday, March 21, Garrigus Building Room 109. Join representatives from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture and Raising Hope along with your hosts, The UK Agricultural Education and The Ag Ed Society, for this "challenge coin" program that trains individuals on proper ways to handle mental health crises in the agriculture industry. RSVP is required here.
- Gratitude & Community — 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, March 22, various locations. Discover the many ways to give back through community service. Service locations include The Arboretum, African Cemetery No. 2, Kentucky Horse Park, Seedleaf Community Garden and The Campus Kitchen. Advance registration is required. Sign up here.
During this week, the community is invited to participate in other events dedicated to Martin-Gatton CAFE’s land-grant mission including Lexington Water Week, Mar. 16-23; National Ag Day, Mar. 19; and the Kentucky Local Food Systems Summit, Mar. 20.
In addition to participating in the week’s events, the community is encouraged to follow and celebrate on social media using #UKYagweek for a chance to win several prizes.
To view and learn more the week’s events, visit http://go.uky.edu/AgWeek. For more information or questions, contact the Martin-Gatton CAFE Student Success team at CAFEadvising@uky.edu.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.
In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.