Tuesday, February 9, 2010

New Century Farmer Applications are Still Available

Applications for the New Century Farmer program are now available on-line! Fifty of the agriculture industry’s best are selected each year to be part of this week long experience. Selected participants will partake in numerous learning sessions on topics ranging from farm succession, global agriculture, ag marketing and finance, to new and emerging farm machinery. Additionally participants will take part in numerous field and operation tours and participate in an extensive team building experience.

The New Century Farmer program will be July 19-23, 2010 in Johnston, IA. Applicants must be:
- Enrolled or a recent graduate of an agriculture college or university
- Have a background in production agriculture
- Plan to return to production agriculture as a career after college

Please contact Marty Tatman for any questions at mtatman@ffa.org.

Applications are due March 15, 2010 and can be found at www.ffa.org/collegiate.

Become a facebook fan of the program by CLICKING HERE!

Experience International Agriculture Firsthand

Apply today for the International Collegiate Ag Leadership (I-CAL) Program

The best way to learn about international agriculture is to experience it! Each May, the International Collegiate Ag Leadership (I-CAL) program travels overseas to help twelve college students better understand international agriculture trade and marketing. The program is designed for students to become immersed in international agriculture and to acquire a unique cultural experience.

Pervious I-CAL locations have included Spain, Morocco, Egypt, China and Vietnam and the 2010 program will be going back to Malaysia and Taiwan! Dates for the 2010 program will be May 16-28, 2010. Cost of the program varies depending on international airfare, but ranges from $1,600 - $1,800. Applications must be postmarked by February 15, 2010 and can be found at www.ffa.org/collegiate.

Please contact Marty Tatman with any questions at mtatman@ffa.org.

Become a facebook fan of the program by CLICKING HERE!

Monday, February 8, 2010

Money for school! Apply Now!

National Scholarship Application Deadline
Due in ONE week!















DATE: Feb. 15, 2010

TIME: Postmarked by midnight

MORE: Send your application, resume, photo and transcripts. Letters of recommendation may come under a separate cover by Feb. 22.

WEBSITE: http://www.alphazeta.org/scholars

Friday, January 29, 2010

Ag Day Collegiate Leadership Summit in D.C.

On March 17-19, 34 highly talented students representing 17 collegiate agricultural related student organizations will meet in Washington D.C. to participate in an exciting leadership opportunity.

This event is being coordinated by the Consortium of Collegiate Agricultural Organizations (Consortium) in partnership with the Agriculture Council of America’s Ag Day 2010, will provide students with:

  • A channel for leveraging their voice to promote agriculture and their role in the industry and its importance to members of Congress
  • The chance to meet other students involved in its related collegiate organizations that represent the breadth of agriculture
  • An opportunity to interact with Consortium corporate sponsors and learn more about the career paths available
  • A chance to communicate directly with the public service decision makers influencing agriculture

Alpha Zeta is a member organization of the Consortium and will select and send two qualified and representative student members to be a part of the inaugural Ag Day Collegiate Leadership Summit.

Selected participants will be responsible for some of their travel expenses. Costs once students arrive in Washington will be handled by the Consortium – from corporate sponsorship funding. See below for details about what costs the Consortium covers.

If you are interested in attending the Ag Day Leadership Summit in Washington D.C., send an email to Brian Reuwee at Reuwee@alphazeta.org by no later than Wednesday, Feb. 3.

The Consortium plans to cover the following costs, once participants arrive in Washington, DC:

  • Two nights lodging at the National 4-H Center in Chevy Chase, Md.
  • Wednesday night dinner
  • Thursday breakfast
  • Thursday lunch
  • Friday breakfast
  • Transportation to/from airport to National 4-H Center and to/from Center to Capitol Hill.

Additional cost:
Students will be on their own for dinner Thursday night and should be prepared to cover this cost.

Staff Presence/Leadership
Professional staff/advisor leadership will be provided by:

  • Ryan Anderson, National President of Alpha Tau Alpha and faculty member at Murray State University
  • Brian O’Banion, director of chapter services, FarmHouse Fraternity, located in Kansas City.

To learn more about The Consortium: http://www.agconsortium.org/About.aspx

Backpacks to Briefcases Networking Opportunity

The Consortium of Collegiate Agricultural Organizations is hosting a series of events on various college campuses called Backpacks to Briefcases.

These events will be held the day before a career fair at the participating colleges. The Consortium events offer an opportunity for students to collaborate with collegiate agricultural organizations and industry partners.

Enjoy pizza and pop with your fellow classmates while learning some helpful networking tips to getting you connected, linked in, and probably land your first job...and second...and third….Don’t miss out on this great networking opportunity!

Spring Semester Dates:

Oklahoma State University
Monday, February 1
7-9 p.m. in 101 Wes Watkins Center
OK State Flyer

University of Georgia
Monday, February 15
5:30-8:30 p.m. in the 4 Towers conference room
UGA Flyer

University of Florida
Tuesday, February 16
5:30-7:30 p.m. in 141 Frazier Rogers Hall
UFL Flyer

Purdue University
Tuesday, February 23
5:30-7:30 p.m. in Pfendler 241 “Dean’s Auditorium”
Purdue Flyer


For more information or to register for one of these events at your college, please check out the attached flyers.

Fresno State Presents Ex-internee with Honorary Degree

On Christmas Eve, John Hiroshi Otomo (California Epsilon, ‘62) received an honorary degree from California State University, Fresno. The award was presented by Fresno State President, John Welty as part of the Nisei College Diploma Project, which gives honorary degrees to college students of Japanese ancestry whose educations were interrupted by military internment orders during World War II. Mr. Otomo was a sophomore at Fresno State College in 1942 studying agronomy when President Roosevelt signed an executive order that sent thousands of Japanese-Americans on the West Coast into isolated internment camps. With the stroke of a pen, families were devastated, their life’s work abandoned, their property confiscated, their college careers disrupted, their loyalty doubted and their constitutional rights ignored. Nearly 80 Fresno State students had to leave school. Mr. Otomo was one of them. He was interned in Gila River Internment Camp, later joined the army in the Military Intelligence Service and married after the war. He was never able to complete his education.

"They say old men don't cry, but I have some tears," Otomo said during a brief speech during an interview at his home. "Through all the adversity, the U.S.A. is the greatest country in the world."

Otomo met his wife, Elaine, at Fresno State. Although he never returned to college, their three children are all college graduates.

Read the full article published in the Fresno Bee on 12/24/2009:
Fresno State bestows degree on ex-internee - Local - Fresnobee.com

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Rooterville Pig Sanctuary Volunteer Work


How do you spend your weekend morning? Twelve members of the Florida Chapter chose to spend theirs volunteering at a local rescue farm, Rooterville Sanctuary, Inc. Members assisted in animal care and property maintenance including the feeding and brushing of pigs, cleaning out chicken coops and recovery cages, and helping out with landscaping chores that are essential to the health and well-being of the animals.

However, you know what they say: all work and no play...


The members of the Florida Chapter also did some playing! They had the opportunity to interact with the pigs, the poultry- and even a goat! They scratched Valentine's belly, witnessed the drama of a turkey "bromance," and even learned how to catch and handle chickens.

A job well done, Florida!


Article Contribution by Rikki Schwarz, Photographs by Mark Marcojos

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Westchester Foundation Ag Scholarship

Students looking for help funding college expenses can apply for a Westchester Foundation scholarship by Feb. 1, 2010. Scholarships are awarded to high school seniors accepted for enrollment or students already enrolled in a course of study related to agriculture or agribusiness at any accredited college, university or community college.

Students are selected by the Foundation's Board of Directors based on academic qualifications, community and school involvement, leadership potential and financial need.

The scholarship can be renewed annually for up to four years, provided the students maintain acceptable grade point averages. While the amount awarded for each scholarship varies by individual and economic need, successful applicants may anticipate a minimum of $1,000 per year to fund any expenses related to attendance at the college of their choice.

Applications can be downloaded at http://www.westchester-group.com and must be received no later than Feb. 1, 2010, in order to be considered for scholarship funds for the fall semester of the 2010 - 2011 school year.