A week ago, I started my freshman year in college and walking across campus I hear people bashing agriculture. I have been seeing some negatively articles or documentaries being shared on my social media about how bad GMO’s and agriculture are. Nothing gets me upset faster than people bashing agriculture based on misunderstandings or a lack of exposure to the industry. Here is what it is like being a student studying agriculture:
We are a very diverse group of students.
Agricultural students can study a variety of disciplines such as food science, marketing, plant sciences, animal sciences, and entomology. Out of all the stuff you can study, each one is very crucial to agriculture. Our studies all are tied together through the coursework. You can find Ag students all over campus. Some are out at the farm learning about crops and animal husbandry while others are in a field collecting insects. We may be in the library doing research or in a lab conducting a lab experiment.
Research is an important part of our studies.
Many agricultural students, conduct research in agricultural labs. The science of agricultural is constantly evolving around and doing research allows us to develop new technology for the community.
There are clubs and organizations all over campus we are part of.
The commitment we have does not stop in the classroom. Most of us spend our days eating, living, and breathing agricultural. There are countless of clubs devoted to agricultural majors. There is an Ag Ed club where you educate youth about agricultural, Ag Mech club, Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow which is building our ag communications majors, and there is even Ag frats and sororities. You think of it, I bet we got it!
We deal with controversial issues involving agriculture.
Being an agricultural major comes along with the controversial topics. Whether it is animal welfare or the fear of genetically modified food everyone seems like they know about it and want to voice their options. Being in this field means we have to stay up-to-date on things and always be "agvocating."
We may seem like we hate it but we actually LOVE it!
No matter what major you are in agricultural, the students are very passionate about their studies. Agricultural is our life and future! I have found my interest in agricultural and it is a place I feel right at home with my peers. I cannot imagine loving agricultural more than I do!
