College Students- Agriculture Needs YOUR Voice!
August 3, 2010 – The Animal Agriculture Alliance is excited to announce the re-launch of College Aggies Online, a program developed in partnership with the American National CattleWomen, Inc. to help today's college students become confident advocates for the agriculture industry.
"Last year, 350 students representing 50 universities shared their stories on the College Aggies Online network," said Alliance Executive Vice President Kay Johnson Smith. "Students who participate in the program do more than just build their resume – they help ensure the future of American agriculture."
Students with a passion for agriculture are encouraged to sign up at http://aggiesonline.ning.com. After creating a personal profile on the network, members will gain access to a private forum where they can discuss current and emerging issues facing farmers and ranchers with other young agriculturists from across the country.
The online community will provide resources to help students better utilize social media tools such as YouTube, Facebook and Twitter to share agriculture's story with the public. Beginning September 1, members of College Aggies Online will compete to win prizes for the school organization that they represent. Participants will earn points for each agriculture-related blog, photo and video that they post to the forum and for participating in other online outreach activities.
Students are encouraged to share the information that they learn on the College Aggies Online network with their communities. Competitors will receive points for authoring agriculture-focused articles for their local newspapers.
"College Aggies Online provides students with the tools that they need to share the facts about modern food production with the public," Johnson Smith said. "We encourage students to reach out to their peers who are not involved in agriculture."
After final point counts are tallied in April 2011, the winning club will receive a $750 scholarship, national recognition and a trip for one representative to Washington, D.C. for the Alliance's annual Stakeholders Summit. Additional recognition and scholarships will be awarded to the runner-up in the club competition and to the two top-placing individual competitors.
Western Kentucky University's Block and Bridle Club took home top honors in the inaugural competition. Team captain Celeste Laurent, who was also the top-scoring individual participant, actively promotes agriculture on her blog.
Interested collegiate clubs or departments should contact Krissa Thom at KThom@animalagalliance.org or (703) 562-1410. Industry stakeholders interested in program sponsorship opportunities should visit the Alliance's website for more information. Agriculture advocates can also follow the Alliance on Facebook and Twitter for additional social media tips.
– Speak Out for Agriculture!
– Tutorial Video
– Talking Points
– Getting Started
– Points Chart
The Animal Agriculture Alliance, a 501© (3) non-profit organization, is a broad-based coalition of individual farmers, ranchers, producer organizations, suppliers, packer-processors, private industry scientists, veterinarians, and retailers. The Alliance's mission is to communicate the important role of animal agriculture to our nation's economy, productivity, vitality, and security and that animal well-being is central to producing safe, high-quality, affordable food and other products essential to our daily lives.
The American National CattleWomen, Inc. is a national non-profit organization providing a voice for women who share a passion for the U.S. beef industry.  ANCW offers leadership development, education, volunteer opportunities, national programs, and participates in the strategic planning process of the cattle industry.