NW Missouri Times

Northwest Missouri State University will hold its annual Celebrate Agriculture Week from November 3 to 8. The event aims to highlight the significance of agriculture through a series of educational activities, competitions, and community engagement opportunities.

The week’s events will take place at the university’s Agricultural Learning Center (ALC), located on the R.T. Wright Farm in Maryville. Activities include educational sessions, a livestock show, and various competitions. A major feature is the Little National Western livestock show, organized by the Block and Bridle organization, which will occur on Wednesday, November 5. Doors open at 4:30 p.m., with the show starting at 5 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

On Tuesday, November 4, AgVenture Night will be held at 5 p.m. at the ALC. The event is hosted by Collegiate FFA/ATA and Collegiate Farm Bureau in partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters. It focuses on agricultural safety and awareness demonstrations provided by student organizations and is also open to the public at no cost.

A chili and soup cookoff combined with trivia for agriculture students, faculty, and staff is scheduled for Thursday, November 6 at 5 p.m., organized by the Northwest Collegiate Cattlemen’s Association.

Throughout Celebrate Agriculture Week, a food drive will be conducted in collaboration with Hy-Vee supermarket. Collection bins will be placed outside Hy-Vee in Maryville during specific hours from Monday through Thursday. All collected items will be donated to the Maryville Ministry Center.

The week concludes on Saturday, November 8 with a football game that features an equipment display and tailgate activities from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., located in the Bearcat Zone at Raymond J. Courter College Park Pavilion. Family-friendly entertainment such as performances by the Bearcat Marching Band, cheerleaders, and Bearcat Steppers are planned before kickoff at Bearcat Stadium.

Jackie Lacy, chair of Northwest’s School of Agricultural Sciences since this year and faculty member since 2014, commented on the significance of these activities: “It is important to share the story of agriculture,” she said. “It’s an industry that we’re very passionate about. We’re very fortunate to be able to give back to a community that does so much for us.”

Northwest’s School of Agricultural Sciences operates out of the Dean L. Hubbard Center for Innovation and offers several academic programs related to agriculture business, education, media, science, agronomy, and animal science. The Agricultural Learning Center—a multipurpose facility opened in 2021—supports innovation within these programs while addressing infrastructure needs on its 448-acre farm that houses livestock operations as well as crop production.

For further information about Northwest Missouri State University’s School of Agricultural Sciences or its offerings, interested parties are encouraged to visit their website.