"The Best Day Ever!"

Lauren is pretty pumped about the baby calf!

Today was a great day.  Husker Food Connection happened today.  It was the culmination of hard work by students from a variety of different clubs in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources at UNL.  At the beginning of the semester, we decided it was time that the University of Nebraska-Lincoln have its own agvocacy event on campus.  After all the planning and promoting, today we took to the aptly named "city campus" to share agriculture's story with students.

I'll admit I wasn't positive that we would attract much attention.  Although a tractor, mechanical bull, giant plastic milk cow, free food, piglets, and a dairy calf are hard to miss, I wasn't sure my fellow students cared.  I was wrong! We served more than 1000 people before 1 p.m.  My day was spent chatting with many fellow students who were excited about all the activities. One person in particular made my day.

My friend Lauren stopped by after the food was gone, but her eyes lit up as soon as I said the words "baby calf."  She practically dragged me over to the exhibit to get the chance to pet the soft Holstein.  She was ecstatic about the calf, and when I mentioned baby pigs, she said, "This is like the best day ever! Two different kinds of baby farm animals!" As I picked up the piglet for her to marvel at the tiny nose, and the bristly hair, I realized I take my experiences for granted.

From a young age I have had some unique experiences.  Working with baby pigs in my grandpa's farrowing barn, pulling a baby calf and helping it nurse for the first time, riding in a combine, and eating beans right from the field.  I never thought about how exciting and important these opportunities were.  Today Lauren reminded me that the simple things I took for granted really were amazing.

As the day wound down, I realized how great it was to have ag students sharing with fellow students the experiences that are part of their everyday lives.  That's how we truly advocate for agriculture, by sharing with each friend and family member what raising food is all about!

'till the cows come home,
Ellie