UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- A new activity to be introduced this year at Ag Progress Days, Aug. 18-20, promises to be a lot of fun for participants and promote an appreciation of the career opportunities made possible by getting an education in the agricultural and natural resource sciences.
"The Penn State Passport Program will be a fun way to experience Ag Progress Days and give visitors the chance to better understand how connected they are to the College of Agricultural Sciences -- as well as to explore the college majors and career opportunities that exist in this incredible industry," said Jean Lonie, director of student recruitment and activities for the College of Agricultural Sciences.
"Anytime you can help someone find a way to study and work in a field they love, it's a great day. And that is part of the goal of the Penn State Passport Program."
Here's how the Penn State Passport will work:
Pick up a passport at the Undergraduate Education station in the College of Agricultural Sciences Exhibits Building, located on Main Street between East Ninth and East 10th streets on the Ag Progress Days site, or at any of the 14 other Penn State Passport stations. As you explore the Ag Progress Days grounds, look for the big blue Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences flags and visit that station to have your passport stamped, learning things about Pennsylvania's No. 1 industry -- agriculture -- the University and the college as you go.
When you complete your passport travels, return to the Undergraduate Education station for a special prize and to register to win a year's supply of Penn State Berkey Creamery ice cream.
Most passport stations will offer entertaining educational activities in which passport holders will participate to "earn" their stamp. Find passport stations at the following locations:
-- College of Agricultural Sciences Exhibits Building. Undergraduate Education exhibit, Animal Science and Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences exhibit, Penn State Veterinary Extension and Animal Diagnostic Laboratory exhibit.
-- 4-H Youth Building. Pennsylvania 4-H exhibit, Shaver's Creek Environmental Center exhibit (outside the building), Entomology/Insect Fair (outside the building).
-- Family Room building. Penn State Extension exhibit, Penn State Pesticide Education exhibit.
-- Pasto Agricultural Museum.
--J oseph D. Harrington Crops, Soils and Conservation Building. Penn State Field and Forage Team exhibit, Penn State Renewable Energy Extension exhibit, Penn State Renewable Natural Resources Extension exhibit.
-- Yard and Garden Tent. Penn State Master Gardeners exhibit, Pennsylvania State Beekeepers exhibit, Penn State Extension exhibit.
--Equine Experience. Penn State Equine Science exhibit.
Penn State offers a wide array of educational programs that can lead to rewarding career opportunities in the agricultural sciences, Lonie noted.
"The College of Agricultural Sciences gives you the opportunity to be part of a world-class university while learning in a smaller, engaged community of students, faculty and staff," she said. "With 17 majors and 25 minors to choose from, you can study topics you are interested in and create an educational pathway that prepares you for a successful career.
"Whether you want to save human and animal lives or save the Earth, design gardens or grow communities, we can help you achieve your academic and career goals."
Majors
Lonie said students can pursue the following majors in the College of Agricultural Sciences: Agribusiness Management; Agricultural and Extension Education; Agricultural Science; Animal Science; Biological Engineering; BioRenewable Systems; Community, Environment, and Development; Environmental Resource Management; Food Science; Forest Ecosystem Management; Immunology and Infectious Disease; Landscape Contracting; Plant Sciences; Toxicology; Turfgrass Science; Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences; and Wildlife and Fisheries Science.
For more information about educational opportunities offered by the College of Agricultural Sciences, contact Lonie at 814-865-7521 or by email at jpl21@psu.edu.
Sponsored by Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, Ag Progress Days is held at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center at Rock Springs, nine miles southwest of State College on Route 45. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Aug. 18; 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Aug. 19; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Aug. 20. Admission and parking are free.
For more information, visit the Ag Progress Days website at http://apd.psu.edu. Twitter users can find and share information about the event by using the hashtag #agprogressdays, and Facebook users can find the event here.