Student Organizations, Social Clubs, and Judging Teams

The CAFES Student Advisory Council is an organization comprised of representatives from each student organization in the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences. Membership is by invitation only.

The Agricultural Business and Marketing Society unites students, educators, and professionals to develop social capital, leadership skills, and technical knowledge in order to advance and celebrate agriculture. Membership is open to all current UWRF student, alumni, educators, and industry professionals.

The Agricultural Education Society promotes agricultural education and FFA, gives agricultural educators valuable experiences to better understand their future roles as agriculture teachers, and provides opportunities for all students to participate in a variety of activities and experiences such as parliamentary procedure workshops and judging, state and national FFA conventions, and organizing of the Agricultural Technology Contest.

The mission of the Agricultural Industry Club is to provide members with experiences in the agricultural industry in order to develop skills to prepare students for their future careers, including club trips and fundraising projects.

The purpose of this organization is to elevate the professional profile of its members by connecting them to professionals and other students related to the field of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, especially in regards to events hosted by ASABE. This includes, but is not limited to, the Midwest Regional Rally and the Annual International Meeting (AIM). The club hosts monthly speakers from varying industries that relate to agricultural engineering, whether it be from the machinery, food processing, or environmental side.

The Association of Women in Agriculture (AWA) prepares its members of a career in agriculture and agriculture-related fields, aids women in agriculture in achieving their goals, improves communication among women in agriculture, and support the general betterment of agriculture.

The team is a selected group of students, who work with faculty and farm staff to manage the teaching herd at the farm. The team also markets and sells beef raised on the UWRF Mann Valley Farm.

The UWRF Block and Bridle Club is for students interested in swine, sheep, beef, dairy, goat, and equine. Block and Bridle provides students with the opportunity to develop livestock skills and to interact with others interested in the advancement of animal agriculture. The club hosts educational agricultural experiences, service activities, and social events.

The Collegiate Farm Bureau educates and develops leadership skills within the university community regarding production agriculture, food sciences and agribusiness, and works cooperatively with the Wisconsin Farm Bureau in order to promote the policies, goals and purposes of Farm Bureau.

The purpose of this club is to advance students’ education of companion animals and their related professions. Students will be provided opportunities to gain hands-on experience, improve communication skills, and share their knowledge with the community.

The UWRF Crops and Soils Club is for anyone (major or non-major) with an interest in the growth of crops.

The UWRF Dairy Club is the largest dairy club in the nation and is open to ANY UWRF student with an interest in the dairy industry. The goal of the Dairy Club is to provide opportunities for student to enhance their knowledge of the dairy industry through educational events, leadership roles, networking opportunities, and professional conferences.

Falcon 4-H is a club for those interested in continuing participation in 4-H related work. The club allows students to continue to develop leadership skills. In addition, it is a great opportunity to make new friends and give back to the River Falls community with various service events. Students will have the opportunity to organize various service and social events for club members. And, of course, collegiate 4-Hers will have plenty of opportunities to help the 4-H community at local, state, and national events!

The Falcon Pulling Team provides students with practical experiences in the design of drive train systems, tractor performance, manufacturing processes, analysis of tractive forces, weight transfer, and strength of materials. Student will also develops skills in communication, leadership, teamwork, fundraising, testing, and development.

The newly-formed Robotics Team at UWRF competes each summer in the ASABE (American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers) national competition. Little to no experience is required to join the team. It is a great opportunity for students to gain valuable problem solving skills and to learn more about robotics.

The UWRF Food Science Club is for all students who love food, science, and technology! The club attends Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) events and the IFT quiz bowl.

The UWRF Geological Society is an educational and social organization providing hands-on activities, field trips, and professional development opportunities for all students interested in the earth sciences.

The UWRF Horseman's Association provides the community and its members with the opportunity to explore the equine industry through educational events, show experience, on-campus experiences, and conferences. This organization is for all UWRF equestrian students.

The UWRF Horticulture Society represents students pursuing horticulture as a vocation, avocation, or hobby by providing information related to plants, fruits, vegetables, landscaping, greenhouses, and other horticulture topics through bulletins, literature, tours, field trips, speakers, and special projects.

NAMA stands for the National Agri-Marketing Association and the UWRF club is a student chapter of the national organization. The club is for students who are interested in:

• Learning first-hand from professionals in marketing, advertising, communications, promotions, sales, public relations, and other agri-marketing careers.
• Developing valuable personal contacts and working relations with agri-marketing professionals to assist in providing access to internships, co-op programs, job internviews, referrals, business recommendations, and other career opportunities.
• Obtain meaningful opportunities to practice and develop managerial skills and leadership abilities.
• Participating and competing in the annual NAMA Student Marketing Competition where each chapter prepares and presents a total marketing plan of a uniquely designed agricultural product from concept through execution.

The UWRF Poultry Club is for anyone interested in the poultry industry. Club activities include involvement in national poultry judging competitions, conducting 4-H workshops, organizing high school FFA contests, and hosting omelet sales.

The Pre-Vet Club is for students with an interest in veterinary medicine in order to share ideas, network, and do activities to broaden their understanding of the veterinary field. The Pre-Vet Club attends the national American Pre-Veterinary Medical Association Symposium yearly, and also is very active in community service, fundraising, and social networking activities.

The Resource Management Club is dedicated to involving students in all aspects of resource management through hands-on experience and outdoor activities. The Club helps to manage two small prairie plots in Larson Park and donates time to aid in wildlife monitoring.

The Rodeo Club is for all students who love rodeos and want to keep the western heritage alive. The Rodeo Club hosts an annual rodeo the third weekend in September and members compete in rodeos throughout the Midwest. The Rodeo Club also hosts social activities all year, including trail rides, barn dances, and rodeo round-up.

The Student Alliance for Local and Sustainable Agriculture (SALSA) is open to all student passionate about organic, sustainable and local agriculture, and seeks to create a sustainable campus food revolution from the ground up. SALSA has attended the MOSES conference, submitted a proposal for a student garden, and hosts many social events such as movie showings, speakers, Earth Day events, and picnics.

Swine Club is focused on promoting all facets of the swine industry and educating those with an interest in all related topics, as well as aiding in the development of individuals pursuing careers with swine while engendering a positive outlook within the industry.

The Alpha Psi Chapter of Alpha Gamma Rho is a social and professional fraternity bonding members who are pursuing careers in the agriculture, food, and fiber industries.

Click here for more info about the Alpha Psi Chapter and the national Alpha Gamma Rho organization

The Alpha Mu Chapter of Alpha Tau Alpha is a National Professional Honorary Agricultural Education Organization that prepares individuals who have chosen a career in agricultural education or extension education. Alpha Tau Alpha sponsors a Shadow Day for incoming agricultural education majors each spring, among other activities.

 

Alpha Zeta is a professional honorary society for students and professionals in the fields of agriculture and natural resources. It is the oldest fraternal society for men and women in agriculture.

 

The Epsilon Chapter of Delta Theta Sigma secures a high degree of scholarship, fosters the spirit of brotherhood in our vocation, and insures social and cultural unity, in order to promote agriculture.

Click here for the national organization

The UWRF chapter of Pi Alpha Xi promotes scholarship, fellowship, professional leadership, and then enrichment of human life through plants.

Click here for info on the UWRF chapter of Pi Alpha Xi and find more about the national organization

The motto of the Beta Zeta Chapter of the Sigma Alpha Sorority is "Women Excelling in Agriculture" and their goal is to foster academic excellence and professional development while encouraging networking and lifelong bonds for women leading the agricultural industry.

Click here for the UWRF chapter website and here for the national organization

This team competes in the AAEA (Agricultural and Applied Economics Association) academic quiz bowl competition at the AAEA Annual Meeting.

Faculty Adviser: Sierra Howry

The American Society of Animal Science Academic Quadrathlon includes local, regional and national competitions.

Faculty Adviser: Sylvia Kehoe

The Animal Welfare Judging Team competes each November in the Annual Intercollegiate Animal Welfare Judging/Assessment Contest.

Faculty Adviser: Kurt Vogel

Find out more on their Facebook page.

The team competes at the NACTA (North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture) Judging Conference.

Faculty Adviser: Veronica Justen

This team competes in regional and national competitions hosted by the North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge (NAIDC).

Faculty Adviser: Sylvia Kehoe

The Dairy Judging Team competes at the North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE).

Faculty Adviser: Steve Kelm

The newly-formed Robotics Team at UWRF competes each summer in the ASABE (American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers) national competition. Little to no experience is required to join the team. It is a great opportunity for students to gain valuable problem solving skills and to learn more about robotics.

Faculty Adviser: Peter Rayne

Having a basic understanding of horse conformation is crucial, as a horse that isn't "built" correctly can't be used to his/her full potential. Students build a great understanding of equine conformation in ANSC 213 (Equine Evaluation), and if they like the course, can take ANSC 313. The horse judging team will start back up in the fall of 2018, and will travel to both regional (an Arabian judging competition in Minnesota) and also larger competitions (in Oklahoma and Ohio) with the coach, Dr. Bass.

Faculty Adviser: Casie Bass

The National Meat Animal Evaluation Contest is sponsored by the American Meat Science Association. The team hosts an annual Campus Chops sale to support travel to this contest.

MACHS brings together students from the universities with horticulture programs in the 12-state mid-America region. UWRF has had a successful showing in past years, including 3rd place in 2015 and 5th place in 2017. UWRF will host the competition in 2019.

Faculty Adviser: David Zlesak

Faculty Adviser: Jim Graham

USPOULTRY Foundation Ted Cameron National Poultry Judging Contest works to increase student enrollment in poultry science and is held annually in the spring.

Faculty Adviser: Bonnie Walters

The Soil Judging Team provides an intense field experience for students to learn a wide variety of soil science skills. Soil judgers determine the type of horizons, color, texture, color, parent material, classification, and interpretation for several large soil pits. Each spring, soil judgers test their skills against students from other schools at the National Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA) competition hosted by a different institution each year.

Participation: Students from any major are welcome to participate in soil judging as long as they have completed SOIL 120: Introductory Soil Science. The number of team members is limited by the host institution and determined based on a competitive application process in October. Students participating register for SOIL 289/389/489: Special Topics during the spring semester.

Recent Competitions and Results
2016      University of Minnesota-Crookston      3rd place team
2015      Blackhawk College                            1st place team
2014      Northwest Missouri State University    1st place team
2013      Texas Tech University                        4th place team
2012      Coffeyville Community College            1st place team

Faculty Adviser: Holly Dolliver