NORFOLK, Neb. – Whether trying to tell the difference between grass-fed and corn-fed beef, driving a sprayer simulator or finding a spot in a model steer’s neck appropriate for shots, there was a range of booths this week for students, faculty and staff to learn about agriculture.
The fun took place on Wednesday, March 26, at Union 73 in the lower level. Usually held during National Ag Week, which was March 17-23, the fourth annual Agstravaganza was pushed back a week because of inclement weather.
“The five different ag clubs come together to put this on,” said Courtney Nelson, Precision Agriculture trainer. “It’s an opportunity for the ag students to showcase some of the different aspects of agriculture.”
The Ag Clubs are Ag Business, Veterinary Technology, Horticulture, Collegiate Farm Bureau and Diversified Ag Club. The event was open to the campus.
And while there are five clubs, some of the clubs worked together to provide additional booths, such as the food option booth. In this booth, the students had various products that had GMO and non-GMO options, along with vegan and conventional. GMO references something that has been genetically modified.
Students and faculty were invited to see if they could notice a difference in taste and appearances. There also were “make your own ration” options, so participants could see there is intentionality and purpose behind what is fed to animals.
Among the things that influence livestock ratios are trying to achieve energy, fat, minerals, nutrients or something else. The menu items reflected those attributes.
Another of the seven booths was sponsored by the Vet Tech Club. It had a functioning head, neck and shoulder of a steer with layers that could be lifted, including one that showed muscles, ligaments and other parts beneath the skin.
Ava Podzimek, a sophomore from Wagner, S.D., cautioned participants about some of the areas on the neck and shoulder that are to be avoided, while trying to find the “visible triangle” that is sought with the needle. Participants injected a needle with water into the steer model.
Others operating the model were Autumn Breukelman, a sophomore from Platte, S.D.; and Coralynn Rischmueller, a sophomore from Wakefield.
Sprayer Simulator
Sage Fernau, a freshman from Clarkson, sits in the sprayer simulator and gets instructions on how to operate it from Payton Gangwish, who is in his third year as a Precision Ag major from Shelton. Also shown are Ricardo Keith (far right), a sophomore from Lexington. Watching from behind is Northeast Ag Instructor Robert Noonan. (Northeast Community College)
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