BVU Ag Institute Hosts Friends of Agriculture Event
Celebration of Harvest lunch honors farmers and ag-industry professionals at close of a successful harvest season.
Dozens of farmers and ag-industry professionals were treated to lunch and a pair of basketball games as the Buena Vista University Institute of Agriculture hosted its inaugural Friends of Agriculture event at Siebens Fieldhouse on Saturday.
With generous support from Iowa Corn and Farm Bureau, farmers were treated to a free Celebration of Harvest lunch and game admission. Those present also witnessed an entertaining basketball double-header featuring the Beavers and the Duhawks of Loras College.
FFA students from Storm Lake’s FFA Chapter participated by performing the national anthem and later entertaining the crowd with a fun version of “barn basketball” sponsored by Bomgaars and Noble Outfitters.
“The Celebration of Harvest was a nice touch by the Ag Institute in showing appreciation for what local farmers and ag-industry pros do to keep the world fed and our local economy churning.”
Russ Eddie '60
“We had students dress as if they were playing basketball in the barn, or the hayloft, which is how so many young people played basketball while growing up on a farm,” says BVU Institute for Agriculture Director Rich Crow. “It’s not the easiest way to play, wearing work gloves, coveralls, boots, and dribbling a ball that was seemingly always about half-flat due to the elements of being in a barn!”
Carroll Broadcasting Farm Services Director Von Ketelsen, an advocate for agriculture in his daily ag reports heard throughout western Iowa, received the Ag Institute’s first Friend of Agriculture Award.
“I’m honored to be selected as the Institute’s first Friend of Agriculture. It’s been a pleasure getting to know the instructors, administrators, sponsors, and students who are part of BVU’s Institute for Agriculture, which offers students hands-on learning that would be difficult to get at larger universities,” Ketelsen says. “BVU instructors and staff are on a first-name basis with students, and they truly care about giving students real-world experiences, in today’s agriculture.”
To top off the event, several farmers received door prizes from other sponsors, including Farm Credit Services of America, Vetter Equipment, and C&B Operations.
“The Celebration of Harvest was a nice touch by the Ag Institute in showing appreciation for what local farmers and ag-industry pros do to keep the world fed and our local economy churning,” says retired farmer and state legislator Russ Eddie, a 1960 graduate. “I’m very excited to see how BVU continues to embrace education in so many areas surrounding agriculture, the backbone of our economy.”
“We’re grateful for all who turned out and for the sponsors who stepped up to make the inaugural Friends of Agriculture event a success,” Crow says. “Thank you again, to all of our area farmers and those who work with them in the ag industry. We all greatly appreciate your work.”