CAAS Prepares to Celebrate 'Soil to Sky & Everything in Between' During CAAS Week 2023

The College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences’ annual CAAS Week is back, this year celebrating “Soil to Sky & Everything in Between” from Sept. 18-23. Student leaders will be hosting different events for the campus community each day.

“We picked a theme that tries to reflect all the things that go on in the college,” said CAAS Senator Carlie Wootan. “People hear ‘agriculture’ and they usually think just of crops and animals. But agriculture also includes nutrition, food science, genetics, sustainable landscapes, economics, agribusiness, regional and community planning. And the applied sciences in our college are even broader, with degrees in technology, education, aviation, design and manufacturing. CAAS really does include the soil to sky and everything in between.”

The week starts with a Snacktivity on Monday, Sept. 18, at the Agricultural Sciences and Research (AGRS) Building patio on the east side of the Quad, and at the Taggart Student Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be yard games, clubs and Otter-Pops. This is a chance for you to meet fellow CAAS students and members of the Deans Leadership Council.

On Tuesday, the annual cow milking contest and drive-in movie are back. This year it will be at the gravel lot across from Aggie Village at 1238 E. 1100 N., a different location than where it has been in years past. Anyone is welcome to participate beginning at 6:30 p.m. whether they would like to compete or not. There will be prizes for the top milkers. Once the contest wraps up, Top Gun will be shown, beginning around 8 p.m.

Wednesday, the famous grilled kebabs return for CAAS Week’s Day on the Patio from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Come get a kebab and spend some time with your fellow Aggies playing yard games and checking out all CAAS has to offer. The kebabs will be sold for $1 each and the money goes toward student scholarships.

On Thursday, CAAS Olympics will make its inaugural appearance from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the AGRS Patio. Clubs will host booths where participants can complete tasks to earn prizes.

The week wraps up on Friday with the Tractor Parade. CAAS clubs and programs’ tractors and floats will show off all the college has to offer beginning at 11:15 a.m. The parade begins at the Agricultural Sciences, Technology and Education (ASTE) building, travels south on 800 East from 1400 North to Aggie Bull-evard, then east to 1200 East (near the Chase Fine Arts Center and Aggie Creamery) and then north on 1200 East to 1400 North and back to the ASTE building.

“It is important to bring all CAAS students together and see them get involved in activities,” Wootan said. “There are so many memories to make, and it is a great way to network.”

Also on Friday, the Grand Opening of Aggie Ice Cream at 1390 N. 800 East in the Blue Square complex will be from 3-7 p.m. There will be prizes for the first 100 people in line, face painting, free swag, discounts on favorite flavors, and more. An ice cream eating contest will also be happening among competitors who signed up during Day on the Quad.

Rounding out the week is the Utah Agricultural Products BBQ on Saturday, Sept. 23, at Craig Aston Park, before the USU vs. JMU football game. This BBQ is a showcase of local products from Cache Valley and across the state, served in a fun food festival atmosphere. Companies and commodity groups generously donate their products and volunteer to prepare and serve them so proceeds from the tickets support CAAS student scholarships. The park is located at 1390 N. 800 East, north of Maverik Stadium. Details and tickets are available at the 2023 Utah Agricultural Products Barbecue website.

The following weekend, Sept. 29 and 30, the USU Rodeo Team will host its annual Fall Stampede at the Cache Valley Fairgrounds at 7 pm. Tickets are $5 with a USU student ID and $10 for adults.