Annual CSU Ag Day Barbecue Helps Kick off ‘Orange Out’ Football Home Opener, Raises Money for Agriculture Scholarships

Colorado State University celebrates its agricultural roots Sept. 25 with the 29th annual CSU Ag Day barbecue, which invites vendors to show off what Colorado agriculture brings to the table while raising money for scholarships. After the barbecue, the CSU Rams kick off the home football season in pumpkin-orange jerseys to commemorate the university’s original A&M Aggies colors.

Tickets sold to the pregame barbecue will help raise funds for scholarships awarded to CSU College of Agricultural Sciences students. Twelve $2,000 scholarships were awarded for the 2010-2011 school year.

“With this financial help, I will be able to work further toward my education in working with horses and help my family in prolonging my education into graduate school,” said Kaitlin Wright, CSU animal and equine science student and Ag Day scholarship winner for the 2010-2011 academic year. “I plan to receive a Ph.D., and this scholarship will help me reach that goal.”

The barbecue menu includes Colorado-grown lamb, beef, pork, beans, dairy products, produce, watermelon, cinnamon rolls and other foods. Barbecue attendees can wash down meals with Pepsi products and Colorado-brewed beer, with all beer sales going directly to the scholarship fund.

Ag Day activities also include live music from Kenny Cordova and the Olde Rock Band, agricultural displays, a drawing for two round-trip tickets on Frontier Airlines, a performance from the CSU marching band and visits from CSU President Tony Frank and Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture John Stulp.

“What started 29 years ago out of the back of a pickup as ‘beef day’ for a few fans has turned into a major CSU event,” said Dennis Lamm, professor in the CSU College of Agricultural Sciences and Ag Day organizer. “Now, Ag Day is a way to show everyone what Colorado agriculture can do and raises money for scholarships for deserving students.”

As evidence of Ag Day’s growing popularity, Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter issued a proclamation that named Sept. 25, 2010, “CSU Agriculture Day.”

Ag Day honors the university’s rich agricultural tradition as well as the importance of the agriculture industry in the state. Agriculture is the second-largest industry in Colorado, providing more than 86,000 jobs and bringing in more than $12 billion to the state’s economy.

The barbecue will be served from 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. in the south parking lot of Hughes Stadium on Overland Trail between Drake and Prospect roads. At 2 p.m., the CSU Rams will take on the University of Idaho Vandals at Sonny Lubick Field in the home opener of the 2010 football season. The Rams will wear custom orange throwback jerseys to honor the original school colors of pumpkin and alfalfa.

A limited number of advance tickets and combination football and barbecue tickets can be purchased online, by mail or in person. All online and mail-in ordering information can be found at www.csuagday.com. The Ag Day Office, located on the CSU campus in Room 127A Shepardson Building, will sell tickets in person starting Aug. 31. Tickets the day of the barbecue will be slightly more expensive and are limited in availability.

Ag Day 2010 is hosted by Colorado commodity groups, agricultural organizations and associations, CSU’s College of Agricultural Sciences and the university’s Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.

For more information, visit www.csuagday.com or call (970) 491-6497.

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