MSU celebrates agriculture, natural resources week

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A tradition dating back to when MSU still was known as Michigan Agricultural College ushered in almost 100 years of history during spring break.

More than 80 programs and annual association meetings occurred on campus last week during the 95th annual Agriculture and Natural Resources, or ANR, Week.

MSU’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources hosted the event, which ran March 5 through Saturday, Program Coordinator Megghan Honke said.

“This year there has definitely been more of a push for locally grown food,” Honke said.

“There was a lot of focus on helping people re-engage and what we can do in Michigan to provide great opportunities for families so they don’t have to leave the state.”

Organizations were free to choose their own agendas, which created a diverse view of the hot topic issues in fields such as horticulture, botany and animal welfare, Honke said.

She said the event was critical for expanding the university’s reach to its stakeholders during a period of economic upheaval.

“The No. 1 industry — auto — is starting to crumble,” Honke said.

“With agribusiness and agritourism as the No. 2 industry in Michigan, we need to be doing things to promote and grow agriculture.”

As the “big brother” of the university, Honke said it was important that the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources examine the heritage of the university and look at how to shape the future.

“The community can learn a lot about what is happening at the university through hands-on interaction,” she said.

“ANR gives people deliverable skills and is a huge recruitment tool for individuals to experience the flavor of the campus.”

The weeklong event played host to the annual meetings of several organizations, including the Quiet Water Symposium and the 27th annual Michigan Horse Council International Stallion Exhibition and Trade Show, Honke said.

Jean Ligon, Michigan Horse Council, or MHC, vice president, said ANR Week was a chance for people to be proud of what was being accomplished in Michigan.

“I don’t know if people realize what a wonderful resource MSU has in its department of agriculture,” Ligon said.

“Michigan has so many things we are not proud of and so many problems, but our agriculture is probably the No. 1 industry right now, and I think a lot of people should be proud of it.”

Animal science sophomore Paige Schwartz and zoology sophomore Shannon Darcy said they both decided to attend the horse expo because they wanted to educate people about therapeutic riding.

“As part of the animal science department, we’ve typically had a presence here,” Schwartz said.

“It’s cool, but it can get tedious at times.”

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