Excerpt from THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-LINCOLN
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE: The First Century
by Elvin F. Frolik and Ralston J. Graham
The Beginning
The College of Agriculture Alumni Association, IANR, UNL was formed in July 1977 principally by the following: Charles H. Adams, IANR, secretary2; Roy G. Arnold '62, IANR, vice president; Ralph J. Knobel3 '55, Fairbury, president; Leslie F. Sheffield, '50, '64, '76, IANR; and T. E. Hartung, IANR. The organizers received much encouragement from Vice Chancellor Martin A. Massengale, IANR, and Jack Miller, executive vice president of the UNL Alumni Association (2). Sheffield has served since 1980 as executive vice president. Nine other alumni who served on the initial Board of Directors were: EugeneT. Glock, '51, Rising City; Clifford H. Jorgensen, '31, Lincoln; Mark A. Keller, '37, '47, Columbus; Gary E. Kubicek '74, Hickman; Donald J. Lehr '49, Wood River (now Alliance); Jeanene Markussen Wehrbein '62, Plattsmouth; Rex G. Messersmith '52, Lincoln; Ray W. Starostka '44, '47, Silver Creek; and Max L. Waldo '60, DeWitt. Present membership totals approximately 1,950.
The Association is an affiliate of the UNL Alumni Association. It is governed by the Articles of Incorporation of that Association and in addition by its own bylaws. The idea of having college alumni groups which remain close knit and small enough to give reunions a warm and friendly atmosphere, but lack the staff, time and money to carry out the wide range of activities of a larger group, and should, therefore, affiliate with the overall UNL Alumni Association, was first promulgated by Jack Miller in early 1977. He noted that the University of Minnesota had started such a plan about 20 years earlier and that other universities had followed suit. He encouraged deans and directors at Nebraska to adopt a similar plan.
By the end of 1977 previously independent existing UNL college alumni associations, such as dental, home economics, law and nursing groups, had affiliated with the UN Alumni Association. The College of Agriculture group was the first one to be organized directly as an affiliate of the UNL Association (3). The operative arrangement has proven to be successful (3).
Objectives/Accomplishments
The objective of the College of Agriculture Association is given in the bylaws as follows: "...to foster cooperation and communication among all alumni of the College of Agriculture, IANR, UNL; and to develop communication between the alumni and the IANR." Methods of accomplishing the objective (paraphrased) are: 1) exchange of information among members; 2) inform parents and students about academic programs and careers in agriculture and natural resources; 3) encourage establishment of financial aids in the IANR; 4) encourage recognition of the importance of the profession of agriculture; and 5) promote events and other activities for alumni (4).
Programs
The principal activities of the Association are holding two annual roundups. At the fall roundup the dean of the College of Agriculture gives a "state of the union" talk. In other respects the program is varied from year-to-year. Tours were conducted on the East Campus from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Friday, October 18, 1986. The Saturday program was held on the City Campus with socializing in the forenoon and a noon luncheon attended by 300, the largest crowd ever to attend an Ag Alumni function.
Two new honors were presented at the luncheon, the Ag Alumnus of the Year award to Robert O. Gingery, '42, '52, of Lincoln; and the Award of Merit to Willard H. Waldo, '34, of DeWitt.
After the luncheon the crowd attended the Nebraska/Missouri football game, tickets for which had been made available to the members on a paid, first come, first served basis (5, 6).
The second annual roundup is scheduled so that those present can attend a UNL basketball game.
A publication is issued and distributed to the members three times a year. Published first in November 1977, under the name of the College of Agriculture Newsletter, the name was changed beginning with the Summer 1984 issue to The Sower. David E. Parrish of the Department of Communication, IANR, first provided most of the material and, more recently, has served as editor of the publication.
The Association is a joint sponsor, with IANR, of this book. A number of years ago, the Association prevailed upon then Vice Chancellor Martin A. Massengale to have the IANR join the Association in producing a history of the College of Agriculture. The two sponsors arranged for the UN Foundation, through a finance committee appointed by the Association, to collect private funds to help finance the project. The Association has also made contributions from its own funds in support of production of the history.
Other activities of the Association are: 1) provide financial assistance to the College of Agriculture for the production of brochures, video tapes and slide/tape sets to be used in recruiting students; 2) provide personnel to help operate educational booths at large agricultural events; 3) the approximately 100 "ambassadors" help students identify career opportunities; 4) sponsor a College senior membership awards program; 5) and sponsor jointly with the IANR an annual spring reception for graduating seniors.
The Nebraska Association holds membership in the National Agricultural Alumni and Development Association (NAADA). The Nebraska Chapter is very active in this national organization, with Rex G. Messersmith having served as president, and Robert O. Gingery and Earl F. Ellington as directors. The Nebraska Chapter also hosted the sixth annual conference of NAADA in May 1981.
2In 1984 Adams was followed as secretary by Earl F. Ellington, IANR. To date these two men are the only ones who have served in the Association in this capacity.
3Predidents who have followed Knobel have been, in chronological order: Rex G. Messersmith, '52, Lincoln; Eugene T. Glock, '51, Rising City; Robert O. Gingery, '42, Lincoln; William G. Siefert, '77, Hickman; and Maria (MacKinght) White, '81, Lincoln.
References
1. Cornhusker Countryman. Apr 1922. Agricultural College to organize alumni association. College of Agriculture, UN, Lincoln.
2. UNL Ag College alums plan get-together Dec 10. For release Dec 5, 1977. Dept of Ag. Communication, IANR, UNL.
3. Nebraska Alumnus. Jan/Feb 1978. College alumni groups and the UNL Alumni Association.
4. Bylaws of the College of Agriculture Alumni Assn, IANR, UNL. As revised Sep 18, 1981.
5. The Sower. Fall 1986. Roundup set. UNL College of Agriculture, Alumni Assoc., Lincoln, NE.
6. Howard, Linda J., Dec 9, 1986. Director, Constituent Societies, UNL Alumni Assn. Personal communication.
7. Board of Directors, Officers and University Representatives of the College of Agriculture Alumni Assn. July 16, 1986. IANR, UNL.
8. College of Agriculture & Home Economics News Service. Oct 8, 1970. First annual alumni meeting of the Dept of Animal Science. Dept of Information, UNL.
