Western Farmer-Stockman Logo

Barbecue before Saturday's football game will feature Colorado-grown and raised agricultural products.

September 10, 2021

2 Min Read
WFP-ARS-csu.jpg
Bob Hamblen of Colorado State University Cooperative Extension makes crop information available to agricultural producers through CD images and text transmitted over satellite systems. The university will celebrate Ag Day on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021.USDA ARS

Colorado State University Ag Day returns to campus this weekend for the 40th annual celebration of Colorado agriculture.

Starting at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 11, agricultural commodity partners from around the state will furnish the pre-game Nutrien Ag Day BBQ with Colorado-grown and raised agricultural products. Food will be served from 4:30-7 p.m., prior to the 8 p.m. kickoff of the CSU Rams vs. Vanderbilt Commodores football game. The event is located just north of Canvas Stadium and west of the Lory Student Center on Intramural Fields 12 and 13.

Celebrating 40 years

A CSU tradition, Ag Day combines food and football to showcase the best of Colorado agriculture and the state’s land-grant university. In 1981, pioneering meat scientist and Animal Sciences Professor Emeritus John Matsushima collaborated with former CSU Athletic Director Thurman “Fum” McGraw to create Ag Day as a way to bring together the state’s agricultural producers to support CSU students studying agricultural sciences and cheer on the Rams football team. Today, event proceeds continue to support scholarships for students in the College of Agricultural Sciences, and annually, the event funds 15-20 student scholarships.

For his service to education and revolutionary contributions to the livestock industry, Matsushima was awarded the 2021 CSU Founders Day Medal earlier this year. In celebration of that recognition, the 40th anniversary of Ag Day and his milestone 100th birthday, Matsushima will be honored as guest cannoneer during Saturday night’s orange-out football game.

Developing agriculture’s future leaders

Since 2019, Ag Day’s pre-game barbecue tradition has been named for Nutrien, a global crop input, services and solutions company with its U.S. headquarters in Loveland, Colorado. 

The naming was part of a transformative gift to the College of Agricultural Sciences, a partnership to support state-of-the-art research and teaching initiatives on campus and provide scholarship support to students, elevating CSU into a position of leadership in developing a diverse, highly skilled agricultural workforce and boosting Nutrien’s ability to deliver industry-leading products.

In addition to food, the Nutrien Ag Day BBQ will also feature an Education Zone with interactive exhibits for learners of all ages, and Colorado 4-H will also host an array of youth-oriented activities involving STEM and agricultural education.

Reunited at the table

This year’s barbecue will showcase 10 different Colorado food commodities – beans, beef, beer, wheat buns, eggs, ice cream sandwiches, lamb, melons, pork, potatoes and string cheese – as well as flowers. Support for the event was also provided by Agfinity Inc., Adolfson & Peterson Construction and American AgCredit.

Ag Day 2021 coincides with the 20th anniversary of 9/11, and the CSU Air Force ROTC Wing Walker Honor Guard will present the colors. The speaking program will include a moment of silence and will honor and recognize the importance of resilience and community.

Tickets for both the football game and barbecue are still available through the Ag Day website or by calling (800) 491-RAMS (7267).

Source: Colorado State University, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset

Subscribe to receive top agriculture news
Be informed daily with these free e-newsletters

You May Also Like