Wi
^ 6^61 '61
"...for that matter will we
ask anything or
even bother to listen?"
"Students are involved
to the point that they
don't have time
to do anything"
Comment
Agriculture needs enthusiasts
Like everything else in this world,
agriculture is an industry experienc
ing vast changes. Changes that we as
ag majors must realize, face and chal
lenge.
Let’s face -it, agriculture is no lon
ger a way of life for the country as it
was for so many decades. Today
there are more people in agricul
ture-related jobs alone than on the
farm.
What’s good for ag is not necessar
ily good for the rest of the nation or
vice versa. But what affects one seg
ment does affect the other.
A handful of people make deci
sions each day that directly affect
agriculture. Often the issues in
volved seem far away from the farm.
But the reality is that it is no lon
ger enough to be concerned on only
direct ag issues. All decisions affect
agriculture in some way.
It’s past time that we speak out on
issues. For years it has been said that
agriculture needs people in the poli
tical system who will listen.
Gerald McCathem, an early orga
nizer of the American Agriculture
Movement from Dalhart, Texas, de
cided that being heard was not
enough. He feels that to have input
into the system, people familiar with
agricultural problems must be poli
tical candidates and he hopes some
are elected. So, McCathern is seek
ing a senatorial seat in the Texas leg
islature.
Perhaps what agriculture really
needs is a voice.
In the upcoming year, candidates
will make speeches and speak out on
issues. But will we as agricultural
students question their views? Will
we ask about farm policy and foreign
affairs? Will we find out their views
concerning foreign investment in
farm and ranch land? For that matter
will we ask anything or even bother
to listen?
We all cannot be involved as poli
tical candidates, but we can be a
voice for politicians to hear.
Agriculture has always been more
than checking the north 40. But now
it requires even more from its peo
ple. It doesn’t need apathetic follow
ers, but demands involved indi-
viduals.
Students are over-involved
Involvement is the key word at
Texas A&M. Freshmen should know
that by the time they graduate, they
will have been a member of three
agriculture technical clubs, four stu
dent organizations (sports, church,
social or service) held an office three
times, served on seven committees,
and averaged 16 hours per semester
in addition to attending the local
dance hall or drinking establishment
at least once even' ten days.
Multiply these figures by the
number of students in the College of
Agriculture and it would seem that
many things are being accomplished
or learned. It’s obvious what dance
halls and bars are for. But what is the
purpose of being involved in so many
organizations?
Students are ovenvhelmed with
chances to join a club to meet peo
ple, learn things not taught in their
classes and have a good time after
studying. We are beginning to join
for the sake of joining.
Our college has heard too many
students say they are too busy with
club activities, but we haven’t seen
the “fruits of their labor.’ Granted, a
lot of students are purposefully in
volved, but the majority of them
simply have joined so many clubs
that they are getting “burned out.”
They stop working for the clubs,
dump the work on the involved
members and still take the glory for
the club’s accomplishments.
In the College of Agriculture,
most clubs have suffered a loss in
members attending meetings. Alpha
Zeta, the agriculture honor society,
has 250 members with only 20 to 50
attending meetings. The National
Agri-Marketing Association had over
150 students involved in PCPA Day,
but hasn’t had more than 20 students
at their past two meetings.
Students are frustrated with club
meetings because they seem to lack a
purpose. Most clubs have written
into their constitution that it will
meet twice a month and many offic
ers think that if they don’t meet they
are letting their members down.
Clubs are meeting for the sake of
meeting.
One such organization in the Col
lege of Agriculture is the Ag Council.
The Ag Council is an assembly of
all agriculture technical club presi
dents and elected council represen
tatives plus all College of Agriculture
senators.
The Council is supposed to serve
as an advisory committee to the
Dean of Agriculture and address im
portant matters and policies affect
ing students within the college.
Agricultural Convocation held in the
spring to recognize outstanding stu
dents is a primary project of the
Council.
The members of Ag Council are
among the most active in their tech
nical clubs.
Students on west campus were
asked what they thought Ag Coun
cil’s purpose is. Aside from those
who said it handled Ag Convocation,
most thought it should be, but isn’t,
a spokesman for ag students in stu
dent body issues.
The Council’s current discussion
is a chili cook-off so students can
meet each other. Meeting people is
better accomplished at dance halls
and by a friendly “Howdy” when
walking to classes. Ag Council’s time
should be spent trying to get shuttle
buses to run on time or helping stu
dents with class schedules.
West campus classes start on the
half hour. Last year Ag Council
worked to get this approved. This
year students are having a hard time
juggling classes to make west and
main campus classes fit into their
schedule.
Parking lots near the Kleberg
Center are for day and dorm stu
dents. Dorm students park their cars
for a week at a time in the lots closest
to the west campus buildings, never
moving them, forcing day students
to park in the lots nearest Olsen
Field.
Along with shuttle bus schedules,
these problems could be handled by
Ag Council. Most Ag Council reps
are unaware that there is a parking
problem. The Council can’t serve
the students if the students fail to use
their Council representatives.
Since Ag Council representatives
are from all the technical clubs on
campus, that would be a good place
for club leaders to learn how to con
duct purposeful meetings. Ag Coun
cil should set the example for the rest
of the clubs and students to follow.
Clubs should meet only when
necessary. Students should let their
officers know about their problems
and require reports from Ag Council
meetings. But most importantly,
students ought to know why they
belong to a club and have a puipose
for being in each one.
Editor
Managing Editor . . . .
News Editor
Photography Editor .
Production Manager.
Advertising Manager
Production Assistants
the Agriculturist
Martha A. Hollida
Sherie Keller
Jane Lyon
Liz Bailey
Susan Edens
Pete Hale
• Bonnie Helwig, Julie Smiley
The Agriculturist is a publication by the Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow Club and students enrolled
in Agriculture-Journalism 489 at Texas A&M University.
The cover photograph, courtesy of the TAMU Archives, shows a 1922 judging contest in the Animal Science
Pavillion across from the Animal Industries Building.