Reflections on Fall 2025

NWSS Ag Adventure

The agricultural literacy program, CSU Ag Adventure, had a record-breaking year at the 2026 National Western Stock Show. The program engaged 48,118 visitors while teaching them about the food and fiber systems in Colorado agriculture. CSU Ag Adventure welcomed around 12,500 students with school groups while also engaging with more than 3,300 visitors in CAM’s Classroom. Through the duration of the 16 days, we had a total of 108 Ag Leaders join us: 45 CAS students, 3 Spur Start students, and 60 FFA members. We had a total of 6,500 learners that earned the title of Junior Ag Ambassador through the educational Ag Adventure Guide that they completed. CSU Ag Adventure aims to provide agricultural literacy opportunities for the visitors at the National Western Stock Show in partnership with 16 agricultural commodity groups around Colorado as well as the strong partnership with the National Western Stock Show! 

DARE Affiliate Faculty nominated for the Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame

DARE Affiliate Faculty, Jordan Levi, who has been involved in several of our classes including co-instructor for AREC 419, Commodity Market Trading Experience, was nominated for the 2027 Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame. Learn more about Jordan here.

DARE Bowling

The DARE Diplomats hosted a successful bowling night in March, bringing mentors and mentees together for an evening of friendly competition on the lanes!

First RAISE Scholar student, Jason Delfico, recognized for completing the ‘Mentored Research and Artistry Distinction (MRAD)’ process

Jason Delfico, an undergraduate agribusiness student in DARE, was honored with CSU’s Mentored Research and Artistry Distinction (MRAD)! This distinction is noted on students’ transcripts at graduation in recognition of their commitment to research involvement, professional development, and service. Over the past year, Jason contributed to research through the department’s RAISE Scholars Program, evaluating the economic feasibility of winter peas as an alternative cropping option in the Upper Colorado River Basin. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition!

Colorado FFA Career Development Events

Every year, the College of Agricultural Sciences and Agricultural Education Program hosts a massive competition: the Colorado FFA Career Development Events. This year, 1,875 FFA students from all across Colorado from the biggest cities to the smallest towns competed in 14 different agriculture, natural resource, and food events. This is a huge lift for our Ag Education Team, including our main event coordinators: Nathan Clark, Jenny Bennett, Don Thorn, and Katharine Eshelman. Many DARE faculty members also led competitions and events, including Katharine Eshelman (Ag Mechanics) and Dan Mooney (Farm & Agribusiness Management). Additionally, Dr. Kellie Enns and her Student Success Team coordinated this year’s BBQ and student experiences. To wrap up a fantastic event, DARE awarded more than $3,000 in student scholarships to the top-placing students in several events.

Livestock Leaders Association student group held its donor appreciation dinner on April 30 at the CoBank Center

The students expressed their gratitude to the Colorado Livestock Association and others for their support in helping them attend NCBA CattleCon 2026 and other events.  It was a wonderful event to celebrate these students and their external partners.

4th Annual CAS Graduate Student and Post-doc Research Showcase

Congrats to all our Graduate Students for presenting at the 4th Annual Graduate Student & Post- Doc Research Showcase, Shuhang Lou, Jayna Mallon, Bishal Bista, and Rebecca Wasserman-Olin. Special congratulations to Jayna Mallon (M.S.) for being a top presenter on her research, “Estimating the Value of Congestion Reduction in Katmai National Park”.