February 24, 2020
68th annual All Ag Banquet to honor students, alumni and faculty
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s College of Agricultural Sciences will host the 68th Annual All Ag Banquet on Friday, Feb. 28. The event celebrates the accomplishments of students, faculty and alumni.
A social hour with cash bar begins at 5:30 p.m. in the Student Center’s International Lounge, with the banquet beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the ballrooms.
An awards presentation follows the banquet. This includes student awards for the outstanding junior student, outstanding senior student, and registered student organization. Two other major awards -- the Donald M. Elkins Excellence Award and the Gary L. Minish Outstanding Adviser/Mentor Award -- are selected based on student nominations, recommendations and student votes. Both awards reward faculty or staff members who show demonstrable dedication to education and mentoring.
“The banquet is great,” said Sidney Roling, a senior who is graduating in May and will be wrapping up her second year as the Agricultural Student Advisory Council president. “We have a lot of outstanding students, faculty and alumni. I know I’m going to miss a lot of people.”
The banquet is open to the public. Tickets are $20 for students and $25 for non-students.
Banquet is also for a good cause
The Ag Banquet also prides itself on also being a fundraiser.
After the awards ceremony, the Ag Council will host a philanthropic fundraiser for the “Playground Project,” a project to build a new, inclusive playground in Carbondale’s Turley Park. The goal is to raise $5,000 by selling raffle tickets in addition to a silent and live auction.
SIU student Ryan Reeverts, a junior in agribusiness economics, is a licensed auctioneer, which should provide immense enjoyment for bidders.
“We have a great Saluki family and we all work together,” Roling said. “This isn’t just about us. We want to give back to our community.”
Thanks to funding from USG and the generosity of SIU alumni and industry partners, most students are able to attend the banquet for free.
For more information or for tickets, contact Susan Graham at sgraham@siu.edu or 618/453-2469.