For the first time, MTSU will serve as host for the 92nd National Block and Bridle Convention.
The convention, which has a theme of “Moovin’ to the Music,” will be held starting Tuesday, Jan. 31, at Embassy Suites Murfreesboro Hotel and Conference Center.
On Wednesday, Feb. 1, the anticipated 434 students from 34 colleges and universities will attend the National Cattleman’s Beef Association Cattle Industry Convention and Trade Show at Nashville’s Gaylord Opryland Hotel & Convention Center. Participants can choose from five tour options on Thursday, Feb. 2.
“Our students have been planning this and working hard since March 2011,” said Dr. Jessica Gentry Carter, associate professor in the School of Agribusiness and Agriscience and co-adviser with Dr. Rhonda Hoffman, professor and member of the horse science faculty. “They’ve raised $28,000 (toward convention expenses). I’m so proud of our students pulling off something like this.”
Carter said the students, led by senior convention co-chairs Abby Burger and Julie Ozburn, “obtained the $28,000 from a list of potential sponsors including large ag companies in Tennessee — a lot of it face-to-face, by phone and email — and special fundraisers.”
Primary sponsors include Farm Credit Services and the National Cattleman’s Beef Association. Both contributed $5,000 or more. Nearly 40 other ag industry-related businesses, organizations, foundations or individuals provided funds.
About 30 of MTSU’s 40 active Block and Bridle Club members will attend the convention, said Carter, who added that the University’s admissions office will be a vendor, courting potential students particularly those considering the horse science master’s program.
Penn State, North Carolina State, Clemson, Auburn, Georgia, Washington State, North Dakota, Kentucky, Murray State, Texas Tech are among the universities sending club members, Carter said.
Trent Loos, a speaker, writer and radio/television personality in the agriculture world, will be the keynote speaker Tuesday night.
Attendees’ tour options will include visits to Lynchburg and Jack Daniel’s Distillery; Nashville; local and regional horse and cattle farms and ag industry business; the Hatcher Family Dairy, the new MTSU dairy and the Noble Springs (goat) Dairy; and much more.
National Block and Bridle Club members are college students from across the United States who are interested in animal agriculture. Colligate block and bridle clubs are affiliated with the national organization. Clubs get together annually at the National Block and Bridle Convention. |
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