Wilson Ogg looks forward to this time of year. This is when he gets to be front and center at the National Western Stock Show[1] – a nationally recognized Western heritage and entertainment event that attracts more than 650,000 visitors each year.  As an Agricultural Ambassador[2] for CSU, Ogg provides direct outreach to those visitors in two areas he’s wholehearted about: Colorado State University and agriculture.

CSU’s Ag Ambassadors

CSU’s College of Agricultural Sciences [3]Agricultural Ambassadors are dedicated to enhancing the land grant mission of CSU. Student leaders in the organization engage in activities that promote a heightened awareness and vitality of the college.

As a junior agricultural business major with minors in agricultural literacy and economics, Ogg is a uniquely qualified representative for CSU at the stock show. He truly enjoys the opportunity to talk with the public and share his passion for the agricultural industry.

“The National Western Stock Show provides a great venue for sharing our message because we’re able to communicate with a broad range of people,” said Ogg. “We see fellow agriculturalists, students of all ages, and people from urban areas with no agricultural experience. We can learn from and communicate with all types of people and share our knowledge with them.”

As an Ag Ambassador, Ogg gets the opportunity to represent the College of Agricultural Sciences at a number of events throughout the year, but the stock show is his favorite. He’s been involved with the event for several years through his work as a state Future Farmers of America (FFA) officer, an intern for the National Western and now serving as an Ag Ambassador at the CSU booth. Ogg says it’s an honor to represent the university and he feels it’s important to communicate about the future of the agricultural industry.

The future of the agricultural industry

“What I’d like visitors to the stock show to know about Colorado State University and the College of Agricultural Sciences is that we represent the future of where food will come from and the future of the agricultural industry,” said Ogg. “As students we value what the public thinks about our current system and what we can do to more sustainably provide what the public needs. We want to be able to have that conversation.”

Ogg enjoys the opportunity to answer a broad scope of visitors’ questions about the university and agriculture as well as learn new things himself.

“At this year’s stock show, we hope the public will come visit us at our engaging and interactive booth,” said Ogg. “We’re passionate about sharing our knowledge of agriculture and CSU. This is a tremendous opportunity for us to tell the public about our land grant mission of service and outreach.”

An exceptional experience

From school children to alumni, who talk about how the university has changed over the years, as well as those who are attending the event for the very first time, Ogg says the National Western Stock Show offers an exceptional experience.

“It’s a world-class event that provides a chance to see young people compete in exhibiting some of the premier livestock in the world, the experience of agriculture and Western lifestyle that only comes once a year, and an impressive trade show that brings it all together,” said Ogg.