Great weather, a winning football team, and thousands of hungry Ram fans combined to create a perfect scenario for a record-setting Ag Day.

This year’s Ag Day saw a record high number of ticket sales topping 3,000 tickets sold, with more than 3,600 people served when factoring in tickets provided to volunteers and the commodity groups that so generously donated food and supplies. The previous record for Ag Day ticket sales, set in 2012, was 2,899.

While many attendees ordered tickets in advance, this year saw a significant number of people buying tickets at Ag Day. Nearly 400 tickets were sold at the walk-up tent on Saturday.

“That so many people came to this year’s Ag Day testifies to our community’s passion for Colorado agriculture and their commitment to funding scholarships for our students. Last year, Ag Day scholarships contributed $41,000 in student support,” said Craig Beyrouty, dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences. “This year’s crowd was full of energy and brought with them many healthy appetites. Showcasing Colorado commodities at an event that is fun for everyone is really what Ag Day is all about.”

Ag Day has been a fixture outside of Hughes Stadium since 1981, when the celebration debuted with 10 commodity groups and proceeds from the event provided one scholarship. Now the event consists of more than 20 commodity groups and provided support for nearly 30 students last year alone. In fact, since 2000 Ag Day has funded more than 160 scholarships totaling over $300,000.

This year’s Ag day attendees enjoyed servings of beef, lamb, pork, salad, potatoes and watermelon in addition to milk and ice cream. Live music from the Boom Twang Band played throughout the event and interactive displays showcased faculty research and student groups. And to top it all off, the Rams beat Tulsa 42-17 on the football field.