Student involvement and integration into the department is a key part of making the most of the college experience and a chief priority for the Ag. Econ Club. Advised by associate instructional professor of food and resource economics Caleb Stair, the Ag. Econ Club is open to all students interested in the field of agribusiness and applied economics. At the annual Agricultural & Applied Economics Association meeting, the group was awarded second place in the creative club competition for their unique event fostering student engagement with the Department of Food and Resource Economics at UF.
The club received this award in recognition of an event held last Fall—a Halloween door-decorating competition and trick-or-treating event!
The event encouraged students to engage more with their professors, graduate assistants, and staff. Faculty and staff competed to decorate their doors in the most creative fashion. Themes included classic haunted houses, spooky graveyards, and even scenes from popular movies. Participants donned elaborate costumes, ranging from a full shark outfit to Morticia Addams.
“The students did an absolutely wonderful job organizing everything, ” Stair said. “It was so much fun getting to walk through McCarty and see all the creative costumes and door designs”
Meanwhile, students visited the different offices to meet department members and fill out stamp cards for the chance to win a prize. They had the chance to interact in a fun, informal setting, building a more cohesive department culture.
Due to its popularity, they will host this event again in October 2024, and the officers are already looking forward to creating even more high-impact events that foster student involvement in the department.
“Placing in the creative club competition at AAEA was an amazing way to represent UF’s Food and Resource Economics department,” said Emerson Searl, last year’s club vice president and the current president. “After crafting an event that was enjoyed by both our students and faculty, our board is looking forward to the future events we will hold to promote further connections through the Ag Econ club!
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