Auburn University Department of Agricultural Economics & Rural Sociology

Wishing all of our students a successful finals week!

Many thanks to Rick Pate, Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries, for coming to the College of Ag today! Commissioner Pate visited our Agricultural Law & Agribusiness Management classes to speak and answer questions on a variety of subjects relating to his important work.
Thank you again and War Eagle! 🧡

Representing at the Sunbelt Ag Expo!

Farm and Agribusiness Extension team running the “So You Want to be a Farmer” Game in the
Alabama Extension / Auburn University College of Ag Barn at Sunbelt Ag Expo, Moultrie GA, 2023

L to R: Rilea Robinson, Calen Monroe, Wendiam Sawadgo, Dennis Brothers, Adam Rabinowitz

Dr. Joshua Duke, Department Head, is pictured with Experimental Lab Manager Jose Garcia and graduate students Pathmanathan Sivashankar, Pritam Mitra, and Wanqi Liang. They gave a demonstration of experiments using eye tracking technology at the Ag Roundup on September 16th. Their awesome work represented us well!

Two of our faculty members had the honor of being recognized for promotion and/or tenure at Auburn University's annual Faculty Promotion and Tenure Reception provided by the Office of the Provost on September 13, 2023.
Pictured are the two:
Dr. Adam Rabinowitz (left), Associate Professor and Tenure
Dr. Jian Rong (middle), Senior Lecturer

Also pictured are Aubie and Dr. Joshua Duke, Department Head.

Our department is lucky to have them! 💙🧡

Dr. Bijesh Mishra, post-doctoral fellow in the department of Agricultural Economics & Rural Sociology, authored an article for the Journal of Environmental Management titled “Economic returns and the perceived obstacles to adopting active management in the forest-grassland transition ecoregion in south-central USA.”
Read it here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479723010137

Assistant Professor and Alabama Extension Economist Wendiam Sawadgo was awarded the Choices magazine Outstanding Article award for his article “The Invisible Elephant: Disadoption of Conservation Practices in the United States.” The award is presented by the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association (AAEA). Pictured is Dr. Sawadgo with AAEA past president Norbert Wilson, who was a former faculty member in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology at Auburn University.
https://www.choicesmagazine.org/choices-magazine/submitted-articles/the-invisible-elephant-disadoption-of-conservation-practices-in-the-united-states

Annual Alabama Agricultural Outlook Conference - Alabama Cooperative Extension System The Alabama Cooperative Extension System Farm and Agribusiness Management Team is excited to announce its annual agricultural outlook conference.

Check out this paper — an agronomic-economic approach to connecting manure nutrients back to grain-producing regions, coauthored by our very own Department Head, Joshua Duke!

https://acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jeq2.20329

You’re very “deer” to us, too College of Agriculture at Auburn University! ♥️🦌

The Agribusiness Club held their 4th and final General Membership Meeting of the semester on Tuesday, November 16th. Director of Governmental & Agricultural Programs at Alabama Farmers Federation Brian Hardin was their guest speaker!

Meet Caroline Thomas!

Caroline is a sophomore majoring in Agricultural Business/Economics. She is from Selma, Alabama.

On campus, Caroline has served as a project coordinator for Auburn's The BIG Event and reporter for the Agribusiness Club. Currently, she is secretary for the Agribusiness Club, a content creator for Ag Hill Social, a mentee for the Ag Alumni Mentor Program, and is a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority.

"What I love most about the College of Ag is how you form so many relationships with people within the college. I have already met so many people that genuinely care about me and my career path. It's like a big family!" she said.

War Eagle, Caroline!

Meet Cassidy Burnside!

Cassidy is a junior from Vallonia, Indiana. She is majoring in Agricultural Business/Economics.

Cassidy loves to get involved in any way she can, especially when it has to do with agriculture. She serves as treasurer for the Agribusiness Club and vice president for NAMA (National Agri-Marketing Association).

"My favorite part of the College of Ag is the people. Everyone is always super helpful and they just want you to succeed. Also, I love that there are lots of opportunities for whatever you are interested in," she said.

War Eagle, Cassidy!

Meet Gracen Bridges!

Gracen is a sophomore from Safford, Alabama. She is majoring in Agricultural Business/Economics.

Gracen is involved in many things on campus including being the Event Chair for the Agribusiness Club, Director of Campus Organizations for Auburn's the BIG Event, as well as being a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority.

"What I love most about the College of Ag is the small hometown feel and the opportunity to get to know almost everyone in my major," she said.

War Eagle, Gracen!

Meet Garet Tillery!

Garet is a senior from Leesburg, Alabama. He is majoring in Agricultural Business/Economics and minoring in Animal Science.

On campus, Garet is the Ag Council Representative for the Agribusiness Club, a member of Young Farmers, and a member of the Collegiate Cattlemen and Cattlewomen's Association.

"My favorite part of the College of Ag is the people. It just feels like one big family. Everybody knows everybody," he said.

War Eagle, Garet!

Meet Dr. Mykel Taylor!

Dr. Taylor is an Alfa Eminent Scholar and Associate Professor in our Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology Department. She graduated with a degree in Agricultural Economics from Montana State University and obtained her PhD in Economics from North Carolina State University.

Dr. Taylor's advice for current AgEcon students is to "Do an internship in your field so you can figure out what you like about that field and how you would want to do things different and if you only take classes you don't know how that translates in the real world."

War Eagle, Dr. Taylor!

Meet Addie Hampton!

Addie is a sophomore from Lowndes, Alabama. She is majoring in Agricultural Business/Economics.

On campus, Addie is a Diamond Doll for the Auburn University Baseball Team, Reporter for the Agribusiness Club, and a member of Delta Zeta sorority.

"I love that the College of Ag is such a close environment and is small enough where I can be one-on-one with my teachers," she said.

War Eagle, Addie!

Meet Will Ingram!

Will is a sophomore from Selma, Alabama, majoring in Agricultural Business/Economics.

"My favorite part of the College of Agriculture is the personal relationships you can build with the teachers," he said.

Will is a member of the Agribusiness Club and enjoys playing intramural flag football in his free time. After he graduates from Auburn, Will plans to pursue a career that keeps him involved in agriculture.

War Eagle, Will!

Meet Elizabeth Mooneyham!

Elizabeth is a senior majoring in Agricultural Business/Economics and minoring in Rural and Community Development. On campus, Elizabeth has been involved in the Agribusiness Club and has been an SOS orientation coordinator, as well as SOS orientation leader.

"My favorite part of the College of Ag is the family feel. I have gotten to know so many alumni, faculty, and students. Having those relationships will be help me in my future job."

War Eagle, Elizabeth!

Meet Alum, Chris Gary!

Chris graduated from Auburn in 1992 with a degree in Agricultural Business/Economics. While at Auburn, he was involved in the National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) as well as NADA. He currently works for Auburn and Tigers Unlimited as Director of Athletics Development.

"Some advice for current Ag Econ students would be to build your network. Anytime there is an Auburn or College of Ag function, participate, because the people you meet now will have a big impact on the rest of your life."

War Eagle, Chris!

Check out this informative article written by one of our own! Assistant Professor, Dr. Joel Cuffey shares the effects of competing food desert policies on store format choice among SNAP participants.

shha.re

Meet Madeline Jones!

Madeline is a sophomore from Port St. Joe, Florida. She is majoring in Agricultural Business/Economics with a minor in sociology.

On campus, Madeline is involved in the Rodeo Association, Tri Delta sorority, and the AU College Republicans.

After graduating Auburn, Madeline plans to attend law school where she will pursue a career in Agricultural law.

War Eagle, Madeline!

DID YOU KNOW?

Auburn's Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology undergraduate degrees include a major in Agricultural Business and Economics as well as three minors designed to complement a variety of majors in the agricultural sciences and other academic and professional fields of study.

Yesterday Commissioner Rick Pate came and spoke to some of our Ag Econ students! He explained to students the full spectrum of activities affected by the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries. This includes many activities associated with the state’s food sector but also weights and measures.

We appreciate being able to give our students opportunities such as these to engage with people in the Ag industry!

War Eagle & thank you for visiting Commissioner Pate!

College of Agriculture at Auburn University Assistant Professor Joel Cuffey is the co-author of a paper recently published by the American Journal of Health Promotion that looks at preferences toward different methods of COVID-19 testing.

The project came at a time when U.S. COVID-19 cases were spiking due to the spread of the Delta variant and low vaccination rates. The survey could provide some insight on the best methods of mass testing going forward.

To read the full story check out the link below!

https://agriculture.auburn.edu/feature/survey-examines-preferences-for-covid-19-testing/

Survey examines preferences for COVID-19 testing College of Agriculture Assistant Professor Joel Cuffey is the co-author of a paper recently published by the American Journal of Health Promotion that looks at preferences toward different methods of COVID-19 testing.

Public policies affecting agriculture are a primary focus for our students. Theory and significance of international trade, distribution of production and trade, issues and policies, and influence of exchange rates are all topics covered in some of our Agricultural Economics courses

Are you interested in domestic and international rural communities? The Rural and Community Development Minor prepares students in topics of Rural Sociology, Field Experience, Sociology of Natural Resources and the Environment, and more.

Students with a minor in Natural Resources Economics and Environmental Policy participate in a variety of courses that prepare them in topics of law, ethics, trade policy, and more! Public institutions that steward and safeguard our natural and human resources are primary employers of students who participate in this Natural Resources Economics and Environmental Policy.
To learn more about the curriculum for this minor, visit http://bulletin.auburn.edu/undergraduate/collegeofagriculture/agriculturaleconomicsandruralsociology/naturalresrenvironmentpolicy_minor/

We want to recognize the Auburn University Chapter of the National Agri-Marketing Association. At this year's 2021 Virtual Marketing Competition, the team presented their product, Grass Roots PGBR, a plant growth promoting rhizobacteria aimed to dramatically increase the root mass of turf grasses.
The team's presentation is available to view at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLrQg9nV_mE
Auburn University’s student NAMA Chapter operates through the Ag Economics & Rural Sociology Department. A variety of students studying Agriculture and Marketing can join, participate in the annual National Student Agri-Marketing Competition, and get professional elective class credit.

Meet Auburn Alum, Calvin Pearson – Ag Business & Econ, class of 2020!

He currently works as the Account Director for Arrowsight, Inc. in Huntsville, AL. Arrowsight is a software company that provides remote video auditing solutions to a variety of industries. Calvin works mainly with their Agribusiness sector – focusing mainly on animal welfare and food safety across poultry, beef, and pork industries which leads to improvement in sustainability, quality, and compliance for workers and animals.
During his time at Auburn, Calvin was involved with Ag Ambassadors!

Favorite Auburn memory? “The 2017 football game against UGA. Auburn took an early lead and never looked back. It was a great day spent with all my best friends. And there wasn’t a moment of that game that I doubted we would beat the #1 team in the country at that time!!”

Favorite Auburn tradition? “Rolling Toomers”

Advice for current students? “Take advantage of any internship opportunity. Even if it is outside of your interest area, it could lead to a career that you never knew you’d love.”