The University of Nebraska-Lincoln and other land-grant universities across the nation are celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Morrill Act this year. UNL will be "Celebrating 150 years -- Growing a Healthy Future" with a week of activities Sept. 23-29.
The Morrill Act created land-grant universities, making education more affordable to all people, educating them in agriculture, home economics, mechanical arts and other professions practical at the time of its passage in 1862. The Morrill Act successfully opened higher education for Americans who previously could not afford to go to college, said Ronnie Green, Harlan vice chancellor of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
"We are excited to celebrate 150 years of growing a healthy future," said Green, who also is University of Nebraska vice president for agriculture and natural resources. "Nebraska should be proud of the advancements made in food, fuel, water and landscapes for the people of our great state and those around the world."
Each day daily themes and events at UNL and across the state will help tell the land-grant story.
On Sept. 23 from noon-5 p.m., the Agricultural Research and Development Center near Mead will celebrate 50 years of research and education through exhibits, presentations, bus tours, food, fun and learning.
Entrepreneurship and youth will be the theme of the day on Sept. 24. From 3-6 p.m. at the Nebraska East Union an entrepreneurship fair will feature alumni and current students. Students also are invited to participate in a quick-pitch competition for a chance to win an iPad.
Life sciences, landscape systems and wildlife encounters will take the stage Sept. 25. From 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Nebraska East Union there will be a Life Sciences Symposium with featured speaker Sonny Ramaswamy, news director of USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture. From 2:30-4:30 at UNL's Maxwell Arboretum, a tree planting will be incorporated with an America Forests Grant and ReTree Week and from 5-8 at UNL's Hardin Hall wildlife of all kinds will be available to view up close and personal.
Sept. 26 will showcase study abroad tours, international sabbaticals and Fulbright scholars. Food from around the world will be served during this event from 3-6 p.m. in Hardin Hall on UNL's East Campus.
Rural Futures Day will be Sept. 27, offering updates from May's Rural Futures Conference. This event will be from 10:30 a.m.-noon at Pinnacle Bank, 210 E. 23rd Street in Columbus. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack is invited.
Also on Sept. 27, "Backyard Farmer" will celebrate its 60th anniversary with a live broadcast outside Hardin Hall on UNL's East Campus from 6-9 p.m.
The week's celebration will culminate with a scheduled forum of former U.S. Secretaries of Agriculture Sept. 28, led by Nebraska's own Clayton Yeutter and Mike Johanns.
The 7:30 p.m. forum at the Lied Center for Performing Arts, 12th and R streets in Lincoln, also will be the first Heuermann Lecture for 2012-13.
Tickets, while free, are needed for this lecture and can be reserved starting Aug. 28 by contacting the Lied Center ticket office between 11 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at 402-472-4747; 1-800-432-3231. Ticket holders are asked to be in the lobby by 7:15 p.m. Sept. 28; unclaimed tickets will be released at that time.
To end the week of festivities, an Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources Tailgate will take place before the Nebraska-Wisconsin game. The tailgate will be at the Nebraska East Union from 3-7 p.m. UNL alumni, current students and IANR stakeholders can enjoy food, festivities and a shuttle ride to the football game.
For more information or for questions, contact Jill Brown, IANR director of external relations at jbrown14@unl.edu; 402-472-2871
For a detailed schedule of events, visit landgrant.unl.edu.
More details at: http://go.unl.edu/0wz