MTSU agriculture Raider Roundup tests high school FFA skills

Some of the high school students came from as far away as Pigeon Forge, Pikeville, Spencer, Baxter and McEwen, Tennessee.

Others attending the first Raider Roundup Friday, Sept. 21, at Middle Tennessee State University were from Cannon County, Watertown, Riverdale, Stewarts Creek, Greenbrier and Station Camp High School in Sumner County.

Sponsored by MT Engage, which is focused on enhancing MTSU student academic engagement, Raider Roundup brought nearly 300 students to campus to help prepare them for state Future Farmers of America competition.

From MTSU faculty, staff and students during a two-hour timeframe, they learned about agriculture mechanics, agronomy, dairy judging, equine science, veterinary science, floriculture and farm business management; and livestock, meats, poultry and soil evaluation.

“It has been incredible and exciting,” said Chaney Mosley, a first-year assistant professor in agricultural education for the School of Agriculture. “Our student volunteers and the level of engagement by our faculty made it all possible.”

About 60 MTSU students and the majority of agricultural faculty members assisted Mosley.

Department Director Jessica Carter and Bud Fischer, dean of the College of Basic and Applied Sciences, helped welcome the teenagers, who also took campus tours after lunch.

MTSU has more than 300 combined undergraduate and graduate programs.