Morehead State University - Raconteur Yearbook (Morehead, KY)

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Students on the farm see everything from Plants to Pedigrees BY: Karen Craigo The Department of Agriculture and National Re- sources has much to offer its students. A long list of fossible majors as well as up-to-date greenhouse and arm facilities make the department one of the most diverse on cam us. Approximate y 90 students are currently enrolled in an a riculture related major, with a male to female ratio of at out 50l50. A unique aspect of the Universityis A riculture De- partment is the new Veterinary techno ogy program, which is one of the few accredited rograms of its ty e in the country. Currently it only 0 ers a two-year e- gree, but a four-year course of study has been approved or next fall. Another opular area of s ecialization is horseman- ship, which as an extremely igh rate of job placement due to the many opportunities available in Kentucky. Some horsemanship majors choose to join the Equestri- an Team. uThere is an organization to appeal to every- one with an interest in Agriculture, says department head, Dr. Judy Willard. Some organizations available for agriculture students are Delta Tau Alpha tan honorary fraternityl, the Agriculture Club, the Pre-Veterinary Medicine Club, the Vet-Tech Club, and Farm House. These clubs are all faculty supported. The MSU farm is located five miles from campus on Route 377. Horses, cattle, sheep, swine, and poultry are all housed at the 325 acre farm facilit . There are also duplexes to accommodate up to 24 stu ents. The farm is also the site of a mountain-top reclamation pro'ect, their vegetable and plant greenhouses, and an orc ard con- taining apple and peach trees. The campus greenhouse acts as a teaching lab for stu- dents in the ornamental horticulture technology pro- gram. Majors in this field learn to raise different varie- ties of plants and to operate the salesroom and green- house, which sells houseplants, floral arrangements and corsages. More and more students are choosing the department of agriculture because of the many opportunities it presents.

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BY: Bryon Souder In 1982, the University took a ma'or, trend-settin step forward, becoming the only schoo in Kentucky an among the first twenty colle es in the country to at- tempt to have an extensive ro otics pro ram. Last year, the University obtained approval for a our-year option in Robotics Engineering Technology. My department works under the theme Teaching Tomorrowis Technolog Today? says Dr. Robert New- ton, head of Industria Education and Technolog . 01 think that the whole concept of robotics is what will be prevalent in the year 2000. Robotics combines all the concepts of each of our programs. Newton stated that he was very interested in up-grad- ing the department, but resources are a problem. The training in this program includes desi ning and building three stationary robots and one mo ile one. Newton said. 0M goal for this department is not to invent a better rohot, but to train students to go into industry and use robots. The robotics de artment has done that by iving its students practica experience in assisting rowning Manufacturing Corporation in installin an o erating robotic e uipment. Students have also een a owed to work wictlh a blue-collar worker re-training team to operate the new high-tech equipment. Charles O,Neal, a senior robotics student from West Liberty, thinks that Dr. Newton is achieving his goal. After you take Robotics 170, an intro class, all the rest of the classes are almost totally hands-on experience. I have a friend that graduated from here last year with a degree that had a robotics option that is now working for IBM. Moreheadls robotics department must be doing something rightf, uOur program is very solid stated Dr. Newton. 00b- viously, we could alwa 5 use new resources, but we do everything we can wit what we have. People are our biggest resource. What America does best is develop tec nology, we are just trying to help? . After the intro robotics class, all the others are almost totally ihands-oni work. Avery works with the robotic equipment which is becoming more and more prevalent in the business world today. PHOTO BY: Tim Conn Rochs 19

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At the agriculture complex, all of the tack equipment receives careful atten- tion from Devinee Myer of Syracuse, New York. This equipment is vital to students in the horsemanship program. The graduates ofthis program have a very high rate ofjob placement because of the many opportunities offered in Kentucky. PHOTO BY: Tim Conn Members of the newly accredited Veterinary technology program learn through practical application. Students Linda Gooding of Flemingsburg and Lori Andres of New Mexico show off their knowledge on a somewhat reluc- tant dog. This new program will be expanded to four years in the fall of 1988. PHOTO BY: Tim Conn Many animals other than domestic ones are cared for at the MSU farm by people like Carol Winter, Jr. of Berwyn, Illinois. The 325 acre facility houses horses, cattle, sheep, swine, and poultry. PHOTO BY: Tim Conn Agriculture 21