University of Florida student named top College Aggies Online ambassador

Competition registration still open for students and student organizations  

October 3, 2016 – Samantha Dailey, a senior studying animal science at the University of Florida, has taken the top prize in the 2016 College Aggies Online (CAO) Ambassador Competition. CAO Ambassadors are responsible for promoting the program on their campus and encouraging competitors to sign up in both the individual and student organization divisions. Thanks in part to the Ambassadors’ efforts, a record 324 individuals are competing in CAO this fall, along with 27 student organizations.

CAO, an initiative of the Animal Agriculture Alliance, is a scholarship competition designed to help college students with an interest in agriculture become confident, positive and proactive communicators while competing for scholarship funds. The 2016 competition began on September 19 and runs through November 19. Interested students may enter the competition until October 17th by visiting: https://animalagalliance.org/connect/#collegeaggies.

Dailey earned the top Ambassador honor by encouraging the most individuals and clubs to join CAO. She has competed for the past three years, both as an individual and part of the Gator Collegiate CattleWomen.

“I decided to become an ambassador for CAO because I believe that social media is key when sharing our story with the millions of Americans that are not directly engaged with agriculture,” Dailey said. “CAO is a great program that teaches students how to effectively engage and connect with consumers online, and it is a lot of fun too!”

Since its inception in 2009, more than 4,000 students have competed in CAO. During the program, students receive weekly assignments ranging from writing a blog post to creating an infographic, giving a public presentation about a hot topic in agriculture and more. Participants earn points by posting content promoting and explaining agriculture on social media.

Student organizations can also participate as a group and complete club challenges. These challenges include holding an “Ag Day” on campus, teaching at local elementary schools, handing out candy wrapped with meat myths and facts, and many more. The clubs receive points for each challenge they complete.

The final points from the weekly challenges will be tallied in early December 2016 and the following prizes will be awarded in both the individual and student organization divisions:

  • First: $2,500 scholarship and a trip to the Alliance’s Stakeholders Summit
  • Second: $1,000 scholarship
  • Third: $500 scholarship

In addition to the overall awards, several mini-prizes will be up for grabs throughout the competition.

To learn more about the competition and how to sign up, please visit the Alliance website.

College Aggies Online Sponsors

CAO would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. 2016 sponsors include: Dairy Management, Inc., National Pork Industry Foundation, National Turkey Federation’s 20 by 2020 project, Diamond V, Ohio Poultry Association, Florida Dairy Farmers, AgriBank and Belstra Milling Company.

Are you looking for a way to engage college students? College Aggies Online provides the perfect opportunity to support students with a passion for agriculture by helping them become confident communicators! Sponsors are recognized on our website, newsletter and at our Annual Stakeholders Summit. We give the sponsors opportunities to give input to the program and interact with students. To learn more about the sponsorship levels available, click here. To become a sponsor, contact Allyson Jones-Brimmer, membership and marketing manager, at ajonesbrimmer@animalagalliance.org.

About the Alliance:

The Animal Agriculture Alliance is an industry-united, nonprofit organization that helps bridge the communication gap between farm and fork. We connect key food industry stakeholders to arm them with responses to emerging issues. We engage food chain influencers and promote consumer choice by helping them better understand modern animal agriculture. We protect by exposing those who threaten our nation’s food security with damaging misinformation.
Find the Alliance on Facebook and Twitter.

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