On Thursday, Nov. 5, at 2 p.m., a newly remodeled 1950s soil teaching laboratory featuring more than 40 Montana soil monoliths will be re-dedicated in honor of Hayden Ferguson, professor emeritus. Last year, Tony Hartshorn, assistant professor of soil sciences in the Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences, led the remodeling project. 2015 is also the United Nations’ International Year of the Soils, and the 63^rd Montana State Legislature formally approved the Scobey soil series – the soil most commonly found in northcentral Montana and known for its productivity in farming wheat – as Montana’s official state soil. 

“The new soil lab features LED lighting on the monoliths and we replaced a 24-foot-wall with a window,” Hartshorn said. “Our idea of using an existing space and giving it a facelift for 21^st century soil students, teaching and lab work is something we feel greatly increases our ability to give students the best learning opportunities we can.”

On Friday, Nov. 6, the Department of Agricultural Economics and Economics will host its annual Agricultural Economics Outlook Conference, beginning at 9 a.m. in the Procrastinator Theater in the Strand Union Building. This year’s conference, “Montana Agriculture: Global Trade to Local Foods,” will feature faculty presentations on agricultural policy, risk management, livestock and grain markets. Colin Carter, professor of agricultural and resource economics and director of the Giannini Foundation of Agricultural Economics at the University of California, will deliver a keynote address on agricultural trade and the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement. For a full list of conference of activities and registration, visitwww.ampc.montana/edu/fallconference.html.

The Celebrate Agriculture weekend continues on Saturday, Nov. 7, from 10:30 a.m. to noon with a Montana-made harvest breakfast in the South Gym of the Marga Hoseaus Fitness Center with MSU President Waded Cruzado. The college’s Outstanding Agricultural Leaders – the annual awards given to dedicated supporters and friends of the college -- will be announced during breakfast. The Outstanding Agricultural Leaders will again be recognized at the MSU football game versus Southern Utah University. Kickoff is set for 1:40 p.m. in Bobcat Stadium.

For a full list of events and activities, visit http://ag.montana.edu/celebrateag/.