Each year the Agriculture Alumni Association sponsors Ag Round-Up’s “Taste of Alabama” at Ag Heritage Park. It is located at the corner of Samford and Donahue, in front of the historical red barn that sits in front of the soccer fields. With the aromas of rib eye, sweet potato chips and goat meat sausage samples, more than 4,000 people enjoyed what is known as the largest Auburn alumni sponsored event on campus.

Taste of Alabama was held on Nov. 7 with highlights of the Bio-systems Engineering Department featuring its cutting-edge practices like the use of Switchgrass to make bio-fuel, silent and live auctions raising money for scholarships and food samples from Alabama grown commodities.

Richard Holiday, president of the Ag Alumni Association, has been involved in the association for more than 10 years and says he has seen first-hand how this event has grown exponentially.

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“It is our desire that we can help benefit younger generations entering agriculture,” said Holiday. “The biggest event we have started is Taste of Alabama. It is a day opened to the public to come and enjoy samples that are available from every commodity produced in Alabama in a fun, family-oriented environment.”

The Ag Alumni Association started in1982 with a goal to provide events that could keep alumni connected and informed with what is happening in each department.

“When we started the Taste of Alabama event we just wanted it to be highlighting commodities and agriculture products that have been produced in Alabama,” said Holiday. “We have seen how beneficial it is to support our next generation of young people, so have implemented auctions to raise money for scholarships.”

There is a silent auction and live auction offered to raise money for the Ag 21 Scholarships and the alumni scholarships. These scholarships range from $500 to $2,500 for AU College of Agriculture students.

“There are so many neat cultural things you get to experience here at Taste of Alabama,” said Hannah Young, senior in Animal Science. “I’ve met a lot of people today that would not have gotten to make contact with otherwise. Tasting all the free samples and visiting with everyone is one of my highlights of Homecoming each year.”

To find out more about scholarships that are sponsored by the Ag Alumni Association or upcoming events visit Auburn’s College of Agriculture Wed site: www.ag.auburn.edu or contact Katie Hardy at 334-844-1475.