Colorado State University’s annual Ag Day tradition returns to campus on Saturday, Sept. 24, for the university’s 41st celebration of agriculture and athletics. Prior to kickoff of the Ram football team’s matchup against Sacramento State, the College of Agricultural Sciences will host the Nutrien Ag Day BBQ in collaboration with Colorado agricultural growers, producers and partners.
The Nutrien Ag Day BBQ is a delicious CSU tradition that honors the university’s Aggie roots and the state’s rich agricultural history while supporting student scholarships and the future of the agriculture industry. The barbecue begins at 10 a.m. on the intramural fields west of the Lory Student Center, with food service ending at 1 p.m.
Ag Day is a partnership between the college, CSU Athletics and the Office of Engagement and Extension.
Nutrien Ag Day BBQ
Since 1981, Ag Day has been bringing together food producers from across Colorado for a pre-game barbecue that showcases the breadth of Colorado agriculture. What began as a collaboration between CSU Athletic Director Thurman “Fum” McGraw and Emeritus Professor of Animal Sciences John Matsushima continues today as a showcase of the best of Colorado agriculture and the state’s land-grant university. In 2019, the Nutrien Ag Day BBQ was renamed in honor of Nutrien’s $10M long-term investment in the College of Agricultural Sciences.
Guests of the Nutrien Ag Day BBQ can fill their plates with a wide array of Colorado grown and raised products – including meat, buns, eggs, potatoes, beans, melons, cheese and ice cream – accompanied by Coca-Cola products, beer and flowers. Proceeds from the event support scholarships for students in the college, funding 15-20 student scholarships annually to reward and promote agriculture’s future leaders.
The barbecue area also includes family-friendly educational activities and opportunities for attendees to connect with the college and learn where their food comes from. For the 6th year, Colorado 4-H will also host an array of youth-oriented activities involving STEM and agricultural education.
Decked Out in Aggie Orange
On Ag Day, football players and fans alike are decked out in Aggie Orange, one-half of then-Colorado Agricultural College’s original ag-inspired alfafa green and pumpkin orange color palette, dating back to 1893.
Tickets
Ticket packages, which include a ticket to both the pre-game barbecue and football game, and single barbecue tickets are available through the Ag Day website. Adult packages are $40 and youth are $30 using the promo code AG2022. Single barbecue tickets for adults are $20, and $10 for youth using the code AGDAY. CSU students can purchase barbecue tickets for $10 through the student ticket claim process.
Since 2021, CSU Athletics uses a mobile ticketing system for games and events, including the Nutrien Ag Day BBQ. Tickets and event passes can be accessed using a smartphone. Attendees who do not have a smartphone that runs on iOS or Android can contact the Rams Ticket Office at (970) 491-RAMS for assistance. Event attendees can log into their account and add their tickets to their smartphone’s mobile wallet in advance of the event.
Volunteer at the 2022 Nutrien Ag Day BBQ
Volunteers are needed to help make Ag Day! Join the College of Agricultural Sciences in working side-by-side with Colorado’s food growers, producers and agricultural advocates to help bring the Nutrien Ag Day BBQ to life. Event volunteers receive a complimentary barbecue ticket, T-shirt and the opportunity to purchase a discounted $19 Ag Day football ticket.
