THE means family, no matter how long Buckeyes have been apart from their campus community. Students, alumni, faculty and other supporters of the Animal Sciences program, Saddle and Sirloin Club, and Livestock and Meat Evaluation Programs made this clear, gathering at the Scarlet and Gray Gala to recognize student accomplishments, honor historic teams, and support Buckeyes for years to come.
The Scarlet and Gray Gala, held on April 6th, hosted around 200 attendees for the evening, raising roughly $7,000 in support of these organizations that expand student learning and growth beyond the boundaries of our campus community.
“Experiential learning is a key component of our teaching mission,” shared Dr. Cathann Kress, Vice President for Agricultural Administration and Dean of the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) at The Ohio State University. “The experiences gained from these programs have prepared our students for success. Our college and our students have a significant legacy of impact and leadership across the food, agricultural and environmental portions of our state, but we must continually seek ways to broaden that impact.”
Dr. Kress is not alone in recognizing the importance of these extracurricular and co-curricular experiences for students. Many of our Animal Sciences alumni stay closely connected to each of these programs, continuing to support and ensure greater opportunities for the next generation of Buckeyes.
Two Ohio State alumni were recognized for their significance to the success of these organizations. Dr. Tom Turner ’70 was recognized as the 2024 Friend of the Livestock Judging Team, and Mr. Gregg Fogle ’00 was honored as Saddle and Sirloin’s 2024 Friend of the Club. These awards are curated for individuals who have been critical to the success of the organizations and continuance of the missions of each program. E.R. Boliantz Packing Company was also honored by the Meat Judging Team.
“We have students in all walks– lawyers, physicians, the successes are immense. And they will tell you that livestock judging is one of the most important things, if not the most important thing, that they ever did,” shared Emeritus Professor Turner, a previous judging coach and mentor with more than three decades of service to the judging programs at Ohio State.
Gregg Fogle has also stayed active in supporting the Saddle and Sirloin Club and evaluation teams. Saddle and Sirloin Club Vice-President Hayden Johnson shares, “Gregg is a large part of our success at Farm Science Review and is always the first to lend a hand.”
Alumni of Livestock and Meat Judging were also recognized for their 10, 25, and 50-year team anniversaries, sharing decades-old memories of their time in the program and lifelong friendships made in the process.
The evening concluded with the recognition of Saddle and Sirloin’s 2024-2025 officer team, as well as the club’s student honorees: Outstanding New Member, Matthew Mazzaro; Outstanding Graduating Member, Kamryn Kreis; Outstanding Service Honoree, Hayden Johnson.