Back From AAEA Meetings

Most agricultural economists were in Orlando, Florida for the AAEA meetings last week. While the meeting participants mostly consisted of agricultural economics professors, around 70 undergraduate students participated as well. In a few upcoming blogs, I will discuss some of these events.

The most notable change of SS-AAEA activities was the first-ever SS-AAEA Person of the Year Award, which was awarded to agricultural advocate Trent Loos. Trent is shown below, with SS-AAEA Student President Alicia Taylor on the left and me on the right - I'm the faculty advisor of the student section of the AAEA.

Trent is an interesting and passionate person. In return for receiving the award, recipients are asked to address the students. Since Trent makes part of his living giving speeches, I knew he would be good, and good he was. The video of his speech will be posted shortly.

Mr. Loos is arguably the most well-known individual within agriculture, especially animal agriculture. Through his radio show Rural Route, his Feedstuffs column and podcast Loos Tales, and his travels around the country, while one may disagree with him at times, one can never doubt his sincere love for American agriculture.

While in Orlando Trent interviewed an agricultural economics student and professor. His hour-long interview with Dr. Derrell Peel of Oklahoma State University about the teaching agricultural economics is available online. To listen, copy http://www.feedstuffs.com/ME2/Console/Podcast/Default.asp?xsid=CB6F606EC9FF44ACB8322AE1C0FC846D in your podcasting tool and tune in to the July 29, 2008 edition.

Also in his Loos Tales podcast Trent interviewed Alicia Taylor in the picture above. To listen, copy http://www.feedstuffs.com/ME2/Console/Podcast/Default.asp?xsid=23A7F1F8ADD948B2A1C5694CFD3B24AB in your podcasting tool and tune in to the July 29, 2008 edition.