Agricultural News
Students Gear up for Competition at Society for Range Management Meeting
Wed, 30 Jan 2013 14:35:18 CST
It is almost show time for the Oklahoma State University Range Club and The Wildlife Society Club as their members make some final tune ups for competition starting Feb. 2 at the Society for Range Management's 66th Annual Meeting, Technical Training and Trade Show in Oklahoma City.
The event will host more than 1,200 range managers, producers, companies, agency personnel, students, higher education professionals and anyone interested in learning about current issues affecting rangeland management.
"Being a member of one of these clubs is such a great networking opportunity," said Karen Hickman, professor in OSU's Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, and co-advisor of the Range Club. "It really helps increase the success of finding employment through interaction with professionals who work in the field."
Nearly 300 students from 25 universities around the country will attend the meeting and participate in the undergraduate student competitions. The Range Club has placed well at the last couple of national meetings, and Hickman has high expectations for this year.
"The club members have really been working hard on their projects this year. I know they'll do great," Hickman said.
While at the meeting, members of The Range Club will be participating in competitions such as the Rangeland Cup, Display Board Contest and taking the Undergraduate Range Management Exam (URME). Both clubs will volunteer to help host the meeting.
The Rangeland Cup provides some situational problem solving, as teams are posed a question or scenario and try and discover the path to the best outcome. It promotes critical thinking and cooperative collaborative work on topics relevant to rangeland science and management.
The URME is an extremely difficult exam, which tests students' working knowledge of rangeland ecology and management.
"Also at the National SRM meeting, members will have the opportunity to attend career fairs where they will be able to meet with government agencies that offer student internships during the summer," said Chism Horton, OSU Range Club president. "I believe being a member of the OSU Range Club gives NREM students who are interested in pursuing a career in NREM related jobs a leg up in finding their dream job due to all of the contacts they make while attending the State and National meetings."
The meeting has not taken place in Oklahoma for more than 30 years, and Hickman is excited to highlight the state.
"Being host for this meeting allows the Oklahoma Section of the Society for Range Management to highlight the unique features of Oklahoma and the great things Oklahoma City has to offer," Hickman said. The event will run Feb. 2 - 8 in the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City. Those interested in attending may register on-site at the meeting. Visit the Society for Range Management website at rangelands.org for more information.
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