The College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences (CAFES) Prexy Council raised $21,611 from 170 donors during its February campaign to help establish an endowment.

The CAFES Prexy Council is establishing an endowment that will support student clubs and organizations. The endowment will also help promote agriculture on campus through programs and events such as campus-wide Ag Day, the CAFES Ice Cream Social, the CAFES Career Fair and more.

“We are so appreciative of all the support we received from this campaign from industry members, current students, alumni, SDSU faculty and staff and community members,” Cara Teigum, CAFES Prexy Council president, said. “The future of Prexy Council is bright thanks to those who believe in our goals and mission.”

The council has a goal to raise $50,000 over the next five years to put toward the endowment fund.

Cargill, South Dakota Association of Conservation Districts, South Dakota Soybean and several other industry donors supported the campaign through donations and sponsoring challenges that help the council hit benchmarks within the campaign.

“It’s been really fun to see students, clubs, alumni, faculty, staff and industry come together to support this cause,” Mary Christensen, CAFES Prexy Council adviser, said. “It has been rewarding to see how important this cause is to everyone.”

The council is still accepting contributions to the endowment. Donations can be sent to the SDSU Foundation or the CAFES academic programs office located in Berg Agricultural Hall, Christensen said. Donations will also be accepted on One Day for State.

The Prexy Council is made up of representatives from each of the 38 clubs within CAFES and is overseen by an executive board that organizes meetings and events for CAFES students.

Every year, the council hosts the CAFES ice cream social and campus wide Ag Day.

The ice cream social provides students the opportunity to meet members of CAFES clubs and learn more about what each organization has to offer. Campus Ag Day is a celebration that promotes agriculture to all students. CAFES clubs and industry sponsors set up booths in the University Student Union and other campus locations to promote agriculture on campus.

The council also sponsors a speaker that gives a presentation on a relevant topic in the agriculture industry.

“I’m really excited about the future of Prexy Council because this endowment will allow students to branch out and be creative in creating events and resources to promote agriculture,” Sadie Vander Wal, CAFES Prexy Council secretary and treasurer, said.