The 16th annual Ag Week will be hosted by South Dakota State University’s College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences (CAFES) Prexy Council the week of April 13-17.

This year’s theme is United Through Agriculture, which is focused on the accomplishments that are connected throughout agriculture, said CAFES Dean Joseph Cassady.

“(We’re) trying to bring more awareness to the full impact that agriculture has on people’s everyday lives,” Cassady said.

Ag Week is hosted by the CAFES Prexy council, which serves as the governing body for all CAFES students and clubs. Each club has a representative that serves on the council.

Prexy Council President Megan Sanders said Ag Week was previously Ag Day, but increased interest in the event led to the expansion into a week-long event.

“Instead of just having the banquet and a few little things on that Wednesday, we’ve grown it into a week-long celebration,” Sanders said.

Ag Week events begin on Monday, April 13 with a Team Dodgeball event in the Animal Science Arena at 7 p.m. Students can compete in teams of six to win prizes.

On Tuesday, April 14, students can attend an Environmental Scientist for a Day event, held in the Raven Ag Precision Building between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. The Park Interpretation and Management Club will provide students with a look at the work an environmental scientist does.

Three events are scheduled for Wednesday, April 15, starting with the Milk Run and Breakfast at 6:30 a.m. in the Dairy Science Building. Sponsor and club tables will be set up on Main Street in the University Student Union from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., followed by the Ag Week Banquet starting at 5 p.m. in Club 71 at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium.

There will be two events held in the afternoon on Thursday, April 16. First is a Picnic and Potluck in Raven’s High Bay room from 5-6:30 p.m. and an Ag Trivia game in Raven room 176 immediately after.

A swing dance wraps up the Ag Week schedule on Friday, April 17. The dance will be held in The Barn from 8-10 p.m.

Sanders, a senior agriculture business major, said seeing everyone come together is one of her favorite things about Ag Week.

“(It’s) a really strong passion of mine, just seeing (people) just really come together over one common purpose,” Sanders said.