LOGAN – Utah State University’s Utah Agricultural Products BBQ will celebrate its 30th anniversary Sept. 26 at Craig Aston Park at 1390 North 800 East in Logan.
The annual event, which runs from 2 to 5 p.m., brings together agricultural producers, community members and USU students while raising money for scholarships in the S.J. & Jessie E. Quinney College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
A file photo fo the Utah State University’s Utah Agricultural Products BBQ.
The BBQ will feature Utah-grown beef, dairy products, pork, lamb, corn, apples and other agricultural products, along with onion rings, salad and Creamies.
What began as a grassroots effort to connect the agriculture industry with university students has grown into an annual community tradition. Over the years, the event has raised more than $369,000 and funded 362 scholarships for students pursuing careers in agriculture, food production and natural resources.
“This really started as a way for the industry to invest in its future,” said Randy Parker, board chair of the Agricultural Products BBQ. “And it’s become a labor of love, an event that brings together the university, the industry and the community to do something meaningful for students.”
This year’s BBQ coincides with USU Homecoming football festivities.
“This is something people look forward to every year,” Parker said. “It’s a feel-good event that has done a tremendous amount of good.”
A file photo fo the Utah State University’s Utah Agricultural Products BBQ.
The event attracts thousands of people and provides an opportunity for attendees to meet the people who produce their food. Cattle ranchers, dairy farmers and wool growers help prepare and serve food, creating what organizers describe as a farm-to-table experience.
Parker said the direct interaction between consumers and agricultural producers is an important part of the event.
“There’s tremendous value in that connection,” he said. “People can talk directly with producers and better understand where their food comes from. It’s a powerful way to bring everyone together.”
Funds raised through the BBQ provide scholarships that can help reduce students’ financial burdens and allow them to focus on their education and career goals.
The event has become a way for USU, the agriculture industry and the broader community to celebrate Utah agriculture while supporting the next generation of agriculture and natural resources professionals.
More information about the Agricultural Products BBQ and how to donate is available through the Quinney College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.