FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Starting the year off right, student ambassadors from the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences welcomed new students to the networking event Carnival of Clubs last Thursday.

"The purpose of this event is to not only reach out to freshman but also all of Bumpers College and show our family environment," said Madolyn Wynn, an ambassador representing both the animal science and horticulture departments.   

Bumpers College prides itself on building personal relationships and getting students involved is important.  Carnival of Clubs provides the opportunity to learn and sign up for clubs that interest students and pertain to their major.

"Being involved with clubs is a good way to network and meet people in the same major as you," said Sam Harris, a freshman agricultural business major and the 2015-16 Arkansas State FFA president. "It keeps you academically focused and provides an outlet for your social life, especially when being so far away from home."

Over 20 clubs and organizations were represented. Not only is it important for students to get involved, it is also important for clubs to continue to grow. 

Clubs represented:

• Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow
• AAMPD
• Block and Bridle
• Collegiate FFA
• Horticulture Club
• Meats Quiz Bowl
• Student Dietetics Association
• International Programs Office
• Agricultural Business Club
• Ag Mechanics Club
• Collegiate FFA
• Crop, Soils, and Environmental Science Club
• Food Science Club
• Poultry Science Club
• Student Sustainability Club
• Sigma Alpha
• Alpha Gamma Rho
• Honors Student Board

This year's attendance seemed to be higher than previous years and overall more successful, Wynn said.

About the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences: Bumpers College provides life-changing opportunities to position and prepare graduates who will be leaders in the businesses associated with foods, family, the environment, agriculture, sustainability and human quality of life; and who will be first-choice candidates of employers looking for leaders, innovators, policy makers and entrepreneurs. The college is named for Dale Bumpers, former Arkansas governor and longtime U.S. senator who made the state prominent in national and international agriculture.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.