Interview of Dave Fernandez

Interviewed by Christina
Ag Field Day April 24, 2004
Transcribed by Lauren Bohn 5/17/04
Ed. B. McCay April 24, 2006

Q: First off, what year? Any experiences?

Dave Fernandez (DF): I graduated in '94. You want just general, Ag Field Day?

Q: Anything.

DF: I think Ag Field Day is probably one of the best memories of being a Cook student. I bet that everybody says that it was a lot different then when they were here. But I think there was a lot more of a partying aspect during the day, which I think it's good now that people are getting out and seeing stuff. We always went around and volunteered. I did animal shows every year. I raised and showed an animal so that was a great experience. I probably would have never done that. Really just made a lot of friends that I'm here with today, 10 years later. Just a great experience over all.

Q: What type of animal?

DF: Well, through the Animal Science department you can do it for a credit. My freshman year I raised a pig and showed it on Ag Field Day. In three years I did a pig, a goat and a sheep. It was fun. You got a credit for it and you got to learn a little about raising an animal and how to show it and prepare it. It's an experience I would have never gotten because I didn't grow up on a farm or anything like that. Definitely an experience I wouldn't have gotten anywhere else. So that was pretty much the major thing.

Q: Do you think it's changed a lot?

DF: I graduated as an environmental science major. I think that major has changed a lot, just based on some of the people I talked to. A lot of the professors who started the program and who were in the beginnings of it are gone now. That's changed. The campus still has that small college feel within a large university, which I think is one of the best things about it. But overall it's expanded, which is good and the vibe is still the same.

Q: Thank you very much.

DF: Thank you.