by Tim Crosby
CARBONDALE, Ill. – Faculty members and several students will receive honors at the 72nd All Ag Banquet on Friday, Feb. 23, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Organized by the College of Agricultural, Life and Physical Sciences, the banquet begins at 5:30 p.m. with a social hour in the International Lounge at the SIU Student Center, followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. and award presentations at 7:30.
The college will honor three faculty with Lifetime, Mid-Career and Early Career Achievement awards, as well as bestow its Donald M. Elkins Excellence Award and Gary L. Minish Outstanding Advisor/Mentor Award to others.
Student honors will include the outstanding junior, senior and registered student organization awards for the 2023-24 academic year.
The annual banquet is open to the public. Tickets are $30 for students and $35 for non-students. Thanks to gifts from donors and industry partners, along with Undergraduate Student Government funding, tickets for most ag students will be free.
In addition, on Wednesday, Feb. 21, some 800 ag students also will participate in FFA Night at the Game, as the men’s basketball team takes on Murray State University at the Banterra Center. Students will participate in a program beginning at 5:15 p.m. and enter the center together at 5:45 p.m. for a photo with Coach Bryan Mullins prior to tip-off.