On a crisp fall evening at UC Davis Health Stadium, the Aggies football team took the field—and agriculture took the spotlight. From kickoff to the concourse, the spirit of ag was celebrated both on and off the field.

For the second year in a row, the UC Davis CLEAR Center proudly sponsored the Salute to Ag football game — a unique opportunity not just to celebrate agriculture, but to help agricultural organizations connect with the public and share their stories in a meaningful way. 

“When agricultural groups come to events like this, it’s a great chance to close that knowledge gap,” said Joe Proudman, Associate Director for Communications for the CLEAR Center. “From exhibits to one-on-one conversations between farmers and fans, we hope people walk away with a clearer picture of what modern agriculture really looks like.” 

And celebrating agriculture is a bit of a full circle moment for the UC Davis Aggies. UC Davis’ legacy in agriculture dates back to its founding in 1908 as the University Farm, an extension of UC Berkeley’s Division of Agronomy. Originally established to address practical challenges in agriculture—such as improving crop yields and helping California dairy farmers preserve milk before refrigeration was common—UC Davis has maintained its strong agricultural roots. Today, it continues to fulfill its land-grant mission through research, education, and outreach.

And as part of this one-of-a-kind agricultural celebration, agricultural organizations from across California, along with several UC Davis student and campus groups, hosted educational tables throughout the stadium concourse. Participants included the Vet Aide Club, School of Veterinary Medicine, Swine Unit, UC Davis Young Cattlemen’s Association, Sheep Mowers, Impeckable Chickens, and the UC Davis Young Farmers and Ranchers. Statewide organizations such as UC Agriculture and Natural Resources (UCANR), California 4-H, the Center for Land-Based Learning, California Rangeland Trust, California Cattlemen’s Association, and the California Milk Advisory Board also took part, highlighting the depth and diversity of California’s agricultural community.

The event provided the opportunity for agricultural organizations to communicate with the public about what they do. As consumers grow more curious about where their food comes from, how it’s produced, and its impact on the environment, agricultural groups have a unique opportunity—and responsibility—to share their knowledge and farming practices with the public.  

“It's been very energetic, you know, people are asking questions, and we're happy to inform people on what the California Rangeland trust is,” said Jazmin Rodriguez from the California Rangeland Trust (CRT). “Just spreading awareness is awesome, and really, getting people to know about California agriculture is our main priority.” 

Her colleague from CRT, Elaina Niderer echoed that sentiment. “A lot of people don't even know what a land trust is, so that's a good conversation starter, because then we can explain who we are and what we do and what makes us unique.”

By telling their stories well, agricultural organizations can help build greater understanding and highlight the essential role they play in food security and sustainability.

“Schools like UC Davis help to educate us in scientific ways that we can then use to help run our ranches better and do a better job with our land and with our cattle, “said Rick Roberti, President of the California Cattlemen’s Association. “And events like this help us to know how the public feels about agriculture too.”

In addition to inside the stadium, outside of the stadium, agriculture was on full display with tractors, a petting zoo of pigmy goats, and thanks to the Center for Land Based Learning, a mobile farmers market with free samples of locally grown produce.

“This is the perfect opportunity to bring out the truck and to let more people know in the community about what we're doing to address the food access and security,” said Susie Sutphin from Center for Land Based Learning.

Consistently ranked as the top agricultural research university in the world, UC Davis continues to lead the way in solving global agricultural challenges. At halftime, Dr. Frank Mitloehner, Director of the CLEAR Center, spoke about the importance of agriculture at UC Davis.

“California is the number one agricultural state, and we want to make sure people understand where their food comes from,” Dr. Mitloehner said. “It comes from farmers and ranchers, and we want to salute them and celebrate them and show people how we are connected with them. This campus is deeply connected to farmers and to agriculture.”

He also discussed the ongoing livestock sustainability research at the CLEAR Center and emphasized the need to engage the public in conversations about their agricultural community. Addressing the climate impact of animal agriculture calls for cooperation among researchers, farmers, and the public. 

“What we do here is a lot of research to make animal agriculture more sustainable—and sustainable meaning reducing the environmental footprint and optimizing animal welfare. And so tonight is about us celebrating the university and agriculture,” Dr. Mitloehner said. 

He added that, “We want to make sure everybody knows how we are connected with pretty much every sector in the agricultural sector. We want to show farmers too, how much we appreciate that. Because let’s not forget, every bite you put in your mouth grew up on a farm, not in the supermarket. And we want to celebrate agriculture today.” 

Before the game, the area around the stadium was packed with energy for the Salute to Ag tailgate where students, professors and alumni swapped stories over barbecued meat that came straight from the university’s meat lab.

The new dean of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), Ashley Stokes, shared her excitement at seeing agriculture celebrated so visibly and enthusiastically on campus. 

“What a wonderful opportunity to highlight the Aggies and the root of our campus here and just to celebrate how important agriculture is to our communities and to all of our lives,” said Dean Stokes. 

As part of the celebration, Stokes was honored with the game ball during halftime of the Salute to Agriculture football game — a tribute to her leadership and the college’s vital role in the campus community.

In addition to celebrating agriculture, the fan experience was packed with highlights — from the Jr. Aggiette Cheer Clinic to the annual First Year Field Storm, and a tribute to Chicanx & Latinx Heritage Month. 

One of the most anticipated moments came late in the game: the big reveal of the llama that guards the university flock of sheep. After a fan vote, the name “Rita” was announced for the beloved llama, drawing big cheers from the crowd. 

The football team also debuted a brand-new set of Tahoe-themed jerseys, created in partnership with the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center (TERC). The uniforms celebrated TERC’s bold scientific breakthroughs — featuring a bold new color, Bold Aqua, and a new logo as well.

It was a winning night for all—The Aggies crushed their Big Sky opponent, Weber St. with a final score of 34-12 and the 12,238 in attendance for the game was the sixth-largest crowd in UC Davis Health Stadium history.