2002/2003 Abstract
Clemson University

As the school year came to a close, the Clemson University Block and Bridle Club elected a fine group of students to serve the club for the 2002-2003 school year.

As usual, this group of student leaders was busy preparing for the upcoming school year.  Once August came, the club had its first meeting.  The club also participated in the Animal and Veterinary Sciences Annual Welcome Back Cookout.  This cookout was a time for all our members to meet the incoming freshmen in our department and encourage them to join Block and Bridle.  The club also took part in the First Friday Parade.  The First Friday Parade is a time-honored tradition at Clemson that involves students from various clubs taking part in a parade through Clemson to celebrate the first home football game.  As usual, the Clemson University Block and Bridle had a great time.

As September approached, it was time for us to work on our main fundraiser, country cured hams.  Members from the club get together outside of school and salt the hams themselves.  The hams are aged and cured and are our biggest fundraiser.  We also had our traditional initiation for new members.  Initiation is one of the most fun events that the club does all year.  The only thing we can say to the initiates is to “bring a change of clothes.”

In October, we helped with the fall festival.  Kids from the greater Clemson area come to participate in a carnival event put on by clubs at Clemson involved in agriculture.  Block and Bridle did roping stations and awarded all the contestants with plenty of candy. 

December really came in a hurry and we had our annual Christmas Semi-Formal at a great place called Just More BBQ in Pendleton, South Carolina.  We had some really great food and danced the night away.  It was a great time for all of us.

As the spring semester began, Block and Bridle members began to help students in AVS 108 show their individual farm animals.  All of the club members really enjoy helping the freshmen and strong friendships are always made among the club.

The spring semester went by in a hurry as the club prepared for the Little North American.  LNA as members call it is a livestock show in which the students from AVS 108 get to show their chosen animal.  It really is a lot of fun and an extreme amount of work, but it is all most definitely worth it.

As the year came to close, the Block and Bridle Club participated in the annual Down on the Farm Party, which is organized by the Ag and Natural Resources Committee.  We had our final business meeting in April of 2003 and elected officers for the next school year. 

The school year had come to an end, but Block and Bridle was already in gear for the upcoming school year.  Clemson University’s Block and Bridle is unique in that all of the members have a strong work ethic and love to have fun at the same time.  When those two attributes are put together, great things happen within the club.  We are a family and at Clemson, we stick together like a family.  That is the most special part of the Clemson University Block and Bridle.

Officers and Advisors

President: Britt Stokes; Vice President: Neil Dixon; Secretary: Kristin Clinton; Treasurer: Deena Hallman; Marshal: Adam Williams; Publicity: Charlotte Rutledge; Social: Carrie Meetze; Rodeo: Will Reinhardt; Woodburn: Katie Berry; Chapter Activities: Chase McIntosh; Scrapbook: Jennifer Tanner; Initiation: Brandon Richardson; Cattle Sales: Lee Van Vlake and Chad Ayers; Ham Sales: Matt Burns; Little North American: Matt Burns and Jessica Davis; BBQ: Joseph Hord; Web Page: Hans Mentzer; Ag and Natural Resources Committee : Morgan Judy and Molly Gordon; Advisors : Dr. Carl Thompson and Dr. Harold Hupp.
 

Chapter Abstracts