College of Agriculture Celebrates 150 years

By: Taylor Edwards

This year is the 150th anniversary of the Colleges of Agriculture and Engineering. Auburn University was restructured under the Morrill Act, changing its name from the East Alabama Male College into the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Alabama. Later, the Colleges of Agriculture and Engineering were established. Throughout its time, the College of Agriculture has overcome hardships through war, made major agricultural advancements, and created a successful, empowering environment for students. Below are some of the college’s major accomplishments over it’s 150 years.

1872-1st professor of agriculture was hired, William Jemison.

1873-A three-year curriculum is established making ag the only field not to require four years.

1874-A scholarship for agriculture students is established to increase enrollment.

1876-The first “Bachelor of Agriculture” degrees were awarded to students.

1885-Alabama Polytechnic Institute (API) gets its name.

1887-Faculty members form the entomology museum.

1888-Samford Hall construction begins.

1890-The 2nd Morrill Act is passed to provide funding to land-grant colleges.

1893-Toomer’s Drug founder gets an agriculture degree.

1896-The Old Rotation is established to provide research opportunities.

1910-Comer Hall, the College of Agriculture’s home-base, is built.

1913-Students form the Agricultural Club and have their first banquet.

1915-Alabama Cooperative Extension System is created from the passing of the Smith-Lever Act.

1915-1st professor of Agricultural Engineering is hired.

1917-Smith-Hughes Act creates the need for an Ag Education degree.

1919-API helps with statewide boll weevil crisis affecting cotton growth.

1920-3 pillars provide foundation for College of Agriculture: teaching, research and outreach.

1921-Senior class published the 1st issue of the Alabama Farmer Newsletter.

1925-1st full time female hired to work at an experiment station.

1929-Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station substations are established.

1930-The Great Depression begins.1936-George Washington Carver gives guest lecture to collegiate FFA chapter.

1941-API focuses on supporting the war.

1953-First group of doctoral students were accepted.

1956-Master of Agriculture degree proposed.

1960-Women make leaps to be successful and comfortable on campus.

1961-Gold became popular and provided opportunity for Turfgrass Management.

1968-Auburn University at Montgomery is established.

1970-Soybeans become a staple crop in Alabama.

1974-Old Nancy, a 1905 Case steam traction engine, was loaned to the college.

1978-Cobb becomes one of the 1st female extension entomologists.

1978-Crop Soil and Environmental Science soil judging team becomes 6-time national champions.

1982-Ag Ambassadors group is established.

1983-Dean's award for Excellence in Instruction was established.

1984-Ann E. Thompson becomes the first female extension director.

1990-Milestones accomplished in fisheries research (tilapia reproduction control).

1994-R. Dennis Rouse Life Sciences building was dedicated.

1997-Agricultural Engineering becomes Biosystems Engineering.

1998-Kira Bowen becomes first female department leader.

2006-Water resources center was formed.

2009-Jay Gogue, horticulture alumnus, retires as university president.

2011-Researchers study tar balls from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill.

2012-The Aquaculture and Fisheries Business Institute was chartered.

2013-Fisheries becomes its own school.

2014-Nannan Liu becomes first Asian-American, female entomology chair in the U.S.

2015-College retires Ag Illustrated and starts publishing The Season.

2015-College founds Ag Peer Mentor program.

2018-Paul Dyce develops blood test to forecast heifer fertility.

2020-Alfa Pavilion at Ag Heritage Park is renovated.

2021-Miller Poultry Center wraps construction.

2021-The college averages more than $1 million in scholarships each year.

2021-The Animal Science Department brought back the livestock judging team.

2022-Roof of the Rane; a partnership between the Horticulture Department and the College of Human Sciences.

2022-College of Agriculture celebrates 150 years.