College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences History
1888
The Agricultural College of Utah is founded. Two years later, Vendla Berntson enrolls as the college's first student.
1890
A "Course in Agriculture" began to be offered and included studies in botany, horticulture, geology, entomology, dairy practice, veterinary science, moral science and farm practice.
1894
Required reading for students in 1894 included Ulysses, A Christmas Carol and Paradise Lost.
1901
The Department of Agronomy and the Department of Animal Industry were founded.
1917
The Animal Science Building was constructed along the Quad and still stands there to this day.
1921
Gustav Wilster is hired to oversee the Aggie Creamery, headquartered in the basement of Old Main (shown on the left), and revitalize the course curricula in the dairy department.
1939
By 1939, Aggie Ice Cream offered 13 flavors including the standard vanilla, chocolate and strawberry and the more unusual like cantaloupe and pineapple.
1954
Various agricultural students helped grow and harvest apples that were then sold in the Apple Machine (shown on the left) in Old Main.
1956
The E.G. Peterson Agricultural Sciences Building opens.
1965
The Department of Plant Science is added to the College of Agriculture.
1986
The college adds the Department of Biotechnology later combined with the Department of Animal Industry to become the current Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences.
1989
The Department of Plant Science and the Department of Soil Science and Biometeorology merge, now known as the Department of Plant, Soils and Climate.
2001
The College of Agriculture absorbed parts of the former College of Family Life including family and consumer science education program, and the Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences.
2005
The College of Agriculture suffers a serious loss when an instructor and eight students were killed in a car accident returning to campus after a field trip. A memorial was built in their honor.
2007
The School of Applied Sciences, Technology and Education is added to the college.
2008
The Department of Applied Economics is added to the college after the Department of Economics in the Huntsman School of Business splits.
2010
The Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning rejoins the College of Agriculture after the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences is split.
2011
Governor Gary Herbert signs House Bill 57 establishing the School of Veterinary Medicine, the first and only veterinary school in the state of Utah.
2012
The new Agricultural Sciences building opens on February 29. This new building houses the Student Services Center, labs, classrooms and much of the college's administration.
2013
The college changes its name to the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences to better represent the academic diversity found within the college.
2014
The Sam Skaggs Family Equine Education Center was completed. The center serves the college’s growing equine science and equine therapy programs.
2015
The Outdoor Product Design and Development program is launched, offering the nation’s first undergraduate degree in designing and constructing outdoor apparel and gear.
2016
Four years after the program’s first classes, 27 newly minted doctors of veterinary medicine celebrate their graduation from the USU/WSU program in veterinary medicine.
2017
The inaugural Reindeer Express is hosted by the School of Veterinary Medicine. Students educate guests about veterinary school, animal health, and the secrets of Santa’s annual flight.
2018
The Aggie Chocolate Factory opens its doors as a specialized food science laboratory. It is the first chocolate factory at a university in the western United States and produces its confections from bean to bar.
2019
USU expands its aviation technology and aviation maintenance management programs to the Price campus. USU Eastern’s program will admit between 25-100 students, and students can receive FAA certification upon completion.
2021
The School of Veterinary Medicine becomes the first College of Veterinary Medicine in Utah