Noble Foundation's AgVenture awaits 24 students

NEWS RELEASE
Issued - March 26, 2009

ARDMORE, Okla. — The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation is currently accepting applications for AgVenture 2009, a four-day summer camp designed for high school students (sophomores through seniors) who are strongly interested in agriculture or may be contemplating a career in agriculture.

There is no fee for AgVenture. The Noble Foundation provides transportation, meals and housing for all students and sponsoring staff. Selected participants are responsible only for their own transportation to and from AgVenture 2009.

"There is not another summer camp like the Noble Foundation's AgVenture," said Shan Ingram, education and special projects manager. "For four days, the Noble Foundation's agricultural staff, staff from Oklahoma State University and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, and representatives of private industry help provide these students with the opportunity to experience the many facets of production agriculture and research. Not only is AgVenture entertaining, but it's highly educational."

Applications for AgVenture can be obtained online at www.noble.org/Ag/Agventure/2009/. The deadline to apply is Tuesday, April 14. AgVenture is limited to 24 participants who are selected by a committee on a competitive basis. Applicants will be notified of the committee's decision early in May.

This year's camp takes place from Monday, June 8, through Thursday, June 11, at the Noble Foundation's campus in Ardmore.

Participants will get hands-on experience while learning about:: • grazing management;
• commercial fish farming;
• wildlife management;
• livestock production and new technologies;
• intensive vegetable production;
• fencing materials and methods;
• pecan production;
• livestock marketing and farm management;
• agriculture career paths and opportunities; and
• soil conservation.

To be eligible for AgVenture, participants must live or go to school in one of the following counties and currently be classified as a sophomore, junior or senior:

Oklahoma
Atoka, Bryan, Caddo, Canadian, Carter, Choctaw, Cleveland, Coal, Comanche, Cotton, Garvin, Grady, Hughes, Jefferson, Johnston, Lincoln, Love, Marshall, McClain, Murray, Okfuskee, Oklahoma, Pittsburg, Pontotoc, Pottawatomie, Pushmataha, Seminole, Stephens, Tillman; or

Texas
Archer, Clay, Collin, Cooke, Dallas, Delta, Denton, Fannin, Grayson, Hunt, Jack, Lamar, Montague, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant, Wichita, Wise.

For additional information about AgVenture, contact Tracy Cumbie at 580.224.6411 or by e-mail at tlcumbie@noble.org.

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Photo:: A previous AgVenture participant working with Mike Porter, a Noble Foundation consultation team manager.

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For media inquiries concerning the Noble Foundation, please contact:

J. Adam Calaway

jacalaway@noble.org

The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Inc. (www.noble.org), headquartered in Ardmore, Okla., is a nonprofit organization conducting agricultural, forage improvement and plant biology research; assisting farmers and ranchers through educational and consultative agricultural programs; and providing grants to nonprofit charitable, educational and health organizations.