LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – Texas Tech’s Davis College of Agriculture and Natural Resources is using Ag Week to thank the Lubbock community, with students volunteering at sites across the city ahead of Saturday’s Ag Day game against Sam Houston.
Dr. Erica Irlbeck, associate dean of the Davis College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, said students are serving at several locations.
“We have students at the Food Bank. We have students at the Lubbock Arboretum. We have students at some of the neighborhood centers, at Lubbock Impact, at the Texas Tech Museum. They’re all over town, giving back to the community,” Irlbeck said.
Students take lessons into the field
While students normally study curriculum in the classroom, this week they are taking those lessons into the field. In central Lubbock, they are cleaning and preparing the ground for future crops.
“So, the Heart of Lubbock Community Garden, the Arboretum, cleaning up the Arroyo at the Texas Tech Museum. Those are some things that are directly linked to our curriculum. So, those were important for us to include in service day,” Irlbeck said.
Returning the community’s support
Irlbeck said the service day is a chance to return the support the city gives students throughout the year.
“Texas Tech is a huge part of the Lubbock community. And Lubbock is such a great host to our Texas Tech students while they’re here in Lubbock. And we want to give back to the community while we’re here. We want to serve the community because they’re always so generous to our students. And so, this is just one small way that we can show our appreciation to the community that’s so, so great to us,” Irlbeck said.
One student said the event brought people together around a shared cause.
“I did not expect so many people. I’m so glad that there’s like kind of like a community to give back to just in general, like just agriculture and all that. Just kind of like volunteering all together as a community,” she said.
Students are asking fans to continue the collaboration Saturday by filling the stands and wearing white, a nod to the cotton and agriculture celebrated.
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