Photo by Tom Campbell Chelsea Robinson leaped at the opportunity to join the Purdue Equestrian Team.

About 1,400 students are involved in the 47 student organizations associated with Purdue Agriculture. Additionally, ag students can join many of the 700 other student organizations on campus, ranging from the Aikido Club to the Ultimate Frisbee Club.

Many students join the clubs to build their resumes, relieve stress or make new friends who share a common interest. But getting involved in clubs offers students much more. Especially in agriculture clubs, students expand their horizons through community service, acquire new skills, and enjoy memorable experiences that will help them throughout their lives.

Horsing around

Chelsea Robinson, a junior in pre-pharmacy, became involved with horses when she was 7 and joined Purdue's Horsemanship Club and Equestrian Team when she came to Purdue. Her reason for joining was simple: She wanted to get involved in something outside the classroom. Her love of riding and horses has turned her club involvement into more than just an extracurricular activity.

"My workload at school is stressful, and riding offers me a break in the day," Robinson says. "Being around the horses keeps me sane."

Robinson, from Indianapolis, says joining the Equestrian Team not only gave her a new group of friends who shared the same interest, but it also made her transition to Purdue easier. The team won regional and zone competitions early in 2004, allowing it to compete at the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association Nationals that May.

Robinson found nationals to be a fun, challenging and stressful experience, even though coach Jerry Steinmetz encouraged team members to just do their best and not be stressed about scores.

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