The International Agriculture Club is finding new ways to promote global agriculture and international awareness this semester.

A.J. Blair, president of the International Agriculture Club, said club members realized the need for more promotion of international experiences last fall.

“I think Sept. 11 brought it on, made it more pressing,” said Blair, junior in agricultural business.

Last November, club adviser Russ Mullen challenged the club to compose a resolution stating their support of international students, Blair said. The resolution was composed, brought before the College of Agriculture Student Council, and accepted by the other clubs.

The resolution “caused the club to look at what kind of leadership role they wanted to play in the College of Agriculture,” said Mullen, professor of agronomy.

The International Agriculture Club and 25 other clubs from the Agriculture Student Council signed the resolution. The resolution states, “we, the International Agriculture Club of Iowa State University, wish to express our support for all international students regardless of race, religion, or cultural identity. In light of recent events, we encourage the student body of Iowa State University as a whole to continue to respect and support international students.”

Now that the club has a new purpose, Blair is working to increase the amount of people involved with the organization.

“We want to increase membership and awareness of international relationships,” Blair said. “We want knowledge to increase.”

Blair said the club is going to try hosting other clubs’ meetings by bringing in an international speaker and providing food at meetings.

“We will also give a little information about our club at the meeting and a little information about study-abroad opportunities,” Blair said.

The International Agriculture Club will work with the club they are hosting to find a speaker that fits them, he said, such as somebody who works in the industry or a professor who does international work.

Club members introduced their plan to other agriculture clubs at a recent meeting of the College of Agriculture Student Council.

Mullen said both the Agronomy Club and the Agricultural Business Club have expressed interest in this opportunity.

The International Agriculture Club will also work with clubs outside the College of Agriculture who have an interest in international agriculture, Mullen said.

“Our goal is to get people excited about international opportunities in agriculture with a good speaker and then give them the resources to take advantage of these opportunities,” Blair said.