Thanksgiving is a time of giving thanks for what we have. A time to spend with family and come together for ONE. BIG. MEAL. There are thousands of men and women who have had a hand in bringing that meal to millions of Americans. Many of those people have a college degree at a program similar to the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Here are a few examples of majors related to Thanksgiving.
Food Science is the most obvious major associated with Thanksgiving, after all, it is the study of food. Food scientists create new and improved products for people to eat. This major is behind many of the products that sit on the Thanksgiving table. Boxed stuffing, gravy mix, jellied cranberries and many other foods have been improved over centuries to make them taste better and last longer. These foods would not have been possible without the innovation of food scientists.
An Agricultural Business Management graduate makes executive decisions about ways for a company to remain profitable. If this does not happen, many of the agricultural businesses, including Kraft, Jennie-O and Ocean Spray, can be subject to financial stress. Having strong management is vital to bringing all of the Thanksgiving products to the table.
Finally we come to the major that helps bring you the bird. Yes, the turkey even requires its own major. Poultry Science is crucial in improving the processes involved in turkey farming. They work with genetics, nutrition and on turkey farming facilities to provide optimal turkeys that end up on your dinner table. It is because of majors like poultry science that we can produce such large turkeys.
Cranberries are an important staple in Wisconsin’s agricultural landscape as well as at the Thanksgiving dinner table. The two majors important to this crop are Horticulture and Agronomy. Together these two majors work to improve crop yield of this increasingly important fruit. Addressing issues in water conservation and reducing the use of fertilizers are important needs for the cranberry industry.
With all of this food we are eating, it is important to not forget about food safety. One of the important majors employed to ensure food is prepared in the safest manor is a Microbiologist. A problem with food safety wherever food is produced and manufactured can lead to major issues with food-borne illnesses in the American public. Microbiologists work hard to make sure this does not happen.
The major contributors, however, are the producers of all of this food. The turkey farmers, cranberry growers and dairy farmers of the world are the people that produce all of the great food we have come to expect at our Thanksgiving spread. We owe them the greatest thanks this Thanksgiving as they not only produce all of the food needed for Thanksgiving, but also the entire year.
I guess you could say it is all of these people that help make Thanksgiving a reality. These people help bring families together every year, helping to ensure a great product for your family to enjoy. For that, we thank all of the people involved in providing us with a great Thanksgiving meal.
