CALS Clubs and Organizations
Student organizations and activities provide opportunities for service, leadership and industry contacts to broaden and enrich the academic experience. The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences has a strong network of student organizations that provide excellent experiences to help students develop these important skills.
Student Organizations
Listed below are student organizations affiliated with the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Virginia Tech also maintains a list of student organizations across the university.
Note: Student leaders or advisers who wish to provide corrections or additional information for this page should contact the CALS Academic Programs Office
This club aims to improve its members' experience at Virginia Tech by facilitating social interactions that develop the support system needed by graduate students both at the university and in the future.
This club promotes professional educational, social, and teamwork development in the fields of agri-business, agri-marketing, and applied agricultural economics.
Student group providing agriculture, health, and nutrition education and activities for ECHO, an adult day services for people with a dual diagnosis of intellectual disability and mental illness.
Departmental graduate student association that provides professional and personal development opportunities in agricultural and extension education.
Leadership, fellowship, and educational opportunities abound through participation in agricultural sciences-related activities at the local, state, and national levels.
The honor society of agricultural, food, and biological engineering promotes the high ideals of the engineering profession.
Alpha Gamma Rho is a social and professional fraternity for young men pursuing a career related to the agriculture, food, or fiber or natural resources. The fraternity is located on a historic six acre plantation near the outskirts of town.
This organization is a professional, service, and honorary fraternity for men and women to foster high standards of scholarship, character, leadership, and a spirit of fellowship, and to promote the profession of agriculture.
ASABE is a professional and technical society dedicated to the advancement of engineering applicable to agricultural, food, and biological systems.
This club promotes interest in animal nutrition in the areas of research, education, and careers. It recruits undergraduate scholars through informational meetings and guest lectures.
This organization is an educational and social club for students of all academic levels involved in the study of biochemistry.
Block and Bridle is a professional and social club that promotes higher scholastic standards and a more complete understanding of animal science among students through events and programs.
Ambassadors are undergraduate students who are advocates for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. By representing the student body, Ambassadors have been placed into a position of leadership and service.
The Collegiate Beef Leadership Council educates students about the beef industry and to serve as a liaison between Virginia Tech and the Virginia Cattlemen's Association.
This is a professional society for current and aspiring agricultural education teachers, providing professional development and networking opportunities.
This is a professional club that promotes greater understanding of the dairy industry among students and the community through social, educational, and fund-raising events.
This is a student-led organization emphasizing environmental interests. Professional, educational, social, service, and leadership opportunities exist.
FarmHouse Fraternity is a national social fraternity with an agricultural background, chartered at Virginia Tech in 2011. The fraternity, housed near downtown, has a strong reputation and devotion for building men to achieve their lifelong goals.
Feed by Seed promotes international agricultural education, development, and advocacy.
This club raises awareness about nutrition and fitness to Virginia Tech students and the surrounding community.
Fitness and Nutrition Club
This club promotes the professional growth of students through involvement with the Institute of Food Technologists, and through education and service activities.
Visit the Food Science Club's GobblerConnect page and Instagram page to learn more.
The Food Product Development and Health Promotion Association designs and develops food products for industry and professionals that sponsor competitions.
This professional club promotes horticulture and the horticulture industry among students, the community, and statewide through social, educational, and professional activities.
MANNRS promotes careers by encouraging research by undergraduate and graduate students; fostering scholarly achievement and excellence; and providing a local and national network of support for members.
The Virginia Tech chapter of Phi Tau Sigma honors and elevates the achievements of Hokie students and professionals in food science and technology.
Learn more by visiting the Phi Tau Sigma GC page.
This organization is for students interested in the physical therapy profession.
This organization was originally established to unify students, educators, and professional horticulturists. It promotes scholarship, fellowship, professional leadership, and the enrichment of human life through plants.
This organization provides scientific service and social interactions by graduate students for the department faculty, staff, and students.
The Poultry Club promotes the academic and professional development of students through poultry judging activities, exhibits, field trips, tours and other activities, and assists members seeking scholarships, internships and experience in the industry.
This pre-professional club promotes the study of veterinary medicine through educational, service, fund raising, and recreational opportunities.
Sigma Alpha is a professional sorority that fosters the study of agriculture among women by promoting scholarship, leadership, service, and sisterhood. Activities include philanthropies, socials, rushes, and educational services.
This organization values and elevates LGBTQ+ individuals and allies in the Virginia Tech community with connections to agriculture and natural resources through advocacy, education, and community.
Students for Cultivating Change on GobblerConnect: https://gobblerconnect.vt.edu/organization/cultivatingchange
Advisor: Donna Westfall-Rudd, mooredm@vt.edu
This social and educational organization is for students preparing for careers in dietetics.
The Swine Club promotes learning about all aspects of swine use and care, ranging from production to biomedical research. Activities include volunteering at pig related events, social, and fundraising.
This social and educational club promotes professional and social interaction among students and encourages a fuller understanding of the work of turf managers and promotes cooperation with them.
The Virginia Tech Equestrian Club promotes understanding of the equine species, their characteristics, and care; sponsors the Intercollegiate Riding Team; and provides opportunities for involvement in equine-related activities.
A chapter that provides students interested in agriculture and rural communities leadership, educational, legislative, networking, and social opportunities. In association with Virginia Farm Bureau and American Farm Bureau Federations.
This is an educational and social organization concerned with entomology and open to all members of the university community which also serves as the focus of support to graduate students in the department.
Judging and Competition Teams
Judging teams and competition teams provide opportunities for students to develop leadership and public presentation skills while putting to use the technical skills they learn in class as they compete against their peers from universities nationwide. Membership on teams provide an impressive entry on a resume, as well as the opportunity to travel to competitions throughout the United States. Among our current judging teams are:
- Crops Judging Team
- Dairy Cattle Judging Team
- Dairy Challenge Team
- Food Science and Technology College Bowl Team
- Horse Judging Team
- Livestock Judging Team
- National Agri-Marketing Association Team
- Virginia Tech Landscape Team
- Virginia Tech Soil Judging Team
- Virginia Tech Weed Team