University of Idaho flags wave proudly at our homes. We have “I” stickers on our cars. I’ve wrapped my pickup truck in silver and gold to let people know the Vandals are in town. Vandals are everywhere, in every community in Idaho, so let’s continue to make our presence known. One way we can tell the University of Idaho story, and reiterate that agriculture is our foundation, is to enhance the grain bins and grain elevators along our highways with pride gold and black lettering. We can transform our alumni-owned and Vandal-supported farms and barns with road signs sporting Vandal graphics. Our land-grant mission extends to each of Idaho’s 44 counties. Let’s show it with signs, building wraps and paint along our state’s roadways. Our generous donors are prepared to have barns and grain bins “Vandalized” this spring across Idaho. We just have to pick the best locations. Fill out the form on our website to volunteer your property, or to identify an agricultural fixture in your community that would be ideal for a long-term Vandal billboard. All the property owner has to do is donate the space. U of I will cover the cost of graphics, materials and installation thanks to the support of private donations designated for the purpose of telling the Vandal story. These outside-the-box elevators, grain bins, silos and road signs will serve as a permanent fixture, complementing the billboards, bus wraps and television ads you’ve seen throughout Idaho and eastern Washington over the past several months. They provide a lasting reminder that all of Idaho is Vandal Country. The first Vandal grain bins and elevators are slated for installation once the weather improves this spring. Each graphic will last for three to five years, or longer depending on maintenance. It’s another step in our marketing efforts that are gaining traction in Idaho and beyond. We have empowered alumni with a toolkit to recruit students and build community support. We have “Vandalized” more than 1,000 alumni classrooms with pennants so teachers can show off their Vandal experience. These grain bins, elevators and road signs connect directly to our agricultural roots, starting with one of the best Colleges of Agricultural and Life Sciences in the country. They represent a commitment to our land-grant mission of teaching, discovery and service. Let’s continue to tell our story in a homegrown and sustained way. |