6 Things that Made San Antonio the Best Trip of 2016... So Far

I just got back from a great trip to San Antonio, Texas. Here are six reasons I'm calling it the best trip of 2016... so far:

Our group looks pretty spiffy in our new red Ag Business polos,
don't you think?

1. Competition
The main purpose of our trip was to compete in an Agricultural Economics quiz bowl. There's just something about a little bit of competition that makes any trip a little more exciting. Although I traveled down with a group of fellow Iowa State Ag Business students, we were split up on separate teams for the contest. This structure forced us to meet new people and encouraged a little friendly competition among students from the same school. (After a close third round, my team was eliminated by another Iowa State team.)

2. My travel partners
The group of Iowa State students that traveled with me made the trip a blast! We had such a fun time sight seeing around the San Antonio River Walk, exploring the local restaurants and cheering one another on. Before the trip we didn't know each other that well, but now we've shared tons of laughs, photos, and bowls of ice cream.

3. The weather
When we left, blizzard warnings were in the forecast for Iowa. As our first plane landed in Dallas, we could feel the warm sunshine streaming though the airplane windows. Once we arrived in San Antonio, we were all eager to ditch our coats in the hotel and explore our sunny surroundings. It was so nice to have a break from bundling up, even if it was just for a weekend.

4. The sights

The River Walk was gorgeous and full of places to eat and drink!

This trip marked my 25th state and my first time in Texas. Our hotel was right on the River Walk and walking distance for a tour of The Alamo. Right before catching our flight home, we made a mad dash to the Tower of the Americas. After a minute and a half elevator ride to the top, we could see for miles over the top of San Antonio. Unfortunately after a few selfies and a lap around the observation deck, it was time to go, but we had lots of fun!

5. Successful examples and mentors
Quiz bowl isn't the only thing going on at these meetings. Grad students and professors from around the region come to this conference to present their research and network. There are so many people with similar professional interests in one place. Their work and curiosity is really inspiring.

6. Meeting peers
While meeting so many people to look up to is awesome, it's also great to make friends from other schools. It's fun to sit around and compare college life around the country. Even though some of us say pop instead of soda or you guys instead of y'all, it's good to know I'm not the only one a little anxious about graduation or passionate about the story of agriculture.

Huge thank you to Georgeanne and Keri for spending their Superbowl weekend with eight "Quiz Bow Quties." We all had a great time in Texas. We appreciate your guidance and patience.

Also, thank you to the generous sponsors of the Iowa State Agricultural Business Club and our trip. Your support is what makes our program one of the strongest in the nation. These experiences are what shape us students into well rounded, employable graduates. Thanks for reading!