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The seventh annual Barley Party was held on the Dalhousie Agricultural Campus Wednesday evening with 118 rings presented to the Class of 2016 – the largest to date.

Unveiled six years ago, the Barley ring is the official graduation ring of the Faculty of Agriculture.  Since its launch in 2010, it has become a highly recognized symbol for the Faculty with 750 rings worn by alumni around the world.

The textured design features a pattern of barley around the band of the ring, handmade by local jeweler, Donna Hiebert.

“It is amazing to me how well recognized the Barley ring has become in just six short years,” said Alumni Association Chair Jean Lynds.  “I love that every Barley ring tells a story, some of academic achievement, some of world travels and even some as a symbol of marriage. The creativity and uniqueness of the Barley ring is very special just like Aggies!”

The Barley Party is the annual celebration for students who have purchased a graduation ring. Students receive their rings and are welcomed to the Agriculture Alumni Association by Jean Lynds, Chair and Dr. David Gray, Dean, Faculty of Agriculture.

(L to R) Alumni Association Chair Jean Lynds, Honourary ring recipient Keltie Jnes and DASA President Robyn McCallum

As part of the ring tradition, the Alumni Association allows for an annual presentation of an honourary ring to be awarded to individuals who do not meet the criteria to be eligible for a Barley ring but who are extremely deserving of the honour. These individuals are ambassadors and supporters of the institution. They have made outstanding contributions to the Agricultural Campus community and truly depict the characteristics of an AC alumnus.

The 2016 honoree is Assistant Dean Keltie Jones.

Keltie Jones contributes to campus in a way few others do. She has the respect and trust of students, many of whom look to her in times of struggle, seeking life advice on education, employment or personal matters. Whether it’s weighing the pros and cons of the situation at hand, providing guidance to support services, or sharing previous experiences, Keltie ensures students receive the guidance and support they need.

“I am thrilled that Keltie is being honoured with a Barley ring because she understands how special this gesture is from students,” explained DASA President Robyn McCallum.  “Keltie's work on this campus has made our community more inclusive, welcoming and supportive and her efforts have touched every one of our students.  I can't think of a better way to show how much Keltie means to students than to award her the Barley ring. Keltie will wear this ring with the aggie pride for which she is famous.”

Since her arrival in 2009, Keltie has made a positive difference on campus.  Her work with various groups including Aboriginal students, domestic and international students, the cross-country team, DASA, Women in Science, Ruminate and more make her highly-visible and able to continuously engage with the entire student body. Her passion for diversity and acceptance for all creates a positive message on campus

Keltie has worked extensively with DASA over the past eight years on projects such as student programming, orientation planning, event coordination between administration and students, committees and more. She was instrumental in drafting DASA’s new policies and procedures and a Memorandum of Understanding with DSU.  Her legal and administrative background makes her contributions to DASA highly valuable, but it is her passion for a positive student experience that makes her so widely respected.

Keltie can be found on the sidelines of various athletic events in all seasons. She photographs athletes, cheers them on and relentlessly spreads the AC spirit.

“When you ask others to describe Keltie, they all provide the same description: fair. She is above all else, fair,” added Robyn.  “Although part of her position involves judicial procedures and student discipline, she is well- known to be fair, kind and considerate. She earns the respect of all students, even those facing tough consequences or troubles in school. She is often the stepping stone to students finding their better selves and for that, our campus is indebted to her.”

For some, the Barley Party is more exciting than graduation but for all, the Barley Party marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. As graduates return to their seats after receiving their ring, there are two noticeable differences in the room- the beaming smile of every student and a silver or gold strand of barley wrapped around fingers all around the room.