Credit: Blaine Friedlander/Cornell News Service

On May 12, 1904, six black bulls, a cadet band, an entomology float and more than 2,000 students marched in a parade celebrating Cornell University's designation as the official New York State College of Agriculture.

A re-enactment of that parade May 12, 2004 at 2:30 p.m., will celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the event. Black Angus heifers will lead the centennial parade, followed by horse-drawn carriages, antique cars, floats, the Cornell men's and women's polo teams, miniature ponies, the Big Red Marching Band, Liberty Hyde Bailey and his original plow, and lots of student groups.

The Cornell Dairy has developed a new flavor of ice cream in honor of the centennial of the college, now called the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS): Bailey's Creme with Henry's Crunch. The name refers to the college's first dean, Liberty Hyde Bailey, and to Susan A. Henry, the Ronald P. Lynch Dean of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The new concoction, an Irish-cream flavored ice cream, with dark chocolate flakes, caramel swirl and peanuts, will be unveiled during a social at Fernow Hall that follows the parade.

"The centennial parade will be a great opportunity for the Cornell community to celebrate an important historical event in the life of the university and showcase the diversity that the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences has become today," said Marvin Pritts, member of the organizing committee and chairman of the Department of Horticulture. "The entire college has been invited to pparticipate. Everyone is welcome to view the parade and try out the new centennial ice cream."

Parade participants will convene at 1:30 p.m. on Ho Plaza in front of Willard Straight Hall on the Cornell campus and begin marching at 2:30 p.m. The parade will pass between Sage Chapel and Olin Library, past Day Hall, up Tower Road past the Ag Quad and conclude in front of Fernow Hall. Henry will lead the parade and then occupy a reviewing stand with former CALS deans and others to award parade prizes and make celebratory remarks.

The community is encouraged to line the parade route starting on Tower Road, which will be blocked off from approximately 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Parking is available at the B Lot near the Vet School; South Morrison lot, off Judd Falls Road, or in the metered lot at the corner of Tower Road and Judd Falls Road.