Countdown to Aggie Spirit: Celebrate USU's 2026 Homecoming

Utah State University’s 2026 Homecoming is just around the corner — Sept. 21-26 — and it’s shaping up to be a week packed with Aggie pride, tradition, and celebration.

On Thursday, Sept. 24, the university will host A Day of Giving, a 24-hour, university-wide fundraising event for Aggies everywhere to make a gift in support of student scholarships and programs.

On Friday, Sept. 25, Utah State Athletics will induct its 2026 Hall of Fame Class at 7 p.m. in the Russell/Wanlass Performance Hall, honoring three outstanding individuals and two teams. Later that night, students and alumni can take part in one of USU’s most cherished traditions during True Aggie Night at 11:59 p.m. at the Block A.

Saturday, Sept. 26, keeps the energy high. The Running with the Bulls 5K sign in begins at 7:30 a.m. with an 8:30 a.m. start at the USU Welcome Center. Those who register early will get the best discounts. The Homecoming Parade will follow at 10 a.m. along Main Street from Center Street to 800 North.

From 2-5 p.m., the Utah Agricultural Products BBQ will bring another favorite fall tradition to Craig Aston Park, located north of Maverik Stadium. The barbecue will feature Utah-grown beef, dairy products, pork, lamb, corn, apples, onion rings, salad, Creamies, and more, bringing together members of the agricultural community, alumni, donors, and friends.

Homecoming festivities culminate Saturday evening when the Aggies take on Troy at 5:30 p.m. in Maverik Stadium.

As part of the celebration, USU will recognize four outstanding Aggies for their contributions to the university and beyond. Leading the parade as grand marshals will be Craig and Lorraine Earl, joined by 2026 Alumni of the Year Randy B. Elliott and Chad R. Warnick. Together, they embody the service, leadership, and pride that define the Aggie family.

Craig ’75 and Lorraine Earl

Grand Marshals

Craig and Lorraine Earl’s roots in Cache Valley run deep. Born the same year at Logan Hospital, Craig grew up in River Heights and Lorraine on a dairy farm in Smithfield. Today, they live in North Logan, where they can see the press box of Utah State’s football stadium from their front lawn — a fitting view for two lifelong Aggies.

Their story together began at Sky View High School, where they met in sophomore health class. Craig played three sports, while Lorraine was a member of the Vistaun drill team. They graduated in 1970, married in 1972 and recently celebrated 54 years together.

Craig’s connection to Utah State began long before he became a student. Some of his earliest Aggie memories are of buying a Huddle Club season football pass for $1 and watching games in the old Romney Stadium. He remembers the great football teams of the early 1960s and the excitement surrounding Aggie basketball during the Wayne Estes era.

Craig enrolled at Utah State and earned a degree in food science in 1975, while Lorraine worked for the City of Logan to help support their family. After graduation, his career in milk processing took the couple to four different locations, but Cache Valley remained home.

They returned to Logan in 1979, and Craig began producing an ice cream bar in the back of a small factory on Main Street. Originally called a “fudgie,” the treat was renamed the Creamie in 1983. What began as a small northern Utah product grew into a regional favorite sold throughout the West. Although Craig sold the Creamie factory in 2021, it continues to produce and distribute more than 30 million Creamies annually.

In 1990, Craig and Lorraine opened Charlie’s Ice Cream in Logan. Named for generations of family members, Charlie’s has served the community for more than three decades. Along the way, countless USU students have worked at Charlie’s and in Creamie production before graduating and beginning careers of their own — something Craig and Lorraine consider especially rewarding.

Their commitment to community extends well beyond their businesses. They have supported Utah State endowments and numerous charitable organizations, reflecting their belief in giving back and helping others.

Family remains at the center of their lives. Craig and Lorraine have two children, Kirk and Angela, six grandchildren, and a great-grandson. Their son, Kirk, and his wife, Rebecca, are USU graduates, continuing a family tradition that includes several generations of Aggies. Craig’s mother, Gloria, began her own Utah State journey as a freshman at age 50 and graduated in 1985.

From Friday nights in high school at the old Romney Stadium to building businesses that have become part of Cache Valley life, Craig and Lorraine have spent a lifetime rooted in the community and connected to Utah State. Their generosity, entrepreneurial spirit, and unmistakable Aggie pride embody the enduring spirit of Homecoming.

Randy B. Elliott ’08

Alumnus of the Year

Randy B. Elliott’s connection to Utah runs deep. Raised in Farmington as part of a family that has farmed in Davis County for generations, he learned early the values of hard work, persistence and service — principles he carried with him to Utah State University and throughout his career.

Elliott earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from USU in 2008. While a student, he developed his leadership skills and gained firsthand experience in public service, including an internship in Washington, D.C., with U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo. After graduation, Elliott returned home determined to invest his time and talents in the community that shaped him.

An entrepreneur and business leader, Elliott has built his career developing businesses, cultivating relationships, and creating strategic partnerships. He also spent eight years serving as a Davis County commissioner from 2017 to 2024, helping guide one of Utah’s fastest-growing counties through significant growth and investment. During his tenure, he supported efforts to strengthen communities, preserve the county’s agricultural heritage, and expand opportunities for residents.

Among those efforts was a partnership with Utah State University to establish the Davis County Agricultural Heritage Center, creating a resource that celebrates the region’s agricultural legacy while supporting education for future generations.

Elliott’s commitment to his alma mater extends well beyond that partnership. He serves as chair of the S.J. & Jessie E. Quinney College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Advancement Board, working with university leaders, alumni, and industry partners to strengthen programs and philanthropic support. In 2020, he received Utah State Extension’s Friend of Extension Award for his advocacy and service.

Elliott and his wife, Julia, are the parents of four daughters, and he considers his family his greatest accomplishment.

Through business, public service and steadfast support of Utah State, Elliott has demonstrated what it means to put leadership into action.

Chad R. Warnick ’06, ’09 MS

Alumnus of the Year

For Chad R. Warnick, becoming an Aggie was never really a question. Growing up in Delta, Utah, as a third-generation Aggie, Utah State University was the only university he applied to — and the place that helped him turn his passion for agriculture, leadership and service into a career devoted to helping young people succeed.

Warnick earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education in 2006 and a master’s degree in agricultural systems technology in 2009. As a student, he served as a College of Agriculture senator and an Agriculture Ambassador. He was also active in 4-H and Collegiate Future Farmers of America.

Since 2006, Warnick has served as an agricultural educator and FFA advisor at the Delta Technical Center. His belief that students learn best by doing has shaped his career. He has helped develop a school livestock facility, operated a greenhouse that combines education with commercial production, and partnered with more than 35 local businesses to provide students with hands-on learning opportunities. Under his leadership, Delta FFA students have earned 36 state team championships, with more than 90 students competing at 17 National FFA Conventions.

Warnick’s influence extends beyond his classroom to agricultural education at the local, state, and national levels through mentoring, teacher training, and service. In 2023, he was named Utah Teacher of the Year, following in the footsteps of his father, Waldo Warnick, who received the same honor 32 years earlier. Warnick has also received the Utah FFA Golden Owl Award.

Warnick and his wife, Traci ’05, are both Aggies and agricultural education graduates of Utah State. Together, they are raising four future Aggies: Campbell, Kinley, Pyper, and Paxton.

Through two decades of teaching and service, Warnick has exemplified the Aggie values of hard work, leadership and commitment to others.

For more information on Homecoming week 2026, visit the Homecoming website: usu.edu/homecoming.