Person in oversized black-and-white cow costume riding bicycle past tall cacti on sunny street
Person in oversized black-and-white cow costume riding bicycle past tall cacti on sunny street (UC Davis/ Gregory Urquiaga)
What Is Aggiemaxxing? 10 Ways to ‘Be More Aggie’ This Fall


 

From biking across campus to visiting the cows, Aggiemaxxing can look like many things. The term takes the internet trend of adding “-maxxing” to a word and puts a distinctly UC Davis spin on it. 

What is Aggiemaxxing? 

Aggiemaxxing (v.): optimizing the “Aggie” in us. 

Pronunciation: (AG-e-MAK-sing) 

Etymology: As if it weren’t enough that everyone agreed upon the suffix “maxxing” overnight, the word comes from “min/maxxing,” a gaming term referencing the optimization of a character’s stats (i.e. maximizing). In our hustle and bustle digital age, we’ve seemingly optimized our usage of the word itself.

See also: “hopemaxxing,” a term found in Gary May’s 2025-26 commencement addresses. 

10 Ways to Aggiemax This Fall

Two people riding bicycles on a sunlit street, one wearing a cap and sunglasses
Two people beginning their bike ride while an orange cat looks back at them (UC Davis/ Gregory Urquiaga)
  1. Bike everywhere instead of driving. It’s bad for the environment and not nearly as fun.  
Two people walking on a sunlit forest trail between tall evergreens
Two people walking down a sunlit path surrounded by redwood trees (UC Davis/ Gregory Urquiaga)

2. When not biking, spend your time walking through the Arboretum. 

Dark bay horse with white star peeking from wooden stable door, warm light — photograph
Dark bay horse with white star peeking from wooden stable door, warm light — photograph (UC Davis/ Gregory Urquiaga)
Three curious cows, one brown-and-white, with yellow ear tags at a hay-filled feeding trough
Three curious cows, one brown-and-white, with yellow ear tags at a hay-filled feeding trough (UC Davis/ Gregory Urquiaga)

3. Visit the cows and/or horses whenever you can. Extra points if you’re so accustomed to the smell that you don’t even remember to hold your breath. 

Black-and-white photograph of geometric concrete ramps and deep shadows
Grayscale photo of a corridor of the Social Sciences Humanities building ( UC Davis/ Gregory Urquiaga)

4. Complain about the “Death Star.” Whether you believe it or not, ranting about the building’s inaccessibility is a rite of passage.  

Person relaxing in hammock between tree and post, bicycle locked nearby on sunlit campus lawn
A person resting on a hammock in the quad, their bike is propped behind them (UC Davis/ Gregory Urquiaga)

5. Eat lunch on the hammocks. 

Turkey head peeking over stone wall in warm evening light, photo
A wild turkey peeking over a wall (UC Davis/ Gregory Urquiaga)
Wild turkey with fanned tail backlit by low sun on urban sidewalk
Two turkeys on the sidewalk (UC Davis Gregory Urquiaga)

6. While hammocking, beware of turkeys or other Downtown Tom wannabes! Turkeys don’t end up on the news for nothing. 

White lattice canopy casting shadows over a museum entrance with a green sign
The exterior of the Gorman Museum of Native American Art at UC Davis. (UC Davis/ Jordan Hicks)

7. Visit all the museums we have on campus. You’re bound to find something you are particularly fond of. Plus, they’re free! 

Modern glass building entrance with white grid canopy, reflective windows, and purple sign
Entrance to the Mondavi Center (UC Davis/ Jordan Hicks)

8. See a show at the Mondavi Center. Current UC Davis students get 50% off all their events. 

Smiling flower vendor at outdoor market surrounded by colorful bouquets in buckets
Annie Main of Good Humus, a UC Davis alum and co-founder of the Davis Farmers Market smiling in a green apron and working the flower stand (UC Davis/ Gregory Urquiaga)

9. Browse the farmer’s market on Saturdays and the Craft & Vintage Fair twice a month on Sundays. Crafty? Level up by the experience by selling your own art there! 

Ginger tabby cat lying on pebbled ground, paw extended, sunlit, low-angle photograph
Cheeto the Chemistry Cat laying on his side with one paw outstretched in the sun (UC Davis/ Gregory Urquiaga)

10. And remember, talking other people into doing 1-9 is “aggiemaxxing” already. So you’re on the right track! 


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