Talent in the GreenSeam

TALENT IN THE GREENSEAM By Shane Bowyer

This month’s Talent in the es, updates from various agencies GreenSeam column highlights the — including the Minnesota work of the Minnesota Association Department of Education, of Agriculture Educators through a Minnesota State Colleges and Q&A format. Universities, and the University of Throughout the year, Minnesota Association of Agriculture Educators members participate in a variety of networking events and ongoing professional development. Members have access to valuMinnesota — are provided. Awards are presented to the members, and tours of regional business and industry are held. The annual business meeting and annual banquet are held at the summer conference. able curriculum resources, the MAAE also hosts professional potential to receive scholarships development workshops throughout and awards, and benefit from the summer. These workshops are numerous legislative advocacy initiatives. developed to be deep dive, hands on, engaging workWith 364 active members, MAAE works cooperatively with the National Association of Agricultural Educators as “Professionals providing agricultural education for the global community through visionary leadership, advocacy, and service.” shops that teach skills our instructors can bring back to the classroom. The workshops offered this year are Construction and Power Technology, Food Chemistry, Welding, Veterinary Science Techniques, Agricultural Economics, Landscape and Electricity. The MAAE recently completed its annual winter conference which brought together nearly 270 educators from across the state. This month’s “Talent in the GreenSeam” column highlights comments taken from the conference by MAAE Executive Director Tom Appel; Jessica Daberkow, MAEE president and teacher at Heron Lake Okebena; and T.J. Brown, a South Central College faculty member. The Reverse College Fair started at the winter MAAE conference in 2020. To outsiders, it looks like a college fair; but there are two main differences. First, all the college booths are being run by actual college ag faculty, not admissions representatives or recruiters. Second, the attendees are not high school students trying to find a college, but rather high school teachers trying to learn more about colleges in which they can encourage their students to attend.The primary focus the MAAE conferences is to provide professional development workshops for instructors to stay updated on the most current agricultural topics. The summer conference is a four-day conference which travels around the state. The winter Agriculture Technology Conference takes place over two days in St. Cloud, Minn. During both conferencIt’s incredibly important for higher education faculty to network and connect with secondary teachers. Research done at the University of Minnesota about a decade ago showed that for students who choose to major in agriculture, their high school agriculture teacher is the second most influential person in their college decision-making process — right behind their parents.

It really comes down to the pipeline from high school to ag careers. We in post-secondary are sitting right in the middle of that. We’ve always known we need to have connections with the employers to help connect our students to those careers; but it’s becoming more important to have connections with those high school classrooms to be a feeder for our collegiate programs.

The need for talent in the agriculture industry appears to be at an all-time high. This means it’s a very good time for our students to be entering the profession; and it could help reinforce the need for our post-secondary ag programs. But this need for talent can often be a negative. The job market is strong, so employers are desperate. They are willing to hire students right out of high school without proper training or skills in hopes they will work out.

Agriculture education allows for unlimited possibilities for both teachers in the classroom as well as for the students. This past year, Minnesota had 41 first-year instructors; and we will see at least one agriculture education instructor in each district in the near future. Agricultural education instructors teach with a vision and a passion for their program. This profession allows for teachers to continue to build upon their vision. There are programs within the state which are operating greenhouses, high tunnels, school and community gardens; housing bees and processing honey; operating orchards; running aquaculture programs; school barns; stocking trout in local streams; and running a raptor center and breeding program. This ingenuity continues to grow each year with current programs finding ways

Carly Reinke

Morristown, Minn. School: South Central College Major: Agribusiness Service and Management Internship company name: Ag Partners

How did you learn about your internship?

There were a couple different things that led to my internship. I spoke with the agronomy sales manager for the Western region of Ag Partners, my senior year during a career day. About a year later I contacted him to set up an interview for my Ag Orientation class and it led to an internship. Being offered the internship was a shock to me but has been one of the greatest opportunities I have had. Have you always wanted a career in agriculture?

I wasn’t interested in a career in agriculture until the end of my sophomore year of high school. I had friends and family who were involved in farming, but it wasn’t until my sophomore year I became interested. My ag teacher pushed me to become more involved in FFA. After that I began helping my cousin on his dairy farm. It didn’t take very long for me to fall in love with agriculture. Why did you choose an internship in the ag industry?

Honestly, I didn’t really choose an internship at first. When I first began college I knew very little about agriculture; but I was determined to work hard and learn as much as I possibly could. Once we had to do interviews for Ag Orientation and I was offered an internship, I knew that it was a great opportunity to maximize my education. What are you learning on the job you did not learn in class?

College is meant to give you just a foundation of knowledge for a career; but my internship has given me the opportunity to look further into what a career entails. I have learned everything from data entry, combine calibrations, how to use a weigh wagon, and have helped create and read the annual report books. My favorite experience so far has been interacting with the growers we work for because we are not only being able to help them but learn from them as well. What surprised you about the internship?

My internship has surprised me the most by how much they have taught me. In the few months that I interned at Ag Partners they have exposed most of what an AYS Specialist would do at that time of the year and have walked me through what the other months would entail. It also surprises me how out of the way they have gone to teach me and walk through the tasks I was not 100 percent confident in. In what ways has your employer worked with you to be flexible for your student life and classes?

Being a full-time student makes it hard to do both; but they have been so understanding of my schedule and have allowed me to choose what days to work and how long. They also have made sure to schedule a few of the grower meetings at times that I am able to come so I can see the final product of the work we have put in throughout the year. What is your favorite animal?

Holstein cows What is your favorite food?

Steak and fried potatoes Who is you favorite musical artist/band?

This question is a tough one, but I would have to say Tyler Childers