Des Moines, IA – On Wednesday, February 10, 2016 the Agribusiness Association of Iowa (AAI) Foundation presented fourteen community colleges students with a $1,000 scholarship each. The AAI Foundation annually holds an Agribusiness Career Day (ABC Day) for fifteen community colleges around the state. One $1,000 scholarship is presented to each represented school. In its third year, the 2016 ABC Day set a record attendance with over 270 college students, instructors/advisors, and FFA seniors.
The college students were able to obtain important industry knowledge from professionals that work every day in the agriculture and agribusiness field. The morning was opened by Andy McKay who is the Vice President Agribusiness Lending at Farm Credit Services of America. McKay welcomed the students and lead the way for Katie McWhirter a Precision Ag Specialist at Eldon C Stutsman, Inc. from Hills, Iowa. Katie, a former teacher, opened the student’s eyes with workplace etiquette, professional behavior, and social media usage. Her presentation to the students was designed to help students realize that behavior today will affect your choice job of tomorrow. Other speakers included; Greg Besch a Precision Information Specialist at Helena Chemical and Carol Balvanz a Policy Director at Iowa Soybean Association. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey also spoke to the students on why they and others should be involved in Iowa agriculture.
Pictured Above: Back row left to right – Steve Winter, Alex Houber, Aaron Bruihler, Ryan Houlb, Alex Boyle, Dalton Brown, Levi Pratt, Anthony Furlin, Front row left to right – Nick Viner, Katelynn Carson, Detrich Totemeier, Callie Hulst, and Emily Rumley. Not pictured: Zachary Greimann.
Scholarship awards and recognitions of sponsors were presented directly before lunch to the following students and colleges by the listed sponsoring company:
Callie Hults – Ames
Des Moines Area Community College
Sponsored by Heartland Coop
Aaron Bruihler – Iowa Falls
Ellsworth Community College
Sponsored by the AAI Foundation
Levi Pratt – Sheffield
Hawkeye Community College
Sponsored by Jose & Shelley Laracunte, AgVision Agribusiness Software
Anthony Furlin –
Indian Hills Community College
Sponsored by – Iowa Biotechnology Association
Emily Rumley – Fort Dodge
Iowa Central Community College
Sponsored by – Iowa Biotechnology Association
Dalton Brown –
Iowa Lakes Community College
Sponsored by INTL FCStone
Alex Boyle – Danbury
Iowa Western Community College
Sponsored by Farm Credit Services of America
Ryan Holub – Cedar Rapids
Kirkwood Community College
Sponsored by Dave & Mary Junge, Junge Control
Nick Viner – Lone Tree
Muscatine Community College
Sponsored by Eldon C. Stutsman, Inc.
Zachary Greimann – Sheffield
North Iowa Area Community College
Sponsored by Farmers Coop
Alex Hauber – Ridgeway
Northeast Iowa Community College
Sponsored by Growmark Foundation
Steve Winter – Ashton
Northwest Community College
Sponsored by the AAI Foundation
Detrich Totemeier – New London
Southeastern Community College
Sponsored by Heartland Coop
Katelynn Carson – Creston
Southwestern Community College
Sponsored by the AAI Foundation
To close the day of awards and learning, nationally known Agricultural Economist Dr. Brent Gloy of Gloy Farms stirred the student’s imaginations with a presentation on the big picture of agriculture. Dr. Gloy specializes in agricultural finance and agribusiness management. Dr. Gloy is also the founder of Purdue’s Center for Commercial Agriculture and previously served as the first Director.
The AAI Foundation is pleased to help provide assistance and guidance to the Iowa agriculture youth. The AAI Foundation incorporated this assistance and growth opportunity to Iowa community college students for the first time in 2013. This event is held during the Agribusiness Showcase & Conference at the Iowa State Fairground at the Varied Industries building. The Agribusiness Showcase & Conference host over 125 exhibiting companies and industry professionals. By introducing students to this environment it enables them to network with industry professionals and companies for future benefit. Since the first inception, interest and participation from Iowa’s agribusiness has increased.
About the Agribusiness Association of Iowa Foundation – The AAI Foundation promotes research projects, member education, stewardship and scholarships that benefit AAI members and their families. The charitable goals of the Foundation reflect the interests of the agribusiness industry and benefit AAI members by promoting research projects, member education, stewardship and higher education scholarships. Within these three areas, the Foundation assists applicants as it is related to the benefit of the agribusiness industry.
For more information on the AAI Foundation please visit http://foundation.agribiz.org/.
For more information on the Agribusiness Showcase & Conference please visit http://www.agribizshowcase.com/.
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