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Preparing for employment Tips from area colleges, universities By Jan Lefebvre jan.l@star-pub.com
As the world evolves quickly with technological advances across all career elds, some steps in landing that rst job have changed while some have remained the same. College students must navigate how to make the most of their school years so that they are more hirable at graduation time. Then, they must gure out not only how to locate job openings that best t them, but also how to land one of those jobs. Dairy Star reached out to career centers at several colleges and universities, asking them to weigh in with advice that could help graduates launch a career in agriculture. The University of Minnesota’s Career and Internship Services site suggests that students create relationships in their eld of interest throughout their college years, before needing those relationships for employment, by talking with
people who are in a career of interest as a way to gather information about career elds and particular positions. By networking during college, students can also increase their chances of hearing about internships while narrowing down the career path they wish to take. Internships continue to be valued by employers looking for candidates. “Internships or other kinds of immersive workplace experiences are crucial for gaining practical experience and making connections in the industry,” said Kristina Vack, director of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Career Services at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “Students can enhance their chances of securing internships by networking with professionals, utilizing career services resources and applying to a variety of opportunities. While an internship ideally aligns closely with a student’s career interests, any relevant experience can be valuable and transferable.” The importance of internships was also stressed by Melissa Wilson, director of career services for the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. “For college students to-
day, internships and gaining ship program this past summer; relevant experience is critical seven had job offers or were to being competitive when ap- asked to stay on part time until plying for jobs,” Wilson said. a position became available,” “Many employers are wanting Howry said. “Most interns reto see two to three inceive job offers at ternships listed on rethe end of the internsumes when applying ships. An internship for full-time jobs. We does not have to be highly encourage all completely related to students to have one, a student’s specic if not two or three, ineld as long as the ternships upon gradustudent is learning ation.” the transferable skills Wilson said atneeded for the career tending career fairs Kristina Vack they want. For exis a great way to nd Director of the College ample, I know several internships. She also of Agricultural and Life students who are masaid it is common for Sciences Career joring in agricultural students at UW-River Services, UW-Madison business but are certiFalls to gain conneced nurses assistants. tions with employers They are learning to through student clubs work with people and and organizations, their families, which which can offer opcan make them great portunities to have salespeople.” employers and stuAs graduating dents connect. students prepare to Wilson’s colapply for jobs, guideleague at UW-Rivlines for resumes er Falls, Dr. Sierra Tammy Howe have changed, espeHowry, professor of Ag department cially in how they are agricultural econom- coordinator, focused. ics and director of Ridgewater College Wilson said reMcNair scholars, said sumes are expected that internships often launch to be more streamlined for a careers and lead to permanent specic position or company, employment. not just general statements of “I had nine students that I one’s education, job history supervised through our intern- and skills.
“The resume should speak to the individual job posting,” Wilson said. “Taking time to cater the resume to the job posting, using the job posting as a guide for what words and phrases to use in the resume, can yield much better results than using the same resume to apply for all jobs. I suggest taking the time to write the resume to the posting rather than applying to multiple positions with the same resume.” Vack agreed. “The latest trends in resumes emphasize a clean, concise format with a focus on measurable achievements,” she said. “Emphasizing internships, relevant coursework and any volunteer experiences can also make a resume stand out. Overall, students should tailor their resumes to showcase relevant skills and experiences, incorporating keywords from job descriptions.” Howry said some employers are moving away from expecting one-page resumes. “Things that will catch the attention of employers are internships, study abroad, research and being a part of student organizations; for many Turn to COLLEGE TIPS | Page 2
Page 2 • Dairy Education Special Edition • Saturday, December 23, 2023
DAIRY ST R www.dairystar.com
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522 Sinclair Lewis Ave. Sauk Centre, MN 56378 Phone: 320-352-6303 Fax: 320-352-5647 Published by Star Publications LLC General Manager/Editor Mark Klaphake - mark.k@dairystar.com 320-352-6303 (ofce) 320-248-3196 (cell) 320-352-0062 (home) Ad Composition - 320-352-6303 Nancy Powell • nancy.p@dairystar.com Karen Knoblach • karen.k@star-pub.com Annika Gunderson • annika@star-pub.com Editorial Staff Jan Lefebvre - Assistant Editor 320-290-5980 • jan.l@star-pub.com Maria Bichler - Assistant Editor maria.b@dairystar.com • 320-352-6303 Stacey Smart - Assistant Editor 262-442-6666 • stacey.s@dairystar.com Danielle Nauman - Staff Writer 608-487-1101 • danielle.n@dairystar.com Abby Wiedmeyer - Staff Writer 608-487-4812 • abby.w@dairystar.com Tiffany Klaphake - Staff Writer 320-352-6303 • tiffany.k@dairystar.com Amy Kyllo - Staff Writer amy.k@star-pub.com Emily Breth - Staff Writer emily.b@star-pub.com Consultant Jerry Jennissen 320-346-2292 Advertising Sales Main Ofce: 320-352-6303 Fax: 320-352-5647 Deadline is 5 p.m. of the Friday the week before publication Sales Manager - Joyce Frericks 320-352-6303 • joyce@dairystar.com National Sales Manager - Laura Seljan (National Advertising, SE MN) 507-250-2217 • fax: 507-634-4413 laura.s@dairystar.com Jerry Nelson (SW MN, NW Iowa, South Dakota) 605-690-6260 • jerry.n@dairystar.com Mike Schafer (Central, South Central MN) 320-894-7825 • mike.s@dairystar.com Amanda Hoeer (Eastern Iowa, Southwest Wisconsin) 320-250-2884 • amanda.h@dairystar.com Megan Stuessel (Western Wisconsin) 608-387-1202 • megan.s@dairystar.com Kati Kindschuh (Northeast WI and Upper MI) 920-979-5284 • kati.k@dairystar.com Julia Mullenbach (Southeast MN and Northeast IA) 507-438-7739 • julia.m@star-pub.com Bob Leukam (Northern MN, East Central MN) 320-260-1248 (cell) bob.l@star-pub.com Mark Klaphake (Western MN) 320-352-6303 (ofce) • 320-248-3196 (cell) Deadlines The deadline for news and advertising in the Dairy Star is 5 p.m. Friday the week before publication. Subscriptions One year subscription $40.00, outside the U.S. $200.00. Send check along with mailing address to Dairy Star, 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave., Sauk Centre, MN 56378. Advertising Our ad takers have no authority to bind this newspaper and only publication of an advertisement shall constitute nal acceptance of the advertiser's order. Letters Letters and articles of opinion are welcomed. Letters must be signed and include address and phone number. We reserve the right to edit lengthy letters. The views and opinions expressed by Dairy Star columnists and writers are not necessarily those of the Dairy Star / Star Publications LLC.
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ConƟnued from COLLEGE TIPS | Page 1 students, trying to t this all on one Wilson suggested being clear about page can become very difcult,” Howry what one is looking for when using the said. “One of the most important things search engines on job-search sites. to highlight on a resume is transferable “A search with one word listed difskills. Highlight how the soft skills that ferently in the search bar can (garner) you have learned — probdifferent results,” Wilson said. lem solving, communication, Howry said networking teamwork and leadership — and career fairs are important can be transferred to any job.” because many jobs are not Melissa Howe, ag departposted. She added that gradument coordinator at Ridgewaates should be exible and pater College in Willmar, Mintient in nding the right job t. nesota, agreed that resumes “Students should conshould focus on how one ts sider the opportunity and be the job applied for. open to relocating,” she said. “The days of sharing ev- Dr. Sierra Howry “Students should think about ery single job experience on Professor of agricultural how they t into the company. your resume are gone,” Howe economics, UW-River There are a lot of great compasaid. “What’s more important Falls nies out there, but they need to are the words that you use to nd the right t.” explain your work experience; Vack said being visible the wording needs to be taionline can help as well. lored to what the job posting is “It’s essential for stulooking for. Also, provide exdents to build a strong online amples that show results when presence by showcasing their describing past work experiachievements and interests on ences. Anytime that you can professional platforms,” she use numbers, program names, said. etc. — that’s always helpful.” Trapper Mitchell is the Most graduating students Melissa Wilson director for career and proare likely to use job-listing Director of career fessional development at the sites as they search for em- services, UW-River University of Wisconsinployment, but most college Falls Platteville. He said keeping and university career advisors positive is important because stress networking as the best searching and applying for way to nd jobs. jobs takes time and work. Vack said there are many “It can feel like a partways to nd out about job or full-time job applying for openings. jobs,” he said. “But keeping “To nd jobs in the agpositive that your position is ricultural and life sciences, out there helps tremendously students should leverage netin having the condence to working opportunities through continue applying for opporindustry events, alumni con- Trapper Mitchell tunities.” nections and online platforms Director of dareer and Once landing an interlike LinkedIn,” she said. professional development, view, preparing for the interHowe also stressed net- UW-Platteville view is necessary. This inworking. volves nding out more about “Agriculture is a small world; word the company. of mouth is always a great way to learn “Successful interview preparaabout opportunities, and it shows the tion involves researching the comimportance of networking,” Howe said. pany, practicing common interview … “We also nd that Indeed and Hand- questions, and developing compelling shake are great resources for job post- stories that highlight achievements ings.”
and skills,” Vack said. “Additionally, students should dress professionally, maintain strong eye contact and engage in thoughtful questions to demonstrate genuine interest in the position.” Howe reminds her students to remember to listen carefully during an interview. “People go into interviews ready to talk, and they don’t listen enough to the questions being asked,” she said. Wilson said it is important to make sure the interview begins well by thinking ahead. “Be sure you know where the interview is located if interviewing in person and testing virtual interview tools if meeting online,” she said. The experts all advised that interviewees should use practice interview questions to prepare. “Practice, practice, practice,” Mitchell said. “Very few students can simply wing it. You have limited time to show an employer what you have to offer, so you don’t want to forget something great you want to share.” Wilson said, above all, students need to have initiative. “A theme for all college students should be that they are curious,” she said. “Being curious about careers, engaging with employers, attending guest speakers who visit campus and attending career events is so important when learning about jobs and opportunities but to also network and connect. This takes initiative on the part of the student, and those who are curious and engaged tend to have better opportunities available because of their connections, knowledge and insight.” Howe said if graduates can remain centered within themselves, they can nd the right job. “The job search process changes all of the time, the employee search process changes as well, but something that doesn’t change that will help you nd that right t for you is understanding your own strengths and what you bring to the table,” she said. … “Make your passion productive. The future is bright for agriculture.”
Dairy Education Special Edition • December 23, 2023 • Page 3
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Page 4 • Dairy Education Special Edition • Saturday, December 23, 2023
Small school, great success
SWTC experience drives Udelhoven’s career By Danielle Nauman danielle.n@dairystar.com
LANCASTER, Wis. — Maxwell Udelhoven grew up working on his family’s Grant County dairy farm, actively involved in managing the herd. With those experiences, he developed an interest in cultivating reproductive efciencies, which led down the path he followed for his post-secondary education. After experiencing dairy farming on his family’s 50-cow farm in Lancaster, Udelhoven completed a two-year program at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College, earning associate degrees in agribusiness science and technology and in animal science in 2020. Following his graduation, Udelhoven accepted a full-time position as an A.I. specialist with CentralStar Cooperative. “Choosing Southwest Tech was an easy decision for me,” Udelhoven said. “It was close to home, and it’s an ag school with a great reputation. I knew I wanted to eventually work in the eld of dairy cattle reproduction, so it was a great t.” The small class sizes at SWTC were appealing to Udelhoven, who came to the school from a small, rural high school.
“The small classes are really great for giving you the opportunity to build a relationship with the instructors,” Udelhoven said. “The instructors are great; they have a lot of real-world experience and truly care about your success.” The subject matter and variety of classes at SWTC, Udelhoven said, also offered him a foundation for the career he was interested in pursuing. Classes he found useful on his career path included an A.I. training course, reproductive anatomy and physiology classes, as well as genetic selection classes. “The instructors are willing to work with you to set you up to be successful,” Udelhoven said. “If they notice a student struggling with any concept or classwork, they step in and provide extra help and guidance right away.” For Udelhoven, learning at SWTC did not stop at the classroom door. “My experience went beyond the classroom,” Udelhoven said. “I was involved in the Midwest Dairy Challenge and was able to go on trips and tours to broaden my experience.” Udelhoven said he appreciated SWTC instructor Ryan
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Maxwell Udelhoven sprays tail paint on heifers Dec. 7 at S&S Rocky Ridge Farm LLC near Lancaster, Wisconsin. Udelhoven is a graduate of Southwest Wisconsin Technical College and works as an A.I. specialist for CentralStar CooperaƟve. Weigel’s sharing of his own career experience working in the A.I. industry. That information, Udelhoven said, propelled him forward on his own career path. “I learned so much from Ryan Weigel about the things I needed to do to pursue a career in dairy cattle reproduction,” Udelhoven said. “He advised me on the classes I needed to be taking and the things I needed to be doing to be ready for my career, and he pointed me in the right direction for my internship.” Students at SWTC are required to complete an internship at the end of their rst year. With Weigel’s encourage-
ment, Udelhoven applied for an internship with CentralStar Cooperative. He was selected for that internship experience. Once his time as an intern was completed, Udelhoven continued to work as a relief technician while nishing his schooling, before becoming a full-time employee after his graduation. “I love working with cows, and I love that no two days are ever the same,” Udelhoven said. “I am able to work with good cows, breeding them to great bulls. Knowing that you play a role in a farm’s success is a really rewarding experience.”
Udelhoven does not consider his own SWTC experience to be a unique one. As an alumnus of the school’s agriculture program, he advised students to consider the school as a versatile option for their own post-secondary educational experience. “There is such a feeling of community while attending SWTC,” Udelhoven said. “I would highly recommend it for high school students deciding what comes next. Besides obtaining an associate degree, you have the option to transfer into a four-year school to complete a bachelor’s degree with ease.”
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Dairy Education Special Edition • December 23, 2023 • Page 5
Why did you choose a career in agriculture? Tamara Berger -University of MinnesotaTwin Cities -Bachelor’s degree in animal science, master’s degree in agricultural education -Agricultural teacher and FFA advisor at Rocori High School in Cold Spring, Minnesota What was your background growing up? Why did you choose a career in agriculture? I grew up in southern California, in the middle of a large town. I did not grow up on a farm or around livestock, but we did have an ag program at our high school, and my senior year, I decided to raise a steer to sell at the county fair, and because I didn’t have the space at my house, we had stalls and pens to raise animals at school, so that is what I did. I have always had a calling for agriculture, and it seems to suit me. I will be the rst to admit I don’t know anything because I started so late, but that has also allowed me to ask questions and learn a little more. I tell kids every day that they have no idea how lucky they are to grow up on a farm or to even sh and hunt because of the wealth of knowledge they already have just by their experiences growing up. What is your current career and the main responsibilities it entails? I am a chaos coordinator. Every day and every hour could look different. From teaching about small animals one hour, to arranging owers the next, to scoring deer antlers the next, it can be crazy, but I love the handson aspects that agriculture classes offer. In addition to lesson planning, grading and teaching, I also organize meetings with FFA students, conduct practices for contests and much more. I have also applied for various grants during my ve years here and have
been awarded funds to help make the classes more hands-on, including our most recent grant which was for $40,000 to reconstruct a room to teach meat processing classes. Describe a class or classes that benetted you in your career. It is hard to say which one beneted me the most in college. However, after maturing more and being a teacher, I realized how much information I didn’t take in that was presented to me. You can learn so much if you actually try and learn it and not just regurgitate it. If students can understand that earlier, rather than later, their amount of knowledge and understanding of various subjects will be amazing. What kind of on-going training and education do you take part in? I attend a summer and winter Minnesota Association of Agriculture Educators conference that gives updates on what we should know as well as professional development workshops. I will also attend workshops throughout the summer if I am starting a new class and am in need of information to structure the class. What advice would you give a high school senior considering college? Be smart about what you want to do in life. Don’t get a degree to get a degree. Think and do research on what you are interested in and see how you can be smart about paying for it. There are a ton of resources out there to help you pay, but you have to seek out those opportunities. If you do go to college, take in everything you can and actually show up and be present. Ask questions. You are paying for this, so don’t let it go to waste. What do you think it takes to be successful in your career? Hard work. Anyone can outwork someone with skill. Skill is helpful but not if you aren’t willing to put in the work. Hard work in a career, relationships and life in general will set you apart. It’s not always easy, but it is doable.
Matthew Young -Central Lakes College -Automotive technician program -Agriculture technician What was your background growing up? Why did you choose a career in agriculture? I grew up on a small hobby farm, and I worked for neighbor farmers. On our farm, when something broke, no matter what it was, we xed it ourselves. My dad taught me so much of what I know that by the time high school came around, I was rebuilding engines, operating large/heavy equipment and raising beef with my parents. I dabbled in a few careers before nding my job with Morrison County Tractor in 2007, which was bought by Modern Farm Equipment ve years later.
Turn to CAREER Q & A| Page 6
Your a
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What kind of on-going training and education do you take part in? Being that our equipment is always changing, our dealership sends us to all the schooling that we need to keep our certications. It keeps us up-to-date with the new features that are coming out. They even “bug” some equipment and have us try and gure out what the problem is. That is always a good time. Learning real-life xes from other techs while at trainings has been helpful as well.
What advice would you give a high school senior considering college? The best advice I could give someone going to college is that some degrees are great to have. I don’t think that you can ever learn too much. There are jobs out there that pay just as much if not more and What is your current career and are very rewarding without having the main responsibilities it entails? to get your master’s degree. A vocaI am a master certied technician. I tional school will get you into a job mainly work on tractors, skid load- faster and for less money along with ers and wheel loaders but do get the making a decent wage right off the opportunity to work on other equip- bat. ment as well. I love my job. It can be a little demanding at times. But What do you think it takes to be I know that the reason some farm- successful in your career? The ers got their crop up in time or lots biggest thing to be successful in plowed when needed were in part any career is to be driven. Be willfrom our dealership keeping them ing to show up, do your best and running. That is a great, rewarding work hard. If you can do those three feeling for me. We need farmers for things, you can nd a job almost our food, and the farmers need us anywhere. When you work for a to keep them going. It’s a win-win good company, they will value your dedication and reward you. I have scenario. been at my current employer for 16 Describe a class or classes that years and still love my job. benetted you in your career. Our equipment is always changing. Equipment can now drive itself and
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Page 6 • Dairy Education Special Edition • Saturday, December 23, 2023
ConƟnued from CAREER Q & A| Page 5 Blaize Dankers Donnay -University of Wisconsin-River Falls -Degree in agriculture business/economics with a minor in marketing and communica-
tions -Sales enablement and communications manager for Land O’Lakes Inc.
What was your background growing up? Why did you choose a career in agriculture? For generations, my family dairy farmed in Goodhue, Minnesota. Shortly before I was born, my grandparents sold their herd of milking cows. After the dispersal, my grandpa continued to crop farm, and my greatuncle continued to raise registered show animals. I loved listening to the stories told about the dairy and the advancements they had made. Their continued interests formed my initial passion for agriculture. Despite later challenges, I joined 4-H and continued to show through the lease program. By the time I was 14, I had started working for neighboring dairies. Throughout high school and college, I continued to work as a calf manager at a nearby farm. Dairy remained a constant and stable part of my life despite not growing up on a farm. Sometimes I joke that a career in agriculture chose me, because the passion I developed for my work, the industry and other farmers continues to grow. I love how hard-working, dedicated and tight-knit our dairy community is, and I truly couldn’t imagine doing anything else. Today, my husband, Ben, and I continue to breed, raise and show registered Holsteins and remain active in the dairy industry through organizations. What is your current career and the main responsibilities it entails? In my role at Land O’Lakes, I lead the Truterra communications that impact our retailer and farmer relationships. I strategize and execute on a variety of marketing, communications and salesdriven support including our newsletters, email communications, sell sheets, informational brochures and program rollouts. During my years with Land O’Lakes, I have had a couple of roles and responsibilities that continue to
evolve. Altogether, I have been focused on farmer engagement and providing a good customer experience for the member-owners, farmers and retailers we work with. Being a cooperative, it is important that we approach our business with a farmer-rst lens and aim to bring value wherever possible. Describe a class or classes that benetted you in your career. I enjoyed my course work that had a sales, marketing, economics, policy and international focus. In dairy, our export markets and overall milk pricing matter tremendously. I developed a passion for learning about the effective sales of agriculture products and ensuring that the choices made as an industry also make sense for the producer. Policy, international markets and economics play a substantial role in the nancial feasibility and future for farmers. Some of the classes I enjoyed specically were professional selling, agricultural policy, world food populations, and markets and prices. My time at UWRF was signicant to my career path as the program set me up for a professional career in the agriculture sector. My course work offered me a new perspective that I use in my career. What kind of on-going training and education do you take part in? I am working on my Master of Business Administration degree from Kansas State University with an emphasis in marketing. I also take part in professional conferences and industry events and hold membership/leadership roles in professional organizations. Building a network of other like-minded professionals is important and offers the opportunity to build long-lasting relationships, friendships and mentorships. Our industry is small, so it’s important to get to know those around you whenever possible and maintain those relationships. What advice would you give a high school senior considering college? If you are considering college, I would rst ask yourself what your goals are, but remember that it’s OK to not know exactly what you want to do. When I went into my freshman year at UWRF, I had no idea what I wanted to do for a career. Through my courses and time in college, I was able to identify the areas of agriculture that I am passionate
Crop Scout Internship At Farmers Win Cooperative, Crop Scout Interns are given an opportunity to connect classroom agronomic knowledge to the field first-hand. Throughout the season, you will learn to identify weeds, diseases, and insects affecting crop growth and development. You will gain experience testing soil and plant nutrients, and analyze reports used to make crop input recommendations with an experienced Agronomist.
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Ben Slack -Western Technical College -Degree in agribusiness science technology -Area sales manager for CentralStar Cooperative What was your background growing up? Why did you choose a career in agriculture? I grew up on a small dairy farm. I chose a career in agriculture because, while growing up, I was fascinated with the A.I. industry. I thought it was pretty neat to pick a bull out of the sire directory. At that time, the TriState Breeder bull barns in Westby, Wisconsin, were open to the public, and you could stop and look at the bulls anytime you wanted. I liked looking at the young sire pedigrees and wondering who might be the next great proven sire.
Describe a class or classes that benetted you in your career. The class that beneted me the most was the articial insemination class I had in 1995. It was only part of a week, but for over 25 years after that, I made my living as an A.I. technician. What kind of on-going training and education do you take part in? At CentralStar, we have meetings and conferences throughout the year to make sure we are up-to-date on industry trends, genetic trends and/or herd health protocols. What advice would you give a high school senior considering college? Until you nd something you get excited to learn about, I wouldn’t go to college. If a kid knows what they want, then going to college for a number of years is a good idea. Otherwise, it’s a pretty expensive way to nd yourself. If they are unsure, they can easily improve their work ethic and maybe learn something at a trade school.
What is your current career and the main responsibilities it entails? In my current career with CentralStar Cooperative, I work with a group of eight A.I. technicians and a couple hundred beef and dairy producers with liquid nitrogen tanks. I make sure the technicians and producers get the semen and animal health products they need along with transporting liquid nitrogen.
What do you think it takes to be successful in your career? In any career, it is important for a person to be enthusiastic about what they are doing. Additionally, it is important to have a decent work ethic. With those two things, it’s pretty hard not to have a successful career.
about. However, it is important to mention that college is not the only option for everyone. If you have other goals, there are many careers, trades, tech programs and short course options to consider that are also important to the success of our industry. One of the best choices I made both professionally and personally was to attend college, obtain my bachelor’s degree and expand my horizons in the industry. Take the time to tour schools and identify which program is the right t for you and your goals.
curious. This means asking questions, being willing to jump into something new with no previous knowledge and be adaptable to new situations. Every day, I aim to learn something new no matter how uncomfortable it may be. The advice, “No question is a dumb question,” rings true. If you strive to be dependable, authentic and true to your values in everything that you do, the opportunities will continue to come. Form good habits early on and have the grit to chase your passions every day no matter how tough things get. If you nd true passion and purpose in what you do, the energy and commitment will come naturally. Stay focused, stay positive, and remember that all good things take time.
What do you think it takes to be successful in your career? To be successful in a career, many of the skills needed are the same regardless of the industry you’re in. I have focused on remaining
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Page 8 • Dairy Education Special Edition • Saturday, December 23, 2023
Maximizing the college experience
Weigel gives advice for getting the most out of a post-secondary education By Stacey Smart
stacey.s@dairystar.com
FENNIMORE, Wis. — From the courses taken to the experiences had, college is designed to prepare a person for a successful career. Taking advantage of every opportunity is critical, and students seeking careers in the dairy industry have no shortage of such opportunities. Ryan Weigel, agriculture instructor at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College in Fennimore, believes the experiences a student gets outside the classroom can be just as important as those found in the classroom. Therefore, he likes to see students get involved on campus. “Involvement is important for success in the student,” Weigel said. “For example, we have a lot of agriculture clubs students can join as well as dairy and livestock judging teams. I want our students to build relationships and have experiences that help them grow as a person throughout their short two years they have here.” Weigel teaches a variety of courses, including animal science, milk production, reproduction, genetics, animal health and dairy production man-
agement. Weigel acquired 20 years of experience in the industry before coming to teach and is now in his sixth year on campus. “I’m seeing more students today that come from non-farm backgrounds,” he said. “They have interests in dairy but don’t live on a dairy farm. As the number of total farms in the state goes down, we’re not seeing as many students coming here to go back to work on their home farm. Instead, they are working at other businesses or on other farms.” The coursework and experiences gained on campus help equip a student with the capacity to take on leadershiptype roles after they graduate. “A student should leave here able to be a herd manager, a calf manager or a farm manager, or work for other corporations in the ag industry,” Weigel said. “They gain a lot of skills to allow them to complete those kinds of tasks.” Students have also gone on to work on the animal health side in veterinary clinics, in the A.I. industry, at cooperatives and as meat inspectors. “Just about anywhere in the ag industry over the years, you would nd a Southwest Tech grad,” Weigel said.
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Ryan Weigel is an agriculture instructor at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College in Fennimore, Wisconsin. Weigel said the experiences a student gets outside the classroom can be just as important as those found behind classroom doors.
Turn to WEIGEL | Page 9
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Dairy Education Special Edition • December 23, 2023 • Page 9
ConƟnued from WEIGEL | Page 8
A three-hour class within the ani- internships can eventually lead to fullmal science program at Southwest time employment.” Weigel’s students also particiTech provides real world experience to students in the form of farm and agri- pate in the Midwest Dairy Challenge. Working with their peers from twobusiness tours. “Students told me they learned year and four-year institutions, stuthe most seeing what other people did dents are placed on teams and given on their farms,” Weigel said. “It gives access to a farm’s data — from nancthem a chance to see different things. es to production to reproduction and Maybe they’ve never seen a rotary more. Students also spend time on the parlor or robots before. They take back farm interviewing owners and managthe pluses and minuses, and that’s re- ers. They then put together a presentaally valuable. They get to see how tion to highlight what the farm is doing well along with things in the insuggestions for dustry are done, “I’m seeing more improving their and it might spark students who come bottom line. an interest they “It’s an awehadn’t thought of from non-farm some contest and before.” as real-life Southwest backgrounds. They about as it gets,” Weigel Tech is adding a said. technology class The school is to its curriculum have interests in dairy developing stunext year that will but don’t live on a dents who can easbe part of the aniily transfer into a mal science prodairy farm.” four-year school if gram. RYAN WEIGEL, they so wish. “It’s an ever“It’s a small changing industry SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN TECHNICAL COLLEGE percentage, but we that is becoming more focused on technology,” Weigel do see that happen annually,” Weigel said. “This course will focus on data said. “We are working hard to make collection and how technology is used sure our classes transfer. That’s our goal. On the ip side, we also have stuin all different facets.” As part of their curriculum, stu- dents who transfer here from four-year dents in any agriculture program at schools.” Weigel recommends that high Southwest Tech are required to do an internship, which often occurs between school students get involved in organizations in their school or outside of their rst and second year. “An internship serves two impor- school, whether that be breed associatant roles,” Weigel said. “The rst is tions, 4-H or FFA. “Be involved,” he said. “It’s very it gives the student an opportunity to experience and work at a place where important to do more than just get they see themselves going in the future, good grades.” High school students may also or perhaps they get into an area and nd that they don’t like it. Then they choose to get a jumpstart on their colcan come back and refocus. There’s a lege education by taking classes at a valuable lesson in that. Secondly, those technical college if their school and
schedule allow. Enrolling in college courses while in high school enables kids to save money and reduce their course load during the rst year, Weigel said. Students could take general education classes or a class within their chosen line of study. “This is an opportunity to test the waters and see if that’s where your passion is while getting credits done at the same time,” Weigel said. After touring a college, Weigel encourages prospective students to make an appointment to sit in on a class. “That can be invaluable,” he said.
“By spending time in the classroom, you can see what the main instructor is like and see if it’s a t for you before you make that nancial commitment. I encourage juniors and seniors in high school to seek that out no matter where they go.” For the young person discerning a career in the dairy industry, the future looks bright. “Opportunities in agriculture are endless,” Weigel said. “Don’t put yourself in a corner. Focus on a variety of things and learn and see what is out there.”
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Page 10 • Dairy Education Special Edition • Saturday, December 23, 2023
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Dairy Education Special Edition • December 23, 2023 • Page 11
Dairy science degree propels career Forgues gains momentum in the industry By Abby Wiedmeyer abby.w@dairystar.com
Travis Forgues grew up on an organic dairy farm in Vermont, and when his family sold the cows and moved to Wisconsin when he was 14 years old, he did not let that end his pursuit of a dairy career. The University of Wisconsin-Platteville alum said his interest in dairy farming remained strong. “I never lost the passion for dairy and knew I wanted to get back into production agriculture,” Forgues said. “So, after high school, I chose UW-Platteville to do just that.” Forgues chose UW-Platteville, he said, mainly because of the campus dairy farm. He wanted to have opportunities for hands-on learning, and the farm felt like the right place for that. “UW-Platteville has repeatedly proven themselves to be committed in the pursuit of advancing the dairy industry,” Forgues said. “That is something I wanted to be a part of while I attended undergrad.” Forgues graduated from the university in 2021 and immediately gained employment as the feed manager for the
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Iowa State University Dairy Research and Teaching Center, where he works today. The center typically milks about 420 cows in a double-12 rapid-exit BouMatic parlor. Heifers are raised by a custom grower in Wisconsin and brought back to the farm approximately two months prior to parturition. The center is unique in that no cropland or pasture is farmed. Rather, the forages and concentrates are bought in at market value. Forgues’ main role consists of managing the feed center and outside barns. This includes training and scheduling of new employees, making sure feed operations run smoothly and equipment is operating correctly, purchasing forages and concentrates, and working with the nutritionist to maintain optimal cow health. Forgues uses a lot of basic knowledge on a day-to-day basis, including dry matter testing, Penn State Particle Separator boxes, bunk scoring and herd management software, all of which he was introduced to at UW-Platteville. “The lesson I learned in college that I was most grateful for during the past few years was the math involved with estimating bag/bunker capacity and other tidbits of information required to have a successful silage season,” Forgues said. “The condence and knowledge base that I built in undergrad has been extremely impor-
tant in my career, and I do not believe I would be anywhere close to where I am if it weren’t for my experiences at UW-Platteville.” Additionally, the dairy management course that he took in his undergraduate studies included a course on motivating and keeping employees happy, which Forgues said has been a benet to him as he has built and maintained the crew at the dairy. As a university farm, the center conducts research. Currently, over 100 cows in the lactating barn are being fed with Calan gates, and 24 additional Calan gates are being added before the end of the year. This feeding system allows individual feeding data to be collected from cows. When reecting on his college experience, Forgues said his favorite class was ruminant nutrition. “The professor, Dr. Ryan Pralle, did an amazing job,” Forgues said. “I was able to build a lot of condence in a subject that I have always had a huge interest in and passion for.” Forgues chose to spend most of his spare time in college working on multiple dairy farms near campus in an effort to gain as much hands-on experience as possible and see how different farms operated. Even though the experience has been helpful, Forgues said he wishes he would have joined more
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Travis Forgues is the feed manager at the Iowa State University Dairy Research and Teaching Center in Ames, Iowa. Forgues graduated from the University of Wisconsin-PlaƩeville in 2021. dairy-related clubs or pushed himself out of his comfort zone in his non-degree classes to achieve a more well-rounded character. He urged current and prospective students to take more opportunities to discover their hobbies and passions outside of their known interests. “I know everyone says it, but college really does y by,” Forgues said. “Make sure to present a professional version of yourself, and don’t be afraid
to try hard; the network of colleagues you build in college will very likely be involved in your career. The dairy industry is quite the small world, and it will surprise you where familiar faces pop up.” Starting at the new year, Forgues will ofcially be a graduate student at Iowa State University. He will be working toward a master’s degree but eventually hopes to earn a Ph.D. to use for a career in dairy nutrition and consulting.
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Page 12 • Dairy Education Special Edition • Saturday, December 23, 2023
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