Northeast Community College Ag students know that when it comes to farming, there are almost always going to be ideas or practices that are controversial.
And while it might be human nature to avoid such topics, students who take “Issues in Agriculture” are encouraged to research it, think about it, study all sides and present their findings. It’s all part of the class, which concludes with a booth fair in Union 73 at the end of the semester.
This year’s event took place on Tuesday, December 2. The booths contained information presented on a range of topics, with the students encouraged to discuss their research with those attending the event, including other students, faculty and staff, and some members of the public.
Brandon Keller, Northeast Ag instructor, said this year’s fair featured 26 groups, with three to five students in each group. Students study a variety of topics during the semester, then are encouraged to select a topic and have it approved for the booth fair.
Keller said the 26 groups included 22 unique topics, with some of the most popular subjects this year dealing with food production, livestock handling and environmental issues.
Cole Broekemeier, a first-year student from Central City, was part of a team that researched impacts of buying food locally rather than processed or from corporations. With things like safety, nutrition and knowing how the food was produced, buying local has benefits and helps to improve the local economy, they discovered.
Justin Backer, a first-year student from Randolph, was part of a team that researched foreign owners buying U.S. land.
Nebraska and many Midwestern states have low rates of foreign ownership of land, in part because there are state restrictions in place, Backer said.
In discussing their research, most students were careful to remain neutral – rather than arguing for a particular side. The students learn that there are almost always going to be several sides. The idea is to base decisions on facts.
Foreign landownership of land brings a set of issues that can be troubling. They include driving up the price of land for new farmers trying to get started, the production from the land leaving the United States and national security issues, Backer said.
The Issues in Agriculture booth fair is designed to better position students for their internships and full-time employment in the agriculture industry. With one in two jobs in Northeast’s 20-county service region being directly related to the ag industry, Northeast ag instructors believe it is important for students to know how to present factual information in a nonbiased manner.
Livestock Health Practices
Students (from left) Emily Dohmen, first year, Lindsay; Clair Krysl, dual credit, Summerland High School; and Nolan Clement, first year, Saint Paul, studied how routine health practices can impact livestock during the Issues in Agriculture booth fair at Union 73 on Tuesday, December 2. (Northeast Community College)
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