NORFOLK, Neb. – From witnessing the dangers of grain entrapment to watching a drone seed cover crops over standing corn, 200 Northeast Community College agriculture students experienced firsthand the technology, innovation, and safety practices shaping today’s agriculture industry during the College’s annual Agronomy Field Day.
The event takes learning beyond the classroom, connecting students directly with agriculture professionals who shared their expertise through demonstrations and conversations about current practices in the industry. Sponsors of the Field Day were A-FAN, the Nebraska Soybean Board and the Community College Alliance for Agriculture Advancement (C2A3).
This year’s sessions included presentations and demonstrations from CVA, Sandramere Seed, Farmers Pride, Helena, McKeon Ag Solutions, Channel Seeds and Red Solutions, along with a stop at the Northeast Urban Farm.
One of the day’s most impactful demonstrations focused on an issue that can have life-or-death consequences on the farm. CVA conducted a grain rescue demonstration to show students the dangers of grain entrapment and reinforce the importance of safety when working around stored grain.
Students also saw how emerging technology is changing agricultural production. Red Solutions demonstrated the use of a drone to seed cover crops over standing corn, giving students an up-close look at how technology is helping producers approach traditional farming practices in new ways.
For Drew Reinhardt, an Agri-Business major from Wayne, Nebraska, the drone demonstration provided a chance to see technology he could encounter during his career.
“I thought the drone demonstration was really cool because it’s not something you get to see every day,” Reinhardt said. “Watching it seed a cover crop over standing corn showed me how technology can make jobs in the ag industry easier and more efficient.”
Beyond the demonstrations, Agronomy Field Day gives students an opportunity to build connections with the businesses and professionals who make up the region’s agriculture industry. Those relationships can introduce students to companies, careers, and internship opportunities while giving employers an opportunity to connect with Northeast students who will soon enter the workforce.
“Our industry partners are an important part of how we prepare students for careers in agriculture,” said Jill Heemstra, director of the Northeast Ag program. “Agronomy Field Day allows students to see the practices and technology being used in the industry today, ask questions directly of professionals and begin building relationships with people they may work alongside in the future.”
Agronomy Field Day is one example of how Northeast combines its agricultural land base with industry partnerships to provide applied learning opportunities for students. The College’s 650-acre working farm allows students to participate in field experiments, precision agriculture demonstrations and other hands-on activities while learning alongside industry collaborators.
Those partnerships extend beyond Agronomy Field Day. Industry collaborators work with Northeast throughout the year, helping turn the College’s farm into a living laboratory where students can connect classroom concepts with the realities of modern agriculture.
