NORFOLK, NE - What do Captain Crunch cereal and drones have in common? They were both featured during a special event this week at Northeast Community College to showcase the many aspects of the world of agriculture.
Several of the college’s student agriculture clubs teamed with the Student Activities Council (SAC) for an AGstravaganza in Northeast’s Chuck M. Pohlman Agriculture Complex to advocate new trends in agriculture during National Ag Week. It was a student created and driven event with the ag students planning and putting it all together.
“The ag clubs have come together to create booths on a topic related to their ag programs to teach non-ag-students what agriculture is and how the industry works,” said Logan Nelson, a sophomore agronomy student from Schuyler. “For example, there are three or four booths that are talking about organic and non-organic foods.”
Clubs involved included Agribusiness, Diversified Ag, College Farm Bureau, Horticulture, Precision Agriculture, and Veterinary Technology. Ag Business featured foods, such as Capt. Crunch, to demonstrate prices and profit margins in producing the grains that are used in such products. Drones were part of the Precision Ag program’s demonstration that allowed students to fly the small devices through hoops to test their skills.
“When it comes to agriculture, people may think of a tractor or things like that. To have all these booths set up is a nice way showcase what (agriculture) is all about,” said Megan Coffey, Columbus, a sophomore animal science student from Columbus.
Her booth, with Fredrick Kujath, a precision ag and agronomy student from Fairbury, focused on livestock feeding.
“Like here with the rations, it provides an understanding that this is what cattle actually eat; they’re not just strictly eating corn. I like ag, I like everything about it, and I like to promote it.”
Coffey was pleased to see the approximately 125 students who attended the inaugural event, which was part of SAC’s weekly Wacky Wednesday. She said it was great teaching moment.
“I think it’s easier for them to understand when we show them examples of what energy is to us - and what proteins and fats are and then show them what product livestock consume,” she said. “With the pictures, we have things like feedstuffs, the source as well as rations. It just gives them a visual of what is exactly going into cattle and what they potentially might be buying from the store.”
The free event also featured food tasting, agriculture-related games and a chance for participating students to win prizes. CHS, Inc., the nation’s leading farmer-owned cooperative, provided a grant to assist in putting on the event. The company also provided the food that was used to educate participants as well as other supplies.
Nelson said the Ag Complex was a perfect venue to hold the AGstravaganza.
“We talked about doing something inside where we can make it fun for everyone and offer food to bring people in as well. We’re teaching people what agriculture is and how it’s helping all our lives. The world cannot survive without it.”
Northeast Community College offers 12 agriculture programs – Agriculture - College Transfer, Agribusiness, Agronomy, Animal Science, Dairy Technician, Diversified Agriculture, Horticulture & Golf Course Management, Mechanized Agriculture, Natural Resources, Precision Agriculture, Pre-Veterinary Technology, and Veterinary Technology.
To learn more, visit northeast.edu/programs/ag.
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PHOTO CUTLINE – AGstravaganza 1
Northeast Community College agriculture students Alexis Schnoor, (agribusiness), Pierce, and Jeremy Kooima, (agronomy), Rock Valley, Iowa, discuss food prices and the percentage producers receive in their simulated grocery store during AGstravaganza. Several of the college’s student agriculture clubs teamed with the Student Activities Council (SAC) for the inaugural event in the Chuck M. Pohlman Agriculture Complex to advocate new trends in agriculture during National Ag Week. (Northeast Community College)
PHOTO CUTLINE – AGstravaganza 2
Northeast Community College animal science student Megan Coffey, Columbus, (right) speaks with students as part of a livestock feed ration exercise during AGstravaganza. Several of the college’s student agriculture clubs teamed with the Student Activities Council (SAC) for the inaugural event in the Chuck M. Pohlman Agriculture Complex. It was designed to advocate new trends in agriculture during National Ag Week. (Northeast Community College)