NORFOLK, Neb. – While it can be helpful for students to look at possible employers’ websites, there is no substitute for a personal conversation.
Northeast Community College ag students had the opportunity to do just that on Tuesday, Oct. 8, during the annual Agriculture Career Fair at the Lifelong Learning Center.
Brandon Keller, Northeast ag instructor, said there were 47 employers and four-year transfer partners this year.
“I would say it is a triple-purpose event,” Keller said. “We have students looking for their cooperative internship as part of their degree. We have students searching for full-time positions once they graduate or part-time work while they are here. But I would say finally, it also is an opportunity for our students to start building that professional network.”
Jill Heemstra, director of the Northeast ag program, said most of the freshmen ag students take part in the event through the Issues in Ag class. Part of the purpose of that class is for internship preparation and to learn about topics in agriculture.
Heemstra said a lot of sophomores attend because it is required for a class or extra credit for another class.
“We strongly encourage all our ag students to be here, one way or another,” Heemstra said, noting that there are representatives for a variety of ag majors – including precision agriculture, agronomy, mechanical and business.
Keller has coordinated the event for all eight years he has been at Northeast. The Agriculture Career Fair was held before that as well. It has grown.
“For us as faculty, this is fun because a lot of the employers are alumni. It’s an opportunity to reconnect. It is almost like a reunion for many of us,” Keller said.
This is the third year that Northeast has offered a VIP Networking luncheon, which is an opportunity for employers to sit down and visit with roughly the top 10 percent of the ag students. That would include ag officers, ag ambassadors and freshmen who are excelling.
“The luncheon presents an opportunity for students to learn more about the ag industry and build that professional connection. We match them by major, so a lot of them do get that internship or full-time job,” Keller said.
Northeast Ag Career Fair
Northeast Community College hosted its annual Ag Career Day on Tuesday, Oct. 8. The day shows the support the Northeast Nebraska ag industry has for higher education and helps Northeast students to network with professionals, leading to internships and jobs. (Northeast Community College)
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