Ag program growing

Enrollment in Wright State University-Lake Campus' agriculture programs continues to grow since they debuted seven years ago.

New programs are also performing as intended - producing homegrown employees for the area's thriving agriculture industry and providing career opportunities for local grads.

Greg Homan, the program's faculty director, was integral in getting it started.

"In the first class in 2009, there were 16 students," Homan said. "With weeks of registration available, there are a record 67 registered for this fall, including food sciences courses."

Of those students, 38 are seeking a bachelor's degree in agriculture, 16 are seeking an associate degree in agriculture and eight are preparing for food science options, Homan said.

Cooperation among the area's ag community and employers has been key to the program's success, he said. Many community representatives serve on the campus' agricultural program advisory committee. The group provides feedback on curriculum, program offerings and a vision for future agriculture training. Many agribusiness professionals serve as adjunct instructors at the campus for various classes.

Having these industry professionals is invaluable for students, Homan said. From five-10 students each semester participate in intern positions at area ag businesses.

Six agriculture degrees are available: a certificate in agricultural business, a certificate in food systems management, an associate degree in technical study in food science, an associate degree in technical study in agriculture, a bachelor's degree in technical and applied studies in food science and a bachelor's degree in technical and applied studies in agriculture.

Certificate programs are designed as a first stage into post-secondary education and can be completed in roughly one year. The associate degree options are generally completed in about two years, while the bachelor programs are designed to be completed in four years, Homan said.

The campus tries to offer a variety of ag classes. The roster this fall semester will include agricultural society, intro to food science, agricultural economics, intro to animal science, animal health and physiology, nutrient management, soil science, agricultural finance, food laws and regulations and lean Six Sigma in food manufacturing.

Stephanie Hart said being a Lake Campus ag student helped her land a job at the Mercer County Soil and Water Conservation District in Celina last year. She was hired in October as a nutrient-management technician and was promoted to district technician in April. She expects to graduate in December with a bachelor's degree in technical and applied studies in agriculture.

"It's very important (to have a local college offering ag studies) especially with the animal concentration in our area," the 2013 Fort Recovery High School graduate said. "And with the regulations on the lake we are going to need bigger and better ideas on how to handle nutrients. We need to be on top of things and keep the talent here."

Hart, who grew up on a dairy and grain farm, said she was accepted by The Ohio State University as well. She chose the Lake Campus in part due to its ag program with the goal of finding a career near home. Hart said the evening classes were a plus.

"It was great because most of the ag classes are offered in the evenings, so I can work during the day," she said.

Mitch Sudhoff, a 2013 Lake Campus graduate with a Bachelor of Applies Science in Agriculture, landed a job at Burtch Seed Co. in Rockford. The 2009 Coldwater High School graduate grew up on a dairy, beef and grain farm.

"The main reason I liked it and decided to go was because I could continue to work on the farm and stay connected on the farm," the 2009 Coldwater High School graduate said. "The program was reasonably affordable compared to others and flexible so I could stay with the farm."

Sudhoff said through educational trips offered as part of the campus' curriculum, he learned about agriculture in Texas, California and Costa Rica. He also completed an internship at Burtch.

"It's really interesting to see how agriculture in the other parts of the U.S. and in other countries differs from here," he said.

Homan said he appreciated the education he received outside the walls of a classroom.

"A lot of the classes were not really in class," he said. "They were at a farm or a research center. We had a lot of hands-on experience that really was applied to the real world and real situations we have to deal with in agriculture."

Steve Lefeld, sales manager at Kenn-Feld Group LLC, Coldwater, is glad Lake Campus began its ag program.

"It was a great move in an agricultural community like ours," he said. "We have a lot of dealerships that need mechanics and parts people and ag people."

Years ago a formal education wasn't as important to farmers, he said. But that has changed.

"It's a changing economy and a changing way of farming. It's highly technical and they make a lot of decisions on a lot of figures," Lefeld said. "If you go back 50 year ago, it used to be the ones that were the most successful farmers were the hardest working. Today it's the smartest ones."