New DAS Students Visit Agriculture Industries

It was a day of education, exploration and enlightenment for the 55 students and staff who participated in the annual New Student Industry Tour, hosted by Penn State's Department of Dairy and Animal Science (DAS) and Department of Poultry Science.

Now in its 11th year, the tour offers incoming freshmen and other students new to the campus, a unique educational opportunity to view the diversity of Pennsylvania agriculture, from the traditional to the exotic.

Dr. Terry Etherton, Head of the Department of Dairy and Animal Science, said, "We go on this tour to demonstrate the diversity of Pennsylvania agriculture and to show students the many, many exciting career opportunities for graduates. It is a tremendous day of exploration. We hold it during the first week of classes, so it is an excellent way for them to meet other students and to get to know faculty on an informal basis.

"With more and more students coming from non-farm backgrounds, it is increasingly important for these students to gain an appreciation of animal science within the larger agricultural industry."

Phillip J. Clauer, Senior Instructor in Poultry Science, said, "The tour exposes the students to a lot of enterprises they've never seen before and helps them start thinking about what's next. An equally important aspect is for them to begin to build relationships, something that is a huge part of what helps students succeed."

Tour organizer Jana Peters, Animal Sciences Advising Coordinator, said, "A lot of these students have never been on farms, so the tour gives them a close-up view of production agriculture. It is really helpful for them to meet the caretakers and learn about the responsible care of animals used in food production. It also is a great way for them to get to know their classmates."

Junior Shane Gross hails from a small beef farm in Northeast, Wayne County, but hopes to work on a dairy farm after college. A change-of-campus student from Penn State Worthington-Scranton, Gross was especially interested in the visit to Furnace Hill Holsteins, operated by Joel Krall and Tim Crouse, 2006 graduates of DAS. He said, "Visiting the dairy farm encouraged me. The owners were very ambitious with many good ideas." At the farm, both Krall and Crouse encouraged the students to take advantage of every opportunity available at Penn State to get as broad an education as possible.

Hannah Wentworth, Quarryville, Lancaster County, comes from a dairy farm and hopes to become a large animal veterinarian. A freshman, she said, "I'm very impressed with all the expertise and knowledge of the producers we've met. This motivates me to take advantage of the opportunities with the College and all that can be achieved."

Lanare Odusote was particularly happy to experience Pennsylvania agriculture, having enrolled at Penn State from Nashville, Tennessee with no farm background. "I came to Penn State because of opportunities like this and its excellent animal sciences program. It is interesting to go to different agriculture industries and see the various processes used, and to learn where our food comes from."

One of the few students on the tour who comes from a dairy farm, Caine Mitchell, Venus, Venango County, said, "It is interesting for us to see what others are doing. I hope to become a large animal veterinarian, and I enjoyed learning about the business side of the operations, not just actual farming."

A junior change-of-campus student from Penn State Erie, Katherine Halapy, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, said, "I've enjoyed meeting the different people who work in the field and hear them explain what they do and see it all in action. It's also very helpful to meet other students who are new to the campus."

Interacting with students who will share classes and activities over their college career was a high point of the tour for many. Freshman Jordy Hudson, Johnstown, Cambria County, said, "The tour is very helpful to me because no one else in my high school was interested in agriculture. It is a new experience for me to with people with the same interest. It is interesting to hear other people's plans."

After completing her studies at Bucks County Community College, Kellie Freeman, Richboro, Bucks County, came to study agriculture in hopes of becoming a large animal veterinarian. "This tour is really a good idea. It is definitely helpful to me to meet classmates, since I didn't know anyone. It has been very informative and has given me different ideas about careers."

 

Megan Deeds, Reading, Berks County, is a junior change-of-campus student from Penn State Berks, who also hopes to study veterinary medicine. "It is very interesting to meet people with similar interests and get to know them. It is also very helpful to learn opportunities available in agriculture." Industry hosts included:

• Penn National Race Course, where General Manager Paul Jenkins discussed the operation, which has hosted thoroughbred racing for 37 years. Penn National has 1,000 employees.
  
• Wen-Crest Farms, LLC, owned and operated by Steve and Bonnie Wenger, has a farming operation with 1500 acres planted in corn, beans, wheat and hay, 100 head of feeder steers and 600,000 turkeys in eight turkey barns.
  
• Furnace Hill Holsteins, a partnership with Joel Krall and Tim Crouse, with 150 cows and 120 replacement heifers. Krall and Crouse discussed their attention to detail which contributes to their success. Both DAS graduates, they encouraged students to be active during their time at Penn State. 

• Zoo America at Hershey Park, home to over 200 animals from five regions of North America. Students had the opportunity to take a "behind the scenes," look at the care of the animals, including a tour of the medical building and interaction with naturalists.

Hosts for the luncheon held at the Lebanon County Extension Office included Cargill, Alltech and Select Sire Power, with representatives from each speaking about career opportunities. Each stressed the importance of obtaining work experience to help direct possible career choices, in addition to being actively involved in activities within the Department.

Stacy Andersen, Alltech, told of her personal journey to her present job and said, "Be sure that your goals match up to the lifestyle you want to live and with your skills." Justin Howes, Cargill, called internships a great way to get experience and to get hired." He said internships show not just what you might enjoy, but what you may not want to do as a career - either way, very valuable. Kirk Sattazahn, Select Sire Power, described the variety of opportunities within the AI Field, from genetic consultants to field technicians. Dan Ludwig, USDA/Natural Resources Conservation Service, also encouraged students to consider work study opportunities, including working at the University barns to get hands-on experience to see where their interests may lie. Martha Gregory, extension educator, described the wide variety of career choices within agricultural extension as a way to be involved in agriculture.

 

Peters expressed appreciation to the hosts for their time and their frank and helpful discussions of their operations. "We are very grateful for their hospitality. They provide so much valuable information, and are very encouraging to our students. It really helps get the students off to a good start as they begin classes."