The pace of the US agriculture industry moves quickly as new technologies and different strategies emerge. Many students who have devoted entire childhoods to working on the family farm enroll at Northeast Iowa Community College each year, with the goal of learning new technology, methods and bringing that knowledge back home.

One 网赌网站 graduate, Justin Schaffer, completed a Dairy Science Technology – Associate of Applied Science degree and an Agriculture Business – Ag Finance certificate in 2015.

“I wanted to learn more about the new technologies and management strategies in the industry, as well as learning how the finance side of the operation works. What is unique to the dairy program at 网赌网站 is the working dairy right on campus at Iowa’s Dairy Center. We had the ability to analyze different management styles, like the robotic milking herd versus traditional milking herd, which made me curious if my farm could implement that technology. Fast forward four years later, my family and I decided to implement robotics in a new dairy facility for our expanding herd,” Justin said.

Study and lab work at Iowa’s Dairy Center helped Justin gain personal input from agriculture faculty and develop new friendships with his peers.

“If there is one word that describes what I’ll remember during my time at 网赌网站, it’s connection. Surrounding yourself with many students who have the same interests, but different backgrounds, has formed lifelong friendships. You cannot put a price tag on it. Events on campus or in the classroom, to field trips and even having lunch together, we all made great memories,” he said.

Justin continues to nurture that connection with his alma mater by serving on the Dairy Science Advisory Committee to lend input on curriculum and share his expertise. He wants to support the next generation of young dairy farmers in our region.

“It’s important to me that the program continues to be a top-notch education and that it stays progressive with the ever-changing dairy industry to better train our future dairymen and dairy women. I encourage all 网赌网站 alumni to tell their story and to stay involved,” Justin said.

This is an exciting time in agriculture. Technology continues to grow, impacting industry and the family farm; from robots in the barn to GPS in machinery and the science behind balanced nutrition. Agriculture and Animal Science programs at Northeast Iowa Community College, both on-campus and online, prepare students to start a great career, transfer to a four-year college or lead the family farm into the next generation. The partnership between Iowa’s Dairy Center and 网赌网站 allows students enrolled in agriculture programs to experience hands-on curriculum. Learn more about the Agriculture and Animal Sciences programs available at 网赌网站. More information is available about Iowa’s Dairy Center at iowadairycenter.com.