Des Moines, IA – On Wednesday, February 15, 2017 the Agribusiness Association of Iowa (AAI) Foundation presented fifteen community colleges students each with a $1,000 scholarship. The AAI Foundation annually holds an Agribusiness Career Day (ABC Day) for fifteen community colleges around the state. One $1,000 scholarship is presented to each represented school. In its third year, the 2017 ABC Day was well attended with over 250 college students, instructors/advisors, and FFA seniors.
The college students were able to obtain important industry knowledge from professionals that work every day in the agriculture and agribusiness field. The morning was opened by Jason Johnson with Farm Credit Services of America. Johnson welcomed the students and lead the way for DMACC President Rob Denson to address the students and give them a preview of their speaker line up for the day. Denson was followed by Raelene Maas, HR Manager at Growmark FS. Her presentation to the students was designed to help students with internships and being prepared for that next step in a career. Other speakers included; Joel Brinkmeyer, AAIF CEO and Carol Balvanz a Policy Director at Iowa Soybean Association. Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds made a guest appearance to speak to the students on the importance of STEM – “we say ag is STEM” Lt. Gov. Reynolds says.
Pictured left: Carol Balvanz, Iowa Soybean Policy Director, speaks to a room of over 250 agriculture students about the importance of having connections.
Scholarship awards and recognition of sponsors were presented after lunch to the following students and colleges by the listed sponsoring company:
Will Mellencamp – Clarinda
Des Moines Area Community College
Sponsored by Iowa Biotechnology Association
Eric Stoakes – Iowa Falls
Ellsworth/Iowa Valley Community College
Sponsored by the AAI Foundation
Clayton Voegler – Waterloo
Hawkeye Community College
Sponsored by INTL FC Stone
Chase Altenhofen – Iowa Falls
Indian Hills Community College
Sponsored by – Jose & Shelley Laracunte, AgVision Agribusiness Software
Reilly Niles – Paton
Iowa Central Community College
Sponsored by – Iowa Biotechnology Association
Nathan Benson – Spenser
Iowa Lakes Community College
Sponsored by AAI Foundaiton
Clayton Long – Sidney
Iowa Western Community College
Sponsored by AAI Foundation
Kendra Vavroch – Gladbrook
Kirkwood Community College
Sponsored by Dave & Mary Junge, Junge Control Inc.
Alia Lawrence – Columbus Junction
Muscatine Community College
Sponsored by Eldon C. Stutsman, Inc.
Nick Shinestine – Tripoli
North Iowa Area Community College
Sponsored by Growmark FS
Jodie Mumm – Bloominton, WI
Northeast Iowa Community College
Sponsored by AAI Foundation
Ali Foth – Sheldon
Northwest Community College
Sponsored by the Farm Credit Services of America
Chelsie Appel – Burlington
Southeastern Community College
Sponsored River Valley Coop
Tanner Loghry – Woodbur
Southwestern Community College
Sponsored by the AAI Foundation
Bradley Steinhoff
Western Iowa Tech
Sponsored by the Heartland Coop
The AAI Foundation is pleased to help provide assistance and guidance to the Iowa agriculture youth. The AAI Foundation incorporated this assistance and growth opportunity to Iowa community college students for the first time in 2013. This event is held during the Agribusiness Showcase & Conference at the Iowa State Fairground at the Varied Industries building. The Agribusiness Showcase & Conference hosts over 120 exhibiting companies and industry professionals. By introducing students to this environment it enables them to network with industry professionals and companies for future benefit. Since the first inception, interest and participation from Iowa’s agribusiness has increased.
About the Agribusiness Association of Iowa Foundation – The AAI Foundation promotes research projects, member education, stewardship and scholarships that benefit AAI members and their families. The charitable goals of the Foundation reflect the interests of the agribusiness industry and benefit AAI members by promoting research projects, member education, stewardship and higher education scholarships. Within these three areas, the Foundation assists applicants as it is related to the benefit of the agribusiness industry.
For more information on the AAI Foundation please visit http://foundation.agribiz.org/.
For more information on the Agribusiness Showcase & Conference please visit http://www.agribizshowcase.com/.
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