EWING, Ill.— Over 80 local high school and community college students had the opportunity to learn more about the field of agriculture during the annual Career and Technology Field Day recently held at the Ewing Demonstration Center. Since its inception six years ago, University of Illinois Extension has hosted over 700 students at this annual event.
Each year, industry leaders attend the event to answer questions and talk to students about what they look for in potential employees. This year, Corteva and Southern FS representatives shared information about the many job opportunities in the agriculture industry. Students also toured a John Deere R4044 sprayer tractor from Sydenstricker Nobbe Partners. The event provided recruiting opportunities for Southern Illinois University as student ambassadors and recruiters from the College of Agricultural, Life, and Physical Sciences were on hand to answer questions and share their experience as students in agriculture studies. Rob Gilliam, vice president of lending for Farm Credit Illinois, discussed the importance of fiscal responsibility, even at an early age. He encouraged the students to establish their credit early to get a better rate when they need to get a loan.
The Ewing Demonstration Center has served the agricultural community of southern Illinois since 1910 and drives research in the areas of cover crops, pumpkins, insecticide and herbicide trials and variety trials of corn, soybeans, sorghum, and. Students had the chance to view the 80 acres of research plots as they traveled to each presentation station through “people movers” pulled by tractors. Illinois Extension was excited to welcome students back for this event to expose them to the agriculture industry and prepare them for employment opportunities in the field.
“This is a great opportunity to get students in front of industry professionals as well as see plot-scale research work at the Ewing Demonstration Center,” said Commercial Agriculture Educator Talon Becker.
To learn more about upcoming events hosted by Extension, please visit extension.illinois.edu/fjprw.
SOURCE: Talon Becker, commercial agriculture educator, University of Illinois Extension, tbecker2@illinois.edu, (618) 439-3178
WRITER: Heather Willis, marketing and communications coordinator, hdwillis@illinois.edu, (618) 357-2126
ABOUT EXTENSION: Illinois Extension leads public outreach for University of Illinois by translating research into action plans that allow Illinois families, businesses, and community leaders to solve problems, make informed decisions, and adapt to changes and opportunities.