Anderson, who oversees eight employees at WFS, says desire and the chance to learn the basics through the agronomy tech curriculum at Ridgewater College, Willmar, MN, paved the way. The technical college program was started in 1993 as a partnership with Cenex Land O'Lakes (now Agriliance) to fill a need for qualified custom applicators, sales and service reps and crop scouts at local co-ops. The Ridgewater program, first of its particular type in the nation, is among a dozen or so similar specialized two-year ag degrees offered in the Midwest.

Like many agronomy tech students, Anderson, who graduated in 1998, was “hand- picked” by his current employer while still in high school. WFS provided a scholarship and a guaranteed paid internship; in exchange Anderson agreed to go on the co-op's payroll for two years after graduating, says coordinator/teacher Brant Groen.

While the Ridgewater program is no longer connected directly to co-op corporate offices, it is still strongly supported by local member co-ops, says Groen. “Our minimum scholarship fee is $500. Most are in the $1,000 to $1,500 range, while some agronomy centers see enough value to pay full tuition and books, which total over $6,000 for two years, plus three paid internship periods,” says Groen.

“Retailers like to sponsor students here because we're ‘hands-on’ from start to finish,” Groen explains. “Since our beginning, Ag-Chem Equipment has provided us with four new custom application machines a year. They're equipped with the latest precision farming hardware and software and other high-tech innovations. While we fulfill all academic requirements for a 72-credit associate degree, our students graduate knowing how to operate floaters and sprayers, scout crops and sell crop protection products.”

Much of the learning comes through the three-phase internship. Students start classes in August, then spend October with their sponsor (or other agribusiness, if not sponsored), getting in-field experience with fall fertilizer and chemical applications. Classes wrap up April 1 so students can intern for the spring and summer seasons, and then again during October of their second year. By graduation they're seasoned, licensed commercial applicators.

“With the high-tech equipment they've got today, local ag retailers have a tremendous need for qualified employees,” Groen adds. “As a result, they've become our best recruiters. They know the people in their communities and promote the program at local high schools. It's a win-win because it opens a career path for the student and assures the dealer of having a trained employee within two years.

“And like Dustin Anderson, once they get a few years' experience, our grads often move into management. We're pleased this year that his younger brother, David, is also attending Ridgewater on a WFS scholarship and is interning under Dustin's supervision,” he says.

In 29 years of teaching at Lake Area Technical Institute (LATI), Watertown, SD, Myron Johnson says there have always been more agribusiness jobs than students to fill them. “And when times get tough, dealers look for the best help available. There are very few South Dakota agribusinesses without at least one of our graduates on staff.”

LATI students opt for a degree in ag business or ag production with emphasis in agronomy or livestock. “We're seeing an increase in scholarships and internship/work agreements with leading companies like Agriliance, Cargill, Farmland and South Dakota Wheatgrowers. It's a great program for someone who wants to stay in their local community,” says Johnson.

Hands-on training is also stressed at LATI. The school leases a 90-acre farm in a cooperative agreement with the DuPont Company, which also provides crop protection products. Previously, a no-till cropping system was developed on the farm in conjunction with BASF.

“We get equipment from a number of sources,” Johnson adds. “A local dealer provides a John Deere Gator utility vehicle, and through contacts with former students, we're also able to get up-close experience with major brands of self-propelled applicators.”

Recruitment is getting more difficult. Johnson visited 80 area high schools last year to spread the word. “So many high school students and parents in rural areas no longer have a farm background. Once they hear about us, though, it gives them a better idea of what a career in agriculture can offer.”

Susan Brocksmith heads up instruction at Indiana's Vincennes University for students earning associate degrees in custom application specialties. Originally sponsored as a pilot program by Countrymark, funding for scholarships now comes from Royster Clark, Kova and other ag-related businesses.

“Three-fourths of our graduates start out in custom application. We'll work with any industry cooperator and welcome inquiries. We get applicants every year who feel good training as a custom applicator can help them get a head start in the business, with hopes of moving up the ladder in management at a local ag chem or fertilizer dealer. While some students don't want the commitment to work for a specific sponsor after graduation, a full scholarship for tuition and books can run as high as $6,000,” Brocksmith says.

More than 50% of the students enrolled for a degree in agribusiness science and technology from Southwest Wisconsin Technical College at Fennimore, wind up in agronomy-related jobs. “We've focused sharply on precision agriculture and have made a big investment in equipment. We're teaching them to run soil survey maps, generate field boundary maps and do primary soil sampling so they have a better idea of what's behind a fertilizer recommendation,” says teacher Paul Cutting.

Cutting works closely with five area landowners with about 1000 total acres of corn, soybeans and alfalfa, to allow students to gain experience working on varying cropping systems and soil types before they start internships. “We've placed interns across the street at the local Agriliance Center, as well as several states away,” Cutting says.

“There are plenty of jobs available, especially for students who want to relocate,” he adds. “There are also more opportunities. Ten years ago, a person starting out as a custom applicator seemed to stay in that position. But lately, agronomy plant managers realize they need to create a career path in order to get the best students.”

Richard Lyons, instructor in the Agri-Fertilizer operations curriculum at Lincoln Land Community College, Springfield, IL, thinks the next couple years will provide good opportunities for fertilizer/ag chem dealers to find highly qualified students to sponsor in technical school programs.

“For the past few years, jobs have been plentiful and students really haven't had to compete for employment. But as the economy tightens up, there will be fewer jobs, and more young people with good work habits, mechanical skills and a desire to learn should be available,” he says.

Lyons says his department, which enrolls between seven and 10 students each fall, could handle twice as many and have no worry about placing them in good jobs. In past years, ag students at Lincoln Land have been sponsored by FS Gromark, USP Richert, Harband Group, Royster-Clark, Herrin Fertilizer and Brandt Consolidated. Combining the $4,700 total for tuition, books and fees with payroll costs of two internships brings the total outlay for sponsoring a student in this program to about $11,000, he says.

For more information on how your company might get involved with a student sponsorship program, check with your local area technical school for their list of agriculture programs and whether they offer scholarships or paid internships.

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