Growing ag tech talent

After a decade in agronomy sales, Travis Vander Wal still finds it fascinating to watch crops grow. “I enjoy working with growers, but the best part is seeing how fast a healthy crop grows from a small seed and watching those yields go up,” says Vander Wal, an agronomy sales representative at CHS River Plains, Strasburg, N.D.

Vander Wal began his agronomy career by earning a degree from Bismarck State College (BSC), a two-year polytechnic institution focused on practical learning and applied education.

“I’m not a fan of sitting in school and taking tests, so I chose a two-year college,” he says. “BSC really packs in the learning. We had six to seven classes a day with mostly interactive, hands-on learning. There is nothing that I did at BSC that I haven’t used at CHS, including electrical and plumbing courses and forklift training.”

Vander Wal sees value in taking an active approach to learning and to customer service. “Doing hands-on work keeps me on my toes. I’m not just the guy who sells products — I load out seed and fertilizer in the spring and unload grain at the end of the season,” he says. “I see the challenges and understand how the products perform. All of that helps me make better recommendations and gives me credibility.”

Filling the ag talent pipeline

Two-year colleges play an important role in preparing candidates for technical agriculture positions such as precision agronomy specialists — some of the toughest roles to fill due to high demand, according to the National Association of Agricultural Educators.

Harlee Kilber, assistant professor of agriculture, technology and natural resources for Bismarck State College, says BSC graduates are ready to immediately apply what they’ve learned to roles in industry or on the farm.

“We provide relevant, real-life learning, which is why we only offer one online course,” she says. “The workforce demand is so great that we could increase our agronomy student base threefold and still find jobs for every graduate right here in North Dakota.”

Two-year colleges led the way in delving into precision agriculture when GPS technology first became available for civilian use. They also were proactive in collaborating with employers to identify training needs and create opportunities for students. Employers participate in the BSC Agronomy Placement Incentive Program, which provides guaranteed internship experiences, potential tuition reimbursement and connections for future employment. And about a dozen farms partner with the school each year to mentor students.

“We are in a very rural area with a small talent pool. It’s extremely competitive when it comes to finding skilled agronomy workers,” says Jason Edwards, senior director of operations for the CHS ag retail business based in Devils Lake, N.D. “BSC students go through an intensive ag program that I value as much as a four-year degree. They understand the equipment we use, care about safety and have a shorter training curve for getting an applicator license.”

Mike Benjamin, director of operations for Dakota Agronomy Partners, a CHS joint venture, says BSC excels at tailoring its program to what companies and producers need. “They adjust their school year to fit our busy spring season. Our interns hit the ground running and experience a whole season, from getting the crop in to scouting, all the way through year-end inventory,” he says. “It’s a great partnership.”

BSC has been introducing younger students to ag careers and creating precision ag curriculums for high school educators.

“We need young talent to step up. We’ve got an aging workforce, the number of kids going into ag has dropped, and hiring is a real challenge,” says Benjamin, whose agronomy team now focuses on visiting FFA classrooms and 4-H events in addition to attending college job fairs. “We’re getting the idea out there that ag is cool and they should think about ag careers. We recently had a 17-year-old high school junior ask to visit us for a day to learn more about what intrigued her.”

Zachary Mehl, right, says interns like Kory Vetsch have strong technical skills and a good work ethic.

Building ag career pathways

Through the generosity of farmer-owners and shared cooperative spirit, the CHS Foundation partners with colleges across the U.S. to encourage students to complete ag degrees and pursue ag careers. Grants from the CHS Foundation have helped BSC hire a precision ag faculty member and purchase hydraulic and electronic units for classrooms.

“The ag industry and farmers are relying on our students to have the skills to fully leverage the latest technology,” says the executive director of the Bismarck State College Foundation, Kari Knudson. “Without the generous support from the CHS Foundation, we wouldn’t be able to keep up with the changes in technology. We are very appreciative of the CHS Foundation investment in BSC’s agriculture programs.”

Young people from all backgrounds are eager to try out technology such as precision planting and application simulators. “Kids used to stand back and watch the instructor operate the equipment,” says Kilber. “Now they aren’t afraid to get their hands on the equipment and start pushing buttons.”

From intern to location manager

Two-year agronomy students often land full-time positions in the cooperative system after completing internships.

Zachary Mehl attended BSC and interned at Dakota Agronomy Partners before being hired full time by the cooperative. “Choosing a two-year college and interning at a co-op was an awesome experience,” says Mehl. “I had thought about attending a four-year university, but we were able to get more hands-on experience and see more aspects of the agronomy business at BSC.”

Now a senior sales representative and location manager at Glenburn, N.D., Mehl helps mentor agronomy interns.

“We can’t compete without a steady talent pool that helps keep us at the top of our game,” he says. “Every year we have a roundtable discussion with the BSC instructors. They are great at grasping what’s needed in ag retail and adapting their program to provide it.”

In return, Mehl’s team customizes internships so students gain the most from their experience. “If they’re interested in application, then they’ll work with machines. If their goal is to be sellers, they’ll work with a salesperson and do more scouting and interacting with customers,” says Mehl.

Internships also show students what makes cooperatives unique. “We talk about the value of community involvement,” says Mehl. “And we let them know we have a tight-knit group of sellers and a big network, so we can always reach out to others for help or advice to better serve growers.”

Check out the full Fall 2024 C magazine with this article and more.