A Teacher Said ‘Invent Something,’ and a Piece of Farm Equipment Emerged

The Association received a letter last week written by the daughter of a dairy farmer who is also a young entrepreneur.

Kenzie is an eighth grader from Lake Mills, Wis., who was assigned a project in her science class: Invent something, the teacher told her.

So Kenzie, who feeds calves, milks cows, and does barn chores on her dad’s farm, along with her friend Jenna, who also helps on the farm, built the KenJen, a wagon that simplifies the transfer of milk. The pair are looking for a company to manufacture the equipment. We applaud their hard work and innovation.

Kenzie and Jenna’s letter arrived at the perfect moment, because the Association has recently joined an effort to create more classroom moments in which teachers inspire such possibilities on behalf of the farm equipment industry.

With financial support from this Association, 36 teachers recently received partial scholarships to pursue studies that will prepare students for careers in equipment manufacturing. The teachers, who come from a dozen states, have the potential to reach more than 1,500 students next school year with a message of the opportunities in the farm equipment industry and the skills needed for success.

The scholarship awards are part of a joint industry initiative that includes this Association, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers’ Ag Sector Board and the Equipment Dealers Association (EDA).

Participating teachers will take classes this summer through the Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education (CASE), a multi-year approach to agri-science education. CASE offers ten courses, including the Agricultural Power and Technology (APT) and Mechanical Systems in Agriculture (MSA), which prepare students for careers in agricultural engineering.

During the CASE Institute, teachers spend 80 hours working through nearly every lesson in the yearlong curriculum and learning how to deliver those lessons in a fashion that fosters student-directed learning.

Vernon Schmidt, executive vice president of the Association, said contributing to the scholarship fund was the right move for members and the industry.

“When farmers and ranchers need specialized equipment designed to address their unique local conditions, they look to shortline manufacturers for timely, innovative and affordable solutions,” he said. “That drive to deliver innovation requires new generations of skilled workers. We are thrilled to be part of this effort that will ultimately lead to more young professionals ready to design, engineer and manufacture the specialized farm equipment required to meet the always evolving needs of farmers.”

The National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE) manages the CASE initiative. To learn more about CASE, visit case4learning.org.

Member companies located near schools where scholarship recipients teach can connect directly to the educators and their students and cultivate relationships that could strengthen the pipeline between school and workforce.

Recipients of the partial workforce development scholarships represent these schools. If your company is near one of these communities, the Association will facilitate an introduction to the teacher. It’s an opportunity to cultivate a relationship with an engaged educator and potential employees.

To get in touch with scholarship recipients, contact Kristi Ruggles at Kristi@FarmEquip.org.

• • University of Arizona, Tucson, Ariz.

• • Nodaway-Holt R-VII, Graham, Mo.

• • Midwest Central High, Manito, Ill.

• • Edinburg CUSD4, Edinburg, Ill.

• • Riley County High. Riley, Kan.

• • Haven High, Haven, Kan.

• • Norwich High, Norwich, Kan.

• • Garden Plain High, Garden Plain, Kan.

• • Columbia Area Career Center, Columbia, Mo.

• • Southern Boone Co. High, Ashland, Mo.

• • West Nodaway R-I, Burlington Junction, Mo.

• • Park River Area High, Park River, N.D.

• • Lakes Region Technology Center, Wolfeboro, N.H.

• • Beekmantown CSD, West Chazy, N.Y.

• • Pavilion Central, Pavilion, N.Y.

• • Tully Central, Tully, N.Y.

• • Herkimer High, Herkimer, N.Y.

• • Southern Cayuga Jr./Sr. High, Aurora, N.Y.

• • Madison Central, Madison, N.Y.

• • Chateaugay Central, Chateaugay, N.Y.

• • Wells High School, Wells, N.Y.

• • Otselic Valley Central, South Otselic, N.Y.

• • Byron-Bergen Central, Bergen, N.Y.

• • Alexandria Central, Alexandria Bay, N.Y.

• • Marion Center, Marion Center, Pa.

• • Huntingdon Area High, Huntingdon, Pa.

• • Wapato High, Wapato, Wash.

• • Cheney High, Cheney, Wash.

• • Pasco High, Pasco, Wash.

• • River View High, Kennewick, Wash.

• • New Lisbon Schools, New Lisbon, Wis.

• • Octorara, Atglen, Pa.

• • Goldendale High, Goldendale, Wash.

• • Davenport High, Davenport, Wash.
  • Warden High, Warden, Wash.

• • Colby Public Schools, Colby, Kan.