When a large red International tractor came down the road, Tonda Hadden couldn’t hide her excitement, “now that’s a tractor!”  Hadden, a junior in agronomy, always wanted to ride a tractor but she topped that goal and drove a tractor.  The hands-on experience was just one of the part of the Agricultural Weekend Experience (AWE) program.

The third AWE program was held July 13-15, 2007. The program gives students in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences the opportunity to learn first-hand about agriculture. More than half of the students in the college have little or no farm experience.

This year students stayed with two farm families and toured a local dairy, ethanol plant and agricultural businesses. Students learned about marketing, production, finance and the environmental aspects of agriculture.

“Iowa farmers are good stewards of the land.  This weekend helped answer questions I had about soil and water conservation and reinforced what I learned in the classroom,” said Hadden.

“This experience really helped me understand farming. I had a few ideas about farms before I went, but it was interesting to hear the farmer’s viewpoint. This has helped me to think about what I can do in my career to help farmers,” said Karla Otterpohl, junior in genetics.

Two farm families from northern Iowa hosted three students from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences for one weekend. In between learning about tiling fields and hybrid corn and soybeans, students learned about the dynamics of Iowa agriculture and what it takes to manage a farm.

“Learning about farm economics was a great experience.  I had so many questions about how the financial side worked,” said Becky Weeks, graduate student in corn genetics. “I would definitely recommend this program to other students, especially those like me who grew up in a city and have no experience with farming.”

2007 AWE participants:

• Becky Weeks, graduate student in corn genetics from Kansas City, MO
• Karla Otterpohl, junior in genetics from Missouri Valley, IA
• Tonda Hadden, junior in agronomy from Council Bluffs, IA

2007 AWE hosts:

• Don and Marylou Ahrens or Prairie View Farms near Osage, IA
• Larry and Monica Lursen of Lursen Farms near Clarkesville, IA

Visit the AWE 2007 Photo Gallery

AWE 2006

 

**The AWE program is co-sponsored by the College of Agriculture and Iowa State University Agricultural Endowment Board. Marylou Ahrens and Larry Lursen are current board members and have hosted for the AWE program since its start in 2005.