PRIMGHAR, Iowa – Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach will host its annual Precision Agriculture and Animal Science Field Days for area high school students on Tuesday through Thursday, Sept. 5-7 at the Northwest Iowa Research Farm near Sutherland.
Over one hundred agricultural education students and their instructors are welcomed each day to take part in hands-on agriculture, and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) related activities.
“The two overall goals of Precision Agriculture and Animal Science Days are to engage youth in hands-on learning and to connect them with colleges and business and industry leaders, thereby creating awareness of the ever-evolving agriculture industry and the career opportunities within it,” said Beth Bunkers, event coordinator and O’Brien and Sioux County Associate Educator with ISU Extension and Outreach.
Since the event’s inception in 2015, nearly 1,000 ninth through twelfth grade students from eight Northwest Iowa Counties have attended. This year, Bunkers expects over 450 youth to attend during the three-day time period.
This year, Precision Agriculture and Animal Science Field Days will focus on precision agriculture, equine, goats and small animals.
There will be 12 different presentations each day, with a keynote speaker during the noon lunch.
“We always get great positive feedback from students and instructors, as well as our industry partners,” Bunkers said. “The students and instructors appreciate having an opportunity for hands-on, out-of-the-classroom applications of what they are studying, and the industry leaders appreciate the opportunity to meet and interact with their future workforce. All of this is provided at no cost to the school, youth or presenters thanks to many generous community sponsors.”
Precision Agriculture and Animal Science Days are hosted by ISU Extension and Outreach with help from several industry partners. Businesses and organizations providing financial support and in-kind donations for the 2017 Precision Agriculture and Animal Science Days include: Ag Partners, LLC; the O’Brien, Lyon, Sioux, Osceola, Dickinson, Plymouth, Buena Vista and Clay County Farm Bureaus; HyVee Distribution and Western Iowa Dairy Alliance (WIDA).
For more information on the Precision Agriculture and Animal Science Field Days, contact Bunkers at 712-957-5045 or bbunkers@iastate.edu.
— Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
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