SCC celebrates National Ag Day with first ever industry partner showcase to middle schoolers
With March 18 marked as National Ag Day, Southeastern Community College hosted 97 students from across Columbus County to expose them to career fields in the agriculture industry. SCC Agribusiness Technology Instructor Dawn Hinshaw said those students came from Nakina Middle School, East Columbus Jr.-Sr. High School, West Columbus School and Williams Township School.
“In our county, we don’t have an agriculture event for middle or high schoolers to attend and learn about different careers options for them,” Hinshaw said. “They typically think about farming. Out of the 10% of our workforce that is hired by agriculture, only 2% is direct farming.”
Hinshaw explained that her advisory board committee brainstormed ideas to expose students to industry partners and let them demonstrate what they do. She wanted to show students that agriculture was more than “sitting on a tractor” or working with livestock. Hinshaw said the event focused more on agriculture technology and letting students know there is space for everyone in the agriculture sector.
Hinshaw described the event as a big success with students on a scavenger hunt as they explored several stations: fertilizer and pesticide distribution using drones, greenhouse mechanics, farm animal food, tractors, hydroponics, chicken houses and GPS and GIS systems.
Hinshaw’s favorite aspect of the day was not seeing students on their cell phones, while they were actively engaged with asking questions and watching demonstrations. When the students first arrived on campus, Hinshaw challenged the students to keep an open mind about what they were about to see.
“We got them outside, and we got them walking around and talking to different people. They saw some different things,” Hinshaw said. “They were exposed to technology and careers, and that was the goal.”
Wade Stanaland, an industry partner and member of Hinshaw’s advisory board committee, demonstrated drone usage with spraying fields, analyzing data and decision-making strategies on crop management. Students watched the drone take off from the ground and fly around while watching a TV that displayed a live video feed from the drone’s camera.
Quality Equipment representative Noah Benson talked with students about GPS and GIS systems. Jeff Brown, SCC Science Lab Technician, demonstrated the workings of greenhouse technology in irrigation automation and climate control.
A Four County Electric Membership Corporation representative showcased the “box to bowl” shipping container and growing plants hydroponically in the container. Representatives from Mountaire Farms demonstrated equipment usage in chicken houses. Kierston Nance of Chadbourn Feed explained feed practices in chickens and other farm animals. Caines Brothers’ Farm brought a huge tractor for students to see.
Hinshaw hopes to make this an annual event and improve it with more industry partners and more students on campus. To learn more about SCC’s Agribusiness Technology program, contact Hinshaw at [email protected].
