Focus on Careers: Agriculture
With the future of agriculture rapidly evolving, colleges are redefining their curriculum to better prepare a tech-savvy workforce.
At FVTC, students are learning that things like drones, GPS, infrared scanning and other key technological advancements are a big part of today’s farming operations.
The Precision Agriculture Technician technical diploma is a relatively new offering at FVTC that prepares students to work in a high-tech industry while also staying grounded in farming operations.
Jennifer McIntosh, associate dean of Manufacturing, Agriculture and Construction Technologies joined WHBY’s Hayley Tenpas to discuss FVTC’s innovative new program, along with other options for students pursuing a career in agriculture.
Tap the video to listen to the interview or scroll down to read the transcript.
Tenpas: Welcome back to Focus Fox Valley on WHBY. We are checking in on our Focus on Careers with Fox Valley Technical College and the opportunity to highlight different career opportunities, careers of promise and the education you can receive to earn that degree and find that dream job through Fox Valley Technical College. Today we are going to highlight parts of the Manufacturing, Agriculture and Construction Technologies program as we welcome Associate Dean Jennifer McIntosh to the show here today. Jennifer, hello to you.
McIntosh: Hello. How are you?
Tenpas: I'm fantastic. Thank you for joining us for the segment. We are going to jump right in because we have a lot to cover, first though let us get to know you. Can you fill us in on how you got to be associate dean and maybe the different roles and places you filled until today?
McIntosh: I have been at Fox Valley Technical College for 14 years; it has been a great experience here. I started as an instructor in their Communication Skills Department which is part of our general education division. I also worked with the Professional Communications program, I spent about 11 years doing that work, I was really passionate about instruction and was looking for something a little bit different and looking to move into a leadership role. This position opened as an associate dean and worked primarily with our Agriculture and Natural Resources programs at Fox Valley Technical College. My grandparents owned and operated a small dairy farm, so growing up, that was a big part of my life, and this felt like a great opportunity to get back to those roots and learn about all of the things that have changed over the years.
Tenpas: Excellent. A lot of our listeners know, and Jennifer, you might know my heart is big for the Agriculture and Natural Resources program at Fox Valley Tech. My dad led that department for a very long time, so I am excited to be talking about it here today and to share some of the different offerings that the AG program brings, and what is in demand in 2025 or a popular pathway that you are seeing for students. Can you tell us a bit more about what 2025 is kind of bringing and what you are seeing?
McIntosh: In our Agriculture Department, I think a lot of people do not know what is housed here, it is our Agriculture programming, Horticulture programming, Outdoor Power Equipment, and then our Veterinary Technician programs. We also have Natural Resources and Wildland Fire that is part of our cluster here, but that is housed at the main building.
We are really seeing growth in areas focused on technology, and that is probably not a surprise to anyone. We see precision agriculture being a real growth area, and many of our industry partners are asking more and more for our students to be well-versed in technology, capturing data and being able to read and interpret that data. That really encourages our instructors to continue to stay on top of all of the things that are happening within agriculture.
Our Veterinary Technician program is also extremely popular, and we are projected to have growth in that area for employment opportunities,19% or more year over year for the next ten years or so.
One of the areas that also is seeing a lot of growth is agriculture related to conservation efforts. That does tie into our precision agriculture, our new associate degree in that area, but also in our agronomy and animal science areas.
We have also just developed a new certificate, which started this fall in Conservation Agronomy, and that is geared toward individuals who are interested in the natural resources side but do not have an agriculture background or experience in pieces of agriculture. They can talk with farmers and talk with those in the industry about those conservation efforts and what they can do to improve their business and then also improve their efforts.
Tenpas: That's fantastic. I want to ask a little bit about the business side of things, too, because family farms have evolved in some circumstances to be just that, a business and agribusiness is a huge part of what you are teaching your students. Let's learn a couple of certificates that you offer, Agricultural Accounting and Agricultural Entrepreneurship. What are these?
McIntosh: Agricultural Accounting is a certificate that many of our students who are pursuing a technical diploma, or an associate degree would add to, or you can pursue it individually as well. That focuses on recording transactions using spreadsheets, analyzing financial statements and then using software. It also has a strong focus on economic concepts and marketing for all types of agriculture, products and agriculture.
Entrepreneurship is also just if you want to work in the agriculture industry on your own and with your own business. We are seeing some interest there with individuals who want to pursue smaller farms or something on their own and then learn what it means to have a business. What type of licenses might they need and what are other business aspects that they might need to be well versed in to be successful as an entrepreneur?
Tenpas: We are talking today with Jennifer McIntosh, associate dean of Manufacturing, Agriculture and Construction Technologies. We are leaning into those ag programs here today. Jennifer, about ten years ago, I attended a Farm Technology Days event somewhere in Wisconsin, and I saw the most interesting section. That is a massive place, by the way. I saw one of the most interesting sections on Precision Agriculture technology, they were utilizing drones, they were using infrared scanning and all these different GPS systems to work in so many different areas of agriculture. I understand one of your newer additions is an associate degree in Precision Agriculture Technology. I am curious to learn more about how Fox Valley Tech is approaching that area of agriculture.
McIntosh: We have had precision pieces in many of our programs and classes for a while, but we saw a need to focus heavily on that precision piece. Our associate degree is unique in that it bridges those gaps between equipment, agronomy principles, and then the technology that you were talking about, Hayley. Looking at all of the GPS and drone technology, it is a well-rounded experience for the students. That associate degree will prepare students to install, troubleshoot, operate a lot of high-tech equipment and work with the most current technology. They are also going to learn a lot about crop production, how to work on some equipment, how to improve crop production and work with GPS and GIS systems.
Tenpas: It is fascinating and there is so much evolution and change coming but it is cool to learn how Fox Valley Tech is approaching that. We will pause here, but there is still more to come as we highlight the Manufacturing, Agriculture and Construction Technologies program at Fox Valley Tech, so don't go away. We will continue the conversation after a break here on WHBY.
Welcome back to Focus Fox Valley on WHBY. It is our Focus on Careers with Fox Valley Tech. Jennifer McIntosh joins us, associate dean of Manufacturing, Agriculture and Construction Technologies. We have been highlighting the agriculture program and the different areas in agriculture, accounting, entrepreneurship, agribusiness, precision agriculture, technology, veterinary technicians and so much more. When you are looking at the at the scope of your students, how would you describe them? Are they fresh out of high school? Are you seeing some adult learners? Is it a mix of all the above?
McIntosh: Most of our students come shortly after high school, if not right from high school. We have some great relationships with high school agriculture teachers and guidance counselors in the Fox Valley, so we do see many students choosing Fox Valley Technical College, especially the Agriculture department right out of high school.
We do have some non-traditional students that come in, I would say in our Horticulture program area, that is really where we're seeing many of our non-traditional students, many who have worked in that industry or another industry and are coming back to get a little bit more education or a more focused degree. In outdoor power equipment, which is also where we're seeing some of our adult learners. We have a daytime program, as well as evening classes with full-time and part-time options, so that program does allow for a variety of students to pursue the degree.
Tenpas: What are some of the challenges students are facing when it comes to Ag-related programs?
McIntosh: Keeping up with technology is always going to be a challenge and making sure that we are on the cutting edge of that, and we are preparing our students for what they will see in industry as well. I think many of our students also see just the sheer number of jobs available to them, and so many different avenues they can go to.
Agriculture has so many options, whether you are going the animal track, equipment track or the agronomy crops and soils track, there are all different types of things that they can do. Finding a focus area and then finding a good company that they want to work with and what they want to do with their career.
Tenpas: Fantastic. Well, it has been really fun catching up and learning where the agriculture program sits currently. Another element that we can briefly touch on that I think is so cool, is students studying abroad. I know you sent some students to Costa Rica in January, and a group studied in the Bahamas in January of 2023. This is fantastic and what are some of the key takeaways from students when they're doing this study abroad opportunity?
McIntosh: For many of them, it is really global awareness. It was surprising to me how many of our students had not left the state of Wisconsin. Having to go abroad really took a lot for them to step outside of their comfort zone, everything from planning the trip, getting ready to travel and then all the experiences when they are there. When our students come back from those study abroad trips, they do have presentations and everyone's invited. I had the pleasure of seeing all of the students that came back from Costa Rica, and it was amazing to hear from them how much they learned about agriculture in a different area, but also about community and communities working together and what types of practices they use for sustainability and resource management. They saw a different aspect of their career from a different perspective. And it was great to see the learning that came from that.
Tenpas: If someone is listening and can think of someone or a student who might benefit from this program by learning different areas of the agriculture world, how can they connect to you and to the agriculture programs through Fox Valley Tech?
McIntosh: You can always visit fvtc.edu to learn more about our programs and apply. We also encourage people to stop by our agriculture center, it is not connected to the main building, but it is an outbuilding right next to the same campus. They can always stop by or call our main number and ask to speak to someone in the agriculture department. Our instructors are always happy to meet with students individually, give them a short tour and tell them what to expect here.
Tenpas: My hint is to look for the combines in the tractors and you will find the department.
McIntosh: Absolutely.
Tenpas: I kind of grew up there, so I will give a tour someday. Thank you.
McIntosh: Absolutely.
Tenpas: Thank you, Jennifer, so much for your time today. It has been awesome to connect with you and learn more about how this program is evolving, and I am sure we will catch up again another time. Thanks so much.
McIntosh: Thank you, Hayley. Have a good day.
Tenpas: You too.