| Dan Gahler of Sunrise Co-op talks to kids about corn and soybeans during FFA field day at Riker Farm Seeds. (Photo: J.D. Pooley/Sentinel-Tribune) |
More than 120 members of local FFA chapters spent the morning on an educational field trip Thursday at
Riker Farm Seeds on East Poe Road in Bowling Green.
This has become a very popular annual event for FFA members. In addition to the host operation, the day
is sponsored and organized by Sunrise Cooperative and Monsanto and its related products.
Elmwood FFA had the largest attendance with 78 chapter members taking advantage of the session.
Both Otsego and Eastwood FFA chapters also sent contingents of 23 and 18, respectively to the event.
According to Diane Zyski, a Sunrise Cooperative representative who helped coordinate the event, there
were six different stations which all the students rotated through in small groups.
Each station offered different information and assistance to the students.
Zyski led one new station this year that focused on job interview skills. She provided 31 different
points for the students.
In addition to her session, there were also sessions on genetics, traits and pipelines; grain marketing
and yield estimates; conditions in the field including insects and diseases; pushing yields to 300
bushels per acre corn and 100 bushels per acre soybeans; and a session on the use of GPS technology.
Bill Potter, a junior at Otsego, said he has found not only this session but other related events
conducted to be very beneficial. He also said it has helped the agronomy team at the school.
"I learned a lot today about many of the new practices and developments," Potter said.
He also noted the importance of staying on top of the basics such as insects and weeds.
Beyond the personal knowledge, Potter said he has brought back resources such as tests which have
benefitted the chapter’s agronomy team.
The Grand Rapids resident is planning on attending ATI (Agricultural Technical Institute) at Ohio State
University. He plans on majoring in agronomy and returning to the area to be a farmer.
Not all FFA members will become farmers, and this event highlighted other related fields that can benefit
from the ag-based knowledge learned.
Vanessa Wagner, a senior at Elmwood, is undecided on her college or major, but is leaning toward a
science-related career, possibly in the medical field. She was interested in many of the technology
information provided.
Though not necessarily her career choice, because of her family’s farming operation, she also had an
interest in the technological advances in agronomy.
"Farming isn’t simple any more" Wagner said.
The Wayne resident said her favorite session on Thursday was the one on crop genetics and how important
it is to increase the pool of genes for the crops by getting samples from other countries.
"I am very interested in the technology and the progress created for the future," Wagner said.
Logan Browne, a sophomore at Eastwood, said his focus is the animal-based side of agriculture.
Though he may not have an interest in the actual growing of crops, he knows what happens will affect the
corn prices and his cost to feed his livestock.
He also cited the genetics and crop yield sessions as important to him.
"I learned a lot about crop yields and improved genetics," Browne said. "What they do will
affect me, especially if can create cheaper prices to feed my cattle."
Over the summer he worked at the Russel farm in their hay operations.
After the sessions, all participants were fed lunch, before returning to their respective schools.
While the program was being conducted, Dale Minyo, broadcaster for the Ohio AgNet was on hand.
