Abigail Beidel, Erika Hepler, Yakira Vanterpool, and Trinity Scott traveled with Professor Jessica Hutchison to compete
From Alfred State College,
Two groups of Alfred State agriculture students represented the college in competitions recently. A group of six students traveled to Plattsburgh to compete in the Northeast Regional Dairy Challenge while a group of four traveled to Kingston, RI for the Northeast Regional Soil Judging Contest.
Members of Morgan McLean’s Dairy Management Analysis Class, Lindsay Constable, Jeffrey Hawkes, Katelyn Merle, Laura Mills, Mulligan Palmerton, and Brynn Scholl, teamed up with students from various other agriculture school in the Northeast to review an entire dairy operation and make recommendations directly to the producers.
Students toured the farm and reviewed records including animal, financial, and nutritional paperwork. They then prepared a twenty-minute presentation that included a farm overview, a SWOT analysis, a financial analysis, and key opportunities for the farmers to improve their operation and income.
The presentations were judged by a panel that included a producer, a large animal veterinarian, a nutritionist, an agriculture economist, and a reproductive salesperson.
“Our students represented Alfred State with the utmost professionalism as they worked with students from other schools across the Northeast,” commented McLean. “They showed immense insight and tact as they analyzed the dairy operations and presented their findings to the producers. I am very proud of our students.”
Abigail Beidel, Erika Hepler, Yakira Vanterpool, and Trinity Scott traveled with Professor Jessica Hutchison to compete in the Northeast Regional Soil Judging Contest. The students practiced for two days before entering several soil pit to see the vertical cross-section of the soil (soil profile). They were then asked to correctly describe the soil properties and make recommendations for land use based on these properties.
Fourteen teams competed in the day-long competition that allowed the students to learn about the unique characteristics of coastal Rhode Island soils. Students had to describe three different soils independently then two as a group.
“I was extremely proud of our students and how they represented the college,” state Hutchison. “They approached the competition with curiosity, keeping in mind that they were learning by doing in a unique environment. Other teams noticed the upbeat and positive attitude of our team and referred to it as the ‘Alfred State vibe’.”
