Ivy Tech Community College-Warsaw Campus Launches Agribusiness Program
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Staff Report-
Ivy Tech's agribusiness program is growing like a well-tended crop, and Warsaw is yielding the benefits.
Ivy Tech Community College-Warsaw is launching an agribusiness program that will allow students to pursue a wide variety of careers. Ivy Tech-Warsaw developed the program after a feasibility study confirmed that agribusiness was an area of educational need in Warsaw, given its thriving agriculture industry and significant population of students with an interest in agribusiness.A committee that includes Kosciusko County business owners, farmers and representatives from Ivy Tech Community College is collaborating on curriculum development. Ron Truex, president of Creighton Brothers in Warsaw, is one of the committee members. Truex believes that Ivy Tech is well-positioned to help students get started in an agribusiness career, given the college's core strengths.
"Ivy Tech can give students the general education, the math, computer and communication skills that we need to get them started," Truex explains. "We can teach specific skills on the job, but we need Ivy Tech to give people basic skills and the ability to show up and do the work."
Ivy Tech Community College will offer the agribusiness concentration within the business administration program. Classes will focus on the skills needed to assist producers of food and fuel products in the areas of accounting, customer service, computer applications, sales and office management. The Ivy Tech-Warsaw agribusiness program will reflect the specific needs of employers in the region, making them readily employable upon graduation.
Ron Longyear, an accountant at Midwest Poultry Services in Mentone and a member of the committee that developed the program, says area employers are in dire need of qualified candidates for agribusiness careers.
"There are a lot of people with an interest in agriculture," Longyear explains. "We have a need for more highly-skilled workers, especially in computers. This program will allow people to go on with their education and serve a huge need in the area."
Longyear adds that an agribusiness career is an excellent choice for those who want to earn more, but who want to stay close to home and who have no immediate interest in a bachelor's degree.
"Not everybody can go off and get a four-year degree," Longyear said. "But Ivy Tech helps people make better decisions and realize the importance of education."
Classes in the agribusiness program will begin in the fall 2008 semester, which starts in August. According to Truex, however, Kosciusko County is already reaping some dividends as a result of the program.
"This program has really made the agricultural community feel united," Truex said. "We are all anticipating working with students in this program and seeing what skills they will get from Ivy Tech."
The Warsaw campus of Ivy Tech Community College is at 3755 Lake City Highway. For more information about the Ivy Tech-Warsaw Agribusiness program, call 574-267-5428, Ext. 6137, or visit ivytech.edu
