Monday, August 31, 2009

Dickinson Scholars-A Growing Experience

This past Winter Break I had the privilege to spend a week with the Dickinson Scholar program in Kansas City. The program is designed for CAFNR students to network with leaders in agriculture, and see opportunities in the industry. I was able to spend my week with talented leaders from John Deere, while my peers and I learned from their insight. Not only was it educational and fun, but I've always been partial to green tractors!

While visiting John Deere, I learned about all aspects of marketing in the company. We spent time traveling to local dealerships, followed by visiting the corporate headquarters. The program was well-rounded and opened my eyes to the many facets of the Deere Company.

A few of the highlights of the Dickinson Scholars program for me included meeting with the Dickinson family, the owners of Bank Midwest, and then also the final presentations. The Dickinsons assisted us in learning about the banking industry, but we also got to see their passion for agriculture and reasoning behind starting the Dickinson Scholars program. The final presentations are a fun yet professional evening when professors, industry professionals, and all participants join to learn about the different parts of the Dickinson Scholars program.

The Dickinson Scholars program was a great way to spend my winter break, and I encourage all undergraduates to apply! While some application and interview processes can be stressful, the Dickinson Scholars application was simple and the interview was with respected professors from the college with whom I was already acquainted. Seeing familiar, smiling faces made the interview comfortable for me. I hope you see how valuable the experiences are, and choose to apply now!

-Charlotte Jackson
Junior, Agricultural Education

Now's the time to submit your cover letter and resume to apply for this year's program. For details, click here. Also check out the John Brown Scholars program, which is a similar opportunity for CAFNR students, typically juniors and seniors. If you have questions, CAFNR Career Services is here to help!