AgWired

After a quick breakfast and introduction to Novus International, the college students from the Novus Undergraduate Networking Day were off to see the chemical and biological labs at Novus’ St. Louis location.

Dr. Joyce Cacho, Chief Sustainability Officer for Novus, told me they’ve put together a program to show the students the application of what they are studying in their classrooms and labs.

“It’s very easy to believe when your in school that’s it’s just about the exams, as opposed to how to apply what I’m learning. However, we’d like to pique their interests in careers they have not thought of and how to apply what they’re learning at the university.”

She adds she’d like to see the students apply what they’re learning to the sustainability aspects of the job. Cacho points out that the Novus building is applying for platinum status in the LEED program… Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System, a third-party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.

Cacho says she’s impressed with their ideas and enthusiasm for their studies.

“They’re very hungry to see what they can do with it.” She says that when she asks many of the students what they want to do when they grow up, they very innocently say they don’t know. Cacho says that’s all right, because a tour like this can help fill in some of the blanks for the students as they progress and eventually get into the job market.

“It’s a tremendous opportunity going both ways [for Novus and the students]. We want to be hands-on and involved with our scholarship recipients lives.”

You can hear all of my conversation with Dr. Cacho here: DrCacho1.mp3

2009 Novus International Undergraduate Networking Day Photo Set

One of the reasons the students on the Novus International Undergraduate Networking Day were able to take this great tour of the St. Louis facilities at Novus, Pfizer and Monsanto was because of the scholarships they received from the Missouri Colleges Fund, a not-for-profit group of 16 small, private Missouri colleges and universities that work together to acquire resources to help educate students in member private liberal-arts colleges and universities. And the Missouri Colleges Fund was able to help pay for these bright students’ educations because of the generous donations of Novus, Pfizer and Monsanto.

During the welcome breakfast, President of the Missouri Colleges Fund, Mike Backer, thanked Novus’ VP of Research and Development, Chris Knight, for the company’s continued support of the fund and the students. To show his appreciation, Backer presented Knight with a folder of biographies of each of the students who received money from Novus. As you can see in the picture, Knight was very happy and surprised to receive the folder.

The evening before the event, I talked to Backer, and he told me that Novus is giving these students a unique opportunity to see these operations for themselves.

“Novus is giving more than just money. They’re providing an additional learning experience.”

Backer added that it’s not just the education of the students. The public in general needs to know how important it is to fund the sciences in our institutes of higher learning.

“Anytime we can get the word out there for the colleges fund, for independent schools, and to help promote education, it’s a good thing… good for Novus, good for the colleges, good for our economy.”

I know I posted this before, but just in case you missed it, listen to my entire conversation with Mike here: MikeBacker1.mp3

2009 Novus International Undergraduate Networking Day Photo Set

Some fortunate college students majoring in science and agricultural degrees have toured some of the leaders in agri-business in St. Louis.

About a dozen recipients of Missouri Colleges Fund scholarships, funded by Novus International, Pfizer and Monsanto, have gotten the chance to see firsthand how these three companies work… and if they would be the kind of companies they would like to work for in the future. To start of this Novus International Undergraduate Networking Day, the students, along with some professors, parents and mentors, were treated to breakfast before their busy day of activities were to begin.

While everyone was able to get fueled up with some tasty pastries and delicious, nutritious fruit and cereal, Vice President of Research & Development for Novus International, Chris Knight, told the group how his company is a one-stop shop for those looking at an agricultural or science career. And he stressed the point that you don’t have to come from a traditional production agriculture background to be a good fit for a company like Novus.

I caught up with Chris, and he told me that they are looking for innovators and people who have a passion for their work.

“The degree is just the start. But it’s a lifelong experience, especially in the area of science where science and technology constantly changes. You have to have a passion for learning and a passion for seeing your science in action and the impact you can have on a local company and the world in general.”
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You can hear all of my conversation with Chris here: ChrisKnight1.mp3

I’ll have more in just a bit!

2009 Novus International Undergraduate Networking Day Photo Set

In just a few hours, I’ll be loading up in a bus that will take a group of college students majoring in the science and agricultural fields, some with their parents and college mentors, to tour three of the most influential agri-businesses in the St. Louis, MO. area: Novus International, Monsanto and Pfizer.

Novus is sponsoring the Undergraduate Networking Day to give these recipients of the Missouri Colleges Fund scholarships a firsthand look at how these businesses actually work. In addition, the students will learn just how diverse of an employment field agri-business can be.

One of those who will be touring around the three companies’ facilities will be Carol Waeckerle, a junior majoring in biology at Missouri Baptist University. She is excited to see all of the different fields these companies offer… so she can know where she wants to work when her schooling is done. Waeckerle says it’s not surprising that a city girl like her would be interested in an agricultural job, especially considering the wide variety of employment available.

“St. Louis has these three large companies involved in agriculture, so that’s kind of one of the areas where biological jobs are present.”

Waeckerle seems to recognize just how important good science will be, as we try to get more food and fuel out of less and less farmland everyday. She admits it is daunting but believes science is up to the task.

“We need to learn to use those areas efficiently, so that we can [keep doing] what we’re here doing… [feeding and feuling the world].”

You can hear my entire conversation with Carol here: CarolWaeckerle1.mp3

2009 Novus International Undergraduate Networking Day Photo Set

Some of the best and brightest undergrad students in science and agriculture have gathered in St. Louis, Mo. for the Novus International Undergraduate Networking Day… a day when the students, their parents and educational sponsors will get to see firsthand how some of the best agri-businesses in the country operate. They’ll tour Novus’ St. Louis facilities, as well as see the operations at Monsanto and Pfizer.

The students are here, in part, because of the scholarships provided by these companies to the Missouri Colleges Fund, Inc… a not-for-profit group of 16 small, private Missouri colleges and universities that work together to acquire resources to help educate students in member private liberal-arts colleges and universities.

During tonight’s welcome reception with Novus officials and students, I had the chance to sit down with Mike Backer, President of the Missouri Colleges Fund. He told me his job is to go out and raise money from generous companies, such as Novus, so students can get the monetary help they need in their educational pursuits. But he says Novus is giving more than just money… it’s giving an educational experience.

“Tomorrow will be an opportunity for these students to see the real world… get out of the classroom, come see a laboratory, come ee how a corporation that deals in the area and what really happens.”

Backer agrees with the evaluation from Novus’ Scott Carter who believes that not only is this good for the companies involved, it’s good for agriculture and science in general.

“In Missouri, we’re really lacking in science education. So anything we can do to bring awareness to the need for more science education is a good thing… good for Novus, good for the colleges, and good for our economy.”

Backer adds that we are not just a “Wall Street” society. We’re all… urban and rural… really dependent on agriculture… whether we realize it or not.

You can hear my entire conversation with Mike here: MikeBacker1.mp3

2009 Novus International Undergraduate Networking Day Photo Set

There are two spiritual dangers in not owning a farm. One is the danger of supposing that breakfast comes from the grocery, and the other that heat comes from the furnace.
Aldo Leopold, American ecologist, forester and environmentalist

Hello, from St. Louis, Mo., where tomorrow I’ll be following around some the best and brightest Missouri students in the fields of agriculture and science during the Novus International Undergraduate Networking Day. All of the students participating are scholarship winners from the Missouri Colleges Fund (more on that later).

Not only will these students get the chance to tour the agri-business facilities at Novus, they’ll also get to see firsthand some of the workings of a couple of other major players in the agri-business community, Monsanto and Pfizer.

The quote above could easily apply to what Scott Carter, the Market Manager for Novus’s poultry division said to those at tonight’s opening reception before tomorrow’s tour: Less than 5 percent of people know where their food comes from. Scott advised the group of students, parents and sponsors (including several college professors) not to underestimate the reach agriculture has in today’s world and stay open to the variety of opportunities that agri-business holds… even if you don’t come from a purely farming background or education. He says ag needs new ideas on how to solve the world’s challenges of feeding and fueling the ever-growing masses, and those from outside of traditional agriculture can bring in those new ideas.

During the mingling, professors, students and parents got the chance to buttonhole some of the Novus officials and ask “what kind and level of degree is needed in today’s agri-business environment?” The answer is “depends.” It depends on what the student wants to do. It depends on where the student wants to go. But, it also depends on how curious that student really is. What’s really needed is a passion for agriculture.

It should be a fascinating day. I’ll try to update you as I can! In the meantime, take a listen to my conversation with Novus’ Scott Carter and his company’s involvement with the Missouri Colleges Fund and the Undergraduate Networking Day: ScottCarter1.mp3

2009 Novus International Undergraduate Networking Day Photo Set