UW Students Exposed To Ag-Careers at Inaugural Agricultural Case Study Competition Focused On Wisconsin Cranberry Industry
BLACK RIVER FALLS, Wis. – Students from University of Wisconsin Platteville, Madison, and River Falls campuses competed in the inaugural Wisconsin Agricultural Case Study Competition, Spring 2024: Cranberry Marsh Renovation at the Wisconsin Cranberry Research Station, April 19.
The event, hosted by Cranberry Learning Inc., UW-Madison Division of Extension and Renk Agribusiness Institute, is shaped to add value to students’ academic learning experience as they learn about business operations, finance and economic decision analysis, analytical and managerial tools, organization structure of the Wisconsin food system from farm to table, and the principles of Agri-economics.
"Events like these address the workforce shortage crisis and the need to develop the next generation to employ and power our Wisconsin agricultural industry," said event host Heidi Slinkman. "Opportunities such as this help build, sustain and secure the next generation to operate the engines of Wisconsin agriculture through countless career pathways."
Students were given one month to research and familiarize themselves with a mock cranberry marsh renovation. The students were given a list of cranberry industry stakeholders and supporters including banks, construction companies, and crop consultants to contact and work with. The teams of four assembled recommended business plans and presented them to a team of three judges consisting of cranberry growers from throughout the state.
The two teams from UW-River Falls took first and second place, UW-Madison took third place, and UW-Platteville took fourth place.
Government officials attended the event and participated in a question-and-answer panel with the students that focused on Wisconsin agriculture, its economic impact and the future of Wisconsin through the scope of agricultural career pathways.
Special guests included, Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection, Secretary Randy Romanski, Representative Nancy VanderMeer, Representative Katrina Shankland, and Senator Patrick Testin.
"In Wisconsin, agriculture and economy are interconnected," said Romanski. "Wisconsin has this great benefit of having a diverse agriculture industry with an $108 billion impact. 1 in 9 people in the state work in a job related to agriculture and an event like this exposes students to facets of the agriculture industry that they may not have been aware of and connects them with Wisconsin’s powerhouse crops, like cranberries. "
This case study supports state-wide workforce development efforts and helps students prepare to work as agricultural economists, business analysts, managers and consultants, researchers, environmental economists, environmental managers or policy analysts, all of which exist to benefit or impact the Wisconsin agriculture and cranberry industries.
Some students, like Casey Denk, a senior at UW- River Falls, already have jobs lined up in the agriculture industry. Regardless, this event provides a cross-section look at how the cranberry industry operates and offers networking and collaboration opportunities that still prove beneficial.
“Knowing as much about every enterprise and realm of agriculture as I can is beneficial so that I can understand the growers and their processes more," said Denk. "I have no doubt that this activity will bring knowledge to all of us students for future use."
