Partnering for Success

We are strong believers in the value of education and experience. Over the spring 2012 semester, we partnered with a team of six University of Delaware College of Agriculture and Natural Resources undergraduate students to accomplish a market research project for our association.

The students were diversified in their age and majors such as statistics, resource economics, food and agribusiness marketing and management, and natural resource management. During the research project they were mentored by Dr. Tom Ilvento, professor of food and resource economics, and Laurie Wolinski, center director for the Northeast center for Risk Management Education.

The students gained experience in collecting, analyzing, and trending secondary data. They also were able to draw conclusions and make recommendations based on their analysis. At the end of the semester, the students made a final presentation to our marketing staff in our Dover, DE office. They did a great job!

Dr. Ilvento said, “We really appreciate the opportunity you (MidAtlantic Farm Credit) provided; this gave our students some real world experience.” Well, Dr. Ilvento, we are really happy to have worked with the students and enhance their college education, as well as teach them about the Farm Credit System, too.

So, are you an agribusiness or related company? Do you have market research projects that you would like completed? If so, consider partnering for success with a team of college students to prove you believe in the value of education and hands on experience. The connection we have now established between UD and MidAtlantic is a pure example of partnering for success. Great job, team!