HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1986-11-12, Page 13Current crop of students optimistic
CCAT Open Norse focusos on More of agriafood industry
If enthusiasm and optimism are
part of the magic elixir required to
revitalize the ailing agricultural in-
dustry, the current student body at
Centralia College of Agricultural
Technology means good medicine for
farming and related pursuits. Sunny
skies complemented the prevailing
mood when 400 people toured the
campus during the College's annual
open house on November 5.
The guided tours and numerous ex-
cellent displays planned and im-
plemented by the students,and built
around the theme "Agri -food, An In-
dustry with a Future", provided a
golden opportunity to show families,
friends, prospective students and in-
terested members of the general
public many of the options and pro-
spects available at their local college.
A group of students representing
the junior and senior classes in each
of the three courses offered by CCAT
were unanimous in praising the
academic and social aspects of the
residential college while talking to
reporters just before the open house
began officially. All were glad they
had chosen CCAT, and were equally
certain the time spent on their post-
secondary education would pay
dividends after graduation.
Peggy O'Neil, a first-year Food Ser-
vices Management student from near
Denfield, compared The College at:
mosphere to that of a small family.
She described the curriculum as
"demanding, but never boring".
O'Neil will look for a job in a hospital
after graduation.
Milton native Vicki Gould, a senior
in Animal Health Technology, con-
fessed she couldn't believe how much
she had learned in what she termed
the pressure cooker but stimulating
atmosphere of CCAT. Gould, whose
father is a racing commissioner,
wants to continue working with larger
animals - equine or porcine - after
graduation. She considers this more
of a challenge.
Classmate Jackie Snell from Owen
Sound first heard of CCAT from her
chemistry teacher. She calls CCAT
"the greatest in Canada".
Snell has compared her ex-
periences at CCAT with friends atten-
ding other colleges, and gives CCAT
top marks for providing ample oppor-
tunities to work with large animals.
The senior students have been taken
on field trips to vaccinate and dehorn
cattle, castrate pigs and dock lambs'
tails. fa
Snell is•counting on a job with a
dairy farmer or a pork producer when
she leaves CCAT.
First-year AHT student Traci
Mallinson switched to CCAT after two
years at Guelph, and is glad she did.
She appreciates the first-hand train-
ing, as previously she was "not near
animals, only books".
Mallinson's goal is a job in a small
animal clinic or on a horse farm.
The four Agricultural Business
Management students also feel their
time is being well spent. Junior Bill
Haines from a beef farm near
Wingham believes beef farming can
still be profitable. The key is good
management, and that is what he is
at CCAT to learn.
Fellow student Joe Triest, from an
Alvinston farm that combines cash
crops, beef production and a farrow -
to -finish operation, agrees that farm-
ing has a future. He is taking the ABM
course before heading to a hoped-for
career in sales in some branch of agri-
business.
Sue Fletcher, from a dairy farm
near Pembroke, is one of six young
women in the senior ABM class. She
is honing her management skills to
continue with the dairy industry
through a career in Al, ROP or DHI.
Senior John Droog intends to app-
ly business skills he has acquired at
CCAT when he returns to the family
farm with 200 acres of cash crops and
500 laying hens at Thorndale. Droog
especially enjoyed the farm project
course, where selected farmers open
their books and all parts of their farm
operation to the students for an entire
term. He has picked up many tips
which will be used in his personal pro-
ject back home, caring for 600 pigs on
contract.
Open house chairman John
Stephens, who heads CCAT's business
management section, also looked on
the bright side. He pointed out that
both the AHT and FSM courses were
still attracting a full roster.
"Agricultural Business Manage-
ment is where we're hurting",
Stephens acknowledged.
Stephen views the drop in enroll-
ment from 85 Last year to 45 this year
as a reflection of what has been hap-
pening on the farm scene in recent
years. He noted that young people
from rural backgrounds have heard
nothing but bad news - bad weather,
bad press and bad prices - for the past
few years, and are. not receiving as
much parental encouragement to
choose a career in agriculture.
Principal Doug Jamieson pointed
out the CCAT's continuing require-
ment for a grade 12 diploma with
English and math has resulted in
some applicants not qualifying for the
ABM course. Ten were turned away
this year for that reason.
"We don't knowingly accept those
who lack the appropriate academic
background", Jamieson remarked.
g
"We will not lower our standards to
maintain numbers", was Stephen's
comment.
Jamieson cited the results of a
study he took part in a few years ago
that showed all qualified students had
a much higher success rate, and were
much less likely to drop out before
graduation. The analytical skills
developed through the study of
mathematics could be applied to
other academic areas.
Attrition has cut the senior ABM
class down to 65. Jamieson listed lack
of interest and motivation as the
prime reason for drop -outs, with
failure to adjust to the increased
.freedom and accompanying respon-
sibility for organizing one's time as a
close second.
However, CCAT's policy is
"Everybody deserves a second
chance". A number of drop -outs have
returned to graduate successfully the
second time around.
One recent graduate returned to the
1986 open house and brought his
former principal up to date on what
he had been doing since graduation.
The former student had paid his
own way at LCAT with money he had
earned raising pigs under his father's
supervision from the time he was six
years old. The young man had spent
too much of his time taking part in the
sports and othec,extra-curricular ac-
tivities offered at the college, and had
failed his first year. Swallowing his
pride, hecame back and earned his
ABM diploma.
The graduate bad bought a farm
two years ago, paying cash with his
own money plus a small inheritance.
He told Jamieson he had just finish-
ed paying off an operating loan used
for stock, barn and equipment, and
was now negotiating to buy a second
farm.
This is the kind of success story
Jamieson likes to hear.
"There was never a bigger need for
bright young people with the future of
the agricultural industry at heart
than now. Agriculture needs to com-
pete effectively for the best and the
brightest", Jamieson emphaized, ad-
ding as an aside that often those in-
volved in pranks at the college are the
most successful later.
Jamieson is certain both CCAT and
agriculture will be here for a long
time.
"Agriculture is still the second-
largest industry in Ontario from a
dollar standpoint. We . need well-
prepared young people in all phases
df the industry", Jamieson concluded.
CCAT SPEAKING WINNER A success u pu • is spea ing contest was held
House at Centralia College. From the left are head of communications and contin
Cathy Biondi, judge Elinor Humphries, winners Darius Summers, John De Jong
judge Ann Hucal.
ustana..
imes - voc
at Wednesday's Open
uing education section
and Patty Sinnett and
T -A photo.
.&•:::SMINSPAP•
e
Serving south Huron, North Middksex
JP:
November 12, '
& North Lambton Since 1873
PagelA
GREETERS -�First-year Food Services Management students Assunta
Leo, (left) from Guelph and Karen Dietrich, Zurich, were among the
CCAT students staffing the numerous displays set up for open house
at College.
1
AT CCAT OPEN HOUSE — During Wednesday's Open House at Cen-
tralia College, program chairman John Stephens who is head of the
Business Management program chats with Darrell and Marlow
Gingerich of Zurich. T -A photo.
BACK FOR A VISIT -- Residence supervisor Vera Armstrong
welcomes former students Nancy Laurwagie, Robin Smith and Kim
Sanders back to Open House at Centralia College, Wednesday.
TESTING THE BRIDGE - Sherri Vail (left) and Terri Burroughs watch
intently as team member Elizabeth Goossens adds weights to the
bridge built by the three Animal Health Technology students. Their
design won the Centralia College competition, sustaining over 900
pounds before collapsing.
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DEMONSTRATION - CCAT assistant principal Dr. Vi Currie posed
with students Sandra Cressman (left) and Susan Price after a food
demonstration, one of the features of open house at the College.
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