MONROE - A South Wayne man is set to compete for a national prize in San Diego after winning a state award for his work in agribusiness at Blackhawk Technical College.
Dustin Williams, 34, won the Young Farmer and Agriculturist Excellence in Agriculture at the statewide competition on Dec. 7 in Wisconsin Dells put on by the Farm Bureau Federation. The award is given to members in the 18 to 35 age range who work 50 percent of their time in ag production. Williams, who teaches at BTC's Monroe campus, has a 25-acre farm in South Wayne, where he raises steer and makes his own hay with his wife, Aimee, and their five children. Williams was nominated for the award by the Green County Farm Bureau and had to give a 20-minute presentation about himself and his work in agriculture.
"It has been a great, humbling experience," Williams said. "It's never easy to talk about yourself, but I do it to give back."
Williams outlined his presentation with three distinct points facing agriculture in the future: The problem of population growth and providing a safe food supply for it; changing the public perception of ag and helping consumers understand where and how their food is made; and finally building the ag industry to draw in young employees.
Williams said the final point is a tough one to succeed in because if a young person did not grow up on a farm, they tend to not want to become a part of agriculture.
"A lot of people have common sense, but not many have what I call farm-sense," he said. "It's learning to be around animals, repairing machinery, driving big equipment - but how do you teach that experience without growing up in it?"
Williams has a lot of experience with kids coming out of high school into his classrooms, unaware of what they want to do with their lives. Williams worked at Black Hawk High School in South Wayne for about three years before starting from scratch a year-long Agribusiness focus at BTC. He said many young people could be turned away from agriculture due to the difficult balance between work and regular life since ag production is so hands-on and rarely has room for vacation time. The courses he teach focus more on the business side of ag production with very technical expertise that can vault students into the working sphere very quickly.
"That's how I built this course is as a stepping stone to get them (students) out and in a good job with benefits," Williams said.
Williams won the Young Farmer award for his work in agronomy, earning him a $300 gas card, a wooden plaque embossed with leather, as well as a chance to compete this Saturday in the national competition hosted in San Diego. Williams said he and his wife will spend the weekend there, where he will give his same 20-minute presentation and hopefully win one of the many prizes.
"They are taking us on a cruise and it's this whole ritzy affair," Williams said. "The top four winners get a tractor and first place wins a Chevy Silverado."
Williams said the recognition is great, but he said he is just glad to give back to the industry that is his passion. The awards offer him a public stage to promote agriculture, which is enough of an award itself, Williams said.
As well as success in his own field, he fondly remembers past students who have blown well past his expectations.
"I had this one (student) in particular at the UW that wanted to become a medical doctor," Williams said. "He did one year and then came back here (BTC) at one of our agronomy courses and went on to take the Certified Crop Adviser exam, which keep in mind, you have to pass the state and then the international exam. And some have to take it four or five times, but he passed it on the first try. Now he is a nutrient manager for an ag company."
Dustin Williams, 34, won the Young Farmer and Agriculturist Excellence in Agriculture at the statewide competition on Dec. 7 in Wisconsin Dells put on by the Farm Bureau Federation. The award is given to members in the 18 to 35 age range who work 50 percent of their time in ag production. Williams, who teaches at BTC's Monroe campus, has a 25-acre farm in South Wayne, where he raises steer and makes his own hay with his wife, Aimee, and their five children. Williams was nominated for the award by the Green County Farm Bureau and had to give a 20-minute presentation about himself and his work in agriculture.
"It has been a great, humbling experience," Williams said. "It's never easy to talk about yourself, but I do it to give back."
Williams outlined his presentation with three distinct points facing agriculture in the future: The problem of population growth and providing a safe food supply for it; changing the public perception of ag and helping consumers understand where and how their food is made; and finally building the ag industry to draw in young employees.
Williams said the final point is a tough one to succeed in because if a young person did not grow up on a farm, they tend to not want to become a part of agriculture.
"A lot of people have common sense, but not many have what I call farm-sense," he said. "It's learning to be around animals, repairing machinery, driving big equipment - but how do you teach that experience without growing up in it?"
Williams has a lot of experience with kids coming out of high school into his classrooms, unaware of what they want to do with their lives. Williams worked at Black Hawk High School in South Wayne for about three years before starting from scratch a year-long Agribusiness focus at BTC. He said many young people could be turned away from agriculture due to the difficult balance between work and regular life since ag production is so hands-on and rarely has room for vacation time. The courses he teach focus more on the business side of ag production with very technical expertise that can vault students into the working sphere very quickly.
"That's how I built this course is as a stepping stone to get them (students) out and in a good job with benefits," Williams said.
Williams won the Young Farmer award for his work in agronomy, earning him a $300 gas card, a wooden plaque embossed with leather, as well as a chance to compete this Saturday in the national competition hosted in San Diego. Williams said he and his wife will spend the weekend there, where he will give his same 20-minute presentation and hopefully win one of the many prizes.
"They are taking us on a cruise and it's this whole ritzy affair," Williams said. "The top four winners get a tractor and first place wins a Chevy Silverado."
Williams said the recognition is great, but he said he is just glad to give back to the industry that is his passion. The awards offer him a public stage to promote agriculture, which is enough of an award itself, Williams said.
As well as success in his own field, he fondly remembers past students who have blown well past his expectations.
"I had this one (student) in particular at the UW that wanted to become a medical doctor," Williams said. "He did one year and then came back here (BTC) at one of our agronomy courses and went on to take the Certified Crop Adviser exam, which keep in mind, you have to pass the state and then the international exam. And some have to take it four or five times, but he passed it on the first try. Now he is a nutrient manager for an ag company."