Special Donor Issue - University of Minnesota, Crookston

Computers and Agriculture Make aPerfect TeamIn the spring of 2003, Jay Hogfoss hadjust graduated with a degree in ag systemsmanagement (ASM) with anemphasis in precision agriculture and aminor in information technology management(ITM). He was able to adapt hiscomputer classes to agriculture and hiseducation led him to his first position atTitan Machinery, one of the largest CaseIH dealership networks in the U.S. andfrom there to Trimble Navigations.Working for Trimble has Jay based outof the main Case New Holland plant inRacine, Wisconsin, where he provides supportfor all the auto guidance systems. Jayloves working with the Case New Hollandauto guidance systems and seeing all thenew technology about a year in advance.That fact makes Jay’s work interesting andexciting for him. “The job is uniquebecause I get to work with the new productsfrom two different companies,Trimble Navigation and Case NewHolland,” says Hogfoss. He also does theirprep work for farm shows, magazinephoto shoots, and training programs.He feels that his education at theUniversity of Minnesota, Crookston(UMC) helped him get where he is now.He liked UMC’s close student/faculty relationships.The size of UMC continues tobe an advantage for its graduates.Professors Paul Aakre and Bruce Brorsonwere two of Jay’s favorite professors. Theyhelped to advise Jay of which classes wouldhelp him reach his goals. Thanks toUMC’s small class sizes, these professorshad time to work with him after class andin the field. It gave him an edge in the jobmarket.Aakre was Jay’s advisor in theAgricultural Systems Management program.“Jay was introduced to me after hisfirst year as an ITM major at UMC. Heliked to work with computers, but he reallywanted to be involved in agriculturalapplications where he could use his computerskills.”Jay Hogfoss ’03 works today for Trimble Navigations, based out of the mainCase New Holland plant in Racine,Wisconsin.The ASM program with an emphasis inprecision agriculture seemed to peak Jay’sinterest. “With this degree,” Aakreexplains, “Jay could apply his computerskills and still be actively involved in helpingothers with their production agriculturechallenges. The ASM program hasnearly 30 credits of electives that studentscan use to tailor their education to fit individualgoals. This allowed Jay to add aminor in ITM.”The guidance positioning system experiencethat Jay had at UMC made a differenceto his future employers. They likedthat he already had some experience onwhich to build. A few of the classes towhich Jay owes some of his success areApplication in Precision Agriculture,Microcomputer System Architecture,Computer-Aided Drafting, andTopographical Mapping and SpatialAnalyses. The courses offered with thehands-on approach to learning found atUMC were just what he needed.Outside of class, Jay was a member ofthe Ag Industries Club, the highly successfulNorth American Colleges and Teachersof Agriculture (NACTA) team, and Delta“With this degree,Jay could apply hiscomputer skillsand still beactively involvedin helping otherswith theirproductionagriculturechallenges.”— ProfessorPaul Aakre27