EIF-A_Lasting Contributions

INNOVATION
was previously a US Bank location.
Innovate 120 is a resource for entrepreneurs
and start-ups, a business incubator
site for Jackson County and a coworking
space.
The other clients included GAF, a
multinational roofing manufacturing
company based in New Jersey; Google;
Scotts Miracle-Gro; and a global telemedicine
company.
Abbott, a Maquoketa native, developed
the internship program in 2021 in
response to a call from state officials to
introduce high school students to career
paths they might not otherwise know
about. UX (or user-experience) Design
is one of those.
UX is the front end in the process of
developing mobile apps and other technology.
It is the planning process that
addresses whatever problem needs to be
solved, said Abbott, who has decades in
the user-experience design business with
Context Design LLC, which he founded.
For example, AgroSampl introduces a
more efficient way to glean information
from soil and fine-tune farming practices
based on that data.
The app would give farmers soil sampling
information in real time and allow
them to adjust the application of nutrients
efficiently. The app would include
such things as low nutrient warnings and
measures of magnesium, sulfur, nitrogen
and other organic matter in soil.
“It would help increase sustainability
by reducing soil compaction, improving
soil management, maximizing yield and
optimizing fertilizer application,” the
students said in their presentation.
The app provides useful data on nutrient
levels, seed coating, soil fertility
and overall health and stores the data for
future use.
“If a mobile app works really well,
that’s because somebody designed it to
meet your needs in that specific task,”
Abbott said.
That’s the goal students have worked
toward since the program began, and a
new group will do the same this summer.
n
Local farmer Joe Heinrich was one
of the resources students used to
research their topic as part of a summer
internship with Innovate 120 last year.
EASTERN IOWA FARMER PHOTO /
CONTRIBUTED
Representative Steve
Bradley’s dedication
to the Iowa farmer is
unparalleled. He has
supported many bills
as a member of the
Iowa Legislature. He is
dedicated to Agriculture,
Education and
Healthcare. Helping
to assure the Iowa
farm is well taken care
of in the future.
PAID FOR BY COMMITTEE TO ELECT BRADLEY FOR IOWA HOUSE
92 EASTERN IOWA FARMER | SPRING 2024 eifarmer.com