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Information Letter Sent To Area Schools

With a goal of serving students in the area schools, the Dordt College Agriculture Department and area businesses have teamed up together to offer a group of educational tours. The tours, which were first offered in 2006, hope to develop in students an awareness of the diversity of careers that may be available to them in their future career choices. The free educational tours have been scheduled for Tuesday, April 1. Registration will begin at 8:00 a.m. with refreshments being served from 8:15 - 8:45 a.m. Tour groups will leave campus at 9:00 a.m. SHARP! Two businesses will be toured in the morning and two businesses will be toured in the afternoon. The day's activities will conclude at 3:30 p.m.

Many of the tour possibilities are not available at other times of the year due to company issues of safety, liability, time, and company policy. The businesses listed have graciously agreed to be part of the April 1 one-time event out of a desire to serve area students in an interesting, efficient, and appropriate manner.

The tours include the following locations:

Trans Ova Genetics

Trans Ova Genetics, the world-wide leader in bovine embryo transfer services, will be offering tours of their facilities. The tour will include a look at the operations of a commercial embryo transfer and in-vitro fertilization laboratory. Participants will be given the opportunity to see bovine embryos along with a demonstration of the collection process using a female reproductive tract.

Dykstra Dairy

The Dykstra Dairy is a recently built 3,000-cow, family owned and run dairy operation that takes pride in its employees, takes excellent care of its cows, and takes pride in the quality of the product that it produces. The dairy has 3,000 milking cows, 400 dry cows, and 500 close-up heifers. The entrepreneurs promote and practice good stewardship of the land and the environment as they operate their dairy.

The presentation will be of interest to participants desiring information about dairy cow production and management, animal science, veterinary medicine, agri-business, land management, and the dairy support industry.

Sioux Preme Packing Company

Sioux Preme Packing Company is a hog harvesting plant that harvests 2,200-3,800 hogs a day with an average of about 2,800. The company serves niche markets in unique ways. Participants will have the opportunity to see a "state-of-the-art" design of humane animal receiving, a new carbon dioxide pre-harvesting room, and the processing of the carcass to achieve a final product. Some areas of the plant and coolers will also be shown.

The presentation will be of interest to participants considering a career in food safety and quality control, marketing, animal science, veterinary medicine, animal harvesting, business, agri-business, technology, and other related disciplines.

Sioux Biochemical Inc.

Sioux Biochemical, Inc. produces purified proteins for the research community specializing in the large-scale isolation and purification of recombinant proteins from transgenic grains. The manufacturing capabilities are extensive, and the tour participants will be able to see part of the manufacturing process.

The presentation will be of interest to participants considering a career in chemistry, genetics, animal science, business, agri-business, technology, and other related disciplines.

Each tour will be limited to 25 students plus the driver of the vehicle. Advance registration is required to organize the tours and to plan for the noon meal. Registration for each tour will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Depending upon the demand, a tour will be given twice in the morning and twice in the afternoon. The deadline for registration is March 6.

A registration form is enclosed for your use. You can also go to the Dordt website at http://www.dordt.edu/events/ag_tours to obtain additional information or to register online. Dordt College will provide a free noon luncheon with Jim Wooster as the keynote speaker.

Since a teacher's time is limited, it has been suggested that students could also attend the event accompanied by a parent/chaperone. Many parents may be quite interested in having the opportunity to participate in the tours.

We welcome your participation in what promises to be a fun and educational event. Contact information can be found on the enclosed registration form or on my business card which is also enclosed.

Sincerely,

Duane Bajema, Ph.D.