Vincennes University agriculture students now have a place to call home. The transition is still underway, but very soon all ag classes will be taught at the state-of-the-art Vincennes University Agricultural Center, located at the Southwest Purdue Agricultural Center north of Vincennes, Ind.

“We’re excited that everyone will be coming together at one location,” says Susan Brocksmith, program chair for agribusiness. “We believe there will be lots of synergy developing with all of the agriculture students taking classes and interacting in one facility.”

The facility opened in August, and most agriculture classes for the 2019-20 school year were held there. “Before, our students were spread out at different locations on campus, with the John Deere internship training program at this site in a different building,” Brocksmith says. “The goal going forward will be for all ag classes to be here.”

Don Villwock, an Edwardsport, Ind., farmer and newly appointed Vincennes University trustee, has long been a supporter of agriculture at Vincennes University. Villwock also carries out special assignments for Karen Plaut, Purdue University College of Agriculture dean.

“Dean Plaut is always complimentary of students who spend their first two years at Vincennes and then transfer to Purdue,” Villwock says. “About 7% of Purdue College of Ag students started at Vincennes. Many of them tend to be above-average students once they get to Purdue.”

Different disciplines

Vincennes traditionally offered a two-year program for ag students who intended to transfer to Purdue to finish a four-year degree. “Many students find smaller class size and more individualized instruction helpful,” Villwock says. “Our daughter Sarah flourished here and transferred seamlessly to Purdue after graduating from VU.”

Besides the transfer program, Vincennes now offers a four-year degree in agribusiness, Brocksmith says. She headed up efforts to begin that program several years ago, and teaches and advises those students. “We have had several students graduate with the four-year degree already,” she reports. “A couple of them have already earned master’s of business degrees after graduating with a Vincennes four-year degree.” 

Another key part of the Vincennes program is the John Deere technician training program, headed up by Tim Hale, a former John Deere dealership employee and now longtime instructor in the program. Currently, 24 students are enrolled in the two-year training program.

“Our schedule now allows students to be here for eight weeks, then intern at a dealership for eight weeks,” Hale explains. “We continue rotating in eight-week cycles during the year.”

The John Deere training program originated at the downtown Vincennes campus, then moved to a new building erected at the farm about a decade ago. That building was shared with a vocational program through Vincennes for Cummins trainees.

“Cummins decided they needed to expand, so when plans came together to build a new agriculture facility here, the John Deere program joined us,” Brocksmith says. “John Deere supplies the equipment for students to train on.”

The new facility also includes Vincennes University horticulture students. A new food safety program, geared largely around research and teaching for food safety with melon and vegetable crops, is housed at the new location.

Chuck Mansfield, longtime Vincennes ag professor and a Purdue agronomist who does field research, some at SWPAC, is still located at the downtown campus. Plans call for Mansfield to move to the new facility.