By Scout Nelson
Precision Connect 2025 presents a learning platform where agriculture students share their internship experiences with visitors, leaders, and educators. The event focuses on helping students gain confidence, build communication skills, and understand how classroom learning connects with real work in the agriculture industry.
Students from two academic areas take part in the showcase. They study agricultural and biosystems engineering as well as agronomy, horticulture, and plant science. Sixty-four students prepare posters that explain their internship roles, projects, and responsibilities.
These posters line the halls of the precision agriculture facility, allowing visitors to stop, listen, and ask questions. Many students also present senior design ideas that show how engineering and agriculture work together.
Event leaders share that Precision Connect shows the strength of collaboration between students and industry partners. They note that the showcase helps students grow professionally and learn how teamwork supports agriculture.
Faculty members explain that many students receive job offers or strengthen future career plans because of internship experience.
After the poster session, a department alumnus delivers a keynote address titled “Discover and Engineer the Future.” More than ninety students and guests attend the session, which encourages students to stay curious and continue learning.
Speakers emphasize that hands-on experience prepares students for real-world challenges and helps them understand new technology in agriculture.
Later in the evening, a celebratory banquet honors a century of agricultural engineering education. Leaders, faculty, alumni, and students gather to recognize achievements and look forward to future progress.
The keynote speaker returns with a second message focused on “Driving the Future of Agriculture.” Additional speakers include a university professor, a recent graduate, and a scholarship recipient who studies precision agriculture.
The event reflects how internships help students gain skills, connect with mentors, and explore future careers. Precision Connect continues to support agriculture education by creating space for learning, sharing, and leadership development.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-poike
Categories: South Dakota, Education, Rural Lifestyle