Monday, June 23, 2008 10:20 PM CDT
Lake Land College recognizes agriculture students
By the JG/T-C
editorial@jg-tc.com
MATTOON — More than 400 people filled the Lake Land College Field House for the 2008 agriculture banquet. The 37th annual banquet honored several outstanding agriculture students, alumni and staff.
Lake Land’s agriculture banquet is unique in that it seeks to recognize all students in the program for their achievements, said Curt Rincker, agriculture division chairman.
“Lake Land College is blessed with quality agriculture students. Our 14 program areas attract students not only from the district but also from a multi-state region,” Rincker said. “We are proud to have this banquet so we can show our students and their families how much we appreciate their hard work and dedication while recognizing their accomplishments. This banquet is so successful because our students are involved in every step of planning, and developing and delivering the program.”
Jennifer Steiner, Decatur, Ind., received one of the night’s most prestigious honors, the Outstanding Agriculture Student.
Rincker presented the honored Agriculture Alumnus Award to Dennis Brown.
Even as a student, Brown had a knack for business savvy. He started his own company, Brown Seeds, while attending Lake Land in 1983, Rincker said.
For many years, the Neoga resident operated as a one-man show. However, his seed business gradually grew and today the company has a staff of 16 employees, many of whom are also graduates of LLC.
The three main segments of the business remain development and marketing of ARISE brand, research and development, and contract industry services.
Brown has been married for 18 years to his wife, Terri, and they have eight children from ages 2 to 15 years.
“Dennis is truly an amazing story of entrepreneurship,” Rincker said. “We are proud to call him an alumnus of the agriculture program. It is safe to say that his personal growth in his career since attending Lake Land College epitomizes a successful agriculture graduate of our programs”
Special honors were also given to Ken Drollinger, who is retiring after 29 years of teaching. It all started when Drollinger became the Agriculture Power Program instructor in the fall of 1979. Drollinger also was involved in developing the John Deere partnership programs in both Ag Tech and ProTech or adult training.
The following area students were recognized at the banquet: Nathan Nielson, Sullivan, Outstanding Student in Agriculture Business and Supply; Calvin Schultz, Sullivan, Outstanding Student in Agriculture Transfer; Jonathan Perkins, Effingham, High GPA in Agriculture Transfer; David Hoene, Toledo, Outstanding Student in Agriculture Production; Krystn Foor, Lakewood, High GPA in Agriculture Production; Derek Fasnacht, Kansas, Outstanding Student and High GPA in Ag Power Technology; L. Allen Smith, Paris, Outstanding Student in Horticulture; Diane Cox, Pana, High GPA in Horticulture; Michael Gossett, Mattoon, High GPA in Horticulture.
Local students recognized in the Agriculture Transfer program were Gene Birch; John Doty, Mattoon; Abby Lewis, Effingham; Kyle Ogden, Tuscola; Jonathan Perkins, Effingham; Thomas Perkins, Effingham; Austin Rincker, Shelbyville; Calvin Schultz, Sullivan; Kim Shupe, Effingham; Garrett Stenger, Hindsboro; Melissa Wineinger, Paris.
Recognized for in Agriculture Business and Supply were: Chris Adkins, Lakewood; Rowdy Brown, Brocton; Kasey Hamilton, Sullivan; Adam Kauffman, Sullivan; Beth Leggitt, Marshall; Emily Maurer, Marshall; Nathan Nielson, Sullivan.
Recognized for an Ag Business Certificate were: Kyle Kenney, Paris.
Recognized for Ag Machinery Sales was: Anthony “AJ” Scheiner, Paris.
Recognized for Agriculture Production were: Cody Blankenbeker, Martinsville; Derek Davis, Windsor; Eugene Edwards, Oakland; James Ferris, Greenup; Krystn Foor, Lakewood; David Hoene, Toledo; Jason Lichauer, Kansas; Juston Spittler, Kansas; Bryant Tingley, Marshall; Erik Trogdon, Paris; Darin Walk, Sigel.
Recognized for Ag Power Technology were: Dustin Campbell, Charleston; Nicholas Collier, Martinsville; Derek Fasnacht, Kansas; Trenton Maxwell, Martinsville; Chad Robertson, Lakewood; John Wormhoudt, Effingham.
Recognized for the Ag Power Certificate were: Jason Koester, Effingham; Matthew Scott, Toledo.
Recognized for the John Deere Ag Tech program were: Zachary Hughes, Sullivan.
Recognized for the Horticulture program were: Brandon Brown, Paris; Debbie Conlin, Mattoon; Diane Cox, Pana; Michael Gossett, Mattoon; Bernice Grove, Effingham; Levi Lee, Martinsville; Allyson Norman, Paris; L. Allen Smith, Paris.
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