‘The opportunities are endless’: UNK agribusiness program supports state’s top industry
KEARNEY – Agriculture is more than an industry in Nebraska – it’s the backbone of the state’s economy and a way of life in many communities.
More than 44,000 farms and ranches are spread out across the state, accounting for nearly 90% of the total land area. The livestock and crops raised here generate more than $30 billion annually while supporting 1 in 4 jobs.
At the University of Nebraska at Kearney, students in the agribusiness program are learning to navigate this ever-changing industry, which impacts nearly every resident in the state.
“Agriculture is a global industry connected to food security, and in Nebraska it’s one of the largest industries we have,” said Jody Herchenbach, an assistant professor of agribusiness and economics at UNK. “Students come here to learn how to manage risk, solve problems and keep the industry moving forward.”
UNK’s agribusiness program combines courses in economics, finance, marketing, farm and ranch management, policy and price analysis. Students gain both technical expertise and transferable business skills that apply across agriculture’s many branches.
The program boasts a 100% job placement rate for graduates entering careers or graduate school, with average starting salaries around $55,000. About 80% of students complete an internship for academic credit, giving them a head start in the workforce.
“We understand the industry is changing fast,” Herchenbach said. “Our goal is to give students a strong foundation along with the flexibility to build their own path – whether that’s agronomy, sales, finance, logistics or something that doesn’t even exist yet.”
Raised on a farm near Leigh, Herchenbach worked for Nebraska Extension and the 4-H program before joining UNK in 2022, so she’s seen firsthand how technology and consolidation have affected the industry.
“Agriculture looks a lot different than it did 30 years ago,” she said. “Farms are fewer but larger, and producers are managing million-dollar loans, multiple employees and highly specialized operations. Instead of jotting notes in a book, they’re tracking records on iPads and using GPS to plant crops with the push of a button. It’s a complex industry, but that also means there are tremendous opportunities for people with the right skills. Agribusiness remains a great career choice – it just requires a different level of preparation today.”
Finding the right fit
For senior Kayten Flanagan, the agribusiness program offered the perfect way to combine her upbringing with her passion for problem-solving.
“Ag runs the world,” said Flanagan, who grew up in Battle Creek with family ties to farming and ranching in both Nebraska and Kansas. “Farming provides the fuel, food and other products people depend on every day. Not a lot of people recognize that, and I wish more did.”
After participating in FFA and working at a local farm supply and grain marketing cooperative during high school, Flanagan decided to attend UNK because of its location and affordability.
“I didn’t apply anywhere else,” she said. “My parents love it just as much as I do. It’s the most affordable university in Nebraska, and they never question my safety here or the quality of my education. It’s just an all-out amazing school.”
Flanagan received immediate support from faculty and staff on campus, especially Herchenbach, who leads the agribusiness program along with two other full-time faculty members.
“She’s been my rock,” Flanagan said. “Even before I was on campus, she reached out and got me into a living-learning program my first year. I go to her for everything, whether it’s school problems or personal problems.”
Now, Flanagan helps guide fellow Lopers as president of the Agribusiness Club, a position she’s held for more than a year. The organization builds community on campus and connects students with professionals in the agribusiness field through social activities, business tours, guest speakers and networking events.
“The No. 1 goal is to bring our students together and show them all the opportunities that are available within agribusiness,” Flanagan said.
Her own experiences illustrate that point.
Flanagan recently completed a summer internship with United Farm and Ranch Management, a Nebraska-based company that serves landowners throughout the Midwest. Working from the Kearney and Norfolk locations, she gained hands-on experience in land management, real estate and drone technology. She also traveled to Des Moines, Iowa, to learn more about grain marketing and meet with representatives from the parent company.
“It was an amazing opportunity,” Flanagan said of the internship, “one I would have taken 100 times again.”
She plans to pursue a career in farm and ranch management, helping Nebraska producers become more efficient and profitable.
“The opportunities in agriculture are endless,” she said. “You just have to find the right fit.”
Hands-on learning, real-world results
There are about 40 students currently enrolled in the UNK agribusiness program, including both majors and minors, and they’re not just sitting at desks all day.
The smaller class sizes create a “unique learning environment,” according to Herchenbach, allowing students to work on case studies or special projects for local businesses. Faculty also regularly take them on industry tours, from grain elevators, livestock markets and feedlots to Aurora Cooperative’s corporate headquarters and Husker Harvest Days in Grand Island.
“It’s hard to learn ag strictly from a textbook,” Herchenbach said. “We want to get them out of the classroom and into the industry. Those one-on-one connections are what lead to careers and high-quality jobs in rural Nebraska.”
This focus on applied learning and personal relationships is what stood out to Derek Johnson, a 2019 graduate who now works as an area manager for SoilView, a site-specific field services and soil sampling company based in Iowa.
“You definitely get a connection with your professors,” Johnson said. “At UNK, they care about you and want you to do your best. That personal touch makes a big difference.”
A Norfolk native, Johnson started working for SoilView as a seasonal soil sampler while attending UNK. By the time he graduated, he had already been trained for a full-time role.
Today, he manages a territory covering central and western Nebraska, eastern Colorado, eastern Wyoming and northwest Kansas. His work ranges from customer relations, sales and employee management to collecting soil samples and installing irrigation technology.
“I still enjoy going out with my hand probe and just working out in the field,” said Johnson, who lives in Kearney and works from the Wood River office. “It’s a very independent job, and it almost serves as a stress reliever. It’s the best of both worlds – working with customers and being outdoors.”
Johnson remains involved with the UNK agribusiness program as a member of the advisory board, reviewing curriculum to ensure it keeps pace with industry needs and meeting with current students looking to enter the field.
“When I was a student, I didn’t come from a farming background, so I wasn’t sure what opportunities were out there,” he said. “Now I can share my experiences with students and show them what’s possible. In the state of Nebraska, there are so many different opportunities because we’re so driven by ag.”
With hardworking students, dedicated faculty and strong ties to area businesses, UNK’s agribusiness program is planting seeds that will continue to grow Nebraska’s most vital industry.
“At the end of the day, agribusiness careers let you contribute to something bigger than yourself – you’re literally feeding your neighbors and the world,” Herchenbach said.