Surrounded by Great People

     The atmosphere is what ASAE member Sahra Kloth says she loves most about being a technical systems management (TSM) major. “I have been fortunate in that I have been surrounded by great people, both within the Agricultural Engineering Department at the university and on the job,” says Kloth.
     Her internship experience was no exception. Kloth worked for Pioneer Hybrids as a professional corn research intern at the Champaign Research Center in Illinois. She says a wet spring kept planting on hold for a while, but when things finally got rolling, they didn’t really stop. “From cleaning, maintenance, weeding, rouging, counting, thinning, measuring, pollinating, and whatever else came my way, there was plenty to keep me busy,” says Kloth.

Sahra Kloth worked as a corn research intern at Pioneer Hybrids.

     Kloth was also required to do an internship project. She became responsible for the Parent Test experiment at the Center. This experiment is a collection on inbred corn plants, some of which have their tassels tested for pollen production (males), while others are de-tasseled and have their seed tested (females).
     “The Parent Test allowed me to take personal responsibility for an area of research at the Center,” says Kloth. “Although I knew help was there if I needed it, I was glad to have the challenge of being on my own. Being trusted by a boss and a company and knowing that they believe in you is a great feeling.”
     Kloth says her experiences at Pioneer helped her better define what she wants to do after graduation. “I knew I wanted to work for an agri-business. The opportunity to work for an industry in agriculture allowed me to get a better idea of which industries were right for me,” says Kloth. “Although the work was not always fun, or easy, I truly enjoyed my internship and still value the friendships I made while sweating away with yellow pollen sticking all over me.”
     Kloth has interests in working on the production side of the agricultural industry when she graduates.

Teamwork Makes it Real
     From his first day on campus, ASAE member Craig Swartz says the opportunities that TSM has to offer have been extremely diverse. “These opportunities have made my experience worth much more than only achieving an academic degree,” he says.
     Swartz says he was unsure about what he wanted to pursue before arriving at the University of Illinois. After talking with Dr. Philip Buriak at the College Open House, he was convinced that technical systems management was for him.

Craig Swartz is shown here with a quarter-scale tractor his team built for ASAE competition.

     “TSM provides hands-on knowledge of different systems in agriculture such as machinery, structures, and safety,” says Swartz. “It also includes business and management classes, not only for the agricultural market, but that apply towards any business sector.”
     When Swartz first arrived at the university, he says he was slightly overwhelmed by its size. “Coming from a small town, the size of the buildings, the school itself, and the number of people was almost scary,” he says. “I did not know very many people when I came.”
     After the first week, he began to enjoy being at a large school. “I met a lot of new friends from all over the world with backgrounds that were very different from mine,” says Swartz. “I also met a lot of people who had the same interests as me through the Illini Agricultural Mechanization Club, most of whom are now some of my best friends.”
     Swartz enrolled in the John Deere Dealership Management Program during the summer between his freshman and sophomore years. He had previously worked for this dealership, but he says the internship introduced him to the daily, inside business dealings. He was introduced to John Deere Information Systems, which is the operating system for coordinating sales, parts, and other aspects of the business, and also worked on many other projects.
     In his sophomore year, Swartz became second vice president of the Agricultural Mechanization Club, and got involved in the Illini Pullers, the ASAE quarter-scale tractor team for the university. "Being on the quarter-scale team proved to be an extremely valuable experience," says Swartz.
     Swartz again spent the summer between his sophomore and junior year with a John Deere Dealership. "I gained more in-depth business experiences with the service and sales departments," says Swartz. "This second summer of my college internship was a great way to become more knowledgeable about how a dealership works."
     In his junior year, Swartz was treasurer for the Illini Pullers and was responsible for money, publications, and new team membership. Now in his senior year, Swartz is president of the Illini Pullers. Swartz says what he treasures most about his college experience is the learning from all the activities in which he has been involved.
     "Teachers and books can only teach so much, but until I became involved with the ASAE quarter-scale tractor design team, and applied the knowledge that I learned, did it become real," says Swartz. "My involvement in the Illini Agricultural Mechanization Club has not only taught me leadership skills, but also introduced me to great friends and memories that I will treasure forever. College is more than having the highest grade point average; it is the activities, clubs, and people I have met that make everything such a great life experience.
     "Overall, the TSM program and the university have taught me a lot about myself, a lot about agriculture, business and technology and how to utilize that knowledge to get where I want to go in life," says Swartz.
     Swartz will be working professionally at a John Deere Dealership when he graduates.

TSM Major is Versatile
     When Nathan Kincaid first heard the acronym TSM or the degree technical systems management, he had no clue what it was. Now, as a senior in the program, he can not imagine himself in any other major. When he thinks of TSM now, some of the words that first come to mind are agricultural mechanization, flexibility, and fun.
     He chose TSM as a major for many reasons. "I enjoy agriculture. I grew up in a farming community, working on farms, and want to continue to be involved in some form of agriculture," says Kincaid. He also says the major is very versatile. "The truly appealing part," says Kincaid, "is that I can have job opportunities in marketing, plant management, farming, machinery companies, feed mills, grain elevators, and others.

Nathan Kincaid is a teaching assistant in the university's welding processes and metallurgy classes.

     " Kincaid really enjoys the classes in TSM. He has taken classes in construction, power and machinery management, engine and tractor power, welding, and grain systems. "Couple these classes with the business and communications courses I took," says Kincaid, "and you can see how well prepared I am for many career paths.
     " Kincaid had the opportunity to participate in two internships. His first was with Cargill Animal Nutrition where he was a plant manager intern in a large feed mill. The second was with Caterpillar in the Product Support Division. "Both of these were invaluable experiences where I learned more than I ever imagined possible in one summer," says Kincaid.
     He also has participated in extracurricular activities at the university. "I have been involved with the Illini Agricultural Mechanization Club. We have monthly meetings with interesting speakers from industry, and good food from the grill," says Kincaid. "The opportunity to interact with these speakers can provide great contacts in industry for information and potential employment," he adds.
     Kincaid has also been involved with a Mini-Baja team since his freshman year. This is an organization in which students design, build, test, and race an off-road car in international competition. During his freshman and sophomore years, Kincaid was the manufacturing team leader, and had the opportunity to drive the car in four competitions. His junior year he was treasurer and assistant team leader, and drove at one competition. In his senior year, Kincaid is president and team leader of the entire project.
     "This activity has been invaluable to me," says Kincaid. "I have learned to put classroom skills to work and developed teamwork and leadership skills. The experiences give me real-life examples to use in interviews, not to mention it is a lot of fun," he says.
     Kincaid says the TSM program has provided him with an education and opportunities that have broadened him as a person and directed him to be a professional. Kincaid plans to work professionally in the equipment industry when he graduates.
     "I already have three solid job offers, and I don't graduate for another six months," says Kincaid. "TSM has prepared me well for a professional career in technology management."