Classroom to cornfield

It's Delaware's No. 1 industry, generating billions in economic activity and employing nearly 80,000 people statewide.

Agriculture and food is big business in the region, and UD's Department of Applied Economics and Statistics explores all aspects of it: management, marketing, international trade, land use economics, policy, decision-making and more.

But it's one thing to learn in a classroom and another to see real-world business applications up close and in person. That's exactly what students in UD's Applied Economics Student Association did in April, touring four Delaware farms under the guidance and mentorship of Delaware's ultimate Ag Ambassador.

"Farmers are business people," said Ed Kee, former Delaware Secretary of Agriculture, who led the tour. "They're agronomists, they're chemists, they're mechanics - jacks of all trades. They have wisdom to share."

Kee served as Delaware agriculture secretary from 2009 to 2017 and is a retired UD Cooperative Extension specialist.

The University of Delaware College of Agriculture and Natural Resources is at the forefront of preparing students for agricultural jobs. Research, fieldwork, internships and coursework provide hands-on exposure to various aspects of the industry.

Kee wants to ensure CANR graduates are "broad-minded," understanding the big picture of agriculture and the people behind them.

So he set out to show them.