SMSU’s 2022-2023 MSRPC Phase III grant proposal integrates CCA student preparation permanently into our curricula and outreach programs. MSRPC support in FY 2020 and FY 2021 positioned SMSU with the necessary experience to create a systematic educational approach to student pursuit of CCA Certification. Part of Phase III reaches out to first- and second-year SMSU students. We utilize diverse communication channels and a Professional Agronomist Speaker Series to spark interest in CCA Certification among freshmen and sophomores. We will encourage these students to take the CCA exams later in their academic programs.
Phase III also creates the opportunity for SMSU to review the curricular content of our Agronomy major. We will integrate the knowledge and skills emphasized in CCA Certification Process into our Agronomy program. Our experience over the past two years enabled our CCA workshops to be more effective in helping students adequately prepare for the challenging CCA certification exam.
Another aspect of our proposal uses a portion of the grant funds to defray the financial costs associated with taking the CCA Exam. Our model asks students to pay a portion of the exam fees. Then SMSU uses grant funds to reduce the exams’ monetary costs. This cost-share approach has been an important incentive to increase the number of students who decide to attend our workshops and then sit to take the CCA exam.
Finally, out students and faculty will share our experiences with a wider audience during our participation in the MN Ag Expo Conference.

1. GOAL: Integrate CCA student preparation permanently into our SMSU curricula.
OBJECTIVE: Review our Agronomy program in FY 22 to identify adjustments that will integrate CCA knowledge and skills into our curricula.
2. GOAL: Create a systematic approach to increase student interest in pursuing CCA Certification.
OBJECTIVE: In Fall 2022, implement a communication plan and a Professional Agronomist Speaker Series to reach first- and second-year SMSU students and spark their interest in CCA certification. Also continue CCA messaging efforts with juniors and seniors.
3. GOAL: Develop and implement an SMSU faculty-guided CCA group-study program.
OBJECTIVE: In Fall 2022 and Spring 2023, we facilitate group-study programs for SMSU students who participate our educational programs. In these programs, our faculty will serve as a study resource and will promote student interaction. This objective aims to facilitate increased student participation and success in CCA preparation and certification.

4. GOAL: Heighten SMSU student awareness of ASA’s Greenfield and Go Scholars programs
OBJECTIVE: In Fall 2022, take time during workshops to inform SMSU students about their eligibility for ASA scholarships.
5. GOAL: Invite MSRPC Representatives to the SMSU campus, and create an on-campus Professional Speaker Series to inform and spur interest in CCA certification among our students.
OBJECTIVE: In Fall 2022 and Spring 2023, set dates for MSRPC representatives’ visits on campus, and establish a published schedule for our Professional Speaker Series.
6. GOAL: Use MSRPC grant funds to partially cover student CCA examination fees.
OBJECTIVE: Use Phase III grant funds to help underwrite the exam fee costs for students who register for the exams in Fall 2022 and Spring 2023.
7. GOAL: Use MSRPC grant funds to expand student accessibility to CCA study materials
OBJECTIVE: In Fall 2022, identify and acquire CCA study resources for student use.

• One Phase III goal for project deliverables is to increase the number of SMSU Students who take and pass the International and Minnesota CCA exams. In November 2021, as part of the Phase II MSRPC grant, thirteen SMSU students took the International Exam, and five of them passed. We will strive to increase both the student interest and the pass rate in Phase III.

• We will create incentives to motivate students who did not pass the CCA exams on the first try to stay with the program and take the exam again in the next semester.

• The curricula for SMSU’s Agronomy Program will be adjusted to incorporate the knowledge and skills emphasized as part of CCA certification.

• We will increase public recognition of the importance of CCA certification, and emphasize SMSU’s growing reputation to graduate students who are also CCA certified.

Update:
At this point in the project, study materials have been ordered and we are currently awaiting their delivery. This project in particular is tied to the school year and school just started Aug 22nd. CCA study sessions will start to be scheduled in the next two weeks with an intended testing date of late October-Early November. The importance of CCA, attending CCA study sessions, and how we will be subsidizing testing fees have been communicated to around 30 ag focused students. Interest among students is high and I expect high attendance for study sessions.

Update:
The first testing period took place between Oct 10th-17th. Study sessions were held weekly for the four weeks preceding the test to familiarize the students with the CCA testing format and material. SMSU’s agronomy professor (Adam Alford) supervised all study sessions to serve as a resource for students to answer questions and explain topics as needed. Grant funds were used to purchase pizza dinners to encourage participation

From this first round of testing, the students broke down into three groups, Those who came to all study sessions + took the tests, those who came to all study sessions but didn’t take the test, and those who came to half the study sessions and didn’t take the tests. The demographics and the test results of the first group is listed below:

Came to all the study sessions. Took the tests
SENIOR Agronomy major, (Failed Int, Passed MN) Will be retaking?
SENIOR Agronomy major, (Passed Int, Failed MN) Will be retaking
JUNIOR Agronomy major, (Passed Int, Passed MN)
SENIOR Ag solutions major (Failed Int, Failed MN) Maybe interested in retaking
SOPHOMORE Agribusiness major (Failed Int, Failed MN) Interested in retaking it.
SENIOR Ag solutions major (Failed Int, Failed MN) Interested in retaking it.

Came to all the study sessions. Didn’t take the tests.
SOPHOMORE Agronomy major (Came to study sessions, Didn’t take the tests)

Came to half of study sessions, Didn’t take the tests. Plan on taking it in future years
SOPHOMORE Agronomy major (Came to half of study sessions, Didn’t take the tests)
SOPHOMORE Agronomy major (Came to half of study sessions, Didn’t take the tests)
SOPHOMORE Agronomy major (Came to half of study sessions, Didn’t take the tests)
FRESHMAN Agronomy major (Came to half of study sessions, Didn’t take the tests)
FRESHMAN Agronomy major (Came to half of study sessions, Didn’t take the tests)

Overall only upperclassmen and 1 sophomore stuck around to take the tests. Of these, the only ones who passed the tests were the agronomy majors (50% pass rate for upper classmen agronomy majors). This ultimately makes sense as the CCA test is difficult and relatively science heavy. Of those who took the tests, all but one were interested in retaking the test provided another opportunity.

Another finding is the number of students who started the study sessions, but did not go to all of them, and ultimately did not take the tests. This does make sense unfortunately. The first two study sessions are very heavy on plant/soil nutrition (following the test groupings) and all of the underclassman just have not had the opportunity to take a soil/plant nutrition course. The agronomy department’s soil/plant nutrition course is an every other year course in the spring, and this cohort hasn’t had the material. These is some overlap on plant/soil nutrition from the agronomy courses they have taken, but it isn’t the focus of these courses. As such I think that discouraged most of them. As study session proctor, I also had difficulty competing with afterschool sports for students time. Study sessions were held for two hours and some sports practice overlapped with some portion of this study period. Not having this material in class, doubled with sports conflict certainly discouraged student attendance and test taking. Regardless of this fact, all of those who didn’t take the tests are interested in taking them at a more suitable time.

I am currently scheduling tests for a round 2 of test taking. We will be targeting the winter break as finals are too close for students to study for the CCA in their limited free time. Given the interest I had in students wanting to retake the test, I don’t foresee a problem in getting sign ups.

Update:
Attached as a word document due to various formatting decisions to increase readability.

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Update:

View uploaded report

• At SMSU, we firmly believe that our students who participate in our CCA educational programs will have the knowledge and confidence to communicate the importance of supporting a gainful and sustainable soybean sector of the agricultural economy. Students who achieve CCA certification will be in a good position to offer reliable recommendations to soybean producers, and help all of agriculture expand our production in ways that are profitable, responsible and sustainable.
• Our CCA educational workshops focus on four key areas: crop management, pest management, soil and water management and nutrient management. When our students fully participate in our study sessions, and can demonstrate a mastery of the material in these four CCA skill areas, then they will be prepared to make real contributions to the economic success of soybean growers.