During FY 2020-2023, MSRPC support has helped SMSU faculty create CCA educational programming so that our undergraduates can pursue CCA Accreditation. In the upcoming FY 2024 research funding cycle, we will continue to build upon earlier successful grant results while attempting to remedy past challenges. In doing so we hope to increase our CCA test-passing rate.

In the upcoming FY 2024 funding cycle, we aim to build upon earlier successful grant results while using past challenges to target further improvements in our educational outcomes.

Funding for this grant will be used to pursue the following objectives:
• Objective 1: Offer Specialized Training Modules
• Objective 2: Conduct Expert-led Workshops and Seminars
• Objective 3: Provide Study Materials and Resources
• Objective 4: Subsidize the cost of the International and Local CCA board tests
• Objective 5: Provide Mentorship and Guidance

In alignment with our CCA Educational Programs during the past four fiscal years, we aim to increase number/proportion of SMSU Students who can earn passing scores on the International and Minnesota CCA exams.

We will continue to support and 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.

Our curricula for SMSU’s Agronomy Program will continue to be updated to further integrate the knowledge and skills emphasized as part of CCA certification.

We will increase student, faculty, staff, alumni, and public recognition of the importance of CCA certification, and highlight the increasing number of SMSU students who both earn their academic degrees and simultaneously achieve CCA certification.

The primary manner in which this project will positively impact MN soybean farmers is via education and credentialing. Agriculture students who pass the CCA test before graduation have demonstrated their commitment to the agronomic field and show that they have put in the extra work. Agriculture students at SMSU are the future crop scouts, consultants, and product sales service that our MN soybean farmers rely on, and as such, training investments made in today’s agriculture students, will pay major dividends once these students hit the job market. The CCA designation is generally recognized as the standard for expertise in agronomy. A student who is able to pass the CCA test, before graduation, signifies a high level of knowledge, skills, and commitment to the profession and definitely increases their credibility and desirability among employers.
Next up, any student who has passed the CCA exams while at SMSU has always gone on to pursue full CCA licensing. Yet another benefit of having more CCAs in the workforce is that the certification process covers numerous disciplines within agronomy (soil fertility, crop management, pest control, etc.), and ensures your crop scouts possess a comprehensive understanding of agricultural principles. As a CCA’s, individuals must also maintain their certification through continuing education, staying updated on the latest advancements, technologies, and best practices in agronomy. These Continuing Education Units (CEU’s) ensure that CCA professionals remain at the top of their field. Finally, the CCA credential not only validates an individual's expertise but also signifies a commitment to professionalism and ongoing learning.