Kansas Corn Collegiate Academy
The Kansas Corn Collegiate Academy gives college students the opportunity to dive deeper into the corn industry, providing insights into the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead and how their future career paths fit in the corn industry.
Applications for Class 5 of Collegiate Academy are now open. The application deadline of November 15, 2021. Applicants must be currently enrolled in a post-secondary school and still plan to be enrolled in school through the fall semester of 2022.
Planned Academy Dates 2022 (Dates may be subject to change)
January 20-22 – Learning Session 1
Feb 22 – Topeka Policy Day Session 2
April 22-24 – Learning Session 3
July 10-14 – Corn Congress Washington D.C.
Collegiate Academy Activities
Day at the Capitol in Topeka
Learn from lawmakers and lobbyists at the Statehouse
Corn Congress in Washington DC
Meet movers and shakers in agriculture in Washington DC, and attend Corn Congress
Two Additional Learning Sessions in Kansas
Meet industry leaders and influencers during two sessions in Kansas
Complete a Capstone Project
Complete your academy experience with a capstone project
Collegiate Academy Application Requirements
Each application must include the following pieces to be considered:
- Completed application form answering all of the questions
- Must have a student membership, only $25 for a 12-month membership
- Student must attend a post-secondary education Kansas institution
- Must be enrolling in classes for the spring and fall 2022 semesters
- Two reference forms from non-family members, one must be an academic contact
- One-page resume highlighting academic, work and extracurricular activities and experience
- Dates of sessions to be announced
Applications are due November 15, 2021. A confirmation email will be sent to student when all necessary materials and forms are received.
Collegiate Academy Class 4
Members of Class 4 of the Kansas Corn Collegiate Academy:
- Adelaide Katzer, Agronomy, from Louisburg, Kansas
- Sage Collins, Ag Economics, from Chanute, Kansas
- Kate Cooper, Ag Economics, from Greenwood, Nebraska
- Nicki Kirchoff, Agribusiness, from Superior, Nebraska
- Jaime Knight, Agronomy, from Kansas City, Kansas
- Nathan Ohlde, Agronomy, from Clyde, Kansas
- James Foote, Ag Economics, from Louisburg, Kansas
- Keegan Weingartner, Animal Science Pre-Vet, from Topeka, Kansas
- Eric Peterson, Animal Science, from Clifton, Kansas
What participants say about their experience
- Gracie Danner, West Liberty, IA, agricultural economics with minor in international agTrade is something the agriculture industry may take for granted or fail to recognize the importance of. The importance of trade was not only discussed in our many visits but we got to see first-hand the importance this summer with trade negotiations and tariff wars. The agriculture industry is global, this evident in a small-town co-op all the way to a billion-dollar agribusiness. No matter where in the industry I end up, this will be evident and important to understand and work with.
- Trent Frye, Belleville, KS, agronomyI most definitely stepped out of my comfort zone by observing the trade and legislative discussions during our Lawrence, Topeka, and Washington D.C sessions. All in all I must say I learned that foreign entities and political associates can radically influence how commodity costs are established. Likewise, I learned that political negotiation is always key in the fight for corn producers everything.
- Keren Duerksen, Newton, KS, agronomyThis program gave me a better global perspective of how grain is marketed, traded and utilized. I also gain a better appreciation of the interconnectedness of governmental policy, nothing is black and white. Lastly, I was able to see diversity of corn production across the state and across the nation.