friday takeout

February 14, 2020

CUPPA JOE | straight up news.

  • Grain Bin Safety Week is Feb. 16 - 22! The National Education Center for Agricultural Safety (NECAS) at Peosta has provided grain bin rescue tube training for fire departments, rescue personnel, farmers and agribusiness professionals throughout North America ... training video


  • Adult learners retrain for renewed career success: Susie Balk, of Cresco, transitioned from manufacturing employment to a new career in business. Business Specialist student, Kristin McGraw, of Oelwein, has always dreamed of opening her own neighborhood bar and grill.


  • Networking fair co-hosted by the College and Edgewood Chamber of Commerce, highlights local opportunities for high school students ... Manchester Press story

WEEKLY FEATURE | good to know.

Governor Kim Reynolds Signs

Grain Bin Safety Week 2020 Proclamation

National Education Center for Agricultural Safety (NECAS) Director Dan Neenan visited Des Moines last week for the Governor's signing of the Grain Bin Safety Week proclamation. The annual awareness week will be observed from Feb. 16-22. Initiated by Nationwide in 2014, the annual campaign promotes grain bin safety on farms and commercial grain-handling facilities.

A collaborative effort with industry leaders and agricultural professionals, Grain Bin Safety Week was created to raise awareness about grain bin dangers, provide education and share best safety practices. NECAS and its agri-business and farm safety partners are working together to reduce the number of preventable injuries and deaths associated with grain handling and storage. NECAS offers training and rescue programs for a variety of topics and also provides webinars to increase awareness for agricultural safety. The center's trainings and rescue programs have resulted in 19 lives saved nationwide.‌

APPETIZER | something for your appetite.

Graduates Celebrate Completion of Industrial Maintenance Career Pathway Certificate on Feb. 6!

Pictured are graduates Eric Avila, Jaime Hernandez-Rodriguez, Ben Koch and instructor Leo Avila. Not pictured: Graduate Doney Miles.

Four students enrolled in the Industrial Maintenance - Career Pathway Certificate program at Peosta officially completed their training last Thursday, Feb. 6. The condensed class, offered for only the second time at the College, began last November. Jordan O'Connell, Success Model coordinator, praised the graduates and instructor Leo Avila, himself a graduate of two Career Pathway Certificates and the Industrial Maintenance diploma program.

"I loved that we were able to offer this class again, and we're planning to start the next one in May. Leo Avila is a perfect fit to teach this class, and he has a wealth of knowledge to share with his students," Jordan said.

Leo is a native of Colombia whose fluency in both Spanish and English also allows him to teach bilingual lessons for students at different levels of ability.

BIG FISH | be amazed.

Sara Novotny

Agriculture Instructor | Calmar Campus


When you retire, and assuming you have enough money to do so, what is one cause you would give to because you are passionate about its mission and purpose?

I would give my funds to local and state 4-H Youth Development programs. I was a 4-Her for most of my life, and then spent eight years working for UW-Extension 4-H Youth Development in Wisconsin. I really believe in the power of youth development through hands-on learning, and I worked with some phenomenal youth and adults!


What is the age in your life that stands out as the most memorable, and why?

Right now! I'll just say my 30s as a whole. I had a big career change, moved to Iowa (I was born and raised and lived in Wisconsin up until now), I was successful in the showpen with some fantastic horses I trained and I'll be marrying my fiance in August of 2020!


If you could start all over again, what would be your career choice?

I would probably have been a veterinarian, or at least continued beyond my M.S. to get my Ph.D. I loved school and love to learn as much as I can. Maybe that's why I enjoy being an educator at the collegiate level.


What kid’s movie has completely scarred you for life?

Gremlins. When I was little, my older brother babysat me a lot. We watched the movie, and he told me there was a pool under my bed and the Gremlins would jump in and multiply if I got out of bed.


If you had one million dollars to build anything you wanted, what would you build and why?

I would build a multi-purpose ranch to train horses, a cow-calf operation and a large fenced-in area for all the beagles I could possibly have.

If you have input on a upcoming feature, Big Fish, something to celebrate or a suggestion, email us at news@nicc.edu!