Small Class Sizes, Tremendous Potential

As a student at Waverly-Shell Rock High School, Macy Janssen was an active member of Future Farmers of America (FFA). In her time in the club – she served as president during her senior year – she gained an appreciation for the business of farming.

Now, as a student at DMACC, she is pursuing her passion.

Janssen, who started at DMACC in the Fall of 2017, is completing coursework in agribusiness with an eye toward transferring to Iowa State University in the Fall of 2019. She says it was an easy decision to come to DMACC.

"DMACC's agribusiness program offers the option to transfer to Iowa State and that was important," Janssen says. "I also like the idea of smaller class sizes to help me with the transition to college."

Janssen was also helped financially with a Mark Pearson FFA Leadership Scholarship, an award that is made available to students who serve in leadership positions in FFA during high school. She says that will help her get her coursework at DMACC done without accumulating any debt.

As she closes out her schooling on the Ankeny Campus, she says she would encourage others considering a career in agribusiness to give DMACC a look.

"I love our small class sizes and at DMACC, from Day 1, we get to go out to the farm in Adel for practical, hands on experience," Janssen says. "That is not offered until later in your education at Iowa State. For someone who is a visual learner like me, that is important.

"I would encourage all students to at least look at a community college," she continues. "If you want to dip your toe in and explore what you might like, you are able to do that without spending a ton. It was a great decision for me."