If I had a bucket list of the most awesome SAE visits possible, my visit to Sterman Masser would absolutely be at the top of that list. One of my students has been working for Sterman Masser as an intern working in potato research. This agri-science research that she is conducting is rigorous and relevant in the agriculture industry and she is learning next generation skills to take with her in the future.
Before I go into the details, here is some background information:
Who did you visit? The student I went to see was Rebecca Witmer who is a senior at Tri-Valley High School. She is an FFA officer, very involved in the agriculture department, and headed to college for Radiology.
What preparations did you make prior to the visit? Rebecca was in charge of coordinating the visit with her supervisor and communicating with me the when and where. I made sure to connect with Rebecca during class to talk about her research record book in AET to see how up-to-date she is with her records.
What was the students SAE program? Rebecca has an agri-science research experience in AET. Her record book is about the research she is helping to conduct while working at Sterman Masser.
How would you evaluate or rate the program? On what criteria? I see so much growth in Rebecca's SAE, which is how I would evaluate it. From the beginning to now, she has taken on more responsibility, new research trials, and have proven her value to Sterman Masser. Thus, I would evaluate her program on her personal growth.
What recommendations do you have? Because of the opportunity that Rebecca currently has, I would hope that she continues to meet knew people, build her network, and really get the value out of this experience at her fingertips. Regarding her actual project book and AET, I would challenge her to put accurate records into AET because she has that information at her fingertips. Next, I would encourage her to apply for a proficiency award for her hard-work.
How does your cooperating teacher "grade" SAE projects? My cooperating teacher greatly utilizes AET and being able to look at her students' online records as a way to grade. That, in conjunction with SAE visits is who she assesses this part of the three-circle model.
Alright, now onto what we did. So today, I was able to get a taste of some of the research she is conducting as well as a really awesome tour of the facility and how potatoes get from farm to table. I was given a tour by Rebecca and one of her colleagues through the entire facility. We went to the seed (tubor) storage area, where the potatoes are brought in and washed, the conveyor belts that help with packaging, and the dock where the product leaves. Below are some great pictures and descriptions of what we saw.
Rebecca and I arriving at Sterman Masser Potatoes. Did you know Sterman Masser is the largest grower of potatoes in PA?
The transportation fleet! One new fact that I learned is that all of Sterman Masser's locations around the country is able to access 80% of the countries population on any given day.
Potatoes being unloaded from a semi into a large bin where they are washed.
These conveyor belts were only the tip of the iceberg! These help to transport the potatoes to the sorting and packing area of the facility.
The packaging center! Masser's packing and distribution center. The technology is incredible!
An automated packaging machine! So neat to see agricultural engineering at its finest.
This is a European engineered machine that packages larger bags of potatoes onto pallets and wraps it in plastic wrap.
Rebecca and I on the packaging and distribution floor. So impressed that she coordinated this entire visit!