For Immediate Release
, 2007
Contact:
Tracy Kruse, Director of Marketing, News and Publications
563.562.3263 x.251; kruset@NICC.edu
Note: Abbreviation for Northeast Iowa Community College is NICC.
Carrying on a family tradition, with the help of NICC
With family roots planted firmly in the beds of rich, washed-up top soil, five generations
of Kregel’s have made their livelihood from farming near the river bluffs of Guttenberg,
Iowa. The tradition of this prominent dairy family lives in the sixth generation
Sisters Maureen and Megan are pursuing their passion for dairy cows and staking their
place in the dairy industry. The daughters of Gary and Darlene Kregel, both of these
young women chose the Northeast Iowa Community College in Calmar as their first step
in preparing for the future.
A 2005 NICC dairy science graduate, Maureen liked what she saw when she toured the
Northeast Iowa Dairy Foundation’s Dairy Center and was impressed with the opportunity
to work so closely with dairy cows and instructors. “I really enjoyed the hands-on
experience with management and courses with cattle. It wasn’t just talking about things,
it was going out to the barn and actually doing them.”
Maureen valued being able to see a different type of dairy farm than the 220-cow
crossbred herd she grew up with and being able to talk with other dairy students. “I’ve
always been interested in what my peers did versus what I did versus everyone else. I’d
tell students in the program today to pick up advice from everybody they meet.”
The small class size at NICC was also something that Maureen valued, and it allowed
her to glean both knowledge and skills as she attended classes, labs and work at the
Dairy Center.
“The biggest thing I took away from Calmar was herdsman skills. I learned how to treat
my own cows, perform basic herd health and to be a better manager overall,” Maureen
said. She also took the artificial insemination (A.I.) course offered by NICC and credits
that with her ability to breed cows on her own farm. “My passion for A.I. came out of
Calmar,” she noted.
With hands-on cow experience in tote, Maureen moved on to Ames and will graduate
from Iowa State University (ISU) this spring with double degrees in dairy science and
agriculture business. While completing her studies, she is working at the National
Animal Disease Center (NADC) as an animal caretaker. When asked what the future
holds, Maureen said that going back to the family farm is an option, or she may opt to
take on a full-time position at NADC or in the A.I. industry.
Maureen’s positive experience as an NICC student paved the way for her younger sister.
“NICC seemed like a logical choice,” said Megan, a freshman at the Calmar campus. “I
feel like I can get more hands-on experience in my two years here than I could at other
places. I also wanted to take my general education courses before transferring to ISU. I
thought Calmar would be a good transition.”
“Already, I’ve learned a lot about the background of the industry, new technologies,
hands-on practice in the labs and reproduction programs. I’m learning about things I
never thought about before and extending the knowledge I already have,” said Megan of
her college experience thus far.
In addition to being a student, Megan also works at the Dairy Center. “I have a job
related to my major that I work in everyday,” she said, crediting the full-time Dairy
Foundation farm staff as helping her further develop knowledge and skills. As the 20072008 Alternate Iowa Dairy Princess, Megan is able to share her first-hand experience
working at the Dairy Center with visiting groups.
Megan feels that NICC is preparing her well for her eventual transfer to ISU where she
will continue studying dairy science and also major in agriculture education.
“I would like to get back to teaching near my hometown and, of course, keep my dairy
herd. Having your own cows is just a feeling you can’t replace,” she said. Megan
currently owns 56 of her own Jersey cows and heifers.
Maureen and Megan are not the only Kregel influence found at NICC and the Dairy
Foundation’s Dairy Center. Their father Gary sits on the farm operations committee that
advises the workings of the Dairy Foundation’s two farms. Take a stroll through the
Iowa Dairy Museum also housed at the Dairy Center and visitors will find a photo of his
father Virgil Kregel, a well-known and respected northeast Iowa dairy industry leader.
Each year, an NICC student transferring on to ISU receives a scholarship in his name.
The path to success for Maureen and Megan is well underway, and the dairy industry
can bet that northeast Iowa has not felt the last of the Kregel family influence.
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