Medina student attends select ag program in Iowa

Photo by Tom Rivers – Adam Eick, right, is pictured with his FFA advisor and teacher Todd Eick of Medina during last week’s Orleans County 4-H Fair. The two are cousins.

MEDINA – A conference in Iowa assembled 49 outstanding agriculture students from 26 states in a highly competitive program. One of those students, Adam Eick, is from Medina and looks forward to running his own farm someday.

He attended the New Century Farmer Program from July 14-18 in Johnston, Iowa, learning about the global marketplace, farm financing, demographic trends and risk management. Eick was able to network with other emerging farmers and experience some of the latest developments in agriculture technology.

“I see a bright future in the ag industry,” Eick said. “This conference solidified that because people have to eat.”

Eick, 19, is entering his sophomore year at Morrisville State College. He plays offensive lineman on the college’s football team.

Eick is from a dairy farming family. This summer he is a paid intern at Lamb Farms in Oakfield, working in the herd health program.

He was the only student from New York picked for the New Century program. Todd Eick, Adam’s teacher and FFA advisor at Medina, gave Adam a strong endrosement for the program.

“It was a great opportunity for Adam,” said Mr. Eick, who is Adam’s cousin. “He is a young man with a bright future. It’s been nice watching him grow up from a little boy to the young man he is becoming.”

Adam said he may move out West after college to work and perhaps own his own farm.

“There’s something about the Midwest that gets me excited about agriculture,” he said.