BVU Meats Enterprise Grows Through Contest at The Foundry

Four teams from entrepreneurship and management class offer business proposals for use of 10 head of cattle raised by BVU livestock show team.

Four teams of Buena Vista University students recently pitched business plans to a panel of judges in a contest sponsored by the Siebens School of Business, BVU Institute for Agriculture, and the Lamberti Center for Rural Entrepreneurship at The Foundry in downtown Storm Lake.

Business ideas centered on the use of 10 head of cattle purchased by the BVU Ag Institute and raised by the BVU livestock show team, which keeps the cattle at the University’s Agricultural Experiment Station (AES).

A team comprised of seniors Peyton Gross and Savanna Pohlmann, and sophomores Rylee Cain and Jaclyn Meixsell claimed the event while presenting an idea that featured marketing steaks and other cuts to area restaurants and members of the BVU campus and surrounding community.

Other teams presented campaigns involving activities such as hosting ag day educational field trips to the BVU AES while marketing meat processed from the cattle. Sales and marketing campaigns ranged from person-to-person contacts to use of BVU social media, BVU’s alumni magazine, and more.

After each presentation, groups answered questions from a panel of judges that included: Rich Crow, Director of the BVU Institute for Agriculture; Gary Sterling, BVU Instructor of Management and Director of the Lamberti Center for Rural Entrepreneurship; Mike Christen, Land Unit Manager for the Institute for Agriculture; and John Kofmehl, Financial Officer at Farm Credit Services.

The event culminated with advice from judges to students who will look to pitch ideas in future real-world business settings.

Business ideas from each one of the four groups will now be shared with BVU senior Manny Chavez, a marketing major who currently serves as an intern under Sterling’s direction. Chavez will work to finalize concepts while forming a business plan for implementation through the Lamberti Center for Rural Entrepreneurship.

“Our student groups came up with many unique ideas, much of which will be incorporated into the winning business plan as it is finalized,” Crow concluded. “I’m very excited to see the final product as it is implemented; and watch as our BVU students learn real-world business skills through this experience.”

Other students in the entrepreneurship and management 375 class of Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship Dr. Ralph Hanke taking part included: Jadon Micke, Trevor Nemitz, Nate Pedersen, and Kaden Howard, Danny Kramer, Cody Buresh, Bryon Fleming, Trey Valentine, Jordan Sherman, Kaylee Nosbisch, and Amanda Brich.
 

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