Bachelor of Agricultural Science with Honours First Class
Graduate Ross Bowmar says when he started his Bachelor of Agricultural Science at Lincoln, he knew it would open up an array of opportunities for the future.
Ross, who was invited to study at Michigan State University this year, completed his B.Agr.Sci with First-Class Honours in Farm Management, and says Lincoln offers plenty of pathways for broadening study horizons.
“I knew from Lincoln’s sound reputation and interdisciplinary approach to studying that it would provide me with broad value and experience, so I worked hard to maximise those opportunities in my studies from day one,” he says.
Raised on a sheep and beef farm in Southland, Ross wanted a degree that blended his passion for agriculture and penchant for science, and that would allow room for him to define his study paths as he progressed.
“I didn’t want to be pigeon-holed in my course selection,” Ross says. There is so much more to a B.Agr.Sci than just straight farming, and as I was exposed to more and more of the degree’s content, opportunities quickly unfolded.”
In his final year, Ross researched a group of South Island red-meat farmers who were seeking to increase profitability by marketing some of their products themselves. He wanted to learn about their motivation and success, and he wrote up the findings for his honours dissertation titled “Farmer Level Marketing”.
Ross’ passion for his studies caught the eye of a senior lecturer at Lincoln, who recommended he apply to study towards a Masters Degree in Agricultural Economics, in Michigan.
“After speaking to other Lincoln students who had completed similar post-grad study in the USA, I realised what a fantastic opportunity this was,” Ross says.
As part of his Masters, Ross will be among 60 leading researchers studying the changing dynamics of livestock marketing channels in response to consumer concerns about animal welfare, food safety and other issues.
“Sustainability is an increasingly key factor in all sectors today, Ross says, “and learning to better balance economics and the environment is the way of the future.
“Lincoln is well regarded for its interdisciplinary approach to agriculture and, because of this, I have the opportunity to advance my studies abroad.”
Since finishing his degree in 2007, Ross has spent time working with Lincoln University’s Agribusiness and Economics Research Unit. He has provided research expertise for a wide range of organisations, including government departments and international agencies.
His Lincoln studies were subsidised by a range of scholarships, including the Jeff Farm, Landcorp Farming, and Meat and Wool New Zealand scholarships.
[bagsci alumni profile]