Agriculture a Way of Life
Were it not for a bit of prodding from a high school mentor, Dalton Blaha’s college experience would have looked much different.
Dalton, a senior Agribusiness major from Dodge, Nebraska, was set to embark on a career as a diesel mechanic and was already lined up to attend John Deere Tech School in Milford (Southeast Community College).
“I had started working at Platte Valley Equipment, and my plan was to turn wrenches for a living. I was on the shooting team at North Bend High School, and on our way to a shoot, a mentor of mine made me promise that I would check in with at least one school to potentially shoot in college.
“I didn’t think anything would come of it, but I reached out to (Midland Shotgun Sports Coach) Jake (McThenia), and he took a huge interest in me. The more I looked into it, I realized it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity I couldn’t pass up.”
His dad and aunt had both attended Midland, so he had a little history on his side. He then began to realize on his own that Midland was the perfect place for him.
“When I was looking at making the switch, one big factor for me was that what if down the line I wanted to make a career change? Midland allowed me to be exposed to different programs and helped make me a more well-rounded person. By branching out and taking mental health classes, and criminology classes, it helped me realize what other students were learning, but also how those could tie into the agricultural industry.”
While he did make the switch in colleges, he never wavered in his desire to remain involved in Agriculture, a big reason why the Agribusiness program (new to Midland at the time) was so appealing. “I spent every waking moment growing up on the family farm, so I’ve always wanted to be a part of the Ag industry. But taking care of cattle is a 7-day-a-week job, and with wanting to travel and be involved in other hobbies, that wasn’t the best option for me. I’m looking more at the agricultural finance side, where I can work with farmers who are either looking to make sure the family farm stays in place for the next generation or maybe with farmers who are looking to expand their operation. I think that is the best way for me to support farmers.”
He has received plenty of support from his Shotgun Sports teammates during his time at Midland. “I always viewed shooting in college as a pipe dream, especially for a kid from a small town in Nebraska. I’ve been able to do things I never thought I would accomplish, like go to nationals all four years or be an honorable mention All-American. I’ve met such a diverse group of people on the team and I’ve made friends from all over the country that I look forward to visiting someday.”
Dalton’s campus outreach has extended beyond athletics as he has served as a Resident Advisor for two years and is currently a Resident Hall Director. “It’s been a great experience. I’m the first face a lot of students see when they get here in the fall and it’s great to connect with them, and their families. You get to see them develop from the time they are freshmen and see how they handle the challenges along the way, as well as providing them support when they need it.”
As graduation nears in May and a career in the Agricultural lending industry awaits, Dalton is grateful for all he has been able to experience at Midland. “I’ve been able to spend every day with my best friends eating breakfast, going to class, going to practice, and hanging out. I will miss that, but I’ve been so fortunate to have been able to do all those things.”
Dalton Blaha is a Senior Agribusiness major from Dodge, Nebraska.
