Jack Beetz (Joliet Junior College)

Hello, I’m Jack Beetz and this Spring, I did my  job shadow at Meriden Grain, just west of Mendota Illinois. My current career plans now that I have just completed my associates degree at Joliet Junior College are to attend Iowa State University in the fall to earn my bachelor’s degree in ag studies. After college I plan to return to the family farm and work at Meriden Grain as well. During my days at Meriden grain I helped to sweep grain bins using bin gators then going in afterwards to sweep the rest in with a broom. Next, I helped clean out tunnels that had bee’s wings and dust out so that it would be easy to access and service the conveyor. My next day I was helping load semi trucks, we had 8 trucks hauling out of the elevator and I was weighing them and helping them load without being overweight. I also used an excel spreadsheet to keep track of how many loads were going to each destination. We hauled nearly 50 loads that day. Also part of my day was talking with customers of the elevator as they came in, I enjoyed talking to them and hearing their takes on certain situations and planting progress and I think they enjoyed seeing a new face at the elevator.