Communication is key to Wickmans' ag success

     Communication has been the key to successful agricultural endeavors for Monticello siblings Davin, Cooper and Alyssa Wickman.

     It led to Davin’s first place overall finish in the Monticello FFA Chapter’s annual Hay & Grain contest in the fall. It led to Cooper landing a job helping in the fields of Nick Hein’s farm, and becoming an officer in the FFA chapter. It led to Alyssa taking third place in that same Hay & Grain contest, and also becoming a chapter officer.

     The Wickmans have developed interests in agriculture and achieved through communication and determination.

     “We don’t live on a farm, but FFA has really opened my eyes about communication,” said Davin, 18, a senior at Monticello High School and past president of the FFA chapter. “I’ve met more people in Jones County because of that than I have in any other of my organizations.

     “You meet a lot of fun people in sports and stuff, but they’re all your same age. When you’re doing FFA stuff, you get to meet older adults, and you get to figure out how they got to where they are. You just grow relationships with a different generation than you would in any other activity.”

     A phone call led to Cooper’s employment with the Nick Hein operation.

     “One weekend, my cousin Rylan Cooper gave me a call and asked what I was doing,” the 16-year-old MHS sophomore recalled. Rylan recruited Cooper to help Rylan cover a bunker on the Hein farm.

     “After we got that done, they were going to pick some corn that day, and they needed a grain cart operator,” Cooper said. “So Reggie Welter asked me if I’d be willing to run a cart.

     “I just kind of caught on, that same day, and at the end of the day Reggie asked for my number and said he would call me when they need more help.”

     Cooper said he enjoys running the equipment, particularly late at night with the lights on.

     “It’s just a different feel that you don’t always get to experience,” he said, “just doing stuff that normal 16-year-olds wouldn’t do.”

     Alyssa, 14, said anyone can get involved with ag, no matter the background. That was particularly true when it came to the Hay & Grain Show.

     “It helps other kids understand that you don’t have to be a farmer to be in FFA,” Alyssa said. “It’s just contacting people about getting stuff, and not living on a farm.”

     They worked to find samples of corn for the various Hay & Grain categories, such as best ear of corn, best five ears, longest ear, ugliest ear, and more. There were also categories for soybeans, oats, and corn silage, among others.

     “You don’t have to have it in your backyard to find it,” Davin said. “It’s kind of like a scavenger hunt. You talk to some neighbors or family members, and most of these farmers are willing to help you out. You tell them it’s for the FFA program, and they’re always supportive.”

     Davin and Alyssa worked together to find things, while Cooper was helping in the field with the harvest.

     Together they brought all the samples into the home to pick out the best ones.

     “I think one of the best things was when we picked out my five best ears,” Alyssa said. “Dad (Alan Wickman) said, ‘You’ll get second with these.’ And then I beat Davin.

     “Dad gets into it, since he did it when he was younger. We hear all these stories that we haven’t heard before.”

     Cooper, who wants to be an ag mechanic someday, missed out on this session but had access to possible Hay & Grain Show entries with his field work. He estimates he spent 170 hours helping with the harvest.

     “I was in the field most of the fall,” Cooper said. “I found corn from the field, and had access to soybeans and dry corn from the bins.”

     There is much more to the Wickmans’ ag involvement. All of them have been involved in the Great Jones County Fair. Davin showed the fifth place Breeding Beef Steer at last summer’s 4-H Beef Show, among other awards. Alyssa showed the Intermediate Beef champion at the 4-H Bucket/Bottle Calf Show.

     The animals came from the farm of their uncle, Brian Cooper.

     “Alyssa and I are out there pretty much all the time, working with animals or trying to help Brian in some way,” Davin said.

     Cooper Wickman won a purple ribbon at the county fair for a welding project, a fan cart that eventually qualified for the Iowa State Fair.

     They also remain involved as current or past FFA officers. Davin is former chapter president and a current student advisor. Cooper is the current chapter secretary, and Alyssa serves as school activity coordinator for the chapter.

     “I want to be a teacher when I’m older, so I think planning the activities gives me insight on that, too,” she said.

     They are active at MHS in other ways. Davin has been in football, track and field, bowling, choir, and is a member of the National Honor Society. He plans to attend Kirkwood Community College next fall to study golf course and sports turfgrass management.

     Cooper is in bowling and scouts. Alyssa, a freshman, is in bowling, choir, and Camp Fire.

     Their skills have led them to other jobs away from the chapter. Davin and Cooper operate Wickman Lawn Care, taking care of about 25 lawns each year. Alyssa works at Century House.

     All of it was made possible through their communication skills.

     “Really, it’s about picking up the phone and getting to know more people,” Davin said.

     Amy Wickman, mother of the three, agreed. “If you have an interest in ag, there are people out there who are willing to tell their story and help kids gain knowledge in that field.”