Herr's Atypical Education Leads to Ag Success
by Patrick McAlister '10
Jim Herr ‘92 was unsure of what his career would be after leaving the confines of "Dear Old Wabash" for the real world. Eventually though the Arcadia, Indiana, native found himself in an industry he had known well as a young man – agriculture.  Herr is at the epicenter of agribusiness today, working with Beck’s Hybrids, a family owned company that sells retail seeds to farmers. His official job title of ‘Inventory Manager’ only describes a fraction of what he actually does. "It’s a blanket title," he said. "I oversee the inventories of everything – all of the products we store, all the products we buy."
Herr sees the type of broad management necessary for a wide scope job such as his to be typical for Wabash men. "Specifically, I do a lot there. But it’s a typical Wabash thing – You want to do more, you want to be involved in everything," he said. "You want to see the why in everything." Like many careers, Herr had to first understand the industry. Before he attained the position he holds today, he obtained an educational backing. He studied agronomy, the scientific backbone of agricultural production, becoming a Certified Crop Advisor through the American Society of Agronomy. Herr’s path to obtaining the certification was atypical. Most Certified Crop Advisors study for four years at an institution like Purdue University in the field of agronomy. "Wabash didn’t have agronomy courses," he wryly acknowledged. In order to be in that field, Herr had to be self taught. Herr quickly dismissed any perceived educational disadvantages in obtaining the certification. "It was easy, because I had been to Wabash," he stated with a smile. "You just had to study." Certifications in his industry would not be the end of Herr’s education. Herr holds a Masters in Business Education from Indiana Wesleyan University. Attending school is a commonality Wabash graduate’s share. Many pursue education beyond four years. The vast majority of Wabash men usually go into such institutions directly after their collegiate experience. Herr’s education path was atypical. He felt he was ready to start a career after Wabash. "I had enough with school," he said. "I was ready to get out and do things. After I got into a career path, I thought ‘now I am in a position to take on some school’. Herr was a part of an adult study program and, while working full time, graduated in 2001. Herr believes the career experience made his graduate program much easier. "My work ethic was stronger," he said. "My understanding of what is important is stronger. I was writing the check for that time. "I always felt like I learned how to effectively learn at Wabash. My biggest advantage from Wabash comes from meeting different people, working in small groups and experiencing things with an open mind. You hear these things when you are a student and it applies as an adult."
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