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View from the Valley
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT AUTHOR: MAGGEE BLEYER
Alex Hamblin is the Lead Agriculture Production Faculty Instructor at WVC. Alex teaches Animal Science, Soil Science, Precision Ag, Animal Nutrition, Soil Fertility & Fertilizers, Crop Protection, Farm Futures, Employment Methods, and World Crop Production. In her position, she deals with dual credit, scheduling building, working with adjunct instructors, and serving as an advisor for the Collegiate Farm Bureau. Growing up on her family’s farm between Lawrenceville and Vincennes, Alex graduated from Lawrenceville High School. Alex began her post-secondary career at Wabash Valley College in 2011. During her time in the agriculture program, Alex was an officer of the Agriculture Technology Club and competed in national events with the WVC Professional Agriculture Students (PAS) organization. She graduated from WVC in May 2013 with two Associate’s in Applied Sciences degrees in Agriculture Business and Agriculture Production and two certificates in Professional Agriculture Chemical Application and Landscape and Turf Management. After WVC, Alex transferred to Murray State University as a Collegiate FFA member and as a staff writer for the Murray State News. She earned her American FFA Degree and graduated from Murray State with two Bachelor’s degrees in Agricultural Leadership and Agricultural Communications. Alex worked at the Lawrence-Wabash Farm Service Agency for some time before working as a grain merchandiser with a locally-owned grain elevator in Vincennes for six years. During her time at Vincennes, she was given the opportunity to work with the Ag Department at a neighboring junior college as an adjunct faculty member. By working with collegiate students, she was able to enter into a Master’s program at the University of Missouri and complete her thesis in May 2020, graduating with her Master’s in Science in Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication. Later, Alex worked as a 4-H Youth Development and Agricultural and Natural Resources Extension Educator with Pike County Purdue Extension. She enjoyed working with youth of all ages and helping agriculturists from different industries find solutions to improve their farming operations. She began her career as Lead Agriculture Production Faculty Instructor for WVC in August 2022. She has enjoyed conversing with her students, assisting them with taking advantage of available opportunities, and helping them find meaningful careers in the agriculture industry. Q: What inspired you to become an instructor - furthermore, what inspired you to teach the subjects you teach now? A: My involvement in FFA as a teenager helped me narrow the path of agriculture I had a passion for and that was to help others learn about the world’s largest industry. I took advantage of multiple job[s] and extra-curricular opportunities allotted to me and this helped me realize that working with college students and helping them also take advantage of those opportunities and prepare for their future careers in agriculture is truly where my passion lies. Q: What do you hope students gain from your classes and teaching? A: I hope students gain an understanding of the thousands of different types of agriculture that are out there and that there are plenty of opportunities to explore those different industries and meet new people. I hope our students leave my classes having received an education and not just a degree. Q: What do you like to do outside of teaching at WVC? A: My husband and I love to travel and be outdoors. I am very active in Illinois Farm Bureau and am currently the District 13 representative for the [Illinois Farm Bureau] State Young Leader Committee. I also enjoy hunting, horseback riding, crocheting, and spending time with the tiny humans in our family!
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