Dr. Brent Spaulding, associate professor of agriculture at Fort Hays State University, loaded a van with 10 students from his "Agribusiness Firms Management and Marketing" class for a road trip to southwest Kansas. The group toured several agribusiness firms, including the Excel Beef packing plant in Dodge City and the Royal Dairy in Cimarron.

"This trip is an important part of the course and was a good learning experience for these students as they were able to see many things that can't be duplicated in the classroom," Spaulding said.

Students who attended are listed by hometown.

Bird City: Clint Bursch, senior.

Cheney: Adam Hampel, senior.

Grinnell: Chase Ostmeyer, senior.

Hays: Clayton Schmeidler, senior

Hiawatha: Scott Spare, junior.

Hill City: Vincent Hofstetter, senior.

Larned: Jed Fleske, junior.

Leoti: Garrett Wilbur, senior.

Oberlin: Brent Olson, senior.

Syracuse: Justin Simon, senior.