March 28, 2024

Horses helped steer Parman into agriculture

A passion for horses helped Allyson Parman, 22, make agriculture studies her major at Iowa State University and now, she has turned that passion into her career as the ISU Jasper County Ext. Office’s new agriculture and horticulture program coordinator.

Allyson, who just graduated from ISU this spring, has only been on her new job for about two wees but already has a strong idea on what her new duties consist of.

“So basically, I’ll just be working on existing programs, like the master gardener program, and I will also be kind of evaluating the horticulture and agriculture needs of Jasper County and creating programs from ideas that people give me or what they would like to see in Jasper County,” Allyson said.

While it may seem unusual for Allyson to have landed such an exceptional position directly after college, she said that finding a job quickly isn’t uncommon for ISU ag students. In fact, according to an article in Iowa Farmer Today, ISU has a 97 to 98 percent job placement rate for ag students.

“I’m just happy to have a job honestly. Ever since I got into agriculture, I was like, ‘I think I want a job with Extension.’ So it was pretty cool to land one right out of college. It’s kind of like I don’t have to leave Iowa State, because I’m still involved,” Allyson said.

She also isn’t a stranger to the area. Allyson is a Jasper County native and a 2010 graduate from Colfax-Mingo High School. Allyson has been a long-time member of 4-H,  and while attending high school, she participated in FFA and realized her future was in ag.

“I grew up with horses and that kind of got me interested in the livestock area and then in high school, I took a bunch of ag classes,” Allyson said. “ I was like, ‘This is pretty interesting,’ and then when I went to Iowa State, I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to major in, obviously, and agriculture just seemed like a fit and I went for it, because I really enjoy it.”

When she’s not working, Allyson said she enjoys showing horses, leading an active life outdoors and hanging out with her friends. But for now, she’s trying to make that adjustment from the classroom to the office.

“So far, I’m just getting settled in and kind of learning everything,” Allyson said.

Although she is still trying establish her routine, Allyson has already had her first call and on-site visit — a man was having issues with his walnut tree — and she’s more than ready to find out and try to meet the needs of Jasper County citizens.

“Just looking forward to helping anyone with their ag and hort needs. Call me if you have any questions, I’ll be happy to help you,” Allyson said.

You may contact the Jasper County ISU Ext. Office at (641) 792-6433.

Senior staff writer Ty Rushing may be contacted at (641) 792-3121, ext. 426, or at, trushing@newtondailynews.com