Luke Rohrbach

4/29/16
AGSD 4085-010 Seminar
Dr. Atchley

ALE Reflection
Within the discipline
I had auto-technologies in high school, so Power Units was a great refreshment and also gave
me the chance to further my knowledge. Ive always been interested in working on vehicles, so Ive
always changed my oil, but when I mowed yards last summer, knowing how to completely disassemble
and reassemble a lawn mower proved to be extremely useful. We didnt have many breakdowns, but
even if they were small breakdowns at least I was able to fix them without having to take our equipment
to a shop. Its also helped me maintain my vehicle and fix my familys vehicles. It affects me almost
daily, if not working on an engine, at least knowing how to safely get equipment across obstacles and
knowing what we might tear up, and being able to fix it whenever we do come to a breakdown or at
least knowing the proper steps to move forward.
I enjoyed Agricultural Electrical Systems also very much. I worked for the Mechanical Electrical
and Plumbing department for Tarleton Maintenance, while taking the class, so I got the opportunity
almost daily to apply practices learned from Agricultural Electrical Systems, mainly with light ballasts and
receptacles, but in a case where I might not know exactly how to wire whatever component I know I can
look at the wiring diagram and figure it out. Also, I learned how to be much safer with electricity. I now
know how to properly shut off the power from the breaker panel to work on whatever it may be, in
order to avoid getting shocked, and that if anyone is getting electrocuted so that they cant let go, to get
them off with a non-conductive object that will keep yourself from getting shocked as well.

With Ag Extension and Industry Methods and Leadership Development I learned the benefits of
networking. Throughout my entire college career, I havent had very many friends to count on in my
classes. But this year I knew every single person in there, which was really cool to begin with, but now I
have an entire class of friends that I can call up when I need help with classes, outside the classroom, or
just to hang out socially. I have made some great friendships throughout this block semester, but I also
think that some of us, including myself, will benefit from knowing each other in our careers. If I wind up
going into the construction business, I will probably substitute some of my work to Jacob with Rocking JP
Services and vice versa, and I talk to Dalton at McCoys all the time.
Beyond the discipline
I want to tie Fundamentals of Crop Production, Crop Production and Management, and General
Entomology together, because I have directly seen the material presented inside the classroom during
work experiences in the field and also recognizing the plants and insects with friends and being able to
explain to them what the plant or weed or insect is and being able to explain the effects of what harm or
good they can do. I had an internship in Woodbine, IA scouting corn and soybean fields for E4 Crop
Intelligence, the summer before my sophomore year. I learned how to produce a stand count, stage the
plant, name the insect affecting the crop, what diseases were affecting the fields, and so on I hadnt
taken any of these classes yet, but when I did, I was able to recognize some of the diseases, root
structures, the difference between a grass and a broadleaf (monocot and dicot), and a great amount of
scientific/Latin terms that no one other than agronomists and entomologists has heard of. But I still
remember much of the knowledge acquired from these classes and even still look back to some of my
books. Especially entomology, if I encounter an insect that might be poisonous, or one that I cant
remember the name of, or havent seen, Ill go look it up and learn what it preys on, where it dwells, and
also if Ill be safe it bites me!

Beyond Academics
During my spring 2015 semester I decided to rush Kappa Delta Rho. I made an extraordinary
bond and was able to be a part of something bigger than myself. I won pledge of the year and went on
to head the fundraising position and then went to the Executive Committee as our Pontifex or Spiritual
Leader and Head of Advisory. I worked extremely hard at these positions. Our fundraising has never
been that great to where we had very much money to do activities with, but when I stepped into the
position I found a huge fundraiser with a furniture store going out of business to hold up signs around
town and to move furniture in the store. This job lasted us nearly six weeks, but we made nearly nine
thousand dollars, an unheard amount for any of our previous fundraisers. Through this process I
learned that its hard to get people to work for free, but I also learned to go about it in a way that I could
get the members to volunteer. It honestly was a nightmare having to deal with the furniture store,
getting members to show up, work, and going to school all at the same time. But it was very rewarding,
gaining skills in interacting with coworkers and running a business. I worked very closely with our
finance chair to ensure that our numbers were in check and to make sure we were getting paid as
promised. It was a struggle in my college career, but Im better for it and let me know I can take some
heat. As Pontifex I also learned how to bring everyone closer, but also to keep a strong hand. One of
my first tasks was to kick out an older member for a number of reasons but mainly was long past caught
up on dues. It was a very controversial topic among the fraternity, but I made a decision and I had to
stick with it. It still pains me as it did at the time, but I still believe what was done was right and at the
end of the day you have to deal with the decisions that were made.
Through Kappa Delta Rho I also made connections that would lead me into a more exclusive
organization call the Purple Poo. People think that the life of a Purple Poo would be very glamorous and
that life is one big party. But we first learned respect. Respect for the tradition. Respect for the
members and alumni. And respect for the school, and that one is not in the organization for yourself,

but to serve the school. Many times in my college career, it was hard to find an opportunity to dress out
as a Poo, but at the end of the day you have to remember that you are here to serve the school and to
raise school spirit. Its an amazing feeling and now that its over I dont feel that I deserve recognition, I
just feel that I did my service and Im grateful to have had such an amazing opportunity to do so and to
have gone to such an amazing school with endless possibilities.
Making Connections
If I were to look back at myself as a freshman to now as a senior about to graduate, I would be
proud for how I have been shaped by the school that I went to, the people I encountered, and the
experiences Ive been through. I couldnt have picked a better school and have found very little regret
with the decisions Ive made here. I have never been a very big fan of school, but I have learned so
much that many dont get the opportunity to learn. I cant look back at school without looking at my
experiences outside the classroom. But I also cant look back at my college career without thinking
about my classes. The entire experience has been too good to me and its going to be a little bit of a
struggle getting back into the reality of living life outside the college world. But again I have to say Im
grateful for all that I have been through here at Tarleton. Its been a roller coaster. Ive had highs that I
felt would never come back down and also lows that I felt there was no way to get back up. But looking
back I cant say that I would change a thing. Stressful times, situations, and stressful people. I now feel
better prepared to encounter these situations with the least amount of controversy, and with the
upmost respect, and professionality to progress as beneficially as the circumstances can provide, and if
all else fails, the proper steps to fix it.
Global Awareness
Growing up in Canyon, Texas, I was only ten miles away from Amarillo, so I was exposed to a
semi-big city, but even still nothing compared to what many of the students from the Fort Worth/Dallas
area are used to. I grew up going to school with classmates of different ethnic backgrounds, but Canyon

was predominantly white. At Tarleton, I met many people that were more exposed to ideas and
cultures that the republican Canyon, Texas, just didnt provide. College was a melting pot, and I now
feel more prepared to respect other ideals and how to interact with individuals that might have a
different point of view.
Broader Impact
In my block semester I realized how important being informed and politically active is, especially
within the community. I have never paid much attention to politics or to the news, because its always
one side fighting the other, and a lot of the news I had been exposed to on TV is not often good news.
There are many terrible tragedies going on in the world and even in politics and it always put me in a
bad mood, so I ignored it. But now that these stories on the news and whose in office is actively
affecting me, I learned that someone has to do something about it and that someone has to be the
difference. This is why expressing your views must be done in the most professional and respectful way
so that people see your point of view and to gain recognition for your cause in a positive way. With my
dad working for Monsanto, I have grown up encountering people that want to talk down on modern
agriculture, and learned how to deal with them as well as they decided to be dealt with. But on the
scale as a country, I have learned how important it is to be an advocate for agriculture if we want to
continue what our hardworking family has. This is where voicing your opinion gets tricky, but this
semester I realized the impact of seeing reliable statistics and that they affect us whether we know it or
not. I used to not be able to comprehend the magnitude of situations that our country has been in, but I
now realize how important paying attention is if you want to make a change.