Chris Buck of Rhodes, a West Marshall graduate, traveled throughout the United States in his job after graduating from Ball State University in Muncie, Ind. and now calls Marshall County home.

Dylan Does of Marshalltown, an East Marshall High School graduate, left central Iowa for Oregon and Washington and eventually returned.

West Marshall Community School District Superintendent and Elementary Principal Jacy Large also departed central Iowa to teach in Las Vegas, Nev. He also taught at Southeast Polk Community School District before settling down locally.

Returning to Marshall County for employment opportunities is what Alex Ferneau of the Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce wants East Marshall and West Marshall high school seniors to do after they see the world.

As Iowa’s workforce grows older, the need for younger workers to sustain Iowa’s economy is paramount, and the high schoolers are prime candidates.

“We want you to leave and come back,” said Ferneau, a Melbourne native who now serves as the Chamber’s county economic development director.

She shared that perspective during one of the breakout sessions she moderated Wednesday morning as part of the “Fields of Opportunity” event held at Marshalltown Community College. The “leave” comment refers to the event organizers understanding a number of the youth will want to attend college away and explore the world before settling down.

Ferneau and team strongly urged them to consider Marshall County with fact-based evidence and compelling testimonials. The seniors from East Marshall and West Marshall school districts were guests for the economic development program, which was fast-paced and scheduled for two hours.

Assisting the Chamber staff with their mission were 12 panelists representing a wide range of disciplines from agribusiness to banking to law enforcement. Clint Hilleman, a West Marshall and Iowa State University graduate, said he was initially committed to working in agribusiness in Kansas but the job “fell through.” He was later hired by FS and is now location manager for the large company, which has offices in Albion, Marshalltown and Melbourne and elsewhere.

Hilleman encouraged the high-schoolers to live and work in Marshall County because of the quality of local school districts, employers and a strong bond of family connections. He said agribusiness is a rewarding career and contributes significantly to area and state economies.

Hilleman and other panelists repeatedly stressed the importance of becoming actively involved in their respective communities. He cited opportunities ranging from school board to church. Others mentioned volunteering as youth sport coaches and for local civic groups.

A desire to be close to family and in familiar surroundings also motivated several of the panelists to return and keep them active in local civic groups. Three officers with the Marshalltown Police Department — Nick Juel, Jonna Mayer and Logan Wolf — urged attendees to strongly consider law enforcement as a career, citing the competitive pay and benefits.

And the MPD allows officers to explore a wide range of work such as drug enforcement and K-9 duty. Also, police officers can transition readily into numerous other careers in the private sector.

In addition to promoting Marshall County, the panelists also offered important advice to the high schoolers. Blair Ulery, an East Marshall graduate, is the Chief Executive Officer for Pro Trade and Ur-Energy. She advised the high schoolers that being trustworthy in thought, word and deed is a key skill to develop once they enter the workforce.

Hilleman said willingness to learn, work and having a positive attitude are attributes he seeks in hiring new employees. Mayer advised the seniors to think about the consequences of actions.

“Don’t do something stupid in an incident that could last a few minutes that could ruin opportunities for the rest of your life,” she said.

After the event had concluded, Ferneau shared her assessment with the T-R.

“Our first Fields of Opportunity event went great,” she said. “With both school districts passing their bond referendums, this is more momentum for both to keep striving. Our panelists did an outstanding job expressing opportunities in Marshall County. I’m glad representatives from both East Marshall and West Marshall — (such as) Patti Edler, Christy Hammond and Terri Hungerford — could collaborate to make the event a success. We appreciated Clover-Bloom Farms, Central State Bank of State Center, United Bank and Trust, Pro Trade, Scooters and MCC sponsoring the event. Lastly, I am grateful to work with the best team at the Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce. They helped everything run smoothly.”