CALS Case Competitions

• A case competition is simply an academic competition in which students come together to solve a real-world scenario that is presented by a company or organization partner.
• This learning process, known as the case method, imitates or simulates a real-world situation by describing a significant issue and includes sufficient information in order to reach a conclusion.
• Students utilize their teamwork, critical thinking, analysis, and organizational skills to deduce recommendations that they support through a presentation provided to a panel of  judges from the partner company or organization.

• Develop your teamwork, leadership, communication, collaboration, critical thinking, problem solving, analytical, and presentation skills!
• Strengthen your resume and reference your experience during interviews!
• Work as part of a multidisciplinary team while applying concepts from your individual courses!
• Understand industry challenges and learn how academic work transfers to a business environment!
• Interact with professionals who are recruiting students for internships and full-time positions!
• Compete for prizes through a fun experiential learning activity!

• All CALS undergraduate students are eligible to apply and potentially participate, pending the total number and quality of applications received.
• The application form will collect basic information from students, and the criteria used for selection include the following:
  • A brief personal statement describing one’s background, experience, and/or interest in participating in the specific competition
  • A commitment of time and effort over the time period, and the availability to attend the final presentation
  • A priority on specific CALS majors identified by the employer partner

• tudents will apply individually (see eligibility section above) and those selected to participate will be assigned to a team with a total of 4-5 members. A maximum of 5 teams will be allowed to participate in each competition.
• After all team members have been notified, the case scenario and grading rubric (including details on how teams will be evaluated) will be emailed to all participants.
• Teams will then be given 2 weeks to develop a 15-minute (maximum) PowerPoint presentation that addresses the challenge(s) identified in the case scenario and includes their specific recommendations supported with appropriate evidence.
• Presentations will be given to a panel of 2-3 judges from the employer partner who will evaluate and score each team’s presentation. Presentation order will be randomized. Immediately following each team’s presentation, the panel of judges will be allowed 10 minutes (maximum) of Q&A with the team members to create a meaningful dialogue through follow-up comments and questions.
• Teams will only be allowed to view other teams’ presentation and Q&A once their presentation and Q&A has been completed, and are not allowed to ask questions of other teams.
• Following the conclusion of the final team’s presentation and Q&A, scores will be totaled and the final placing of teams will be announced along with the awarding of prizes. A reception for all competing team members and employer partners will follow.

• Email Jeremy Beach at jpbeach@wisc.edu

CALS students gain real-world experience through partnership with Brakebush

A total of twelve undergraduate Agricultural Business Management (ABM) majors and Agricultural & Applied Economics (AAE) majors recently participated in a CALS Case Competition in partnership with Brakebush, a chicken processing company headquartered in Westfield, WI.  Sponsored by the Renk Agribusiness Institute, this type of experiential learning activity allows students to apply their education and previous experience to a real-world business scenario.

On October 4^th, students were provided with a practical business scenario, created by Brakebush, that required an evaluation of potential contact options.  Students were then placed into teams of four and were tasked with working together to develop recommendations based on the options included in the scenario.  After conducting a financial cost/benefit analysis and evaluating other logistical and operational factors over a two-week time period, student teams provided their recommendations through a professional presentation to a panel of judges from Brakebush on October 18^th.  A Q&A session with the judges also followed each team’s presentation. Afterwards, all presentations were evaluated and scored based on the team’s final recommendations, communication skills and delivery, and their responses to the judge’s questions during the Q&A session.  An award ceremony followed with each competing student receiving a 10 lb. bag of Brakebush chicken as one of their prizes which received a very favorable response from the competing college students.

Following the student presentations, Chris Sawyer, Director of Continuous Improvement at Brakebush, provided feedback and insight as to how Brakebush may have approached the case scenario.  This included an overview of cost calculations plus other considerations that would likely influence the company’s real-world decision in this type of situation. This insight helped students better understand the potential factors that influence business decisions as well as the impact of those decisions on performance outcomes.

This experiential learning opportunity provided students with exposure to a new industry and potential employer, the ability to hone their critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and a chance to work collaboratively with their peers on a real-world scenario.  Morgan Knilans, a senior at UW-Madison double-majoring in Agricultural and Applied Economics and Life Sciences Communication, and a member of the first-place team said, “The Brakebush case competition provided a valuable opportunity for me and my peers to translate our classroom learning into a real-world, hands-on experience. During a recent job interview, I had the chance to explain my role in this competition and how it allowed me to showcase my practical experience. This real-world activity made a lasting impression, ultimately leading the company to welcome me as their newest team member.”

The panel of judges from Brakebush also had a great experience interacting with students, commenting, “We love working with the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, and we’ve been especially excited for this competition because the undergraduates have been working on a real-world scenario we created. The students come up with fresh, innovative solutions to challenges, and it’s always inspiring to hear their perspective!”