November 14, 2023 – Dr. Andrew Bents, a veterinarian in the Worthington area, embarked on a unique path to his current career. After graduating from Worthington High School in 2003, he commenced his college journey at Minnesota West, choosing it over options like the University of Minnesota and SDSU due to a valuable presidential scholarship he was offered that alleviated the financial burden on him and his family.
During his two years at Minnesota West, Dr. Bents earned associate degrees in both arts and science, paving the way for a seamless transfer to the University of Minnesota. There, he pursued a Bachelor's in Science with a major in Animal Science and a minor in biology. Dr. Bents shared that two others from his high school class pursued veterinary careers, with he and one other starting their educational journey at Minnesota West.
After obtaining his Bachelor's degree, Dr. Bents received acceptances from the colleges of Veterinary Medicine at both the University of Minnesota and Iowa State. He chose the University of Minnesota primarily for in-state tuition and an established housing situation. Four years later, he graduated from the University of Minnesota’s College of Veterinary Medicine with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree and returned to Worthington to work at the Veterinary Medical Center, gaining valuable experience in both small and large animal care.
With a keen interest in swine health, he began consulting and collaborating with nutritionists for the hog operations he worked with. "After seven years working for the VMC, an opportunity arose for me to further advance my career when I was offered a position at Hubbard Feeds. This allowed me to change my career path to focus more on swine medicine while staying in the Worthington area."
At Hubbard Feeds, a subsidiary of Alltech, Dr. Bents serves as a Swine Technical Veterinarian in the research and field area, a role he has held for the last five years. He has the opportunity to work with both the local community and globally, extending his expertise across the United States and even to countries such as Hungary and Japan, collaborating with a wide spectrum of swine operations across the industry.
His journey began with a wise decision to start his education at Minnesota West, which significantly reduced his final student debt load. "Pursuing a degree in veterinary medicine requires a significant investment. Thanks to the scholarships I was awarded and careful spending habits, I was able to graduate in the lower 10% of my class for debt load after college. I had a 10-year payback plan for all my student loans, which I thankfully accomplished through a great deal of hard work and smart spending that began during college.”
Dr. Bents emphasized the importance of hands-on learning and the value of a STEM education. "In the conventional education system, there is a focus on evaluating students based on retaining information and recalling that information on written tests. Courses offered in the STEM model emphasize more critical thinking and problem-solving skills that carry on beyond the completion of the course." These skills are indispensable in his daily work. One example is when evaluating air quality in hog barns, a combination of mathematics through trigonometry, calculus, and physics, to understand airflow, as well as through the biology and understanding of the physiological dynamics of the animals and the pathogens they carry, are required to improve and optimize animal health.
One real strength of attending Minnesota West for Dr. Bents was the personalized attention he received thanks to smaller class sizes. This was especially apparent in his Organic Chemistry course, which proved to be a challenging course where he excelled, outperforming some of his university peers, thanks to the one-on-one instruction he was able to attain during his Minnesota West experience.
Mentorship was also instrumental in Dr. Bents’ educational journey. Rolf Mahlberg, the agriculture instructor at Minnesota West at the time, played a significant role in shaping Dr. Bents' career aspirations. Mahlberg fostered industry connections, internships, and learning opportunities. He encouraged participation in national Professional Agricultural Student (PAS) programs and offered invaluable guidance to students at Minnesota West. The PAS program was an enriching experience for Dr. Bents and continues to be a part of the college's offerings.
He embraced a full-time credit load and pursued work and internships in the local agricultural industry during his time at Minnesota West. Additionally, Dr. Bents devoted time to helping the Worthington High School speech team on weekends.
In his current role at Hubbard Feeds, Dr. Bents stays updated on the swine industry through conferences and events. He emphasized the importance of understanding the financial aspects of a college education and advised future students to familiarize themselves with financial aid and how loans, interest, and taxes will impact their future financial stability. He stated that starting at a community college should not carry a negative stigma, as the quality education attained at a local institution can certainly help pave the way for future financial success.
Currently, Dr. Bents is collaborating with Ag Instructor Jeff Rogers to develop a swine technician program at Minnesota West, contributing to the education and training of future professionals in the field.