Hannes Klockmann

After some initial research, it quickly became clear that I would only be able to study agriculture with an ecological focus. As the choice within Germany is limited in this respect, I decided to study at Witzenhausen.

At the beginning I had doubts: Have I chosen the right course? Am I at the right university? Can I gain enough practical experience alongside the theoretical knowledge? These doubts soon disappeared during the main course of study. The exchange with other students became more intensive, you were no longer alone with your thoughts and the requirements became more tangible. The contact and willingness of the lecturers and professors to talk also gave me a lot of insights into the subject matter and constantly gave me new ways of thinking. In addition, there was a lot of group work and excursions, which had a positive impact on everyday student life. The broad range of courses and subject areas also gave me a deep insight into my chosen specializations. For my compulsory internship, I made use of the university's contacts and completed it at a company in New Zealand.

After completing my Master's degree, I was faced with the question of a new professional challenge. I wanted to find a job where I could build on my practical experience in agriculture. So it came in handy when the BioBoden cooperative offered me a 1 1/2-year traineeship. This gave me the opportunity to apply and consolidate the knowledge I had acquired at Höfegemeinschaft Pommern, an association of partner farms of the BioBoden Genossenschaft. In addition to a lot of practical work in the animal sector (cattle/pigs/poultry) and plant cultivation (various types of grain/potatoes), I was also able to gain a lot of insight into bookkeeping and farm management. Through a subsequent position as assistant to the management, my area of responsibility expanded to include other farms and new branches of the business. Interim farm management gave me the opportunity to work even more independently and gain further experience. Back at Höfegemeinschaft Pommern, I took over the management of the special crops and market gardening division.

Looking back, I can say that the network I was able to build is one of the most valuable things about my time in Witzenhausen. Today, I have contacts with various experts and can fill gaps in my knowledge and experience with the advice of others, question things or exchange ideas with other professionals on certain topics in an uncomplicated way.