For Immediate Release

Contact: Daniel Wackershauser, Marketing and PR Specialist
Phone: 608.822.2303
Mail: 1800 Bronson Blvd., Fennimore, WI 53809
Date of Release: December 21, 2020

Cutting influencing Southwest Tech agriculture for 30 years

Fennimore -

Paul Cutting | Agribusiness Instructor

This year, Paul Cutting, agribusiness instructor; Pete Esser, math instructor; and John Pluemer, lead math/science instructor are all celebrating 30 years at Southwest Tech. They have led hundreds of students through their educational journeys and they have no intentions of slowing down.

“The dedication of Pete, Paul and John to Southwest Tech over the last 30 years has been remarkable,” said Jason Wood, Southwest Tech president. “I am grateful for their passion for educating our students. Generations of graduates have been guided to success because of their work.”

Note: Esser and Pluemer were featured in previous posts.

What was your hire date at Southwest Tech?

Jan. 4, 1990

What led you to Southwest Tech?

I graduated from Chippewa Valley Technical College in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. As a student, I was active in campus organizations including Wisconsin Professional Agricultural Students (PAS), serving as both a state and national officer. Those opportunities allowed me to network with many people, including Wayne Raymond, associate dean for agriculture at Southwest Tech. Many years later, as the college had an instructional opening our paths crossed again and here I am.

What was your original position on campus and what is your current position?

My original position was instructor, Agribusiness Services and Supplies. The Agribusiness program was a new offering at Southwest Tech, started under a new and emerging occupations grant from the WTCS. Today, not much has changed, my current position is agribusiness instructor. Over time, as our agriculture programs have grown and additional faculty have been hired, I have migrated from teaching a broad assortment of courses to focusing on management, marketing, professional development and sales.

What do you enjoy about your current role?

The challenge provided by constant change. When I started 30 years ago, no one had heard the terms GPS, GMO, NAFTA, MPP or a host of other technologies. The challenge of staying current so our students can be served has certainly prevented boredom.

What are some of your favorite memories during the past 30 years?

If I had a top 30 list, each entry would include students who have enrolled in the program and the co-workers who helped me serve them. I consider myself fortunate that many graduates have stayed in touch over the years. I especially look forward to the holiday season when their family Christmas cards arrive and the memories get replayed. Traveling with students over the years has also provided great memories, from Idaho to Virginia and many points in between. Having a front row seat as students experience new places is not only a collection of memories, it is a summary of a career.

Why have you remained at Southwest Tech for 30 years?

It is often said that “20 percent of a job is what you do, 80 percent is who you do it with.” I reinforce those numbers. Our college has been blessed with an abundance of employees who care, not only about our students, but about each other. Also, I was raised to never quit a job before it is done and each August for the past 30 years, a new job has begun with first-year students, while the current job has continued with second year students. Our college Agriculture programs have become part of the fabric of agriculture in southwest Wisconsin, that is easy to remain a part of.

Why is higher education important to you?

A long time ago, I became familiar with the Five Levels of Consciousness theory. People all start at the level of, “Do Not Know and Do Not Know They Do Not Know.” Education is the source of opportunity for each of us to reach the level of Know and are Unconsciously Aware. Watching people develop as they are exposed to new methods, practices and ideas is a golden opportunity.

What does the next 30 years look like for you?

There is still much to accomplish. I compare the agriculture industry in southwest Wisconsin to a clothing label. The label includes percentage of material content and country of origin. Over the past 30 years, relative to agriculture in our region, I have witnessed a tremendous increase in the percentage of the agriculture workforce that originated at Southwest Tech. Looking forward to the next 30 years, my desire is to assist in growing the percentage of our agriculture community that originates at Southwest Tech.