A Local Perspective
Name: Cooper Rooze
Hometown: Lafayette, IN
Major: Agricultural Economics
Why did you come to Purdue: Living so close to Purdue, I have always known that this is where I wanted to come—especially since I wanted to study agriculture! I also come from a family of Boilermakers, so that helped make my decision much easier.
Favorite Purdue tradition: Purdue Grand Prix
Top three influences at Purdue:
- My brothers in FarmHouse
- Andy Oppy and LeeAnn Williams
- Parks Wilson
- Being a part of the FarmHouse Grand Prix team
- Winning the NAMA Conference my freshman year
- Any time spent with my brothers in FarmHouse
- My summer internship with Sweetwater Technologies the summer after my freshman year
- The first weeks back on campus in the fall
- Kansas City, MO
- Saint Louis, MO
- Boyne City, MI
- Nashville, TN
- Fort Worth, TX
Favorite club/organization: FarmHouse Fraternity and Purdue NAMA
Favorite student-led event: SALT Company
Favorite Purdue event: The Purdue Grand Prix
Favorite thing about CoA: My favorite thing about the College of Ag is how small the school really is. Over time, I noticed that I had classes with a lot of the same people and have made many connections with them over my past four years at Purdue. I’ve built strong relationships not only with my peers, but also with many faculty in the College of Ag.
Favorite class: AGEC 331
Favorite professor: Dr. Shawn Ehlers
Class you are excited to take your senior year: I am excited to take AGEC 411, which is Advanced Farm Management
Three biggest accomplishments at Purdue:
- Coming in first and second place at the national NAMA Conference in 2024 and 2026
- The network of people that I have gained
- Becoming a member of FarmHouse and Purdue NAMA
Future plans: I plan to return to Johnson Grain Farms as a farmhand, as well as a salesman for the farm’s dealership, Duck Creek Ag Supply. The dealership sells Beck’s Hybrids, Meristem Crop Performance, and Rosen’s.
Advice for underclassmen: My advice would be to get involved and meet as many people as you can here at Purdue. Purdue is an incredible place to network with people who can help you get where you want to go with your career goals and in life in general. To me, college is more about the people you meet and the experiences you have than about classes and homework. Take advantage of your time here; there are incredible opportunities that are so easily available to students. Don’t waste it; it sure goes fast!
The biggest takeaway from Purdue: My time at Purdue has been the greatest experience of my life. Between FarmHouse Fraternity and the College of Ag, the memories I have made and the opportunities I have been given will last a lifetime. If I could go back to freshman year and do it all over again, I’d do it in a heartbeat.