{"id":88849,"date":"2018-02-28T05:28:28","date_gmt":"2018-02-28T10:28:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/?p=88849"},"modified":"2018-02-27T17:13:40","modified_gmt":"2018-02-27T22:13:40","slug":"annual-business-competition-helps-generate-big-ideas-by-morrisville-students","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/?p=88849","title":{"rendered":"Annual business competition helps generate\u00a0big ideas by Morrisville students"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Annual business competition helps generate\u00a0<\/strong>big ideas by Morrisville students<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fascinated by Morrisville State College\u2019s unique hands-on approach to education, Jesse Paul Chandler feels he has an idea to truly put the college over the top.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have incredible things going on around campus, but I think the one thing that\u2019s missing is fungi,\u201d Chandler said in his opening remarks before a panel of judges during the 2018 Cotton Business Idea Competition.<\/p>\n

Chandler was one of 13 finalists (seven individual, three teams) who presented during the competition, which drew 28 idea submissions overall. Supported by\u00a0Douglasand Susan Cotton, entrepreneurs and generous college donors, to further Morrisville students\u2019 entrepreneurial endeavors, the competition is sponsored through the college\u2019s Department of Business and Entrepreneurship.<\/p>\n

Being \u201ctotally blown away by the world of fungi\u201d after working at the Fruit of the Fungi mushroom farm for the past four years, Chandler proposed an on-campus climate-controlled mushroom cultivation facility. He explained how it would provide year-round production of fresh mushrooms and make the crop readily available not just for consumption at dining halls and local eateries, but also for medicinal use and as fabric alternatives.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt can help bring different departments on campus together,\u201d Chandler said.<\/p>\n

That includes using waste from certain departments as compost, helping to \u201cuse what would normally be thrown out to create life,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Chandler, a horticulture: landscape development A.A.S. major from Morrisville, convinced the panel of Morrisville-area entrepreneurs, capturing the first-place $800 prize.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor those of you who have brought us these creative ideas, thank you,\u201d Morrisville State College President David Rogers said to the finalists. \u201cYour ideas are incredibly fresh. It\u2019s that creativity that will help move the New York and national economies forward.\u201d<\/p>\n

Placing second in the competition and winning $500 were horticulture business students Jim O\u2019Connell, of Skaneateles, and\u00a0Colton Welch, of Honeoye Lake, whose idea is to build an automated reservoir system for hydroponics to help reduce greenhouse labor needs. Logan Scott, of Hannibal, took the third-place $300 prize with his idea for a local truck wash service for commercial-sized vehicles.<\/p>\n

Other ideas presented by students included: a mobile app that helps gardeners choose the best plant for their desired locations based on site conditions; lotion-infused mechanic\u2019s gloves to prevent rashes; a retractable dog leash to assist with training; a corn maize and creamery to promote agriculture tourism; a beef cattle farm for the sale of meat and show cattle; and the repurposing of a local restaurant to cater to college students.<\/p>\n

Carrie Shuman, of Bloomsburg,\u00a0Pa., presented her idea for a small dairy farm featuring a creamery offering ice cream, cheese, soap and yogurt. Shuman, who placed second during last year\u2019s competition, used her previous experience as well as her continued education at Morrisville to display how her idea has already grown.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe dairy field is always changing and advancing,\u201d said Shuman, a dairy management bachelor\u2019s degree\u00a0student. \u201cI was able to add more resources from what I learned last year.\u201d<\/p>\n

Students participating were:<\/p>\n