2016 Young Leaders Speak
October 10, 2016 One of the consistent cries in agriculture today is the need to try and connect with the younger generations, attempting to convince them that a career is a worthwhile endeavor. The Mid America CropLife Association (MACA) is helping in this effort.
For the past four years, MACA members have supported the Young Leaders Scholarship Program (YLSP), aimed at getting college students interested in pursuing a career within the agricultural world. At the 2016 annual meeting, MACA attendees were introduced to 10 students from nine different universities who are part of the program.
Loading ...According to Jennifer Myers of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, programs such as this are important to help bridge the information gap between the general public and agriculture-at-large. “I come from a non-agriculture background, so I can see both sides of the world,” said Myers. “So I realize just how important it is that we educate others about agriculture. I think there’s been a decline in the interest in agriculture so I have enjoyed sharing my experiences in it with others and explaining why it’s important to the world today.”
As part of the YLSP, many of the students have spent their summer at internships with various agricultural-oriented companies working with growers. According to Kyla Mauk, a student at South Dakota State University who interned with DuPont Pioneer, this led to some interesting moments for her personally. “One of my jobs was to train sales representatives on how to use new technology, and there was this one person who was a 30-year veteran and very outspoken,” said Mauk. “I had to go to his farm to teach him some new programs and I was really scared. I spent two hours at his farm teaching him about new technology and after I left, I found out he told everyone I was the ‘great little farm girl who taught him everything he needed to know about new technology.’”
Other students spent time with various agricultural trade groups and agencies. This included Nora Faris, a student at the University of Missouri who worked with agency FLM in Washington, DC. “I got to learn firsthand about all the agricultural issues that are a challenge to people in the market,” said Faris. “Now when someone asks what I know, I tell them Detroit makes cars, the Gulf Coast makes oil, the Midwest makes corn, and Washington makes it difficult!”
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