Summer 2013 The Newsletter for Agriculture Future of America

Each person has approximately 40 productive years to build a legacy — whether good or bad, lasting or fleeting. This concept of 40 Chances drives the Howard G. Buffett Foundation to encourage everyone to make the most of each opportunity through their 40 Chances Awareness campaign.

With this in mind, the Howard G. Buffett Foundation invested $200,000 in AFA for the creation of the AFA 40 Chances Fellows program. Through this program, AFA is continuing its commitment to 40 delegates from the 2012 Track 1 class.

Following AFA Leaders Conference, each Track 1 student had the opportunity to take part in a competitive application process. The 40 Chances Fellows were chosen based on their desire and potential to impact global food security issues. These 40 students have received sponsorship to attend the AFA Leaders Conference for the next three years. However, this is only the beginning of the program. AFA will provide additional opportunities based on its four programmatic pillars: self-assessment, communication, managing

change and lifelong learning. Components of the 40 Chances Fellows program include a leader development portfolio, value-added internships, interaction with the Howard G. Buffett Foundation and the option of an international capstone experience. Over the course of the four years, students will be closely mentored by AFA staff as well as other industry professionals.

The 40 Chances Fellows will spend extensive time exploring agriculture and food-related issues, especially those pertaining to addressing world hunger. As the agriculture industry is faced with feeding more people with fewer resources, this next generation of agriculture leaders has many challenges and opportunities. The program’s objective is to give this group of student leaders an edge, equipping them to make significant contributions to agriculture and food related issues.

Visit www.agfuture.org/AFA40Chances for a list of selected students. For more information about the Howard G. Buffett Foundation 40 Chances Awareness campaign visit 40chances.com. n

40 Chances to Make Their Mark

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AFA, through the generosity of the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, is committing to the continued development of 40 of the 2012 Track 1 students.

Save the Dates: AFA Leaders Conference will be held November 7-10, 2013 and November 6-9, 2014.

David Van K

lompenburgJared

Baird

Morgan B

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Meghan Bennett

Jessica Blosberg

Emma ChristensenJordan Bonham

Adam

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Danielle Cooney

Shelby C

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Wesley Davis

Bradley D

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Jenica Hagler

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Kevin HansonJessica Harsh

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Lindsay KingTate

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Sara Linn

Michael Long

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Chandler Mulvaney

Kayla Seidler

Scott McDermott

Brice S

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Corey Petersen

Nic

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Nolan Sampson

Rachel S

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Amber Sparenberg

Matthew Welter

Haley Thompson

Adam Striegel

Rebecca Travis

®

2 perspectiveCongratulations to all AFA students who are graduating this spring!

At colleges and universities across our country, “cap and gown” clad men and women will walk across a

stage, be handed a diploma, throw their

caps to the clouds and shout for joy! Every

time I observe this celebration ritual, I recall

a conversation with a young man who

shared with me his moment of reality on

graduation day. He stated, “at my graduation, I sat there

in gown and cap, all lined up with my peers,

listening to the commencement speaker

as he told us, that we, the graduates, had

arrived. We were the leaders the world

needed and the future was ours for the

taking.” My young friend went on to say, “I

sat there thinking, I have no idea what it

means to be a leader.” This young man had a terrific resume,

he was graduating with a job, his personal life was in order and he had

an admirable record of academic and

campus leadership. But, in his reflection,

he shared he was thinking “now what?” He

was face to face with change, and at that

moment he was challenged by feelings of

uncertainty. The transition from academic

life, which he had so enjoyed, to the “real

world” loomed in his thoughts. Graduation is only the beginning of a

series of life transitions. I am confident

you have prepared well. Through AFA experiences and others, you have packed a

set of competencies in your tool chest that

will guide you and serve you well. As you

begin your life as “leaders” of this dynamic

industry we so casually call agriculture, I

want to share a Max DuPree quote. DuPree,

a noted author and businessman, had

this to say about being a leader, “The first

responsibility of a leader is to define reality.

The last is to say thank you. In between, the

leader is a servant.” I like DuPree’s definition. I would

add one thought — a leader is a lifelong

learner. Graduation does not bring an

end to studying and home work. It is just

the beginning! n

Join us in November!AFA Leaders Conference: Nov. 7-10

Student sponsorship applications are due Sept. 6.

www.agfuture.org/2013conference

AFA Opportunity Fair: Nov. 8

www.agfuture.org/opportunityfair

AFA Leader in Agriculture Award Dinner: Nov. 8

www.agfuture.org/leaderinag

AFA Alliance Forum: Nov. 8-9

www.agfuture.org/allianceforum

Russ WeathersAFA President & CEO

Meet our InternsIn May, the AFA staff welcomed our summer interns Steve Lammers, Johnsburg, Minn., and Emma Likens, Swanton, Neb.

Steve will assist the programming team as they develop initiatives for the coming year. Emma supports AFA’s marketing and communications efforts. They will collaborate to carry out AFA’s InterNetworKC for area agriculture interns.

Agriculture Future of America is pleased to introduce the 2013-14 Student Advisory Team and Campus Ambassadors. Both groups met in Kansas City, Mo., April 11-13, for training and goal setting. The student leader group represents 20 campuses and universities in 18 states, stretching coast to coast. n

Why We Want to Serve AFA ...

leader 3

“I come back and learn something new and exciting each time. There is so much passion that fills this organization and industry.”

— Casey DroddyKansas State University

“Over the past three years, AFA has played a key role in my professional development. I am excited to be a part of that experience for other students.”

— Seth ErwinThe Ohio State University

“AFA is a one-of-a-kind organization that takes students’ passions for agriculture and turns them into careers.”

— Chelsea VilchisUniversity of Minnesota

“AFA opens countless opportunities, and I feel it is the best organization for students passionate about a career in agriculture.”

— Kiah TwisselmanUniversity of California — Davis

“I can’t wait to give back to an organization that has given me some of the best opportunities of my life.”

— Austin PiomboColorado State University

Meet the 2013-14 Student Leader Team

Student Advisory Team (left to right) Back row: Kayla Petree, University of Missouri; Michael Carlson, South Dakota State University; Joe Rust, Purdue University; Adrienne Bradley, University of California — Davis. Front row: Shotika Smith, Colorado State University; Katie Beason, Texas A&M University; Seth Erwin, The Ohio State University; Casey Droddy, Kansas State University; and Caroline Weihl, The Ohio State University.

Campus Ambassadors (left to right) Back row: Rebecca Travis, Missouri State University; Rongkui Han, Cornell University; Bailey Kliewer, Oklahoma State University; Sydney Lawrence, Northwest Missouri State University; Maggie Jo Pruitt, University of Arkansas; Jodi Boe, North Dakota State University; Jake Erceg, Kansas State University; Austin Piombo, Colorado State University; Courtney Yelton, University of Wyoming. Front row: Jenica Hagler, Washington State University; Chelsea Vilchis, University of Minnesota; Emma Likens, University of Nebraska — Lincoln; Kiah Twisselman, University of California — Davis; Breanne Brammer, University of Missouri; Liz Simmons, Auburn University; Wesley Davis, West Virginia University.

El Reno, Okla., is the oldest active AFA scholarship community in Oklahoma. Since 1999, it has raised over $90,000 and awarded 21 AFA Leader and Academic Scholarships to local students.

The scholarship program was introduced to El Reno by Curtis Blanc, who serves as the community coordinator. Blanc had previously awarded an agriculture scholarship to students studying at Redlands Community College. While working in Kansas City, he was introduced to Agriculture Future of America.

“I became interested in Mr. Crosby Kemper’s idea to organize an agriculture program called AFA to follow these agriculture students into college as well as into their career,” Blanc said.

Joining Blanc’s existing scholarship with the AFA scholarship program doubled the value and added the benefit of the AFA Leaders Conference.

“Most of the students who have attended the AFA Leaders Conference will tell you the AFA scholarship is not just a scholarship,” Blanc said.

Brittany Johnson, 2011 scholarship recipient, echoes this. She said attending Conference was the most beneficial part of receiving the scholarship.

“At AFA Leaders Conference, I was able to meet with industry leaders, increase my personal network, and gain important knowledge on what industry leaders look for when hiring new employees. I also benefitted by having the opportunity to meet and make connections with other leaders my age,” said Johnson, who studies agriculture education at Oklahoma State University.

Soon after the partnership formed, the scholarship was named after Vernon Reuter, a local farmer and rancher who served on the school board for more

than 30 years. This scholarship continues to support education in the community.

“I believe it is important for El Reno to partner with AFA because we are a small rural community where agriculture is important to many families and students,” Johnson said. “By giving students the opportunity to attend Conference through sponsorship, the student is able to see the benefits of agriculture beyond the high school level.”

Over the course of the scholarship’s history, a committed group of donors has come together.

“They are truly a silent blessing to our community. They are diverse and dedicated to the positive things that are wanted and needed in our community,” Blanc said.

At the beginning of the partnership, Blanc worked to introduce AFA to the community.

“After 15 years, AFA has become a part of our community,” he said. “The original goal was to educate the community about the opportunities AFA could bring to our youth who had developed a passion for agriculture. Once that was accomplished, AFA just sold itself.” n

Building an AFA Legacy

4 involvement

El Reno, Okla., awards their AFA Leader and Academic scholarship in honor of Vernon E. Reuter, a longtime school board member.

National Scholarship Program GrowsFrom coast to coast, the national Leader and Academic Scholarship program introduces students to AFA’s leader development opportunities. Through the generosity of partners who invest in promising young agriculture leaders, this program continues to expand.

Scholarship opportunities now include both graduating high school seniors as well as current college students. AFA provides 40 scholarships to agriculture students. Water Street Solutions offers five scholarships to students who are residents of its five state

service area. The DFA Cares Foundation awards two scholarships to agriculture students with an interest in the dairy industry. The Stanley H. Durwood Foundation offers five scholarships in honor of the late founder of AMC Theaters. The Belles of the American Royal provide one scholarship to a young lady with interest in agriculture education. The William J. Collins scholarship goes to two high school seniors who are the children of Agribank employees. See a list of the 2013 scholars at www.agfuture.org/2013scholars. n

A Partnership for Growth

investment 5

Since 1998, Monsanto Company has partnered with

AFA to invest in the development of future agriculture leaders.

The past few years over 25 percent of Monsanto’s investment has been designated to programs that extend AFA’s reach and participant diversity both geographically and ethnically. In the past five years, participation in AFA programs has increased by 70 percent.

Part of this increase is driven by expansion of AFA programming. Another contributor is the growth of university partnerships. University partners support AFA by promoting opportunities and sponsoring students to AFA Leaders Conference. Monsanto plays a key role in recruiting new university partners through funding the University Growth Initiative. Universities that have not sponsored students to Conference may apply for this opportunity. The grant covers the cost of Conference attendance for up to three students and one faculty or staff member from each selected school. Since its inception in 2007, the University Growth Initiative has identified 15 new campuses stretching coast to coast, including the University of California – Davis, Clemson University, Cornell University, University of Georgia, Oregon State University and SUNY at Cobleskill.

“The University Growth Initiative allows us to reach universities unfamiliar with AFA and

build a mutually beneficial partnership,” said Russ Weathers, AFA president and CEO. “By providing funding for the engagement of a diverse group of students and faculty from the selected institutions, the grant exposes new audiences to what AFA offers. We are grateful for Monsanto’s support of this initiative.”

In addition to increasing AFA’s geographic diversity, the University Growth Initiative has also increased AFA’s ethnic diversity by providing opportunities to 1890, or historically black land-grant Universities, including North Carolina A&T State University and Delaware State University. This opportunity has also benefited Hispanic-Serving Institutions such as Texas A&M University — Kingsville. Additionally, students from other 1890 Universities, including University of Maryland – Eastern Shore, Prairie View A&M University, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and Tennessee State University, have participated in AFA leader development programs.

A portion of Monsanto’s additional investment in AFA goes directly toward funding minority participation in AFA Leaders Conference. In the past three years, 7.5 percent of AFA program participants were minority students as compared to 2 percent five years ago.

“Monsanto values its partnership with AFA,” said Brett Begemann, Monsanto president and chief commercial officer. “We truly believe in AFA’s purpose to grow partnerships in the industry that in turn grow leaders for agriculture. We are committed to helping expand AFA’s reach both geographically and culturally. At Monsanto, we recognize diversity of all kinds to be a key driver of success. We also recognize the success AFA participation brings to students in agriculture. We are pleased to bring these two together through our partnership.”

As AFA looks forward, strategic growth partnerships will become increasingly important.

“Partnering with Monsanto Company allows us to diversify and expand our reach,” said Weathers. “Its significant organizational investment in AFA provides us with needed stability as we expand our programming to include opportunities such as the AFA Leader Institutes and AFA ONTAP.” n

Interested in partnering with AFA to support young leaders? Contact Mark Stewart at mark.stewart@agfuture.org.

Rodd Whitney, Monsanto talent acquisition specialist, engages students during the AFA Opportunity Fair.

6 trainingIntroducing AFA Leader InstitutesFor the past few years, AFA has been expanding its programming to provide opportunities beyond the AFA Leaders Conference. A significant part of this effort is the launch of the AFA Leader Institutes.

While Conference focuses on soft skill development, the Institutes highlight certain aspects of the agriculture industry. From specific sectors to exploration of a geographic region, the objective of the Institutes is to introduce students to opportunities and increase their understanding of industry needs.

The first two Institutes, held this spring, built upon previous program relationships. The AFA Policy Institute grew from AFA’s relationship with Agriculture Council of America’s National Ag Day campaign. The AFA Animal Institute is an extension of the previously held AFA Animal Health Corridor Tour.

Plans to expand the AFA Leader Institute series are already underway. The first delegation of the AFA Food Institute will meet in Chicago in February of 2014. In all, AFA plans to host a total of 5-7 annual Institutes by 2018. Like Conference, each Institutes requires a competitive application process. Except for the AFA Policy Institute, each will be designed for 75 students. The AFA Policy Institute will be limited to 40 students.

The 2013 Institutes started March 17-20 when the AFA Policy Institute convened in Washington, D.C. As in previous years, AFA students took part in the ACA National Ag Day activities. This year they also participated in an additional day of AFA specific training. Components of the AFA program included meetings with two former secretaries of agriculture, Clayton Yeutter and Mike Johanns, and breakfast with current Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. AFA students also visited the U.S. State Department and participated in a panel on agriculture trade, regulation and policy.

A few weeks after the trip to Washington, D.C., AFA welcomed over 60 students from across the nation to Kansas City, Mo., to participate in the AFA Animal Institute, April 7-9. This experience expanded upon the previous one-day Animal Health Corridor Tour by adding

a second day of professional development and industry panels. Students had the opportunity to interact with their peers and ask questions of animal health executives from Merck Animal Health, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Hill’s Pet Nutrition and Ceva, before breaking into six tour groups. Each tour group visited four animal health companies, including marketing agencies, associations, pharmaceutical companies and animal nutrition companies. Representatives from most of the 24 companies joined the students for an industry dinner where industry professionals and students had the opportunity to interact with each other and hear from National Cattlemen’s Beef Association CEO, Forrest Roberts. In addition to visiting major companies, students discussed niche marketing with a panel of individuals who represented a variety of local businesses, including a dairy, meat locker and veterinary clinic.

To learn more about the AFA Leader Institutes visit, www.agfuture.org/AFALeaderInstitutes. n

AFA Policy Institute delegates share a laugh on the Capitol steps with Senator Mike Johanns, former Secretary of Agriculture.

Daryl Pint, Ceva Biomune CEO, gives a tour to AFA Animal Institute delegates.

What started as a network for AFA collegiate program alumni has grown and evolved into something much larger.

Continuing to serve as a professional agriculture network dedicated to lifelong learning, the Alliance has touched almost 900 young professionals since 2001. As Alliance membership has grown and changed, so have the programs. Members now stretch beyond the original collegiate program alumni audience, and the opportunities for member value are also expanding.

Although the AFA Alliance Forum continues to be a highlight for members, other avenues of membership value include webinars, an online resource center, newsletters and special events.

“Being a member goes beyond just attending the Alliance Forum; each time I take part in an Alliance event, I get re-energized about my job and passion for agriculture,” said Charlotte Montague, Archer Daniels Midland merchandiser.

The Alliance is a network for young agriculture professionals at various stages in their careers. From those just starting their first job to those

in subsequent positions, the Alliance strives to provide tools and programming to accelerate personal growth through lifelong learning and advancement of agriculture.

“The annual AFA Alliance Forum and quarterly webinars offer an unmatched learning continuation of professional, personal and leadership skills,” said Krista Bock, Monsanto operation supervisor. “The AFA Alliance offers an unbeatable network of agriculture enthusiasts who share common goals and passions and want lifelong professional and personal learning.” n

alliance 7

Find out more about the AFA Alliance at www.afaalliance.com.

Should You Be a Member?

Looking for a good book, a time-saving application or even a news source or helpful blog? The Alliance planning committee has put together a resource center for members with suggestions covering

almost every topic. If you are a member, login and check it out! Not an Alliance member? Learn more about joining at www.afaalliance.com. n

Virtually everyone manages projects, even if it’s not in their job title.

“Unofficial project managers” often do not have formal training, which increases the probability of project failure. Young professionals are often asked to manage projects before managing people. A question often asked by the unofficial project manager is “How do I get someone else motivated or to be prompt on a task that is key to the project’s success?”

Project management isn’t just about managing logistics. Successfully managing projects requires

the skills of “informal authority.” Often the project manager is not formally managing the people on a given project.

This year’s Alliance Forum will feature FranklinCovey’s Project Management Essentials for the Unofficial Project Manager™, strengthening attendees’ ability to implement a powerful process consistent with the Project Management Institute’s model. For more information about the Alliance Forum, visit www.agfuture.org/allianceforum. n

AFA Alliance Resource Center

Join Us at Forum to Manage Projects Like a Pro

The AFA Alliance Forum is just one venue for member value.

K. R

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