AFA leaders conference broadens student's horizons
By Sarah Jackson

More than 313 college students from 63 different campuses convened in Kansas City Nov. 4-6, to attend the Agriculture Future of America (AFA) Leaders Conference. Students have the opportunity to participate in one of three tracks designed to ready those identified as leaders as youth for a career in agriculture after graduation.

The conference tracks provide students with personal and professional development through speakers and presenters from all aspects of the agriculture industry. It also allows networking, internship and career possibilities through the opportunity fair held during the conference.

“The caliber of people you meet, executives and CEOs of major companies, is my favorite part,” Andrew Brandt, a senior agribusiness management major said. Brandt was also a member of the AFA Student Advisory Team (SAT), a select group of 12 individuals who coordinate each year’s conference.

Several hometown communities offer academic scholarships for students to attend the conference for the first year. Many agriculture students would not be able to afford college tuition without these scholarships.

“All you have to do is go to the conference to get the scholarship,” Brad Portwood, a freshman agriculture systems management major said.

Delegates go to presentations on time management, goal setting, personal assessment, resume development, communications skills, conflict management, and preparation for the work force in a global market, just to name a few. Mizzou was represented by 61 delegates.

“AFA helps build leadership skills and helped me find out what I wanted to do,” Megan Fox, a junior agribusiness management major and SAT member said.

The program is highly endorsed by companies who are looking to hire college graduates in agriculture. Some of this year’s sponsors include, Archer Daniels Midland Cargill, Inc., Dairy Farmers of America, Monsanto, and John Deere.

To be chosen for the SAT, interested students go through an application process, then a phone interview with the directors of the AFA. They then attend monthly meetings in Kansas City from May until the conference in November.

For more information on how to get involved with the AFA Leaders Conference, contact Nancy Yates, AFA program manager, at (888)-472-4232 or www.agfuture.org.

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