Agriculture's Future
By Holly Hollenbeck

The Agriculture Future of America (AFA) is helping college students take advantage of financial assistance as well as leadership and hands-on experiences. The organization, founded four years ago, aims to fill the void of leadership training for college agriculture students before they enter the workforce.

Nancy Yates and Krystal DeGreve are alike in many ways. Both college students are majoring in an agricultural field. Both have worked hard in high school. Both want to help shape the world of agriculture. And both received an Agriculture Future of America scholarship. But Yates and DeGreve represent different aspects of AFA. The organization, based in Kansas City, Mo., is focused on providing career and leadership development for college students.

Yates, a junior from Monroe City, Mo., majoring in horticulture and ag education at the University of Missouri-Columbia, represents the success AFA has had during the past four years. And DeGreve, a freshman from Billings, Mo., majoring in pre-vet medicine at Southwest Missouri State University, represents the future of the organization. Together, the two tell the story of AFA--where it's been and where it's heading.

Past success
Yates, a "veteran" of AFA, first learned about the organization when a community AFA scholarship was formed in her hometown during her senior year in high school.

"That's AFA's purpose," said Russ Weathers, president and CEO of AFA. "Our mission is to identify, encourage and support outstanding college students who are preparing for a career in agriculture."

In addition to helping communities provide $3,200 scholarships for students, the organization also hosts a Leaders Conference every year. The conference has three tracks so students can attend the conference three different times. Each track builds on the skills of the previous track. The first track focuses on time management skills, goal planning and organizational skills. The second focuses on communications, conflict resolution and ethical decision making. The third revolves around living and working in a global workplace. Values, personal finance, interviewing skills and resume development are also discussed.

Yates has participated in the conference twice and plans to attend for the third time Nov. 2-5 as a member of the AFA 2000 student advisory team. The 12-member team helps plan and organize the conference.

Weathers said members of the team learn as they plan the conference. "We value young people's advice," he said. The team selects a theme, sets objectives, obtains speakers and runs the conference.

Internships are encouraged. AFA helps students get experience by maintaining intern partnerships with agriculture-based companies. Yates has completed two internships. In the summer of 1999, she interned at Earl May Garden Center in Lee's Summit, Mo., and this past summer she interned with the Department of Agriculture's Market Development Division.

Yates said these experiences have been worth the hard work. "AFA has allowed me to make a network, which will be valuable to me when I begin looking for employment, advancement and contacts," she said. "In addition to the ability to find unique internships and develop a network system, AFA has added to my leadership development." Her experiences in AFA have helped her realize she would like to work with agriculture youth organizations or in the horticulture-marketing field.

Yates is just one of the students who have benefited from the success the organization has had during the past four years. Weathers said AFA has provided more than $1.2 million for college and leadership scholarships. Each year the money total grows. This year the organization provided $475,000 for college freshmen majoring in an agricultural field. Around 350 students will attend the leaders conference this November.

Bright future
The organization isn't stopping there. It continues to seek partnerships in communities willing to help raise money for new scholarships. Currently, 50 communities are involved in the scholarship program with most giving two scholarships a year. It also wants to recruit more college students to the Leaders Conference and get more students involved in internship experiences.

DeGreve is a good example of how AFA's growth can benefit students. DeGreve received the first scholarship from the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce Agribusiness Committe. She will also attend the Leaders Conference in November.

DeGreve has high hopes of becoming a veterinarian and owning her own practice. Her love of animals (especially horses) and the idea of working with people makes the profession ideal for her. "Plus, I really like the medical aspect of it," she said. "And I like to be outside; I couldn't have a desk job."

She's excited about what AFA has in store. "Because I have always had my own business [she gives horse-riding lessons and holds four horse camps every year for kids ages 6-17 on her family's farm], I have never gone through an interview before," said DeGreve. "Interviewing for that scholarship was great practice for me."

She's looking forward to learning more about intern opportunities, improving her leadership skills and learning how to set up her own practice at the conference. "That's why she was chosen to receive the scholarship," said Connie Webb, one of the Springfield community partnership members. "She wants to give back to her community and benefit from the experience."

Weathers hopes there will be more DeGreve will be able to benefit from before she starts her vet practice. In addition to trying to improve and increase current programs, AFA plans to launch what it calls "Society" this year. "It's meant to help college graduates move into the first level of their career," said Weathers. "It will be for people in their 20s. We hope to help them with that transition by being a tool for them to use for personal and continuous learning."

"AFA is opening doors for rural students," said Webb. "I truly believe it is allowing students to go to the school or get the degree that they really want. The ag community should be grateful that these types of students are going into the field, and that AFA is helping them to better prepare themselves."

Yates agrees. "AFA is a great opportunity for college students to branch out their exposure to the complexity of the agriculture industry and take advantage of work experience opportunities," she said.

In a few years, DeGreve will probably agree.