culturesSpring 2009 The Newsletter for Agriculture Future of America

The next generation of America’s agriculturalleaders played an integral role in celebrating theindustry during part of the National Ag Daycelebration on March 12, 2009. Those representingAFA included Danny Andersen, Mirinda Bye, RothMallen, T.J. Masker, Karla McKilligan, Erica Seitzer,Julie Stainback, and Jennifer Wellnitz.

Student representatives from AFA, 4-H and FFAfrom across the country met with their congressionalrepresentatives and carried the message of Ag Dayto Capitol Hill.

“These student delegates represent the futureof our industry,” said Jenny Pickett, President of theAgriculture Council of America (ACA), which hoststhe nationwide campaign. “National Ag Day

presents an opportunity to inspire and supportthem…to instill just how important agriculture is inthe life of every American.”

John Deere and ADM are the 2009 Ag DayPartners. Their support makes trips for thesestudents possible. In addition, it provides forplanning materials for grass roots Ag Day efforts aswell as the key events in Washington, D.C.

National Ag Day is organized by the AgricultureCouncil of America. ACA is a nonprofit organizationcomposed of leaders in the agricultural, food andfiber community, dedicating its efforts to increasingthe public’s awareness of agriculture's role inmodern society. Learn more at www.agday.org. �

Student Representatives Carry Message to Capitol Hill

The 2009 AFA Leaders Conference will be November 5-8 at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center in Kansas City, Mo.

AFA Student Representatives (From L to R) Karla McKilligan, Jennifer Wellnitz, Mirinda Bye, Julie Stainback, AFA Board MemberOrion Samuelson, Student Representatives Erica Seitzer, T.J. Masker, Danny Andersen, and Roth Mallen at the Mix and MingleLunch during the National Ag Day celebration.

opportunities 3

AFA has taught me a lotabout how to be a moreeffective leader on mycampus. I have learnedsome very importantsoft skills that havehelped me lead variousorganizations. Attendingthe leader’s conferencehas been one of the

greatest decisions of my college career. Tracksone and two have helped me to shape myleadership philosophy.

Coming into college as a freshman, I wastrying to get involved with a variety oforganizations to see what I really wanted to beinvolved in. This meant my time was going to bestretched in many directions. One of the greatestskills I developed was time management. It isreally important to realize where you are wastingyour time as a college student. The Franklin Covey

Planner, allowed me to schedule my days andrealize what was really important to get done thenext day.

Track Two allowed me to become a bettercommunicator. This was the next step in myjourney to become a leader on campus. I wasable to apply what I learned in Track Two back oncampus. I teach a freshman class in leadershipand it is very important for me to be able tounderstand the students and what they arethinking. I believe that the communication skills Igained allow me to be more effective and teachat a very high level.

AFA has taught me a lot about how tobecome a more effective leader. Through theLeaders Conference I have been able to leadorganizations on campus and to intern with someof the best companies in the nation. The skillsyou learn at this conference are very importantand help college students become leaders ontheir campuses. �

Many of you were greatly impacted by Dr. Blaine Lee in one way, shape or form. He was also a great friendof the organization and will be sorely missed. Please keep his family in your thoughts. �

AFA Loses a Great Friend and Colleague

Conference at Home

TJ Masker

2mentors

Agriculture Future of America honoredNancy Pellett, former CEO of the FarmCredit Administration (FCA), and JonWefald, President of Kansas StateUniversity, with the Leader in AgricultureAward during the annual AFA LeadersConference.

The Leader in Agriculture Award wasestablished by AFA’s Student AdvisoryTeam to honor those who have servedas mentors and provided support toyoung people preparing for agriculture-related careers.

Pellett was appointed to a six-yearterm on the FCA Board by PresidentGeorge W. Bush on November 26,2002. She served as Chairman of theBoard and CEO of FCA from May 2004until May 2008. She also serves as chairman ofthe board of directors of the Farm Credit SystemInsurance Corporation.

From 1966 until her appointment with FCA,Pellett and her husband managed Prairie Hills,Ltd., a feedlot, cow-calf and row-crop operation inAtlantic, Iowa. Pellett demonstrates her leadershipin the beef industry as a member of theCattlemen’s Beef Board. She also served aspresident of the Iowa Beef Industry Council.

Dedicated to the future of agriculture, Pellettworked with 4-H at the local and state levels andserved on the Iowa 4-H Foundation board. She isalso a founding member of the 4-H/FFA “Sale ofChampions” committee for the Iowa State Fair.

A native from Walnut, Ia., Pellett holds a B.S.from Iowa State University at Ames.

Wefald served as the President of KansasState University and has previously held thepositions of Chancellor for the Minnesota StateUniversity System including seven universities,President of Southwest Minnesota State Universityin Marshall, Minnesota and Commissioner of

Agriculture for the State of Minnesota.Providing invaluable knowledge and experience,

Wefald has served in a variety of organizationsincluding: Education Commission of the States,National Association of State Universities andLand-Grant Colleges, Kansas Bioscience AuthorityBoard of Directors, United States Department ofAgriculture Joint Council on Food and AgriculturalSciences and Chairman of the Minnesota RuralDevelopment Council.

Wefald graduated with a bachelor’s in historyand political science from Pacific LutheranUniversity in Tacoma, Washington. He went on toearn a master’s in history and political sciencefrom Washington State University and a Ph.D. inhistory from the University of Michigan.

Approximately 800 guests including AFAstudents; award, community and corporatehonorees; government, association and industryprofessionals; AFA board of directors and otherguests gathered at the Leader in Agriculture AwardDinner to celebrate an evening of success withinthe agriculture industry. �

Dr. Marc JohnsonHonorary Director

Dr. Tom Payne10-Year Director

Mr. Chuck SchroederHonorary Director

2008 Leader in Agriculture Award

Other Award Recipients

2008 AFA Leader in Agriculture Award Recipients: Nancy Pellett, formerCEO of the Farm Credit Administration, and Dr. Jon Wefald, President ofKansas State University.

Nodaway County Agrileaders,Nodaway County, MO

Jeremy Lacy

Howard County Young Farmers,MO

Fred WeikerNorth Shelby – Shelby County, MO

Jesse Schwanke

Saline County, KSJason Kern

2008 Leaders Conference 10-Year Communities – More than $198,000

10-Year Corporate Partners – More than $1.1 million

10-Year University Partners – More than 150 students sponsored

4conference partnership 5

Vernon E. Reuter Scholarship,El Reno, OKCurtis Blanc

Vernon County, MOMonty Smith Atwood FFA Backe

rs Atwood, KS

Matt Wolters

Monsanto CompanyBrett Begemann

Pioneer Hi-Bred InternationalJoe Neumann

Bartlett & CompanyBill Webster Farmers Cooperative Company

Devin Mogler

Kansas State UniversityDr. Don Boggs

Fort Hays State University

Dr. Jeff Briggs

Iowa State UniversityMike Gaul

Northwest Missouri StateUniversity – Dr. Arley Larson

University of IllinoisDean Robert Easte

r

On November 6-9, morethan 470 outstandingcollege students gatheredto learn from and interactwith prominent leaders inthe agriculture and foodindustry at the 12th annualAFA Leaders Conference.

Students who attendAFA Leaders Conferencehad the opportunity toattend sessions facilitatedby more than 100nationally recognizedleaders in agriculture,business, government andeducation. The 2008conference featuredCaptain Charlie Plumb onThursday, Trent Loos onSunday, and many more.

The AFA Opportunity Fair,another importantcomponent of AFA LeadersConference, provided aunique environment forhuman resourcerepresentatives tocommunicate, advocateand mentor AFA studentsabout opportunitiesavailable within the industry.Corporations, associationsand colleges/universities representing the scope ofthe industry recruit AFA students for intern, full-time employment and graduate studies.

The 2008 AFA Leaders Conference theme, “IDefine Agriculture,” exemplifies the scope of ourconstantly changing industry. Every person plays aunique, but instrumental role in agriculture whetherthey know it or not. To one student, agriculture may

mean developing new genetic technology toimprove crop yields in third world countries. Toanother student, agriculture may mean creatingcommunications materials and advertising tore-brand and promote the changing industry. Thisyear, AFA wants each student to realize andembrace their own definition of agriculture andappreciate the definitions of others. �

Dean Kleckner of Truth About Trade and Technology, addresses the delegates during theopening session of the 2008 AFA Leaders Conference.

Let us know what you’re doing this summer!We'd love to know of any internship of fulltime positions that you have accepted. Please call Hannahat 816-472-4232 or email her at hannah.phillips@agfuture.org and let us know!

Lanie (Ast) Beetsma, apast AFA participant andStudent Advisory Teammember, has created lbcoaching as a way tohelp college students findout what it is they reallywant. Lanie definescoaching as “partneringwith clients in a thought-

provoking and creative process that inspires them tomaximize their personal and professional potential.”

Lanie, an AFA alum who has made the choice tostart a business. Many of our past participants findthat their entrepreneurial skills are honed through AFAwhich allows them the opportunity to start their ownbusinesses and follow their passions.

“I am not sure if I would be starting my ownbusiness at this point in my life without theexperiences I gained through AFA.This organizationhelped me understand how many career optionsthere are for young people in rural communities andthat sometimes you just have to take some risks. I

have witnessed many of my fellow AFA members starttheir own businesses in hopes to reach their potentialand it inspired me to do the same.This organizationhas helped me discover my strengths, become abetter communicator and take advantage of theopportunities that exist in agriculture,” Lanie said.

After working in public relations, policy,communications, advertising and a host of otherindustries, Lanie decided that coaching was whereshe found her passion. “I am happy to say thatthrough patience and much determination to find arewarding career that was an expression of my valuesand talents, I have started my own coachingbusiness. College is such a pivotal point in life foryoung people. There are so many big decisions toconsider while you are dealing with an enormousamount of pressure from school, work, peers andbeing away from home. I partner with students tomake their lives easier. Coaching is a very unique anddistinct profession. Coaching focuses on thedevelopment of human potential. I truly enjoy workingwith college students. It is very rewarding to witnessyoung people create the life they really want.” �

Helping Students Know What They REALLY Want…

Rachel Mehlhaf hasmade an incredibleimpact on the agricultureindustry since shewas an AFA LeadersConference participant.Below, Rachel sharesher story of success.

Prior to graduatingfrom South Dakota State

University, I completed an internship with FarmCredit Services of America and found out I valuedthe company’s culture, forward thinking, teamenvironment, and focus on customer service. Due tomy positive intern experience, I found my way backto FCSAmerica following graduation, and January22, 2009 served as my five year anniversary withthe company. In my daily role as a financial officer Iprovide customers with operating lines of credit,term loans, real estate loans, and crop insurance.

FCSAmerica stresses employee engagementallowing for us to pursue self development outside

of regular job roles. I was given this opportunityover a six month period in 2008 as member of adiverse team (known as Firefly within FCSAmerica)of 18 individuals from various job roles, tenure,and locations in the company. The team, formedthrough a self-nomination process, met at thecorporate headquarters in Omaha three days aweek. During this time we were led through aspecific method by an outside consulting firm toset the strategic direction our company will followthe next five to seven years. The beauty of theinnovative method we learned is it can be usedover and over again in the future to reinvent thestrategy, ensuring FCSAmerica remains a viable,profitable company for its customers.

The Firefly team’s six month commitmentconcluded by rolling the strategic architecture outto the entire employee base in November. Nowback in my regular job role, I often draw on myrecent experience and highly anticipate witnessingand participating in how the strategy is carried outover the coming years. �

Rachel Mehlhaf’s Rapid Rise

6success

Lanie (Ast) Beetsma

Rachel Mehlhaf

“I think you should allpostpone taking a full-timejob after graduating andback-pack through aforeign country”, he said.Wow. I couldn’t believewhat I was hearing. Here Iwas sitting at dinner withthe president of acompany who had hired

me for a summer internship, and this was his advice?!Why? What’s the point?. Born and raised a

Kansas farm-kid, you must realize that taking asummer internship in Minnesota was a big stepfor me. So relatively speaking, living in a foreigncountry wasn’t even in my thought process. I reallyhad no desire to move that far away from myfamily for that long a period of time to live withthat many people who might not even speak mylanguage. I passed on his advice that night andcontinued doing exactly what I was supposed todo according to a lot of people, which was study,stay involved in extracurricular activities and getsummer internship experience to bolster myresume so I could get a good job after graduating.

Only now with the benefit of hindsight can I seethe wisdom in his advice. Over time I learned thatmany of my fears were unfounded and with thehelp of friends and family who had been abroad,my perspective took a 180 turn. I started askingmyself “why not?” instead of “why?” Self-created

barriers like finance, language and missing out athome kept me from stepping outside of mycomfort zone. After entering the “real world”, it’sclear to see that college was the best time to travel.

Most college students are, for the most part,uncommitted. No spouse. No children. Nomortgage or major financial commitments. Nocareer. The more responsibilities you have to others,the more difficult it is to pack up and leave. Inaddition, university-sponsored exchange programsallow you to travel in groups with other Americans,meaning it’s easier to handle language barriers.They also have outlined schedules that ensure youexperience more than just the classroom.

The biggest objection I often hear about isfinancial. It’s true that flights and travel can addexpenses. But as you enter the workforce, investtime into a career and hopefully grow your income,it becomes much more difficult to leave. I wouldalso add that most study abroad participants feelthe return they get on their investment is wellworth the price. I haven’t found one that hasregretted his or her decision.

No, the window of opportunity to travel abroaddoes not close after college. It simply gets smaller astime goes on.There is a big difference in a two weekvacation and a three month cultural exchange.And Ididn’t even begin to talk about the value internationalexperience adds to a resume.What other time in yourlife offers as much freedom and flexibility as now? Ican only think of one and it’s called retirement. �

Take Advantage of Opportunities

2009 Alliance Planning Committee

alliance 7

ChairRachel MehlhafFarm Credit Servicesof AmericaSioux Falls, SD

Secretary/Vice ChairMark ReimanMonsantoGothenburg, NE

Membership ChairErica CobleJohn DeereRaleigh, NC

Membership Vice ChairAdam AndersonPioneer Hi-BredInternationalFremont, IA

Programming ChairCasey MattkeDow Agri-SciencesFort Worth, TX

Programming Vice ChairTrudy WastweetMinnesota PorkProducers AssociationMankato, MN

Communications ChairClaire MaskerU.S. Pork Center ofExcellenceAmes, IA

Communications Vice ChairLura RotiTri-State NeighborReporter/Freelance WriterSioux Falls, SD

Delvin Higginson

The turning of the calendarsignals the beginning of anew year and stimulatesthe tradition of reflectionand evaluation of the pastyear. This process oftenresults in a sprit of renewalaccompanied by adetermination to be better,to embrace the future with

enthusiasm. 2009 promises to be a year ofopportunity and challenge for AFA. Last year was avery good year for the organization. Support from oursponsors increased, additional corporations andassociations became investors and more universitiesand colleges partnered with AFA. These combinedefforts resulted in an increased number of college menand women participating in AFA’s personal andprofessional development experiences.

As AFA begins 2009 and prepares for its nextprogram year, it does so acknowledging with greatappreciation, the many partner relationships thatmade the past year successful. It is always difficult tosingle out a specific group or individual for recognitionbecause of the possibility of omitting someone. Butthere is a group that needs to be singled out andoften goes under the radar, so to speak, when itcomes to be thanked for its effort. That group is themen and women who volunteer their time and providetheir own resources to serve as members of AFA’sboard of directors. AFA is fortunate to have an

outstanding board that meets regularly to set policyand provide counsel for the organization. Membersserve on committees, make contacts promoting theorganization and participate in student events. Withoutthis leadership, the organization will not succeed. Everymember of AFA’s board has a busy, demanding career.The fact that they chose to serve agriculture and youngpeople in this manner merits our praise. �

K. Russell Weathers – President and CEO, russell.weathers@agfuture.orgJan Shelby – Administrative Coordinator, jan.shelby@agfuture.orgMatt Bornhorst – Director of Development, matt.bornhorst@agfuture.orgBrian Friedman – Program Manager, brian.friedman@agfuture.orgHannah Phillips – Program Specialist, hannah.phillips@agfuture.orgSuzanne L. Smith – Administrative Assistant, suzanne.smith@agfuture.org

AFA Staff

P.O. Box 414838Kansas City, MO 64141-4838(816) 472-4232

Visit the AFA web site at www.agfuture.org and the AFA Alliance web site at www.afaalliance.com

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDConsolidated

MailingCorporation

R. Crosby Kemper, Founder, UMB Financial CorporationSandy Kemper, Chairman, The Collector’s FundGreg Webb, Archer Daniels Midland CompanyDaniel Dye, Cargill AgHorizons U.S.Carol Keiser-Long, C-ARC Enterprises, Inc.Mariner Kemper, UMB Financial CorporationTom Payne, University of Missouri College of

Agriculture, Food and Natural ResourceTim Merrett, John Deere & CompanyOrion Samuelson, WGN Radio and RFD TVFred Cholick, Kansas State University,

College of AgricultureKaren Wishart, Monsanto CompanyRuss Weathers, Agriculture Future of AmericaDavid Vander Griend, ICM, Inc.Tom Traub, CHS, Inc.Josh Sosland, Sosland Publishing CompanyBob Peterson, Peterson Consulting ServicesWilliam Siebenborn, DairymanBailey Ragan, Bunge North America

Russ Weathers