And now, for something completely different...

On an un-FFA related but still relevant tangent, I had the opportunity to attend the Agriculture Future of America Leaders' Conference in Kansas City, MO last weekend. I would strongly recommend this experience to any current (or soon to be) college students interested in agriculture. There are many scholarships available, both at community and corporate levels. The University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, University of Wisconsin - River Falls, South Dakota State University, North Dakota State University, and Southwest Minnesota State University were all amoung the institutions sending delegates this year. The conference is a four day professional experience with the purpose of teaching students the skills needed to get internships while in college and find their dream careers after graduation. There are three tracks that build on each other. As a freshman, I was a track one delegate. Our resumes were critiqued by industry representatives, we prepared and attended a career fair hosted by top industry companies, we spent time developing personal leadership and integrity, and had the chance to meet different people from ag schools from across the country. All of this while staying in a very nice hotel and eating a lot of delicious food! Several very outstanding speakers also took the stage. There was even a live concert on Saturday night. With a scholarship, the experience may cost less than $10. Keep your eyes open for more information on next year's conference this spring and next fall!

Minnesota Agri-Growth Council Annual Meeting

Derek, Justin, and I had the chance to spend a day with many of Minnesota and the nation's top leaders in agriculture at the Agri-Growth Council annual meeting in St. Paul. The highlights of the day were hearing from Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee Colin Peterson, Governor Tim Pawlenty, and United States Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schaefer. All three shared comments on their excitement about the future of the ag industry as well as ideas of how to deal with the challenges to come. What I took most from the day was the key issue of a world economy. A panel discussion talked about feeding the growing world and America's role as a global leader in that field. Agriculture is much bigger than our own backyard these days!