Working in Ag

Andrew Black of Keystone Cooperative

Andrew is a regional sales lead at Keystone Cooperative based out of Michigan. He gives great insight as to what some key characteristics are within a sales position as well as explains his process for recruiting and hiring great people. We talk specifically about his interview process, and how he tries to focus more on having a conversation with the candidate rather than asking specific interview questions. 
 
Andrew looks for people with great communication skills, integrity and a passion for continual learning. Having a background in chemistry and education, he provides unique insight on his transition into the ag industry; but also points out that if you are good with people and willing to learn, you can be successful in agriculture. Hope you enjoy! 

Callie Curley: Executive Director of Marketing for the Indiana Farm Bureau

Check out this interview with Callie Curley, the Executive Director of Marketing at the Indiana Farm Bureau. Through this conversation, Callie tells us about her experiences growing up in the ag industry, and what led her to have an interest in marketing and communication. We learn about several positions that Callie has held, and how she made the decisions to transition from one position to the next. 
Callie provides great insight for anyone interested in working within marketing and communications and emphasizes the importance of finding the right fit for your personality. We also discuss the importance of networking and work-life balance and how they are key factors when building a successful, sustainable career within the industry. The Working in Ag Podcast focuses on highlighting careers within the agriculture industry while providing insight on how to continue learning and evolving within your career. 

Dylan and Rane from Sorbello and Sons Farms

Check out this great episode with Dylan and Rane from Sorbello and Sons Farms! They explain what a year of onion production looks like, and we learn about several different aspects of the process from planting to harvest and storage. We also dive into the complexities of working with family and some of the challenges we commonly face within family businesses. 
We discuss some of the challenges of the specialty crop industry and how we can best educate consumers about what they should be looking for when purchasing produce. Dylan also has a YouTube channel called Off the Muck where he shares what goes into producing onions in the rich muck soils. Be sure to check it out to learn more! 

Matt Davis: Capital Markets Officer for Ag Credit

Check out this week's episode where we chat with Matt Davis, who acts as a Capital Markets. We dive into Matt's career with Ag Credit and talk about the types of customers he works with as well as the education and career path he had to get into this position. 
We discuss some of the factors that go into ag lending and some of the risks and rewards that are involved in the industry. Matt also tells us about his farming operation that he has in addition to his career. 

Bob Morgan: USDA State Director of Rural Development

Check out this episode, as we talk with Bob Morgan, the Pennsylvania State Director of Rural Development for the USDA. Bob walks us through the educational and career paths that led him to this career and gives an excellent overview of the USDA. 
We learn about the rural development program and how it supports rural communities all over Pennsylvania and around the nation. By providing new opportunities and alternative funding options, the USDA is allowing rural communities to thrive. We discuss how agriculture and agricultural businesses play a huge role in rural communities and the specific efforts the rural development team is making to improve the quality of life for farmers in rural areas. 
Although this may not be the first thing that comes to your mind when looking at different careers in agriculture, it is an important part of the rural lifestyle that we love. I hope that you enjoy this conversation and can take something away from it. 
 

A Look at Ag Politics with Zachary Gihorski

Join me for this great episode with Zachary Gihorski, the Director of Government Affairs and Sustainability for the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives in Washington D.C.! Zach has a background in production agriculture that gives him great perspective in his career where he advocates for producers from across the industry. 
We discuss some of the unique challenges of working in agricultural politics, as well as some of the most common misconceptions people have about the industry. We also briefly discuss sustainability in the ag industry and how policymakers perceive it. This is a great episode to listen to if you want to learn more about careers in ag politics, or if you are interested in learning how you can best advocate for our industry! 

Stefan McDaniel: CFO of Kalmbach Feeds

Join me for this weeks interview with Stefan McDaniel from Kalmbach Feeds. As Chief Financial Officer for Kalmbach, Stefan gives us a great overview of the company, the products they produce, and what their mission is. We focus our conversation on finance and accounting in agriculture and discuss the different types of accounting careers that Kalmbach offers. Through listening to Stefen talk about different opportunities in accounting, it becomes apparent that no matter what your interests are, there is something out there for everyone. 
As a company, Kalmbach does a great job of creating a key mission and set of core values to operate by. Stefan gives some great advice on how we must have clear expectations for our employees, and how providing both positive and negative feedback is essential for any team. 

Logan Scott: Crop Consultant for Nutrien Ag Solutions

Check out this week's episode with Logan Scott, a crop consultant for Nutrien Ag Solutions in Central New York. Logan tells us about the different components of his job, as well as what he is working on throughout various parts of the year. We also discuss the generational gap in ag labor and how we can best recruit young people to work in the industry. Logan provides great insight on how we can best inform people of the jobs available in the industry and some of the challenges they may face in the early stages of their careers. 

Arthur Graves: Lead Agronomist at T&S Crop Service

Check out this interview with Arthur Graves, the lead agronomist for T&S Crop Services out of Western New York. With a history in seed sales and teaching, Arthur talks with us about his experiences in the industry and how they led to his current position. We discuss how it is important to consider what you are good at and interested in when looking for a career. Arthur also provides unique insight into how his experiences as a professor and a coach have helped him in his current career. 
We gain great knowledge and insight into how to uphold a positive reputation within the agriculture industry and some great advice on how important it is to build your network. I hope you enjoy this episode! 

Life Changes

Join me for a quick episode about some recent changes in my life as well as some little changes that are coming to the podcast. We also highlight a few recent episodes that have some great advice for people working in the agriculture industry.