Tips for Getting Started in a Career in Agriculture

In this episode, our hosts chat about career paths in food, agricultural and environmental sciences.

Here’s a glance at this episode:

• [1:24-3:57] Brenna and Libby chat about their favorite memories from being involved in Future Farmers of America (FFA).
• [8:29] Adam reveals some of the unique, lesser-known careers that the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) has at The Ohio State University.
• [10:20] A new major, called Environment, Economy, Development and Sustainability (EEDS), is a popular program associated with supporting the world’s growing population.
• [14:34] Ohio State’s internship requirement came to fruition based on industry feedback - a need for entry-level employees with hands-on experience related to their major.
• [16:14] Some of the best ways for students to explore their options in an ag-related career are to: start searching the internet, talk to alumni who work in the industry, enroll in science classes in high school, and schedule a campus visit.
• [25:13] Young farmers and brothers, Hunter and Hayden Matus, attribute family support and startup farmer programs to their success in beginning their own farming operations.
• [27:45] The Matus brothers wish they would have known a few things before starting out, but offered advice for others: watch your numbers, embrace opportunity, work hard, listen to your elders, and learn how to control your stress.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Ohio State CFAES Academic Programs
• AgCredit AgStart Program
• FSA Beginning Farmers & Ranchers Program

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Bios

Guest: Adam Cahill
Adam is a proud two-time graduate from The Ohio State University with a M.A. in Educational Studies, specializing in Higher Education Student Affairs and a B.S. in Agriculture where he studied agricultural communication. He has served for the past 14 years as the Career Development, Communication and Marketing Manager for the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University. Prior to this position, he was the managing editor for the Ayrshire Digest, a national purebred dairy industry publication where he spent most of his time talking to cows (if you were ever in an agricultural communication program…you will understand). In his current role with the university, he is responsible for managing all career development activities for students and alumni as well as assisting employers with recruiting needs. He is also responsible for communication efforts to students related to academic programs and brand awareness for the college.

Guests: Hunter and Hayden Matus
Hunter and Hayden Matus are brothers who farm alongside their father and grandfather in Wakeman, Ohio. Both help out at their family winery, Matus Winery, where they also grow barley for the brewing industry. They each have their own individual career paths outside of the winery. Hunter owns a custom cover crop application business while also working full-time within a municipal water department. Hayden has a full-time job as a seed salesman.

Host: Brenna Finnegan
Brenna has been an account officer serving Lorain County for three years. She’s worked in the agricultural industry for over 16 years with experience in livestock production, specialty crop production, seed production and processing/distribution. She grew up on a small family farm raising row crops and cattle. She currently has her own herd of beef cattle that she breeds and sells as show stock calves for 4-H and FFA members. At AgCredit, Brenna enjoys being able to work directly with the local farmers and especially helping young farmers achieve something that they didn’t think they could.

Host: Libby Wixtead
Libby has been an account officer for seven years serving AgCredit members in Marion County. She grew up on a 200-acre grain farm and was very active in 4-H and FFA. Today, Libby and her husband operate a 2,400-head swine finishing barn. Her favorite thing about working at AgCredit is working with local farmers from the same area where she grew up and seeing their operations thrive. She loves working in agriculture and helping her customers be successful year after year.