SURACUSE, N.Y. — Young adults—ages 18 to 25—with a budding interest in agriculture have discovered a unique professional development opportunity by participating as an Ambassador Scholar at the NYS Agricultural Society Annual Meeting & Forum. Competitively selected, 2018 marked the fifth year that donors to the NYS Agricultural Society Foundation have sponsored 15 Ambassadors to attend the historic, annual event attended by over 500 industry representatives, including producers, suppliers, processors, educators, regulators and the like. Paired with industry mentors, the Ambassador experience can influence future research projects as well as academic and career paths. Led by an eight-member board, the Foundation launched a $100,000 fundraising effort in July 2017 to provide a larger, separate funding base for the Ambassador program. At the 186th Annual Forum, conducted January 4, 2018, Crop Science, a division of Bayer, Inc. contributed $10,000 to the effort. To date, over $95,000 has been pledged.
Bayer’s support of the Ambassadors is a natural extension of the company’s AgVocate program, which seeks to create more dialogue between consumers and the ag community to increase understanding and trust. With less than one percent of Americans working in agriculture, Bayer is helping to provide the tools and knowledge to the industry to encourage societal acceptance and support of modern agriculture. Consumers are more disconnected than ever on the complexities of food production, yet their influence on public policy and their collective buying power will largely determine the future course of the industry. With over 70 Ambassadors in the pipeline and more in the future, Bayer hopes to encourage more young adults to advocate on behalf of and consider a career in modern agriculture. Bayer will also extend the Ambassador experience with future AgVocacy trainings and opportunities to engage in outreach for modern agriculture.
Receiving double the number of applications than can participate, the 2018 Ambassador Class includes:
- 5 professionals, 3 graduate students (Ph.D and master’s), and 7 undergraduates
- Students from 5 academic institutions: Cornell University, Tarleton State (Texas A & M system), SUNY Cobleskill, Alfred State College, Kansas State University. Of the total candidate pool, Clarkson University, Morrisville State College, and Gordon College also represented.
- Students pursuing degrees in agricultural sciences, ag business, animal science, agriculture technology, agricultural communications, dairy production management, plant breeding, viticulture & enology, finance
- Employees working in finance, production consulting, agricultural education
“We’re only scratching the surface of what the Ambassador program can do,” said Elwyn Voss, retiring NYS Ag Society Foundation board member and major Ambassador supporter. “For the benefit of the agriculture industry of the future, we need to nurture the growing passion for ag that these young adults have by giving them an in-depth look at pressing issues, the decision-makers at the table, and the powerful professional network of help and support that exists at the NYS Ag Society. What they take home could shape courses taken, research topics studied, careers pursued and more. Looking at the generous gift from Bayer, this is a win-win for the industry as much as the young people who are involved. This is an important opportunity for anyone wanting to impact the ag industry of the future in a really big way!”
At 186 years old, the New York State Agricultural Society is one of the oldest associations of its kind in the United States. It was organized in 1832 to foster, promote and improve the New York State food and agricultural industry through education, leadership development and recognition programs. Credited with initiating the NYS Fair and the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences at Cornell University, the Society formed the NYS Agricultural Foundation in 2011 to help promote its mission in local communities.
–NYS Agricultural Society
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