OAK BROOK, Ill. — Farm Foundation, an accelerator of practical solutions for agriculture, has announced the cohort of Cultivators who will present at the January 2024 Round Table meeting.
Twice a year, Farm Foundation gathers professionals from across the food and agriculture value chain to promote discussion and interaction among thought leaders in government, academics, agribusiness, and other interest groups. The topic for the upcoming Round Table meeting in Waikoloa Beach, Hawaii, is, “The Business of Farming: Resilience, Reality, and Return on Investment.”
The Cultivators Program gives the next generation of agribusiness leaders a seat at the table. Cultivators, who may be undergraduate or graduate students, are selected from a competitive pool of applicants from accredited North American colleges or universities. Students are nominated by their college dean or department head.
Each Cultivator is connected with a Farm Foundation Round Table participant who acts as a mentor for the meeting, letting students know what to expect and making sure they are interacting with other attendees. Cultivators are expected to participate in all aspects of the meeting and present a poster representing a key aspect of their studies.
“We are excited to bring this top-notch group of researchers to the Round Table meeting in Hawaii to present on different aspects of innovation in agriculture,” says Jenna Wicks, program manager at Farm Foundation. “With topics ranging from fire ants to succession planning, this cohort represents the diversity of thought leadership in agriculture.”
Cultivators selected for January 2024 are:
Rachel Combs-Giroir
The Ohio State University
Rachel Combs-Giroir is currently a Ph.D. candidate in the Translational Plant Sciences program at The Ohio State University. Under the guidance of Dr. Andrea Gschwend, her research focuses on unraveling the physical and molecular mechanisms behind flooding tolerance in the biofuel cover crop, pennycress. Rachel plans to graduate in spring 2024 and pursue a career in the agricultural industry, particularly in genomics, breeding, and computational biology.
Awatif El Abdellaouy
Texas A&M University
Awatif El Abdellaouy is pursuing a master’s degree in agribusiness at Texas A&M University. Focused on the dairy industry, she aspires to become a leader in the field, combining her extensive background with a commitment to sustainable growth. Her goal is to bridge the gap between theory and industry challenges, utilizing her education and experience to make a significant impact in agribusiness.
Alayna Gerhardt
Oklahoma State University
Alayna Gerhardt is pursuing a Ph.D. in animal and food sciences at Oklahoma State University. She holds a bachelor’s degree in both animal and plant sciences. Her love for both disciplines led to her master’s thesis work in forage quality and production. Her Ph.D. focuses on implementing virtual fencing technology to safeguard riparian areas. Alayna plans to become a livestock technology consultant.
Kiara Ivy
Florida A&M University
Kiara Ivy is a 2nd-year master’s student pursuing a degree in entomology at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. Her current research centers on the red imported fire ant. Her future career goals include going into agricultural pest management and developing novel pesticides and biopesticides.
Asthon Redd
University of Arizona
Ashton Redd is pursuing dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Agribusiness Economics and Environment Water Resource Economics at the University of Arizona, with minors in government public policy and community innovation. After graduation she plans to attend law school for a Juris Doctorate, aspiring to become a water rights and policy attorney.
Ryanna Tietje
The Ohio State University
Ryanna Tietje is a senior at The Ohio State University pursuing a major in agribusiness and applied economics with a minor in consumer and family financial services. Internship experiences in agricultural lending, grain risk management, and financial planning, have made her eager to focus on farm succession planning in her research and future career after graduating in May 2024.
The Farm Foundation Round Table is an invitation‐only group of thought leaders, policy makers, and influential figures from a broad cross‐section of the food and agriculture value chain. The group, with invited guests, meets twice a year to discuss issues of importance to agribusiness, the food system, and rural communities. Round Table discussions also generate new ideas for Farm Foundation project work. By attending these events, student Cultivators have the unique opportunity to interact with leaders in today’s food and agriculture sector.
Find more information about each Cultivator and the Cultivators program at www.farmfoundation.org/
–Farm Foundation