Matthew Myers’ journey from AFA fellow to AFBF star

Jul 09, 2024

A college event catalyzes a future in agricultural policy for an OSU student

By Farms.com

Matthew Myers' engagement with the Agriculture Future of America (AFA) during his final year at Oklahoma State University marked the beginning of an influential career in agriculture. His attendance at the AFA Leaders Conference, a cornerstone event for professional development in agriculture, proved to be a game-changer.

This conference, which annually gathers hundreds of students across the U.S., focuses on professional growth and networking within the agriculture sector. It was here that Myers first interacted with staff from the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), learning about potential career paths and opportunities in agricultural policy.

This brief interaction at the Opportunity Fair of the conference led Myers to pursue a position at AFBF, where he now works as a public policy analyst.

In this role, Myers contributes to shaping policies that support the agricultural community, drawing on his previous internship experiences and the network he built at the conference.

AFBF’s active participation in the Leaders Conference highlights its commitment to engaging with young professionals and guiding them towards careers that support agricultural advancement.

This strategy not only enriches the sector with skilled individuals like Myers but also ensures the continuation of informed advocacy and leadership within the agricultural community.

Myers' story is a powerful example of how targeted programs and events can significantly impact individual careers and the broader agricultural industry. His progression from a college student to a professional in D.C. underscores the value of educational and networking events in cultivating the next generation of leaders in agriculture.

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.