The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection organized an agricultural-career panel for the most recent Wisconsin Agriculture Youth Council session. Members met virtually March 19.
Ag-department Secretary Randy Romanski joined to give a brief welcome. He recapped the major winter-weather event that was experienced across the state. He reiterated the importance of young agriculturists, such as the members of the council, becoming involved in the industry; about 10 percent of people working in Wisconsin are employed in agriculture.
Jadyn Thaemert, chair of the meeting, introduced the first speaker – Samantha Hammiller. Hammiller is currently employed at United Cooperative, where she sells fertilizers and chemicals while also working as a scout. She said she enjoys working in a cooperative setting; she values the importance of farmers owning part of the enterprise while receiving patronage.
Hammiller highlighted the importance of taking advantage of opportunities. She didn’t grow up on a farm. But she said through becoming involved in her FFA chapter and as an ag ambassador, many doors were opened for her that led her to where she is now. Another aspect she enjoys about working at United Cooperative is the chance to network with bigger companies all across the country.
“You never know who you’re going to meet that will provide your next opportunity,” she said.
Libby Vogt, a council member from Bloomington, Wisconsin, said, “It’s very important to take advantage of the opportunities that you are given, whether you have experience in the field or not. Sometimes these opportunities are what open doors for future careers or networking opportunities.”
The council’s second speaker was Garritt Boettcher. He works at John Deere as an agricultural engineer, where he oversees the production of their riding lawn equipment. He said the United States is home to more than 50 million acres of turf. He also discussed his experiences growing up on his family farm and his involvement in FFA. He enjoys assisting his children with their 4-H projects and coaching their youth sports.
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