DES MOINES, Iowa  – An elite group of 43 FFA alumni between the ages of 18 and 24 attended the New Century Farmer Conference, which was held last month in Des Moines, Iowa. The five-day conference is designed for two- and four-year college students interested in pursuing a career in production agriculture.

 The New Century Farmer program offers former FFA members a look inside the business operations of farming. Conference participants represent various agriculture center interests and supervised agricultural experiences. The majority of attendees are interested in ownership and entrepreneurship, as well as agribusiness and animal careers.

“The New Century Farmer program provides a pathway for FFA Alumni to advance their leadership, personal and career skills,” said Allie Ellis, National FFA Alumni and Supporters associate director. “The conference is a dedicated time for attendees to explore diverse farm operations with industry experts and learn what it takes to launch and maintain a successful career in agriculture.”

Ashley Bergman of Yorkshire, Ohio, and Brady McNealy and Nick Stoner of Indiana, were among the 43 attendees.

 “It was awesome,” said Bergman, who will be a senior studying agriculture engineering at Ohio State University this fall. “We spent the week networking with other participants from 21 states, learning about their backgrounds in ag and their experience on their farms.”

The group took part in several seminars, tours and presentations led by Corteva Agriscience, Farm Credit, John Deer and Nutrien Ag Solutions.

“During those tours we got to talk to the experts who work at these companies and hear about their experiences,” Bergman said.

Bergman never dreamed that agriculture would be in her future.

“Though I spent nine years in 4H and four in FFA, it never crossed my mind to go into ag as a career,” Bergman said. “I did job shadowing at a hospital and thought about entering the medical field, but by my junior year in high school I was at the peak of my involvement with FFA and realized that agriculture is all around me where I live and ag is part of everything that makes the world go around.”

 Bergman has had three internships in college. Add to that the fact that she has learned the entrepreneurship side of farming from her father, who performs seed sales and service for farmers in the area.

“After I graduate, I plan on assisting farmers and producers by applying my engineering skills to agriculture and helping them make their operations more efficient, sustainable, cost-effective, and higher-yielding,” Bergman said.

Brad McNealy of Hope, Indiana just graduated from Hauser High School. McNealy, a sixth-generation farmer, will attend Vincennes University this fall with a concentration on Fire Science.

 “My ultimate goal is to land a job with the Columbus, Indiana Fire Department,” McNealy said. “I want an off-farm job for that extra income so I can remain on the farm. This way I’ll be able to still farm with my father.”

McNealy and his father currently farm 700 acres of corn and soybeans, raise 300 beef cattle and a small acreage of hay.

 “The conference was very beneficial,” Brady said. “It allowed us to not only participate in seminars, but learn about what other experts do and how we can get involved. Companies like John Deere, Case and others showed us some of the new technology that can help farmers in the future.”

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, agriculture and related industries make up more than 10 percent of U.S. employment, and the New Century Farmer Conference is positioned to amplify the trends and needs to grow the industry further.