FARGO, N.D. – The recent National FFA Next Gen Conference was designed as an opportunity for members to explore career options within the agriculture industry. According to a couple attendees, the event delivered that and more.

Seventy high school sophomores, juniors and seniors from 21 states attended the Sept. 9-13 conference in Fargo. They learned about emerging technologies in agriculture through informational sessions, panel discussions and tours, FFA said. The students toured CNH Industrial, John Deere, Cargill and Grand Farm Innovation Campus.

Elizabeth Brumbach, a senior at Felicity-Franklin High School in Ohio, said she applied for the conference hoping she would learn about emerging technology in the agriculture industry, mainly RFID tags and sprayer drones.

“I also hoped to make lasting memories and connections,” she said. “I am happy to say I achieved all of these things. I had three favorite parts of the conference – the CASE tractor manufacturing tour, the bus rides and meeting new people. At CASE, they have robot welders that weld about 40 percent of their production, which was awesome to watch.

“But my favorite part was that about 50 percent of their workers are women. As a woman in the agriculture industry, and especially one who enjoys welding, this was very inspiring to see.”

Brumbach said the bus rides were filled with funny stories, laughter and singing songs with each other. She said she met people from across the country and that they have become some of her best friends.

She has four active supervised agricultural experiences (SAEs), including one on her family’s M18 Ranch. Brumbach’s family has five horses, over 70 sheep, and some other animals.

“Daily, I feed and water the animals, clean the barns, and tend to other needs they may have,” she explained. “Other things I assist with are working/riding the horses, grooming the animals, and providing health care when they need it.”

She also farm sits for other families, works for a mobile petting zoo (The Party Animal Express) and helps out at a ranch – Flourish & Roam – that has cows, pigs, sheep and chickens.

The things she learned at the conference can be applied not only to her SAE’s, but outside of them as well, Brumbach said.

“The three main things I learned at the conference were leadership, teamwork and empathy,” she recalled. “I learned that leadership isn’t about telling people what to do, it’s about showing people what to do. This conference really helped me improve my teamwork skills by having me work with different people. During one of our small group sessions, we talked about empathy. I learned that empathy isn’t just about saying sorry, empathy is really feeling for someone and putting yourself in their shoes.”

Brumbach said after high school, she plans to go to college for human/social services.

“During college, I plan to continue working on my family farm,” she said. “Before attending the conference, I wasn’t really sure what career path I wanted to take. But after the conference, I was sure I wanted to work with people while still having my own farm.”

Jerrod Caudill, a senior in the Johnson Central FFA chapter in Kentucky, said he applied for the conference because he wanted to learn more about his career choice, electrical engineering.

“I ended up discovering how awesome emerging technologies in agriculture are when I began to research for my application,” he said. “Honestly, for the conference, I didn’t really know what I was getting into. I had planned to go to learn more about my future career, but left feeling happy, hopeful and wishing I never had to go home. I made so many new friends from all across the country who I still talk to almost daily.”

His SAE is his 1994 Chevy Blazer, which he drove daily until the engine blew. “Now it’s fully needing redone,” Caudill said. “Definitely going to get the SAE hours now but previously the work done was with car audio, exhaust work, brake work and maintenance.”

After high school, he said he wants to go to a local trade school – Tek Center – for electrical. He hopes to get a career started at Boyd CAT, a construction equipment supplier.

The September conference was the third such event this year.