eCarly@CALS

Ag Communications: Learning How to Advocate for Agriculture

For many students entering college, choosing their major can be a daunting challenge. Is this what I want to do the rest of my life? Making the decision of a career path you would like when you are 17 or 18 years old can be pretty intimidating.

The summer before my first year of college I attended my freshman orientation at Iowa State University. At that point in my career path I knew I wanted to pursue agriculture, but I wasn’t sure what area. I can vividly remember sitting in the auditorium of Kildee Hall surrounded by fresh, new faces. Many of these students I now know, and have had the opportunity to work with in classes, clubs and organizations.

My most important memory from that orientation was when we divided up into groups depending on your major of choice. I was in the “agricultural undecided” group, along with about 15 students. Shortly after, all 15 of us were sitting in a classroom in Curtiss Hall staring at a chalkboard that listed different agriculture majors. One word in particular really stood out to me, --“communications.”

After talking with an adviser who explained it to me, I learned that it was technically called “Agricultural and Life Sciences Education- Communications Option.” This option was designed for students who may not be headed for a career in teaching, but for students who had an interest in agriculture while combining it with things such as sales, marketing, photojournalism, extension and even advertising.

Today, when others ask me why I chose “Agricultural and Life Sciences Education- Communications Option” I simply reply, “Well, I grew up on a farm and I love to talk, so agricultural communications seemed like the perfect fit for me!”

The Agricultural and Life Sciences Education- Communications Option, started in 1999. Since then, those interested in the option has steadily grown. Currently, 40 students are enrolled in the communications option and this number continues to increase each year.

“Students doing internships have had great experiences that have made the major even more popular,” says Robert Martin, professor of agricultural education and studies and the adviser of the Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow Club.

The Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow Club (ACT) helps establish relationships throughout agricultural communications, interchange ideas among students and other staff, as well as build connections with various agricultural communications organizations.

Iowa State University’s Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow Club along with Dr. Robert Martin, professor of agricultural education and studies and the adviser of the Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow Club.

Each year the ACT club participates in various activities such as the freshman/transfer BBQ and the annual chili feed fundraiser. In the spring, the club organizes an essay contest for high school students. The club chooses a question for students to answer relating to agriculture. This past year, the essay question was “How can you be an advocate for agriculture?”

“Putting together the essay contest and sending it out to FFA chapters is a great way to promote not only Iowa State University, but also our major, the agricultural and life sciences education-communications option,” said Kim Jordan, ACT president.

ACT members working at the annual chili feed fundraiser.

Many students in the communications option feel that although the enrollment for it is growing, improvements could still be made to make this degree program better known. Since the technical name of the program is Agricultural and Life Sciences Education- Communications Option, students and even some faculty agree that making agricultural communications its own major would draw in more prospective students.

“At our last club meeting, we were discussing ways to improve awareness about our major. One member explained to us that she almost attended another university because she didn’t think Iowa State provided a communications option in agriculture,” said Kim Jordan.

From my own personal experience with this degree program, I think it is awesome! There is a very broad spectrum of careers to go into with agricultural communications. There is a great deal of flexibility when it comes to the courses you take as well. You can decide what area of emphasis you would like such as agronomy, animal science, food science, agricultural engineering, horticulture, entomology, economics, sociology, etc.

As I approach my senior year, I really feel that there are some great companies looking for the skill sets you gain from being part of an agricultural communications program.

So, how can you be an advocate for agriculture? Enrolling in Agricultural and Life Sciences Education- Communications Option is a good start!

To learn more about the Agricultural and Life Sciences Education- Communications Option, visit this link http://www.agstudent.iastate.edu/agricultural_education.php