As we celebrate the 10th anniversary of America’s Cultivation Corridor and the many ways that Iowa innovation makes the world better, one focus has been how the state’s leaders are finding new ways to engage students, so they understand and are prepared to take advantage of career opportunities in food and agriculture.
The Next Gen Innovation Impact Study program is a great example. America’s Cultivation Corridor launched the Next Gen program in partnership with Start Something College of Agriculture and Life Sciences in 2022 for Iowa State University students. During the semester-long program, interns learn from Iowa’s agriculture and research leaders about innovative technologies, programs, research and practices that have the potential to significantly elevate agricultural sustainability and food system resilience in our state and around the world.
We checked back in with a group of young professionals who spent time learning about the next generation of ag innovations. We connected with three Iowa State and Next Gen program alumni — Brayden Beinhart, agricultural engineer, Versova, in Ames, Iowa; Olivia Staudt, government affairs manager for Helena Agri-Enterprises in West Des Moines, Iowa; and Ashley Althaus, graduate student at Iowa State University and graduate assistant at the ISU Digital Ag Innovation Lab — about their experiences and the opportunities they see in Iowa agriculture.
 |
|
|
Brayden Beinhart
|
Olivia Staudt
|
Ashley Althaus
|
Q. What was the most valuable aspect of the Next Gen program?
Brayden Beinhart: The most valuable aspect of the Next Gen program had to be the tours and guest speakers. Whether it was touring Iowa State’s BioCentury Research Farm or the entrepreneurship panel discussion, each person who spoke to us came from a unique role within agriculture and all had an outstanding depth and breadth of knowledge. Getting to hear from all of these people just broadened greatly my understanding of agriculture and what type of impact I wanted to have on the industry.
Olivia Staudt: I was impressed with what is happening in the industry. As a college student, you’re usually focusing on historical events, innovations and ideas to help understand how far the industry has come and how we got the place we are today. But in the Next Gen program, discussing current events, going on industry tours and meeting the individuals who are behind these innovations gives you a leg-up going into a job post-graduation. I was in a conversation the other day about new sprayer technologies, and I could actually contribute to the conversation because of the tour I took as a Next Gen intern. That is one example of many.
Q. How did your experience change your perspective on innovation in agriculture?
Ashley Althaus: The program broadened my understanding of agriculture and what it truly encompasses. It has allowed me to be mindful of the increased need for innovative ideas and solutions to effectively sustain our planet for generations to come.
Beinhart: The Next Gen program highlighted time and time again that not only is innovation important, but it is exciting and challenging. One thing that comes to mind is that, if it were easy, someone else probably would have done it already. I think that rings true with innovation. Being cutting edge and exploring new frontiers are naturally difficult. That doesn’t mean we should shy away from it. It means we should lean into it – embrace the challenge and keep on innovating.
Q. Did the program influence your plans after graduation from Iowa State?
Staudt: The Next Gen program made me realize three very important aspects about staying in Iowa post-graduation. First, how many job opportunities there are in Iowa, specifically in agriculture. I wanted to stay in the industry that raised me. Second, the low cost of living allows me to plan successfully for my future financial goals.
Finally, that Des Moines is one of the fastest growing cities in the Midwest and living and working here allows me to further my career with opportunities to network and meet people. If, someday, I wanted to start a business, I know this city has the resources for me to support it, and also has many choices of companies to work for. I can also get all the benefits of a large city, like entertainment, restaurant options and goods and services that I might need, all while being able to drive 30 minutes in any direction to get back to a rural and small-town feel.
Althaus: I consider Iowa to be a leading breadbasket of the world. This state values agriculture, and the job opportunities that stem from it in a welcoming environment, which makes it appealing to stay post-graduation.
Q. What are some of the innovations you are seeing in your role that make you excited about the future of agriculture?
Althaus: One of the leading innovations that interests me is targeted spray technologies. This camera vision technology can detect a weed and spray it within 200 milliseconds. This can reduce herbicide usage and cost. Each year, this technology is becoming further developed through machine learning and will continue to be more adaptive. I see this to be an invaluable tool on the farm in the future.
Staudt: The one that always catches my attention is the spray drones. It’s a super effective solution for the areas of land that are hard to reach with a sprayer. I’m curious to see how big these drones will get, the maximum acres they will be able to cover and how they will be regulated by the government.
Beinhart: I can’t help but get excited for the future of agriculture in my role. I am currently the agricultural engineer for Versova Management Company. We are an egg production company with farms located throughout Iowa, Ohio and many states in the northwest. It is an absolutely fascinating industry to be in. Innovation is woven into the fabric of organization.
My role was specifically designed to tackle one of our guiding principles of continuous improvement. Every day, I am working to implement projects that better our farming operations. The thing that sticks out the most to me in the laying industry is the innovation to create optimal environments for hens to produce wonderfully nutritious and delicious eggs. Our new barns have the most incredible amounts of precision, monitoring and control through lighting, feeding and ventilation, which translate into billions of eggs. What excites me for the future is the opportunities we have ahead of us throughout egg processing and creating co-products from prior waste streams.
Learn more about the Next Gen internship program on our website and follow the 2024 cohort on LinkedIn, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Published September 2024.