Career advice from agricultural professionals

Oct 09, 2015

The possibilities are limitless in agriculture

People of a certain age can remember the music video for the song We’re Not Gonna Take It, by the band Twisted Sister.

In it, the patriarch of the house essentially reprimands one of his boys for not deciding on a career path as he sits in his bedroom playing a guitar. After asking his son what he wants to do with his life, his son says he wants to rock, and hilarity ensues.

But when you really think about it, the question “what do you want to do with your life?” is one of the most important ones you can answer, especially when it comes to careers.

There are obviously many factors that go into that decision including talents, interests, wages, benefits and opportunities for growth, just to name a few.

Earlier this week, 450 professional women in agriculture, assembled to hear from a number of powerful women in the agriculture industry. After their presentations, many of the conference speakers spoke to Farms.com and AgCareers.com about their advice for young women considering a career in agriculture. Their enthusiasm confirmed that for those who need excitement, an ever-changing landscape, the opportunity to advance and network, and are passionate about what they do, agriculture is a great career path to consider.

“If you love marketing, banking, IT or working with animals, I guarantee there’s a job with your name on it,” said Crystal Mackay, CEO of Farm and Food Care Canada.

“It gives you the opportunity to go from steel-toed boots all the way to high heels and back again in the same day if you want,” said Stephanie Nagelschmitz, an agrimarketer with Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show.

Careers in agriculture can include:

Agricultural Media
Agriculture Financial Services
Human Resources
Digital Marketing
Communications
Project Coordination
Animal Biotechnologist
Sales Managers
Landscape Technicians
Soil Scientist
Policy Maker
Public Relations

Any many more...

When considering a possible career path, chances are it can be applied in a variety of ways in an agricultural setting. Visiting AgCareers.com can help you start that process to answer that question “what do you want to do with your life?”

Video: Sweetener Effects on Gut Health - Dr. Kwangwook Kim

In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Kwangwook Kim, Assistant Professor at Michigan State University, discusses the use of non-nutritive sweeteners in nursery pig diets. He explains how sucralose and neotame influence feed intake, gut health, metabolism, and the frequency of diarrhea compared to antibiotics. The conversation highlights mechanisms beyond palatability, including hormone signaling and nutrient transport. Listen now on all major platforms!

“Receptors responsible for sweet taste are present not only in the mouth but also along the intestinal tract.”

Meet the guest: Dr. Kwangwook Kim / kwangwook-kim is an Assistant Professor at Michigan State University, specializing in swine nutrition and feed additives under disease challenge models. He earned his M.S. and Ph.D. in Animal Sciences from the University of California, Davis, where he focused on intestinal health and metabolic responses in pigs. His research evaluates alternatives to antibiotics, targeting gut health and performance in nursery pigs.