Agricultural Economics CAREER PATHS

 

Where have recent graduates from Purdue’s Agricultural Economics department found initial employment?

Students completing a degree from the Department of Agricultural Economics enjoy a wide array of job options and opportunities – both inside, and outside of the Agricultural Industry. Below is a list of popular positions our graduates have obtained over the past few years. Please explore the links to see what these opportunities entail, and companies that offer these career paths! Please know that this is NOT an “all-inclusive” list of options – as our graduates are well qualified to pursue nearly any role in business management, sales, marketing, and finance!

 

COMPANIES THAT HAVE HIRED OUR GRADUATES

Here’s where a degree from Purdue Agricultural Economics could take you:

Description:

There are many types of Analyst positions. They include focus areas in budgets, business, credit, finance, purchasing, market, economic, research, intelligence, and inventory to name a few.

  • Budget Analysts study the company’s projected income and expenses to find ways to be more efficient and generate more profits.
  • Credit Analysts recommend which companies or individuals should be extended credit based on financial records. They will also prepare reports in order to determine the risk involved in lending money to each client.
  • Financial Analysts look at various parts of a company’s financial health in order to help them make better financial decisions.
  • Purchasing Analysts look at market outlooks and determine when and what to buy when contracting with vendors, ordering supplies or making a big investment in a product, technology etc.
  • Market Analysts monitor specialized markets to assess the possibility of selling a good or service. They work with large and small businesses to understand the needs and wants of their customers. They also determine the prices that potential customers will pay for goods and services. Market analysts are responsible for monitoring sales trends, developing methods for collecting data, and analyzing data with statistical software.
  • Economic Analysts apply a working knowledge of economic and financial market principles to understand the external environment and use that information to support ongoing business needs. The analyst is recognized for knowledge of core economic and financial theory and an understanding of how the theory applies in a business environment.

Duties:

  • Generate financial analysis, evaluations, and cost reporting activities of current and cost effective budget plans for the company.
  • Review proposed structure and value of generally complex lending proposals received from banking or relationship managers, and approve as appropriate from determined risk level of extending credit.
  • Support planning and forecasting processes as well as strategic budget planning to prepare, evaluate and monitor capital expenditure projects and long-term financial plans, and also the investment of liquid assets in short-term investments.
  • Benchmark business metrics within the industry and collaborate on the development of final budget book and presentation materials that meet management's needs, including its presentation of budget information to the Board of Directors.
  • Develop, monitor, pursue, and execute tactical and strategic initiatives in the areas of commodities, vendor/contract relationships, supplier management, and sourcing strategies with leadership.
  • Model and research in support of business and partnership opportunities such as market sizing, competitive environment, market segmentation, trends, spectrum holdings, and review third party research.
  • Monitor and track changes in global financial markets and how they relate to economic, healthcare, geopolitical and industry risks with statistical, financial, and econometric analysis, including credit and market price analysis based on sales, methods of marketing, existing and potential customer preferences, economic conditions, advertising, distribution, and other factors that may influence future sales conditions in local, regional, or national area.

Skills:

  • Critical thinking and analytical
  • Ability to supremely use Excel and financial programming
  • Project planning and marketing plan design

Recent Employers: Farm Credit Services, First Farmers Bank & Trust, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, CHS Hedging, Sears Holding Corporation, Bunge, US Army

Minors/Dual Majors: Finance, Accounting, Analytical Consulting, Strategy
Additional Classroom Opportunities: Forecasting, Finance, Accounting, Economic Theory, Strategy, Economic Development

Description:

Assistant Farm Managers work in a variety of settings within agriculture including animal production, seed and chemical production, and the food sector. They are responsible for overseeing day-to-day activities as they relate to the successful production of the product the company produces.

Duties:

  • Achievement of productivity, efficiency, customer service, cost, quality, safety and employee engagement objectives
  • Confer with management personnel to establish processing and quality control standards, to develop budget and cost controls, and to obtain data regarding types, quantities, specifications, and delivery dates of products ordered
  • Plan and direct activities and establish priorities for products in keeping with effective operations and cost factors
  • Coordinate activities with procurement, maintenance, and quality control activities to obtain optimum processing and utilization of human resources, machines, and equipment
  • Revise schedules and priorities as a result of equipment failure or operating problems

Skills:

  • Ability to organize and prioritize tasks in a fast-paced environment through multi-tasking and working well in a team atmosphere.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Ability to influence decision-making and deliver innovation

Recent Employers:Local farmers, Remington Seeds, The Maschhoffs

Minors/Dual Majors: Ag Systems Management, Animal Sciences, Crop Science, Crop & Soil Management,
Additional Classroom Opportunities: Marketing, Commodities, Communication, Human Relations, Construction, Management, Strategy, Precision Agriculture, Mechanization

Description:

Banking Services Officers are also referred to around the industry as Financial Services Officers, Commercial Business Bankers or Loan Officers. Banking Services Officers work to help farmers and rural citizens obtain funds needed to fund their operation, purchase property, and more.

Duties:

  • Explain to customers the different types of loans and credit options that are available, as well as the terms of those services.
  • Develop and analyze all types of credit information.
  • Approve within delegated authority loan structures pricing and conditions on loan transactions.
  • Combine agricultural and business knowledge with an in-depth understanding of each customer’s current financial position in order to provide innovative and workable alternatives to solve problems the customer faces in their ongoing farming operations.
  • Ensure all files are maintained in a secure environment to protect borrowers’ data.
  • Evaluate the risk in loan transactions and assign a probability of default and loss given default.
  • Manage and grow existing loan portfolios by calling on current and prospective borrowers.
  • Prepare credit analysis on assigned portfolio directly or with a credit analyst.

Skills:

  • Build/maintain strong relationships with customers, key industry/market influencers, and teammates.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Problem-solving and critical thinking.
  • Customer Service skills to provide various needs that clients will have, possibly all at the same time.

Recent Employers: Farm Credit Services, First Farmers Bank & Trust, Beacon Credit Union, Wells Fargo

Minors/Dual Majors: Finance, Accounting, Selling & Sales Management
Additional Classroom Opportunities: Farm Organization, Management Methods, Finance Management, Agricultural Finance, Conflict & Negotiation, Relationship Selling, Customer Relations, Risk Management, Venture Planning, Negotiation & Decision Making

Description:

Brand Managers utilize market and research analysis of specific products for promotion to ensure sales targets. They work in the area of communications with responsibilities in the fields of writing, editing, branding, and public & media relations.

Duties:

  • Manage brand from idea to execution.
  • Develop sustainable points of difference versus the competition.
  • Create micro-marketing and themed programs tailored to regional/key accounts.
  • Prepare advertising and promotion of products.
  • Develop and refresh sales templates, presentations, and sell sheets.
  • Monitor key performance metrics to track brand performance and make adjustments to plan as needed.
  • Write and design company literature.
  • Develop appealing presentations and speeches for leadership.

Skills:

  • Superior written communication skills.
  • Professionalism on social media.
  • Ability to persuade through advertisement.
  • Multimedia presentation abilities.
  • Strong ability to be creativity that is appealing to others.

Recent Employers: The Andersons, Kraft-Heinz

Minors/Dual Majors:Ag Communication, Marketing, Public Relations
Additional Classroom Opportunities: Communicating in a Global Workplace, Principles of Persuasion, Public Relations, Brand Management, Leadership & Organizational Change, Principles of Food and Agribusiness Marketing

Description:

Crop Consultants provides agronomic knowledge, support and leadership to growers in their assigned market while performing job duties such as field scouting, soil management and market analysis. Their main goal is to sell those products either to retail or wholesale outlets. Crop Consultants are knowledgeable about plants and soil. They maintain a close relationship with their clients and scout their fields for problems that may arise during the growing season. They make recommendations on things ranging from seed to fertilizer and from pest management to disease treatment.

Duties:

  • Provide seed and fertilizer advice in relation to research and production of crops directly to the farmer, which can include collaborating with other advisors in your area in order to understand disease and pest outbreaks in the area.
  • Develop and implement long-term agronomic plans and practices to support organization/farm plans and budgets to maintain maximum production.
  • Responsible for marketing specific products and agronomic services to clients such as fertilizer, chemicals and/or seed.
  • Arrange and coordinate various technical and marketing activities, these may include field days, farmer meetings, demonstration trials and trial sites.
  • Ensure accurate knowledge or reliable referrals to make recommendations to growers to achieve efficient crop production.
  • Soil sample fields including multiple depth sampling, sampling by geo-reference and multiple site sampling in the event of changes in soil texture.
  • Manage field trials, plant physiology and irrigation practices.
  • Gather, compile, analyze and interpret test results and prepare progress reports while scouting customer fields for weed, insects, disease and nutrition issues.

Skills:

  • Technical agronomic skills.
  • Problem solving.
  • Excellent verbal communication skills.
  • Ability to influence decision-making and deliver innovation.
  • Ability to organize and prioritize tasks in a fast-paced environment through multi-tasking and working well in a team atmosphere.

Recent Employers:Crop Production Services, Perdue Foods, Lanyon, HarvestLand Co-Op, Helena Chemical Company, Beck's Hybrids

Minors/Dual Majors: Ag Systems Management, Crop Science, Soil & Water Management, Weed Science
Additional Classroom Opportunities: Soil Science, Soil Fertility, Crop Production Systems, Forage Management, Crop Production Equipment, Power & Machinery Management, Grain Drying & Storage, Plants & Civilization, Weed Science, Communicating in the Global Workplace, Customer Relations Management, Insect Behavior, Environmental Conservation

Description:

Crop Insurance Agents or Adjusters inspect fields where an insurance claim has been made. This may be a result of weather, insect, disease or other problem. They investigate claims, negotiate settlements, and authorize payments to customers for casualty and property losses covered by a policy to reach a fair and equitable settlement. They act as company representative during the claims process providing service primarily via telephone and e-mail. They are responsible for learning and testing on MPCI and Crop Hail rules, regulations, and loss adjusting standards. This position is responsible for completing field inspections, reading maps and aerial photos, measuring fields, storage bins and assessing damage or loss. This position requires a basic understanding of insurance policies, adjusting practices, basic crop and special provisions, and loss methodologies. This position requires a high degree of physical ability such as climbing grain bins, walking over rough terrain for long distances, etc.

Duties:

  • Measure fields, storage bins and discuss findings of crop loss with farmers.
  • Provides the highest level of service to all customers who include policy holders, claimants, agents, loss control, underwriting, peers and in-house telephone claims representatives.
  • Ability to convey regulations and interpretations to claimants, agents, and industry people on claim situations.
  • Effectively and efficiently manage claim workload when many customer claims happen simultaneously.
  • Maintain knowledge of USDA’s Risk Management Agency rules and regulations as well as company procedures for applying all Multiple Peril Crop Insurance (MPCI), hail, and federal crop insurance regulations.
  • Independently call on prospects to sell insurance policies. Serve as subject matter expert and make sales presentations at insurance sales seminars as needed. Provide product and sales expertise to marketplace staff, prospects and customers.
  • Develop and maintain a working relationship with insurance vendor representatives to improve sales and service to retail offices and customers.
  • Settles claims in a fair and equitable manner based on policy coverages and the information gathered during the investigation, without exceeding individual authority.

Skills:

  • Excellent time management skills
  • Excellent human relations skills, oral communication skills and written communication skills.
  • Must be a self-starter and work with very little supervisions.
  • Ability to initiate, organize, prioritize work, and meet deadlines.
  • Ability to travel up to 70% with 5 – 15% overnight travel.
  • Ability to work effectively in a team environment and effectively demonstrate team building attitude and skills.
  • Ability to organize work, determine priorities, and meet deadlines established by claims guidelines while incurring frequent interruptions.

Recent Employers: Hall and Marose Silveus, Fleece Insurance, ProAg Crop Insurance, Diversified Crop Insurance. Farm Credit Services

Minors/Dual Majors: Crop Science, Weed Science, Landscape & Turf, Turf Management
Additional Classroom Opportunities: Soil Fertility, Crop Production Systems, Beef, Dairy or Swine Management, Plants & Civilization, Weed Science, Communication in Relationships, Conflict & Negotiation, Customer Relations Management, Relationship Selling, Leadership & Organizational Change, Negotiation & Decision Making

Description:

DSMs partner primarily with growers and dealers in a defined district to meet business goals and achieve long-term growth through existing and new relationships within the district. They cultivate relationships with customers and deliver recommendations of hybrid/variety and field products. This position will engage in the sales, management, distribution, collection and servicing of dealer accounts and their customers. A DSM is responsible for providing a leadership role in maximizing the promotion, sales and marketing of product through assigned dealers within a specific geography.

Duties:

  • Continually teach dealers new and improved ways to meet the needs of the customer. Ensure that all dealers in the area have the necessary technical skills and information needed to meet expectations. Create an environment that fosters learning. Assist dealers in negotiating and closing deals.
  • Analyze and build knowledge of the district territory to determine strategies and the best use of resources to increase market share and build demand for the company’s brand. Direct sales forecasting activities and associated performance goals with assigned dealers from territory knowledge.
  • Deliver presentations to seed reps/customers, at district or company meetings, and field days. Coordinate, manage, report and execute product testing and comparisons with dealers and dealer customers.
  • Execute and implement strategic goals for territory to grow business year over year. Evaluate your own territory and understand areas of growth and expansion to match company growth strategies to identify customer and prospect opportunities. Then, establish a plan to capitalize on these opportunities through direct sales in areas where there is no Dealer presence. Provide agronomic support and advice to growers and prospects.
  • Evaluate dealership performance, find common success traits among assigned dealer(s) and work to transfer these characteristics to underperforming dealers by motivating, coaching and leading.
  • Manage orders, inventory and distribution to maximize sales and efficiency. Manage customers and prospects in a geographic territory toward goals of customer satisfaction, customer retention, sales growth, and profit.

Skills:

  • Management of sales territory including supervision of personnel.
  • Selling, negotiating, influencing, conflict resolution, handling objections and coaching.
  • Build/maintain strong relationships with customers, key industry/market influencers, and teammates.
  • Lead and influence teams/projects and coach individuals in accomplishing defined objectives/goals to get results by taking initiative, overcoming obstacles & finding creative solutions.
  • Work independently with minimum supervision and operate within budget.
  • Marketing skills to represent the company and focus on building strong business relationships with customers.

Recent Employers: Dow AgroSciences, Monsanto, Beck's Hybrids, Select Seed, Fliegl Group, First Choice Seed, Syngenta, Channel Bio Seed, Climate Corporation, Stine Seed Company, Brodbeck Seeds

Minors/Dual Majors: Ag Systems Management, Crop Science, Entrepreneurship, Organizational Leadership
Additional Classroom Opportunities: Sales, Finance, Marketing, Soil Science, Genetics, Soil Fertility, Crop Production Systems, Principles of Persuasion, Small Group Communication, Customer Relations, Relationship Selling, Consumer Behavior, Negotiations, Leadership Innovation

Description:

Facilities Location Managers have oversight in plant operations, product control, strategy and distribution throughout sales networks.

Duties:

  • Develop new products through an existing range of key accounts and customer contacts.
  • Assess the profitability of new products through market research and competitive analysis.
  • Work closely with other business units to trial products and plan field trials.
  • Assist in positioning product performance and present at company meetings as well as commercialization meetings.
  • Manage global development programs including proper design and execution of activities across multiple areas according to approved budgets and timelines.
  • Train and support sales staff of a specific location or region.
  • Manage relationships with production personnel, stakeholders, trial staff and brand managers.
  • Analyze and communicate results and recommendation to upper management.

Skills:

  • Well versed in coaching and training direct reports.
  • Exceptional presentation skills to large groups.
  • Eagerness to learn.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Ability to organize and prioritize tasks in a fast-paced environment through multi-tasking and working well in a team atmosphere.
  • Ability to influence decision-making and deliver innovation.

Recent Employers: Anheuser-Busch, Leprino Foods, Midwest Poultry Services

Minors/Dual Majors: Ag Systems Management, Management, Organizational Leadership & Supervision, Technology, Leadership & Innovation, Human Resource Management
Additional Classroom Opportunities: Strategic Agribusiness Management, Communicating in the Global Workplace, Organizational Communication, Advanced Presentational Speaking, Small Group Communication, Conflict & Negotiation, Leadership Strategies, Strategic Management, Organizational Behavior

Description:

The Farm Marketer is an agricultural sales and grain marketing specialist, responsible for developing long-term relationships with identified customers, and working face to face with grain producers on the farm. Farm Marketers help farmers maximize profits. As an intermediate member of the merchandising team, this position requires a high level of strategic thinking, market knowledge and employee development.

Duties:

  • Connect customers with customer solutions specialists to: originate grain, introduce and sell products and risk management tools, assist producers in forming marketing plans, define customer needs,etc.
  • Write contract s and negotiate purchase agreements.
  • Develop long-term relationships with targeted customers by personalizing the solutions package to the individual customer's needs and aggressively selling value with the intent of maximizing returns for both the customer and company.
  • Perform USDA grain trading procedures.
  • Keep and use detailed records on the targeted customers to enhance the understanding of customers' problems and needs.
  • Issue purchase orders for farmer suppliers, invoice purchases from farmers and insure timely payment for farmer suppliers.
  • Actively participate in the planning and execution of the regional strategy, business plans, sales and marketing efforts - in particular, the process of defining targeted customers.
  • Communicate producer trends, marketing plans, crop conditions, and wants/needs/concerns to the appropriate people within the region.

Skills:

  • Ability to organize and prioritize tasks in a fast-paced environment through multi-tasking and working well in a team atmosphere.
  • Management of sales territory with minimal supervision.
  • Build/maintain strong relationships with customers, key industry/market influencers, and teammates.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and a collaborative management style.
  • Demonstrated ability to receive feedback and alter approach as needed.
  • Ability to influence decision-making and deliver innovation to demonstrate an understanding of the sales process.

Recent Employers: Cargill, Bunge

Minors/Dual Majors: Ag Systems Management, Crop Science
Additional Classroom Opportunities: Marketing, Commodities, Sales, Principles of Persuasion, Small Group Communication, Customer Relations, Relationship Selling, Consumer Behavior, Negotiations, Soil Fertility, Crop Production Systems

Description:

The Financial Sales Professional position is a sales position with products of selling insurance and financial services. Financial Sales Professionals participate in a comprehensive development program to develop product knowledge and gain selling experience. After the training and development program, many will continue to be financial services generalists, assisting clients with a range of insurance and investment needs; others will go on to develop a specialty, such as fee-based financial planning, insurance for business needs, or estate planning needs. In this entrepreneurial, consultative sales position, you will be responsible for building a business by providing financial products to help meet your client's needs.

Duties:

  • Developing and maintaining long-term relationships with clients through approved techniques and methods that will impact the personal welfare of many people.
  • Active listening, gathering facts, analyzing total needs and making responsible financial recommendations.
  • Service the insurance and investment needs of all owners of policies issued or offered.
  • Have a full understanding of all products and be able to recommend to customers the appropriate solutions that are in the interest of the customer.
  • Develop insurance and investment programs and make sales presentations regularly for a broad range of life and non-life insurance contracts and financial products and services.
  • Make the necessary adjustments in the policyholders’ portfolio in light of changes in the policyholders’ needs and understand how to provide services, such as processing loans, surrenders, changes in beneficiary, claims, policy options, and the like, as well as being able to explain to customers the effect of these transactions.
  • Maintain in force the existing insurance and investments products of clients, secure the reinstatement of insurance that has lapsed, and perform all the duties incident to the care.

Skills:

  • Integrity and strong work ethic
  • Independent and entrepreneurial spirit
  • Confidence and resiliency
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Desire to succeed
  • Ability to problem solve, and develop ideas

Recent Employers: WestPoint Financial Group, Prudential Financial, The Financial Resource Center, Friendship State Bank

Minors/Dual Majors: Family Counseling & Planning, Selling & Sales Management, Finance, Accounting, Organizational Leadership
Additional Classroom Opportunities: Finance Literacy, Personal Finance, Estate Planning & Property Transfer, Principles of Persuasion, Relationship Selling, Money & Banking, Investment Management, Consumer Investment & Savings Decisions, Retirement Planning & Employee Benefits

Description:

Food Products Managers oversee either entire assembly lines or one entity to look at factors like efficiency, quality and safety. They are held accountable for the production of outputs and operating activities for food products. They are always striving to meet their goals to obtain maximum efficiency at a low cost within specified standards. This role helps the company abide by regulatory authority compliance for food companies products. They do so by implementing policies, strategies, and methodology testing. They act as a conduit between commodity traders, commodity marketers and company administration.

Duties:

  • Responsible for establishing and executing policies, procedures, and programs that assure products are developed, manufactured, and marketed with superior quality in compliance with in-house specifications and all applicable legal and regulatory agencies.
  • Develop and maintain audit schedules to ensure all suppliers are evaluated to timescales according to designated risk status.
  • Develop corrective/preventative (continuous quality improvement) action plans.
  • Develop and maintain a successful staff through selection, training, leadership, and motivation.
  • Review preliminary production samples, and provide feedback to vendors on improvements.
  • Communicate and coordinate with internal creative graphic designers, industrial designers, product engineers, global and regional marketing stakeholders, creative agencies and vendors.
  • Knowledge of packaging and shipping test methods to assure packaging performance meets shipping stresses.
  • Lead troubleshooting efforts to resolve process and operational problems.
  • Negotiate raw product contracts with growers and brokers based on quality parameters.

Skills:

  • Attention to details.
  • Motivate and lead a team.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Ability to organize and prioritize tasks in a fast-paced environment through multi-tasking and working well in a team atmosphere.
  • Ability to influence decision-making and deliver innovation.

Recent Employers: Land O'Lakes, Hormel Foods, Perdue Foods, Wabash Valley Produce

Minors/Dual Majors: Food Science, Foods & Nutrition, Supply Chain Management Technology
Additional Classroom Opportunities: Meat Science, Small Group Communication, Negotiation, Science of Food, Six Sigma & Quality Management, Operations Management, Management Information Systems, Food Preparation & Nutrition, Nutrition, Supply Chain Management Technology, Lean & Sustainable Systems

Description:

Human Resources Specialists plan, direct, and coordinate the administrative functions of an organization. They oversee the recruiting, interviewing, hiring and development of new staff and serve as a link between an organization’s management and its employees. Sometimes HRS are involved in recruiting. College recruiters, or a college relations recruiter, work to hire top talent into their respective company from targeted agricultural colleges and universities. They are different from a corporate recruiter in they specialize in target audience of undergraduate or graduate students directly. Corporate Recruiters provide a full cycle of recruiting services to their business or organization including sourcing, attracting, and selecting talent in collaboration with business partners.

 

Duties:

  • Work with key business and HR partners to design a campus recruitment plan, and determine core agricultural colleges and universities to target and recruit from to maintain relationships with core college campuses and students.
  • Manage the interview and selection process once qualified candidates are located.
  • Provide new and productive methods for recruiting talent through marketing campaigns and promotions.
  • Be involved in the planning and execution of summer internship or co-op programs including orientation and evaluations.
  • Coordinates performance management and improvement systems.
  • Focus on employee orientation, development, and training.
  • Administrate compensation and benefits throughout the company and maintains employee safety, welfare, wellness and health, while focusing on employee services and counseling.
  • Assist in developing and managing employee training programs, as well as work with business unit managers, directors, and human resource to identify and understand business requirements for open positions.
  • Handle dissolving employee conflict.

Skills:

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Ability to have difficult conversations and not be afraid of sending rejection messages.
  • Ability to organize and prioritize tasks in a fast-paced environment through multi-tasking and working well in a team atmosphere.
  • Ability to influence decision-making and deliver innovation.

Recent Employers: Bane-Welker Equipment, Dow AgroSciences, Aerotek, AHW, The Forty Group

Minors/Dual Majors: Ag Communications, Communications, Human Resource Management, Human Resource Development, Organizational Behavior
Additional Classroom Opportunities: Communicating in a Global Workplace, Principles of Persuasion, Small Group Communication, Organizational Communication, Interviewing: Practice & Principles, Conflict & Negotiation, Management of HR, HR Management, Negotiation and Decision Making, Organizational Behavior, HR in Organizations, Professional Development Program, Training Methods, HR Issues, Labor & Management Relations, Project Management for Organizational & HR Development, Compensation Planning & Management, Elementary Psychology, Psychology of Personality, Social Problems

Description:

Agriculture is one of the most regulated industries in our society today, so it is fitting that there are lawyers that specialize in laws pertaining to agriculture. These Lawyers deal with water, environmental issues, agricultural labor, marketing, land use, pesticide use, and seed issues. Agricultural Legal Assistants cannot give legal advice or represent individuals in court, but they play an important role in providing support for supervising lawyers.

Duties:

  • Assist farmers in succession planning in order to help preserve farms for future generations.
  • Obtain licenses and permits that agricultural entities may need in order to operate, such as setting up corporations, proprietorships, and partnerships.
  • Provide guidance in regulatory compliance.
  • Give general legal counsel to individuals, companies or organizations.
  • Identify and carry out opportunities to help protect farms from urban sprawl and activists.
  • Draft contracts and other legal documents to submit to a lawyer for review so that the lawyer can verify that the requirements of the client and the law are met.
  • Perform legal research that will help support arguments in the court setting or in legal briefs.
  • Assist in real estate closings, contract writing, filing articles of incorporation and partnership agreements.

Skills:

  • Ability to retain and recall information that was briefly/quickly acquired
  • Excellent reading and memorization skills are needed
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Recent Employers: University of Minnesota, IUPUI, Indiana University

Minors/Dual Majors: Political Science, History, Government, Policy
Additional Classroom Opportunities: Estate Planning & Property Transfer, Income Tax Law, Business Legal Background, Principles of Persuasion, Ag Policy, History of US Agriculture, American Government & Politics, International Relations, US Foreign Policy, Political Analysis, Indiana Government & Politics, Constitutional Law, Psychology, Social Problems, American Society, Social Problems, Criminology, Criminal Justice

Description:

  • Account Managers are responsible for meeting the customers’ needs for a specific company or managing a particular group of vendors for input supplies.
  • Branch Managers oversee the daily operations of a company location’s inventory, personnel, sales, and finances.
  • Project Managers oversee projects to advance the company in growth and development or meeting the needs of specific customer demands.

 

Duties:

  • Handle merchandising, budgeting, credit control, accounting, inventory and expense control.
  • Employ, train, develop, supervise and terminate personnel in a retail location.
  • Operate the business for adequate return on investment to keep it financially sound.
  • Responsible and accountable for all environmental and safety compliance at retail locations.
  • Handle complaints promptly and thoroughly.
  • Responsible for budget compliance.
  • Build relationships with suppliers and customers.
  • Perform management functions, such as, volume building, merchandising, budgeting, credit control, accounting, inventory, expense control and enforcement of policies.

Skills:

  • Ability to organize and prioritize tasks in a fast-paced environment through multi-tasking and working well in a team atmosphere.
  • Ability to influence decision-making and deliver innovation
  • Proven time management ability of self, teams and projects
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Recent Employers: The Andersons, Novus International, Merrell Brothers, Yelp, Rise Interactive, Schlatters, IVM, The Corporate Executive Board, Keller Insurance & Consulting Group, Walker Information Inc.

Minors/Dual Majors: Ag Systems Management, Farm Management, Organizational Leadership, Management
Additional Classroom Opportunities: Strategic Agribusiness Management, Facilities Planning & Management, Construction Layout, Customer Relations, Entrepreneurship, Communicating in the Global Workplace, Organizational Communication, Conflict & Negotiation, Leadership Strategies, Operations Management, Strategic Management, Organizational Behavior, Labor & Management Relations, Leadership through Teams, Project Management, Supply Chain Management, Lean & Sustainable Systems

Description:

A Marketing Representative focuses on learning the product line and marketing, sales, and customer support processes. Dynamic marketers have a strong interest in leveraging customer channels to enhance and expand the brand's relationship with consumers. Marketers are a key part of the sales team acting as a strategic thinker, collaborator, executor and project manager. Professional marketing assignments develop an understanding of sales, marketing, distribution and product support processes. Marketing Rep assignments provide learning and experience with product support, product lines, the dealer organizations, and competition. Marketing Reps are responsible for getting the appropriate communication message and medium delivered to the public. By doing so, they ensure that the company meets their sales goals. Marketing Reps also watch over companies/clients promotions for their products and services through their marketing skill sets.

Duties:

  • Develop and execute marketing programs with key retailers to increase annual sales volume and revenue through strategies using advertising, promotions, public relations, trade marketing, digital and social media.
  • Coordinate and execute special events and incentive programs.
  • Work with suppliers to ensure distribution programs including training/education, pricing, inventory management, communication pieces, reporting, tradeshows, etc.
  • Create incentive programs for sales people and suppliers.
  • Monitor brand performance and use information gained to recommend actions by conducting market research on own products as well as competitive products.
  • Create demand for innovative products with key growers.
  • Lead customer service center projects enabling dealers to provide resolutions to product concerns and assist dealers in offering distinctive customer experience.
  • Address product performance issues or product problem resolution through activities such as performing quality audits, early detection problem resolution visits, and evaluating failures per machine to assist in maximizing customer uptime.
  • Travel with selected field managers to gain experience with the dealer channel for marketing, sales and service.
  • Introduce new products and/or programs to accounts & prospects.

Skills:

  • Experience in roles that demonstrate a successful sales record and negotiating skills
  • Experience in roles that required demonstration of strong listening and problem resolution skills
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Ability to organize and prioritize tasks in a fast-paced environment through multi-tasking and working well in a team atmosphere.
  • Ability to influence decision-making and deliver innovation

Recent Employers: John Deere, BASF, Indiana Pork, Ford Motor Company, Cavalier Distributing, Pearson Education, Harmony Winery, University Spirit

Minors/Dual Majors: Ag Systems Management, Marketing, Selling & Sales Management, Communications
Additional Classroom Opportunities: Public Relations, Advertising, Marketing, Small Group Communication, Principles of Selling, Agribusiness Marketing Workshop, International Food & Agribusiness Marketing Strategy, Communicating in a Global Workplace, Principles in Persuasion, Customer Relations Management, Relationship Selling, Consumer Behavior, Fundamental of Negotiations, Entrepreneurship, Marketing and Management for New Ventures, Marketing Management, Brand Management

Description:

Operations Managers are responsible for planning, administering and reviewing the operations of terminals in order to optimize resource use, minimize costs and maintain quality standards. They oversee the production, quality, costs and safety of the facility through supervising staff, security, processes and procedures.

Duties:

  • Lead, develop and implement strategic and operational planning for a safe, effective, efficient and profitable production operation of a facility by managing all aspects of the terminal to meet customer demands.
  • Develop and deliver on business plans to meet company commitments through the facility.
  • Handle coordination of product delivery, logistics and inventory management.
  • Responsible for safety and health throughout the facility, including proper handling of dangerous goods.
  • Oversee coordination and distribution of all products to maximize efficiency of facility space, expedition of loading vessels, and meet standards while maintaining the best possible profit margins.
  • Test and review quality control, set quality assurance standards, and evaluate operating procedures.
  • Schedule employee shifts and keep track of employee time.
  • Prepare and monitor monthly, quarterly and yearly budgets.

Skills:

  • Problem solving skills are essential to thrive.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Ability to organize and prioritize tasks in a fast-paced environment through multi-tasking and working well in a team atmosphere.
  • Ability to influence decision-making and deliver innovation.

Recent Employers:Monsanto, CGB, Bunge, Remington Seed, Cargill, Dow AgroSciences, J.B. Hunt

Minors/Dual Majors: Ag Systems Management, Crop Science, Management, Supply Chain & Logistics
Additional Classroom Opportunities: Crop Production Systems, Intro to Agricultural Systems, Crop Production Equipment, Facilities Planning & Management, Power & Machinery Management, Organizational Communication, Relationship Selling, Operations Management, Negotiation & Decision Making, Conflict Management, Training Methods

Description:

The Orr Fellowship is the ultimate post-graduate experience. Fellows are selected from the top graduates at universities in Indiana and Ohio with an average acceptance rate of 9.5%. Converging in Indianapolis, these talented graduates join growing companies in positions that create real value. In addition to a full time position, Orr Fellows participate in a unique curriculum designed to challenge, develop and propel you toward a career of excellence. With two years jam-packed with executive mentorship, growing your network, and acquiring new skills, get ready to star in your own success story.

Duties:

  • A full-time, salaried position with a company who sees your value – Host companies seek Orr Fellows as guaranteed talent for their company. Fellows are compensated competitively and are given considerable responsibility, even in entry roles.
  • Continued learning – Fellows participate in a tailored curriculum to develop understanding and skills vital to entrepreneurship and business leadership. Example components include entrepreneurial boot camp, coding intensives, or a workshop on building a personal brand.
  • Top Indianapolis Business Leaders – Through events like Business Leader Meetings, Fellows have multiple opportunities each month to network with and learn from the leading forces in the Indianapolis business community.
  • Civic engagement – Fellows take their responsibility to give back very seriously and are involved as volunteers or board members in nonprofits all over the city.
  • An invaluable peer network – The Orr Fellowship fosters a strong bond between fellows in the program and provides you with a network of peers 15-years deep.
  • Personal growth – The Orr Fellowship provides endless opportunities to hone your strengths. Whether you have set goals for your career 10 years into the future or have no clear direction, Orr Fellows finish the program equipped for success.

Skills:

  • Proven leadership skills in teams and projects
  • Make decisions and solve problem
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Ability to organize and prioritize tasks in a fast-paced environment through multi-tasking and working well in a team atmosphere.
  • Ability to influence decision-making and deliver innovation

Qualifications:

  • Cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher (students with as low as a 3.20 GPA will be considered if they have extensive leadership experience)
  • Demonstrated leadership potential (leaders in on- and off-campus clubs/organizations/athletics)
  • Strong interest in entrepreneurial business or organizational leadership
  • An expected graduation in either December or May with one or more undergraduate majors

Recent Employers: Orr Fellowship Network Partners

Minors/Dual Majors: Entrepreneurship, Management, Selling & Sales Management, Industrial Management, Supply Chain, Information & Analytics, Technology, Leadership & Innovation, Communication
Additional Classroom Opportunities: International Food & Agribusiness Marketing Strategy, Strategic Agribusiness Management, Personal Computing Technology & Applications, Communicating in the Global Workplace, Small Group Communication, Customer Relations Management, Fundamentals of Negotiation, Leadership & Organizational Change, Professional Development Program, Leadership in a Global Environment, Project Management

Description:

Owning Operators/Managers are responsible for planning, organizing and managing the activities of a business. In Agriculture, many in this position own and operate a farm or family business. Specific tasks may vary depending on the type of business. The farm role is varied and includes planning strategies for the maximum yield, organizing farm administration, working the machinery, organizing associated vendors and businesses, and managing of harvest workers.

Duties:

  • Planning and updating finances and production to maintain farm progress against budget parameters with budgets and continuously maintained accurate financial records to ensuring that the business is profitable and meets projected targets.
  • Practical activities, e.g. driving tractors, operating machinery, feeding livestock, spraying fields, marketing the farm's products, buying input supplies, monitoring the quality of yield, etc.
  • Arranging the maintenance and repair of farm property, buildings, machinery and equipment.
  • Planning activities for trainee staff, mentoring/training and supervising/monitoring them.
  • Understanding the implications of the weather and making contingency plans.
  • Ensuring that farm activities comply with government regulations.
  • Maintaining a knowledge of pests and diseases and an understanding of how they spread and how to treat them.
  • Direct and coordinate worker activities, such as planting, irrigation, chemical application, harvesting, grading, payroll, and recordkeeping.
  • Determine acreage allocations by analyzing market conditions in the current and subsequent years.
  • Organizing sales and purchases of livestock, farm equipment, crops and agricultural products.
  • Responsible for chemical mixing and preparation for planter and assures proper levels are maintained on crop application. Oversees fertilizer application in planting season.
  • Records information, such as production, farm management practices, and parent stock, and prepares financial and operational reports.

Skills:

  • Ability to handle/analyze risk, stress & pressure beyond control.
  • Flexibility in all situations, but particularly activities that are weather dependent.
  • Time, organizational and project management skills are essential since much of the work is done individually.
  • Initiative, self-motivation and the ability to motivate others.
  • Analytical skills.
  • Technical knowledge of the environment.
  • Marketing and sales skills.
  • Supervisory skills and management ability.
  • Willingness to be outside in all weathers and patience to undertake all sorts of practical, sometimes repetitive jobs.
  • Negotiation skills and larger-scale business awareness.

Recent Employers: Entrepreneurs, Family Businesses, local businesses

Minors/Dual Majors: Agribusiness Management, Ag Systems Management, Agronomy, Animal Science, Agricultural Engineering, Farm Management, Fisheries & Aquatics, Forestry & Natural Resources, Horticulture
Additional Classroom Opportunities: Soil Fertility, Crop Production Systems, Animal Nutrition, Animal Breeding, Meat Science, Crop Production Equipment, Power & Machinery Management, Grain Drying & Storage, Power Units And Power Trains, Construction Layout, Weed Science, Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Wildlife in America, Environmental Conservation, Wildlife Habitat Management, Fisheries Science & Management, Plant Propagation, Principles of Sustainability

Description:

Precision Farming Specialists, also called Technology Solutions Specialists, provide support and technical assistance to growers who are using precision technologies on their farms.

Duties:

  • Implement actual work of grid and contour differential global positioning systems for soil sampling, developing information maps, recommendation maps, and interpret satellite remote sensing to identify and map field variability.
  • Assist in marketing precision agriculture program to producers.
  • Provides technical service and recommendations to patrons and prospects based on proficient knowledge of fertilization calculation and other formulations.
  • Assist customers in installing and calibrating their precision equipment.
  • Provides training for other retail employees in precision agriculture.
  • Prepare variable rate fertility, fungicide, and seeding maps for customers according to the variable rate and flat rate fertility, fungicide, and seeding recommendations.
  • Provide agronomic services in field using the scouting apps or software, including pre-seed, post-seed, fungicide, pre-harvest, post-harvest recommendations.
  • Understand and participate in the company or farmer’s business plan and strategies.

Skills:

  • Customer services skills are essential to troubleshoot through issues with systems.
  • Excellent verbal communication skills.
  • Sales ability with the understanding of business goals.
  • Ability to organize and prioritize tasks in a fast-paced environment through multi-tasking and working well in a team atmosphere.
  • Ability to learn and adapt to new technology.
  • Ability to influence decision-making and deliver innovation.

Recent Employers:Bane Equipment, Smiths Implement, Reynolds Farm Equipment, Trupointe Cooperative

Minors/Dual Majors: Ag Systems Management, Crop Science, Soil & Crop Management, Data Science, Unmanned Aerial Systems
Additional Classroom Opportunities: Marketing, Crop Production Systems, Crop Production Equipment, Power & Machinery Management, Advanced Machine Technology For Agricultural Crop Production, Communicating in a Global Workplace, Customer Relations Management, Principles of Selling in Agricultural Business

Description:

Procurement – Commodity Merchandisers or Origination/Purchasing – oversee company’s commodities and are responsible for trading, purchasing, locating, and managing customer accounts for each commodity. They support the commodities group by negotiating cost saving initiatives and cost mitigation efforts, and are the point of contact for suppliers and external market consultants and resources. Merchandisers determine strategic supply objectives using tools and reports for decision making around products and commodity purchases.

Duties:

  • Takes action to address supplier pricing and/or delivery issues; advises management of market conditions and supply base activity, which presents significant risk or needs to be elevated to management’s attention.
  • Drive continuous supplier quality improvement through participating in rapid improvement events, supplier quality audits, training and certifications as required.
  • Maintain complete updated purchasing records/data and pricing in company system.
  • Monitor and co-ordinate deliveries of items between suppliers to ensure that all items are delivered to site/plant on time , select and negotiate for the best purchase package in terms of quality, price, terms, deliveries and services with suppliers.
  • Execution and monitoring of all regular purchasing duties.

Skills:

  • Ability to collaborate suppliers and external market consultants and resources
  • Ability to support the commodities group by negotiating cost saving initiatives and cost mitigation efforts
  • Ability to plan and manage inventory levels of materials or products

Recent Employers: Cargill, Bunge, ADM, CGB, Gavilon

Minors/Dual Majors: Ag Systems Management, Crop Science
Additional Classroom Opportunities: Marketing, Commodities, Sales, Principles of Persuasion, Small Group Communication, Customer Relations, Relationship Selling, Consumer Behavior, Negotiations, Soil Fertility, Crop Production Systems, Grain Drying & Storage

Description:

Production Managers work in a variety of settings within agriculture including animal production, seed and chemical production, and the food sector. They are responsible for overseeing the day-to-day production process to assure cost-effective, on-time manufacture of quality products for the company.

Duties:

  • Ensure work orders are completed on time and within budget.
  • Ensure production crew is trained in compliance with federal, state and company regulations to ensure a safe environment.
  • Interview, hire, evaluate performance, and administer disciplinary actions for production crew personnel.
  • Consult with engineering personnel to discuss modification of machines and equipment to improve processing and quality of products.
  • Achievement of productivity, efficiency, customer service, cost, quality, safety and employee engagement objectives.

Skills:

  • Planning and organization skills to be able run and monitor the production process.
  • Ability to communicate clearly and persuasively with your team, managers and clients.
  • Ability to work in a logical, systematic manner.
  • Ability to act decisively and solve staff or equipment-related problems.
  • Capacity to grasp concepts easily.

Recent Employers: Cargill, Remington Seeds, Gavilon, Hormel Foods, American Axle & Manufacturing Inc., Prairie State Semen Supply, Ag Productions Inc

Minors/Dual Majors: Ag Systems Management, Organizational Leadership & Supervision, Management, Entrepreneurship
Additional Classroom Opportunities: Operations Management, Project Management, Supply Chain Management, Financial Management, Business Strategy, Facilities Planning & Management, Organizational Communication, Interviewing Principles, Applied Leadership, Human Relations in Organizations

Description:

Professional Farm Managers in the agricultural industry are responsible for overseeing and supporting a company or business’s real estate strategies by managing all aspects of real estate transactions. This includes strenuous record keeping and overseeing management accounts, company budgeting, and the administration of accounting tasks.

Duties:

  • Provide real estate related consultation and coordinate the processes for acquiring and developing land.
  • Responsible for lease administration and real estate database management.
  • Budget compilation and control, with analysis of monthly reports against budgets.
  • Consult on construction projects pertaining to property acquisition and expansion.
  • Responsible for costing and pricing of stock items, including in-progressed and finished products.

Skills:

  • Planning and organization skills to be able run and monitor the production process.
  • Ability to communicate clearly and persuasively with your team, managers and clients.
  • Analyze and interpret monthly operating or project performance against budget.
  • Create production of daily and periodic cost statements.
  • Ability to prepare documentation for budgeting and financial reporting procedures.

Recent Employers: Halderman Farm Management, Water Street Solutions

Minors/Dual Majors: Farm Management, Accounting, Management, Entrepreneurship
Additional Classroom Opportunities: Financial Management, Customer Relations Management, Farm Organization, Estate Planning and Property Transfer, Personal Finance, Fundamentals of Negotiations, Strategic Management, Conflict Management, Intro to Agricultural Systems

 

Description:

The Sales Representative markets the products that are manufactured by the company they work for to different companies within the agriculture sector, such as producers, suppliers and dealers. Sales Representatives are usually given a specific territory to market these products in.

Duties:

  • Outline and achieve distribution and growth objectives/sales goals within a specific geographic area through effective account management.
  • Introduce new products, promote improved distribution and ensure promotional results.
  • Recommend programs for brand building and line expansion of existing brands.
  • Provide educational training to accounts through seminars and trade events.
  • Build and develop the trust and confidence of the retailer through knowledge of products, persuasive presentations, and overcoming objections.

Skills:

  • Ability to influence without authority.
  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills, including excellent speaking and presentation skills.
  • Ability to convey messages and motivate various audiences.

Recent Employers: Dow AgroSciences, Bayer CropScience, PepsiCo, Beck's Hybrids, Elanco, Syngenta, BASF, Bankers Life, TruHorizons, Ag-Max, Diamond Tool & Engineering, Growmark, Kent Feeds, Ecolab, Consolidated Electrical Distributors, Springer-Springer Insurance, Textron Companies, Valent USA Corp, CF Industries, Whirlpool, CNH, C.H. Robinson, Big Dutchman, AgriFlite Services, Kraft Heinz, Crop Insurance Specialists, Eli Lily & Company

Minors/Dual Majors: Marketing, Organizational Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Selling & Sales Management
Additional Classroom Opportunities: Principles of Selling, Agribusness Marketing, Sales and Marketing, Relationship Selling, Consumer Behavior, Fundamentals of Negotiations, Prinicples of Marketing, Marketing Management, Negotiation and Decision Making

Description:

Seed Production Technicians provide support to growers by helping them with operations of seed equipment, planting, and seed scouting. They are responsible for the coordination of planning, strategizing, and production of certain seeds for individual companies. Seed Production Technicians can also be seen sorting, processing, and completing numerous other duties in seed warehouses.

Duties:

  • Lead, develop and implement strategic and operational planning for a safe, effective, efficient and profitable production operation of a facility by managing all aspects of the terminal to meet customer and throughput commitments.
  • Handle coordination of product delivery, logistics and inventory management.
  • Monitor computerized automation system, to ensure that all equipment is operational, and production levels are met and maintained in accordance with goals and objectives.
  • Oversee coordination and distribution of all products to maximize efficiency of facility space, expedition of loading vessels, along with the blending of grains to meet grade standards while maintaining the best possible profit margins.
  • Test and review quality control and set quality assurance standards.
  • Handle customer questions and complaints.
  • Evaluate operating procedures.

Skills:

  • Problem solving skills are essential to thrive.
  • Excellent verbal communication skills.
  • Ability to organize and prioritize tasks in a fast-paced environment through multi-tasking and working well in a team atmosphere.
  • Ability to influence decision-making and deliver innovation.

Recent Employers: Monsanto, Remington Seed, First Choice Seeds, Dow AgroSciences

Minors/Dual Majors: Ag Systems Management, Crop Science, Management
Additional Classroom Opportunities: Crop Production Systems, Intro to Agricultural Systems, Crop Production Equipment, Facilities Planning & Management, Power & Machinery Management, Organizational Communication, Relationship Selling, Operations Management, Negotiation & Decision Making, Conflict Management, Training Methods

Description:

Those in Logistics and Supply Chain Management positions are responsible for overseeing the execution of factory or customer deliveries, freight quotations, onsite pickup, and overflow and direct-to-port. They also are in charge of implementing the contractual, regulatory and strategic supply chain goals of a company. A supply chain manager is responsible for the management of goods, materials, services and/or equipment of ether a division of a company, or an entire company. Supply chain managers, also called process/continuous improvement managers, facilitate process improvement plans within a division or throughout a company.

Duties:

  • Develop and manage a logistics plan for the business unit, including road, rail and coastal shipping transportation, to develop least-cost supply chain strategies, short and medium term.
  • Review sources of supply and service provider contractual terms in order to develop alternatives if required.
  • Utilize freight and product storage contracts, key customer and supplier records of performance and sales/supply information.
  • Proactively manage the delivery/receivable schedule to meet sales and purchase contractual terms.
  • Proactively manage product deficiencies, including reordering, rejection, breakdowns, contamination, delays etc.
  • Undertake major contract negotiations within the approved pricing policy and establish service programs to match the company's requirements.
  • Prepare reports and communicate inventory measurements to management.
  • Work closely with sales, marketing and customer service to identify proactive inventory adjustments in support of both sales and operational targets.
  • Actively participate with contract manufacturing, finance, sales/marketing, research and development and project managers towards new product development and launch.

Skills:

  • Ability to organize and prioritize tasks in a fast-paced environment through multi-tasking and working well in a team atmosphere.
  • Strong negotiation skills.
  • Problem solving.
  • High amount of initiative.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Ability to influence decision-making and deliver innovation.

Recent Employers: Hillshire, Tyson, Chiquita, Dow AgroSciences

Minors/Dual Majors: Industrial Management, Technology Leadership & Innovation, Supply Chain Information & Analytics, Supply Chain Management Technology
Additional Classroom Opportunities: Agribusiness Strategy, Quantitative Techniques For Firm Decision Making, Organizational Communication, Conflict & Negotiation, Operations Management, Strategic Management, Organizational Behavior, Labor & Management Relations, Technology & the Organization, Supply Chain Management Technology

* Indicates up-and-coming career field.