Drew Parker's Headshot

Leading and Learning Across the Globe

Name: Drew Parker

Hometown: Noblesville, IN

Major: Agribusiness

Minors: Crop Science and Farm Management

Why did you come to Purdue: I grew up as a proud Purdue fan, and choosing Purdue felt like a natural next step. I was especially drawn to its prestigious agriculture programs after attending a 4-H camp at the campus when I was in middle school.  

Favorite Purdue tradition: Singing “Hail Purdue” at sporting events

Drew in Madrid Drew speaking at MANRRS

Top three influences at Purdue:

  1. Zac Brown
  2. Chad Fiechter
  3. Dr. Lee Schweitzer
Favorite memories of your time at Purdue: 
  1. Participating in a Maymester Study Abroad in Cape Town, South Africa, through MANRRS with some of my closest friends.
  2. Tailgating football games on top of Slayter Hill
  3. Sigma Chi Blue Formal
  4. Going to Spain for spring break
Four places you have been as a Purdue student: 
  1. Madrid, Spain (spring break trip to visit fraternity brothers studying abroad)
  2. Cape Town, South Africa (study abroad through MANRRS)
  3. Washington, D.C. (MANRRS Summer Business Meeting)
  4. Denver, Colorado (MANRRS Region VI Cluster)

Drew with group at John Deere

Favorite club/organization: MANRRS

Favorite student-led event/initiative: Sigma Chi Derby Days

Favorite Purdue event: Grand Prix

Favorite place to study: First-floor Krannert

Favorite thing about CoA: It’s family-oriented; everyone wants to elevate others, from professors to students.

Favorite class: AGEC 411

Favorite professor: Dr. Lee Schweitzer

Class you are excited to take your senior year: AGEC 321

Drew with MANRRS group

Three biggest accomplishments at Purdue: 

  1. Serving as MANRRS National Undergraduate President
  2. Being an Emerging Leaders Scholar
  3. Leaving the country for the first time, through Purdue study abroad

Something about you that is not listed on your resume: Meeting with past U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Thomas Vilsack, at the MANRRS 8th National Conference

Future plans: Obtain a job in the ag marketing/product support space and look to farm part-time

Drew in Africa with friends

Advice for underclassmen: Don’t be afraid to take the daunting classes or leadership positions. Skills aren’t developed in comfort.

The biggest takeaway from Purdue: The network you build can lead to opportunities you never imagined.