Seizing opportunities and having fun along the way

Nathan Thompson's Headshot

Name: Nathan Thompson

Hometown: Francesville, IN

Major: Agribusiness Management

Minor: Farm Management

Why did you come to Purdue: Purdue was only an hour away from home, and there is no better school for agriculture.

Thompson with Purdue Pete and friends

Favorite Purdue tradition: Yelling “IU sucks” at football games

Top three influences at Purdue:

  1. AGEC advisors
  2. College of Ag professors
  3. Fellow students
Top five memories of your time at Purdue: 
  1. Being able to do events/interact with others on the Envoy team that I never would have otherwise
  2. Loud and energetic basketball games in Mackey Arena
  3. Attending travel opportunities through events presented by the university
  4. The shenanigans that come along with living in Cary Quad
  5. Dinner conversations with friends that would last for hours

Thompson with AFA Group Thompson at Commodity Classic

Five places you have been as a Purdue student: Raleigh, North Carolina; San Diego, California; Denver, Colorado; Houston, Texas; and Washington, D.C., with AFA institutes and Farm Credit’s Scholars Program.

Favorite club/organization: Agribusiness Club

Favorite student-led event/initiative: Ag Week

Favorite Purdue event: Grand Prix or basketball games in Mackey

Favorite place to study: Agricultural and Biological Engineering Building

Favorite thing about CoA: It is big enough to offer lots of opportunities, yet feels like a small community

Favorite class: AGRY 375

Favorite professor: Shawn Ehlers

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

Thompson at AFA

Three biggest accomplishments at Purdue: 

  1. Top 5 of the Ag Econ Department junior year
  2. Being on the Ag Econ Envoy team
  3. Being elected president of the Agribusiness Club

Something about you that is not listed on your resume: 3D modeling skillset that I gained in high school and utilize for 3D printing

Future plans: Return to Pulaski County, Indiana, to work on the family farm

Thompson with donuts Thompson with friends at pancake breakfast

Advice for underclassmen: Meet everyone you can and grow your network. You will think it’s dumb at first, but you don’t realize how important that is later. Also, take hold of any opportunities that come your way, even if they seem nerve-racking. 

The biggest takeaway from Purdue: The four years of Purdue go by with the blink of an eye, take time to make good friends that will last a lifetime and grasp onto opportunities presented to you. Make sure to have fun as well, and do not overwork yourself.

Thompson in front of ag mural