Connect with crop professionals

The Mid America CropLife Association’s Young Leader Scholarship Program offers nearly a year of professional development and networking opportunities.

By

Courtney Leeper Girgis

Published on February 29, 2024

Photo:

Mid America Croplife Association

The Mid America CropLife Association (MACA) Young Leader ScholarshipProgram offers more than just a check, says Kelsey Henderson, an Iowa State University (ISU) senior and one of nine 2023 scholarship recipients.

Henderson grew up on a row crop farm in southeast Wisconsin. At Iowa State, she majors in agricultural business with a marketing option and minor in entrepreneurship. She found out about the MACA scholarship through the ISU College of Agriculture and Life Sciences career services center and from previous recipients, who, as part of the program, present on campus about their experiences after attending the MACA annual meeting in November.

After applying and receiving the honor, Henderson says, “It has been a great journey.”

“It’s an experience and opportunity to grow your network, to learn more about the crop life industry,” she adds.

Expand your network

Before becoming a MACA Young Leader, Henderson had developed her network primarily in the farm equipment industry through an internship with CNH Industrial plus two internships and part-time work with John Deere. Most recently, she has accepted a full-time position in John Deere’s Marketing/Sales & Customer Support Development Program, which will begin after she graduates in May.

The MACA scholarship, Henderson says, expanded her network to include professionals from other sectors of the crop industry —— seed and fertilizer dealers, along with scientists and businesses focusing on biotech solutions, crop protection, and soil health.

Henderson met many of these professionals at the MACA annual meeting, a central component of the scholarship program. The scholarship comes with a travel stipend to attend the meeting in the fall and the chance to speak on a panel at the event. However, the networking begins in the spring, shortly after the awards are announced.

In the months leading up to the annual meeting, award winners bond in virtual, interactive webinars hosted by MACA members. Together, they learn from professionals how to build an eye-catching resume, present themselves well in a job interview, and use proper dining etiquette. Each student is also paired with a mentor, who checks in on the student regularly and helps that student make the most of attending the annual meeting.

The meeting

At the MACA annual meeting, students learn alongside professionals about the

biggest issues in the industry, many of which connect to technology, Henderson says. And it comes at a good time — in early fall.

“For us college students, that’s the start of recruitment season, whether you’re looking at getting another internship or a full-time job opportunity,” Henderson says. “The highlight of the MACA meeting was the timeline of it and the feedback and advice we got to help us succeed further down the road. You can truly tell that every MACA member wants you to succeed.”

The scholarship

The MACA Young Leader Scholarship Program "is designed to expose future agriculturists to the crop protection industry and future career opportunities," according to MACA's website, where the application and more information are available. Applications typically open in August.

To be eligible, students must attend one of 15 participating universities and must plan to have completed at least 60 credit hours by the end of the semester in which they are applying.

Students must also plan to complete a summer internship, preferably within the crop protection industry. In addition to networking and professional development opportunities, award winners receive a $2,000 scholarship plus a travel stipend that covers all expenses related to attending the MACA Annual Meeting, which is hosted in a different Midwest city each year.