As the agriscience field grows, so do the career opportunities. As a result, preparing for your upcoming educational and career pursuits can feel challenging.
Looking for clarity? You’re in luck. According to Dr. Dana K. Dittoe, FFA alumna and assistant professor of meat microbiology at the University of Wyoming, you can do five things as an FFA member to gear up for a job in an agriscience-related field.
1. Identify and follow your curiosity.
First, determine your top interests and passions within the agriscience field, then pursue them.
“For example, if the poultry industry piques your curiosity, you might consider competing in the poultry evaluation career development event to find out if it’s an area you’d like to pursue going forward,” says Dittoe, an alumna of the Milford FFA in Milford, Del.
2. Connect with your advisor and chapter members.
Not sure which aspect of the agriscience field most appeals to you? Ask your advisor and fellow chapter members for advice.
“Sometimes, people on the outside looking in see things we can’t,” Dittoe says. “Your advisor may have a CDE or supervised agricultural experience project in mind for you, based on their experiences and interactions with you. The same applies to your peers, so don’t be afraid to ask.”
3. Be open to new opportunities.
Dittoe emphasizes the importance of trying things outside your comfort zone to discover new areas of interest.
“Agriscience encompasses so much, and you may not even realize you’d enjoy a particular area of the industry because you’ve never explored it,” she says. “Try as much as you can — even if you think you’re not interested. You might surprise yourself.”
4. Reach out to an agriscience company.
Whether you’re scheduling a tour or applying for an internship, she recommends connecting with an agriscience company in your community to learn more about the day-to-day work environment.
“Getting a behind-the-scenes look at something can completely change your perspective,” she says. “You may realize you don’t want to spend your days in a processing plant and that you’d prefer to turn your focus elsewhere. That’s valuable information.”
5. Remember the three Ds to success.
No matter the path you choose, there will likely be bumps in the road. The key, Dittoe says, is not letting anything stop you.
“I learned in FFA that there are three Ds to success: dedication, drive and determination,” she says. “That has stuck with me, and it applies to anything you want to do in your life and career. If you stay the course and keep working toward your goal, you will achieve it.”
