July 20 – Two students from the College of Agriculture and Human Sciences were recently given the opportunity to attend the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) Policy & Leadership Development Conference in Washington, D.C.
Robert Thomas and Trey Lewis represented the college at the annual event dedicated to fostering the next generation of professionals in the seed business. Thomas, a sophomore, and Lewis, a junior, met with seed industry representatives and learned how the trade impacts food, technology, policy, and more.
“It was important for me to attend the ASTA conference because I had never experienced agricultural policy until this event and wanted to expand my knowledge of agriculture,” Thomas said. “As an agriculture student, I feel it is important to gain an understanding of the vastness of the industry, and not just my subset or major.”
Trey Lewis and Robert Thomas at the 2021 American Seed Trade Association Policy & Leadership Development Conference. Photo Credit: American Seed Trade Association
The conference aims to bridge the gap between interested students and young and seasoned professionals and offer leadership training to newcomers.
A significant focus of the conference is emphasizing the importance of mentorship in this industry, especially the need to connect with leaders from similar backgrounds and encouragement that resonated with both students.
“We were also given opportunities to network and meet with other leaders in the seed industry, including Paul Nselel, president and chief executive officer of AgReliance Genetics, which is the third-largest seed corn company in the United States,” Lewis said. “Meeting these individuals created new contacts that can help continue to broaden my knowledge of what the agricultural industry has to offer as well as opening doors that could lead to future internships and career opportunities.”
The event also connects professionals directly to Congress to further advocate for marginalized members of the business.
“As a third party to the intricacies of the political battle, understanding how volatile the legislation is that governs these individuals’ actions justify the need for conferences like the ASTA meeting,” Thomas said.
Thomas is an Agriculture major, just beginning his journey at PVAMU. After graduation, he hopes to work with the United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service and possibly pursue a graduate degree.
Lewis, also an Agriculture major with a concentration in Agriculture Business, said his post-college plans include working within the seed industry with a focus on biotechnology. The trip informed Lewis’ training so much, he already has his eyes set on future conferences.
“Knowing the importance of Biotechnology in Agriculture and companies like AgReliance encourages me to continue to strive for greatness as a student researcher in the Cooperative Agriculture Research Center,” Lewis said.
Pascale Mondesir
Communication Specialist II
pamondesir@pvamu.edu
(936) 261-5155