Calling All Employable Students!

All college students have one thing in common: they want a job when they graduate.  

 But not just any job- they want THE job.  They want the one that jump starts their career and takes them wherever it is that they want to go.  Unfortunately, many of college students are not sure where to look in order to find THE job.  In all actuality, they may not even be sure what field they want to enter.  

Never fear, fellow students, there is hope for those of us who are unsure what field we want to enter or where to look for our dream jobs!  There is an opportunity that comes here, to campus, in order to help you find what you are searching for.  Each fall, the College of Agriculture holds a Career Fair, in which representatives from different agricultural fields come to tell you about the opportunities their businesses can offer you as an employee.  These career fairs give students the opportunity to learn about many different industries, career options, and internship options all at the same time.  This semester, the fall College of Agriculture Career Fair will be held on Tuesday, October 23^rd, from 12:00-4:00 pm in the E.S. Good Barn.  All students are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity!

Before you head out to the career fair, it is important to remember a few things.  You are an investment to an employer, and they will choose the best investment.  Prove you are that investment by following these tips:  Number 1: Dress to impress in business attire!  You will be meeting potential employers and it is important to make a great first impression. 

 Number 2: Do not forget your resume!  You could have a phenomenal conversation with an employer at the fair, but they may not remember you from among the crowd unless you give them something as a reminder.  This is where the resume comes in.  The employer will look at your resume after the career fair, and if they like what they see, it may lead to an interview or job/internship offer.   

Number 3: Get their contact information!  Follow up is extremely important when searching for a job.  After visiting the career fair, write an email to the companies you are interested in, and thank them for coming to the career fair.  Tell them what you liked about their company, and inquire about any open positions or internships that they may have.  

So, brush up your resume, iron your business attire, and write Tuesday, October 23^rd down in your agenda as the opportunity to find your career!  Maybe you'll see me from 12:00-4:00 pm at the E. S. Good Barn!

- Kendall

 Kendall, is a first year ambassador from Georgetown, Kentucky.  She is an Agricultural Education junior.  She is a student worker with the National Association of Agricultural Educators.  Kendall is immediate past Kentucky FFA President. 

The Value of an Agricultural Degree

There has been much discussion the past few days about the value and worth of a degree in agriculture.  A popular website ran a piece in its Education section detailing a listing of “useless college degrees.”  Many of our alumni, faculty, staff and students responded with their views on the true worth of a degree in agriculture.  We applaud the agriculture community for coming to the defense of the sector.

Agriculture careers make up one in four jobs in the United States.  As many know, the agriculture industry is as widely diverse as the people in this country.  Nearly every aspect of daily life has a connection to agriculture and it is one of the career tracks where there is always opportunity to adapt.  Reports  like the “Employment Opportunities for College Graduates in Food, Renewable Energy, and the Environment, United States, 2010-2015” (http://www.ag.purdue.edu/usda/employment/pages/default.aspx), put out by the United States Department of Agriculture, paint a different picture than the article in question did yesterday.  At the UK College of Agriculture, 90 percent of our graduates reported they had a full time job, part-time job or were pursuing an advanced degree in the 2010-2011 exit survey.

The University of Kentucky College of Agriculture supports students going to college and earning their degree, whether that be in agriculture, human environmental sciences, or any program in the country.  There has never been a better time for students to step up to the challenges of an increasing world population, economic recovery, or simply to make a difference in their community than now.  Agriculture needs students who can rise to these challenges and commit to making a difference.  Colleges of agriculture around the country are the perfect places for young minds and young leaders to enroll and begin making the difference today.  The jobs are there, as are the opportunities. 

Dr. Scott Smith                                                          Jason Headrick

Dean                                                                          Director of Student Relations

University of Kentucky                                               University of Kentucky

College of Agriculture                                                College of Agriculture

Bluegrass Girl Sees the "Show Me" State

Kansas City is known for many things.  It carries a legacy for having the first National FFA Convention.  It has more barbecue restaurants per capita than any other city in the nation.  And did you know if you have a card to says Hallmark on the back, it was made in this nifty town?

On the first week of November that is not all this town had to offer.  The 2011 Agriculture Future of America (AFA) Leader’s Conference was in Kansas City, Missouri from November 3-6th.  AFA is a 3 day conference in Kansas City, Missouri where college students all over the United States are selected to attend. There were three different conference tracks based on your year in school, and professional achievement. Each track offers you the chance to be engaged with other students with similar interests, hear motivational speakers, career development training, and network with over a 100 different business’s in the food, fiber, and agriculture industry.

The theme for AFA this year was “My Piece. My Place. Our Future.”  The theme really describes the tone for the conference.  The conference was such a great way to get fired up and even more so about your future in an awesome industry.  AFA was kicked off with a very inspiring Captain Plumb, a Vietnam fighter pilot.  His plane was shot down, he parachuted into enemy hands, was captured, tortured and held prisoner for six years.  Such an amazing story!  He encouraged participants not let the surrounding walls suppress us and to thank the people in our life that pack our parachutes in his memorable keynote ,“Winning through Adversity.”

Here are a few highlights of the track three session that I was in:

“You’ve graduated now what?”  A panel of employers explains how to manage life after graduation, and what employers are looking for in you as a possible future employee.

“Money Talks” Adam Carroll, a motivational speaker that educated participants on how to manage money he spoke on everything dealing with investments, debt, money markets, and stocks.

“Family Dynamics in Agriculture and in Business”  Led by a professor and counselor from Nebraska State University, this track explained how to handle managing different dynamics if you plan on going back to the farm, or starting up a farm.

The conference was also complete without a fun night of dancing, bowling, mini-golf go-carting, and ice skating.

Jolene Brown

On the final day, Jolene Brown, a farm wife, professional public speaker and comedian ended this conference with a bang. She left us with OPPORTUNITYISNOWHERE- it’s all in how you see it.

Opportunities are a wonderful thing.  As I finish my fourth and final year at the University of Kentucky I am truly thankful for the opportunities, experiences, and growth that I have been able to partake in, as I network, examine, and research ideas and paths for my future I am thankful for all of the knowledge, and skills that have been given to my at the University of Kentucky.

 I walked away from the conference with profound information and tools to help me succeed in the future, new friends, so many business cards, and pages of notes to apply and examine to my everyday life.  Thanks to the giving support of Monsanto I had the privilege to attend Agriculture Future Leader’s Conference.  I highly encourage other college students to apply and attend this extraordinary conference!  Check it out on www.agfuture.org or for more information, follow them on facebook or twitter.

Keitha,  UK Class of 2012