Ag Jobs A to Z: Merchandiser

Donna Klostermann, Merchandiser at Consolidated Grain and Barge

There are some people in this world you meet for the first time and know you'll never forget. Donna Klostermann is one of them for sure. I was lucky to attend Iowa State at the same time as Donna and learned from her leadership as a peer mentor, and officer in College of Agriculture clubs on campus.

1. Where did you go to school?
Iowa State, Agricultural Business ‘14

2. What inspired you to pursue a job as a merchandiser?
My family owns a grain elevator in northern Illinois, and my father farms. I have been around the business my entire life. When I first got to Iowa State, I thought I wanted to be an ag lender. However, I started following the markets my first semester at ISU. I learned then I had a knack and a passion for it. I had several internships throughout my college career: AgResource, Cargill, and Consolidated Grain and Barge. I knew what I wanted to do, I just had to figure out where I wanted to do it.

3. How long have you been working as a merchandiser?
I have been working as a merchandiser for 18 months at Consolidated Grain and Barge. I did an internship with them prior to my full time employment. I have been in Uniontown, Kentucky working with producers for a little over a year. Spending time in Kentucky proved to be crucial to my development as a merchandiser and a young person in agriculture because I was exposed to an entirely different farming mindset than we see in the cornbelt.  After January 1st, I will be returning to northern Illinois to work at my family’s elevator, Michlig Grain. 

4. What skills are necessary for a career as a merchandiser?
As a merchandiser or grain originator, you have to be good at building relationships. Farmers want to talk to someone who understand their business. This is more than understanding how many acres they have and which crops they produce. You have to understand their cash flow needs, who their landlords are, and their risk tolerance. In many farming operations, bringing grain to the elevator is their only source of revenue. You must care about not only the company’s profitability, but also the farmer’s profitability in order to grow that relationship. You can learn futures and options.

5. How does your job fit into the agricultural industry? (Who do you work with? Who do you help? Who helps you?)
I work mostly with farmers to help them manage their risk and sell grain and profitable levels. I work with the operations staff at our facility to coordinate our grain inbounds. I also coordinate with our grain traders to let them know how much available grain is out in our area. Basically, my job is to find where the grain is, how much it takes to buy it, and get it into a barge on the Ohio River.

6. What career/internship opportunities are there as a merchandiser?
Every large grain company offers grain merchandising internships. Although all merchandisers buy grain, their career responsibilities differ among companies or in different regions of the US. In some companies, merchandisers have to both buy and sell the grain. Origination/Merchandising is different from many jobs because it is both an entry level position before you become a trader or elevator manager, as well as an entire career path! CGB is a great place to train, and provides an environment where you can advance quickly if you work hard. I liked it very much since their decentralized structure gave me the ability to make decisions. I always felt empowered. I am leaving on great terms, since I am going back to help my family. CGB has been very supportive of this.

7. Is there anything else you would like a student audience to know?
I think many people underestimate how similar merchandising is to a sales position. As I mentioned earlier, it is all about building relationships. You are not always going to have the best price, so you need something else to fall back on. In any business, you need to build loyalty amongst your customers to grow your market share. You also need to understand where you stack against the competition. 

7 Re-branding Changes I Made For 2016

If you've been following Roots on Facebook or Twitter lately, you've probably seen this post pinned to the top of my social media pages and wondered what it means. 

"Last week I applied to graduate from Iowa State. It hardly seems possible that 4 years have flown by. I decided if I have to graduate, my blog should too. In the next month, there will be lots of changes around here. Thanks for your patience with Roots' growing pains!"

More details are coming soon, but for now there are some exciting things you should know about my re-branding progress...






1. I've stopped using my personal Twitter handle. If you've been following me at @AnySense035 and wondering why I dropped off the face of the earth, make sure you go follow me at @Roots_Journey instead. Now that Roots has many readers I haven't met in real life, it's much less confusing if I just use one account. 

2. Number one has really helped me accomplish change number two: Share more focused Tweets. Even though you may not be able to tell by looking at my timeline, there is a method to my madness. All my tweets are somehow related to my travel, agriculture, thrifting or entrepreneurial goals. This has helped me gain a more "adult" following and keeps me from getting too distracted on social media.

3. With that, I also want to be a more engaged community member with people who care about the same topics as me. To do this, I'm being more intentional about scheduling time to participate in Twitter discussions like #FoodieChats on Mondays and #AgChat on Tuesdays. These conversations have been the starting place for some great relationships and awesome projects I'm excited to tell you about later. Attending #AgChat conference in Nashville last month was just the beginning of travels to meet my online friends. 

This is my current profile picture everywhere.

4. I also switched all my social media accounts to use one consistent profile picture. Along the lines of number one, I haven't had the privilege of meeting all my online followers. I'm easier to keep track of across the different social media platforms if people are familiar with a certain picture. (My current picture is almost 4 years old and due for an update, but I'm all about baby steps around here!)

5. While I was making sure each of my social media accounts looked consistent, I went ahead and made as many of them @Roots_Journey as possible. Now, I'm @Roots_Journey on Instagram and Twitter, plus a few other channels I plan to use more in 2016 like Pinterest and YouTube.

6. I bought my domain! Domains are pretty cheap, but to me this was a really big deal, meaning I'm serious about developing Roots as I grow personally and professionally. Now you can find my blog by just typing in www.therootsjourney.com to your address bar!

7. If you're a regular Roots reader you may notice a few tweaks to the layout of my website. Nothing has changed too dramatically, but I've added some social buttons to the sidebar so I'm easier to connect with. Also, there are new tabs across the top so my most popular posts about travel and Ag Jobs A to Z are easy to find.

I hope these re-branding changes make Roots more fun for you to follow. As always, feel free to comment or email with any feedback about the new look! Thanks for reading!

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Ag Jobs A to Z: Media Relations

Ashley Woodward-Fischer, Photo credit: Beck's Hybrids

Over the last four years I've had some fantastic internships that introduced me to wonderful mentors. Last summer, I interned with Beck's and was blessed to work with Ashley every day. Because of her, my writing has improved and I feel lots closer to being ready for a career.

1. Where did you go to school?
Purdue University

2. What inspired you to pursue a job in media relations?
I graduated from Purdue with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural communications. After graduation I interned at a marketing communications agency in Milwaukee, Wis. During my internship, I realized how much I enjoyed the agency lifestyle – fast paced, always evolving, and it challenged me as an individual. 

But I didn’t want to start my career at a large agency so I moved to Fort Worth, Texas to work for a small agency. I wanted to learn from the ground up. That’s when I fell in love with media relations. 

From there, I worked with another agency in Madison, Wis., before coming back to central Indiana to work for Beck’s, the largest family-owned, retail seed company in the United States.

When I started at Beck’s, no one was doing media relations and I wasn’t hired for that purpose. But I told them media relations was a passion and a vital component they were missing in their marketing communications. Now, five years and three job titles later, I’m not only doing what I love, I was able to build our media relations program.  

3. How long have you been working in media relations?
9 years

4. What skills are necessary for a career in media relations?
Passion. If you’re going to succeed in media relations, you’ll want to be passionate about your job. It you’re not, then it’s not for you. 

Innovation. Things don’t always go as planned. Sometimes that means you have to innovate, adapt and overcome. 

Adaptability. I’ll repeat. Things don’t always go as planned. Be adaptable. Be patient. Be helpful. And most of all, be kind.

Integrity. Always tell the truth. 

Commitment. Timeliness is everything in media relations. No matter if you are answering a reporter’s question, finding a source, or reviewing a story before it goes to print, you want to respond in a timely manner. You never want to lose an opportunity to tell your story. And even if it’s 6:00 a.m. or 8:00 p.m., sometimes stories, challenges or situations come in at all hours. It’s a commitment, but when you love what you do, it doesn’t matter the hour. 

Teamwork. Whether you’re working with a coworker or a media professional, don’t forget to work effectively with others. 

5. How does your job fit into the agricultural industry? (Who do you work with? Who do you help? Who helps you?) 
For Beck’s, it’s not just about getting our message out in the public, it’s about helping farmers succeed. Through our field agronomists and Practical Farm Research (PFR)® team, we have excellent unbiased content for media to utilize.  

As a media relations professional I work with farm broadcasters, agricultural editors or writers, bloggers, TV, as well as the general media. I work with many audiences – internal employees, agricultural media, general media, etc. At the end of the day, when I get a request from the media, my goal is to find the right person for the interview. Not someone from the marketing department. I want them to speak to the person who “lives” in the topic of discussion every day. 

6. What career/internship opportunities are there in media relations?
Yes, there are career and internship opportunities available in media relations. Whether it’s working for a marketing communications agency, public relations agency, a company, or industry association, there are many opportunities available. 

7. Is there anything else you would like a student audience to know?
No matter the job, no matter who you work for, and no matter what happens, always tell the truth. If you make a mistake, own it. I’ll never forget my first major mistake and neither will you. And I promise, no matter how hard you try to not make a mistake, it’ll happen. Trust me. But making a mistake is how we grow as individuals and professionals. 

Ag Jobs A to Z: Research

Lee Koenigsfeld is a Research Associate for Beck's Hybrids, where I interned last summer, working in Iowa. His sister is my roommate and so kindly offered him up to help me complete this Ag Jobs A to Z series. (Aren't sisters the best?) Putting together this blog post has been such a fun way to learn about a part of Beck's I never got to experience.

1. Where did you go to school?
I attended Iowa State University and graduated with a degree in agronomy.

2. What inspired you to pursue a job in research?
My initial plan when starting my college experience was to do as many internships, in as many different fields, as possible. After my freshman year, I did an internship with Remington Hybrids working in seed corn production. My sophomore year, I was hired for a soybean research internship with Pioneer and that was when the plan changed for me. I felt as though I had found my spot and I never had a non-research related internship after that.

3. How long have you been working in research?
I have been working off and on in research since that first six month internship with Pioneer in 2010. In 2011, I worked for Iowa State University in the Entomology Department, working mostly in corn research. It was here that I learned I preferred soybean to corn research so in 2012, I went back to Pioneer for another six month soybean internship and never really left after that.  I was hired full time by Pioneer in the spring of 2013 as a soybean research associate. In September of 2015, I left Pioneer to take my current job with Beck’s Hybrids as a Research Associate ll.

4. What skills are necessary for a career in research?
The most important skill I think someone needs to have if they want to work in research is a love of the outdoors. I am outside in every season, though not as often in the winter. Strong agronomic skills are also very important, working in field research means you have the opportunity to experience every problem a farmer can; we need to be able to recognize those problems to evaluate our plots to give our customers the best products possible. Computer skills are a major plus in research, as we do a lot of database work for the notes that we take on our plots. We also operate equipment as well, so willingness to run a tractor and combine are paramount.

5. How does your job fit into the agricultural industry? (Who do you work with? Who do you help? Who helps you?)
Working for Beck’s, I am in charge of helping manage their soybean testing program here in the Central Corn Belt. What I do is plant plots with hundreds of different soybean varieties in various locations trying to evaluate the varieties in different environments, soil types, and maturities. Then these locations are closely monitored to evaluate the different varieties as potential new products. In the fall we travel around and combine the plots to evaluate for yield. The information collected is then passed on and the products performance is evaluated to see if they have the potential to become a product.

6. What career/internship opportunities are there in research?
There are several different opportunities for internships in the research field. Beck’s, as well as other companies, offer internships. In both of my Pioneer internships I was given my own project to work on which was something I really enjoyed.There are also just as many career opportunities as internships.

7. Is there anything else you would like a student audience to know?
As margins continue to be tight for the farming community, being able to get the most out of every bag of seed becomes increasingly important. Research is what gives the end user (the farmer) the best chance to succeed.

One other thing I would stress to college students is the value of having six month internships. It looks great on your resume when you go to apply for a full-time position. One of the other great things about them is getting to see a much larger picture of what actually happens in the course of the year, being able to experience both planting and harvest is a very rewarding feeling at the end of the internship.  

I'm so glad my roommate Lynn convinced her brother to share his story with me. Thanks Lee!

Ag Jobs A to Z: Industry Relations Specialist

Photo Credit: Emma Andrew, Industry Relations Specialist

If you've been following Roots on social media, you know I traveled to Nashville, Tennessee in November for AgChat Conference, thanks to Iowa Corn. (It was also combined with this AgEI trip.) While I was there I took pages and pages of notes to help me improve as a blogger. I also met tons of fantastic agriculture professionals and agvocates. As I wrap up this Ag Jobs A to Z series, I can't wait to introduce you to a few of them.

We'll start off with Emma Andrew. I really appreciate the time she took to share her perspective as an Industry Relations Specialist. Read more to learn about her career working with dairy. Also, keep an eye out for her work in your local grocery store dairy isle or on the Fuel Up Play 60 campaign!

1.Where did you go to school?
I went school at the State University of New York at Geneseo (SUNY Geneseo) I studied Communication: Media & Journalism with a minor in Spanish.

2. What inspired you to pursue a job in industry relations?
Growing up on a large dairy farm taught me the importance of hard work and instilled a passion for the dairy industry. I wanted to use my skills in the field of communication and Spanish to promote and support the dairy industry. I desired to share my knowledge of the dairy industry with consumers to enhance their understanding of the many benefits dairy farms provide the local community. It was my aspiration to have a career that allowed me to pursue that goal.

3. How long have you been working in industry relations?
I have been doing Industry Relations since June 2014. 

4. What skills are necessary for a career in industry relations?

• Public speaking
• Flexibility of time, work, and schedule
• Ability to create promotions, stories, contests, dialogues, and programs to enhance dairy industry’s image.
• Relate well with farmers
• Dairy industry knowledge or background (is beneficial not required)
• Basic Computer skills
• Social media skills
• Ability to write clearly and concisely 
• Willing to travel 

5. How does your job fit into the agricultural industry? (Who do you work with? Who do you help? Who helps you?) 
I work for The American Dairy Association and Dairy Council, the dairy Check-off organization for NY, parts of PA and NJ. We promote dairy products and farmer image through various programs (Fuel Up to Play 60, Breakfast After the Bell, Dairy aisle reinventions, RD talks, farm tours, etc.) We work with other producer groups like NEDPA, Farm Bureau.

6. What career/internship opportunities are there in industry relations?
DMI has internships available and all of the major dairy coops.

7. Is there anything else you would like a student audience to know?
It is the perfect career for Ag Communications Students. 

Huge thanks to Emma for sharing about her job as an Industry Relations Specialist! Thanks for reading!

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Ag Jobs A to Z: (Animal) Health

If you follow Roots on Facebook or Twitter, you know I recently took a trip to learn more about the poultry market with the Ag Entrepreneurship Initiative at Iowa State. Along the way, we met industry experts who generously shared their knowledge. Bill Pittenger was one of the kind people who took time out of their day to meet with our group of students.

Here's the group I traveled with to learn more about the poultry market outside Bill's office at the Missouri Department of Agriculture Animal Health Division. Back: Drew Dietz, Dan Schouvieller, Izak Christensen, Tyler Tracey, Camila Franz; Front: Shannon Hoyle, Jenna Lansing, Ellie Flickinger, Natalina Sents, Celize Christry. Photo credit: Iowa State University Agricultural Entrepreneurship Initiative (AgEI)

Photo credit: Bill Pittenger, Missouri Department of Agriculture

After hearing about Bill's involvement in the industry's response, prevention and elimination of avian influenza (avian flu), I knew I wanted to feature him as part of Ag Jobs A to Z. The communication, paperwork and coordination he organized is truly impressive. Hearing all the long hours and hard work he put in really made me stop and think about the people behind the food on my plate three times a day. It's thanks to caring farmers working with experts like Bill that America has such a safe food supply.

Thanks Bill for sharing your story and experiences with us!



1. Where did you go to school?
The Ohio State University

2. What inspired you to pursue a job in (animal) health?
I grew up raising a wide variety of animals and wanted to have a job working with animals.

3. How long have you been working in (animal) health?
I have been working for the Missouri Department of Agriculture, Animal Health Division for 15 months.

4. What skills are necessary for a career in (animal) health?
Careers in animal health may require a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. Other careers require a Bachelors of Science degree in agriculture majoring in an animal science or related field.  Experiences working with animals and knowledge of animal husbandry, animal health, and regulations are helpful. 

5. How does your job fit into the agricultural industry? (Who do you work with? Who do you help? Who helps you?) 
My job title is Poultry Health Program Manager. I help oversee state and federal regulations dealing with the movement of poultry and other avian species and their products both intra-state and inter-state. I manage the National Poultry Improvement Plan for Missouri, which is a federal USDA program administered by the Missouri Department of Agriculture. The NPIP is composed of various sub-parts through which poultry companies and individuals participate in testing programs that permit and expedite the movement of their birds and/or products. The Missouri Poultry Program works with all aspects of the Missouri poultry industry whether large or small. Our goal is to serve and protect the Missouri poultry industry by enforcing regulations that help prevent the entry and spread of avian diseases within the state. Thus, Missouri Department of Agriculture helps the poultry industry and the poultry industry helps the department by agreeing to participate in the above programs.

6. What career/internship opportunities are there with (animal) health?
The Missouri Department of Agriculture, Animal Health Division employs approximately 100 people in various programs including administrative, animal care facility act, meat and poultry inspection, poultry health, diagnostic laboratories, and district veterinarians. Internships are available.

Thanks again for sharing your story as an animal health expert, Bill! I'm thankful for people like you that help keep our food and farm animals safe!

Thanks for reading!

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