Startup Ireland: Day 1 - Dublin

It's 2:30 am here, so I'm pretty "wrecked". Rachel and I got up at 5:30 this morning and have been running around with the rest of the team since. This post will be short, but I wanted to post a quick review of the wild day we've had.

The Go Cars are a unique car sharing/rental system that is taking off.

First thing in the morning, we were picked up in the Go Cars the Startup Ireland team has been given for the week. It's been so nice to have designated vehicles for the week.

It was raining when we left the hotel, but we were told its common weather in Ireland. At first I was disappointed to start off the day in such a gloomy way, but it didn't really impact us at all. The day turned out fantastic!

The Google facilities were fantastic!

The morning began with the big forum event at the Google European Headquarters. The space we were in was called Google Foundry and was filled with bright colors, interesting speakers and exciting ideas. So many people were running around to make the event possible and they really pulled it off. Our hashtag, #startupIRL was trending right away in the morning and every bit of the presentation looked professional. 

Throughout the day, the social media team was in charge of taking quotes from the speakers, turning them into tweets and matching up photos. We made sure the huge Fandom screens were constantly displaying the things attendees were tweeting in. It was also important that we struck a balance between posting our own original content and interacting with others participating in Startup Ireland registered events across the country. Seeing so many people participate in the online conversation gave me a huge adrenaline rush!


In the afternoon, we split up and attended a few smaller Startup Ireland events and got more time face to face with beginning entrepreneurs. I particularly enjoyed Dublin Beta where the three of us from Iowa State visited with very young startups to create short highlight tweets featuring their ideas. Follow the @StartupIreland Twitter account to see who we met and the projects they're working on.

After, we regrouped at a final reception to hear a few more speakers. Then we loaded up the Go Cars again to head to Waterford, which is about a 2 hour car trip. I rode with a sweet Irish girl just a few years older than me named Margaret and two of the event speakers. I'm a terrible co-pilot, but eventually we made our way to the final destination.

At the new hotel in Waterford, we set up and regrouped a little. Most importantly, we had a little team bonding. Rachel and I even tried our first Guinness! We had lots of good laughs and were able to find humor in some of our miscommunications from the day. Even though I just wanted to go to bed when we got in, I'm so glad I went and hung out with the team. It's going to be hard to leave on Sunday!

Well, I better get some sleep so I don't nod off in any of the events tomorrow! Thanks for reading! Cheers!  

Good night! Photo credit: Startup Ireland

First Impressions: Ireland

The past 24 hours have been "good fun" as my new Irish friends would say. I'm not really sure how long I've been up at this point, but before I try to sleep, I wanted to note my first impressions.

Steering wheel on the right, shifting with the left hand. Eek!

We were "collected" from the Dublin airport about "half of six", or six thirty this morning by Michael. He worked with my classmate, Clayton this summer and will be guiding our team through the process of documenting Startup Ireland on social media during the week. I'll introduce you to everyone I'm working with as the week progresses. The Irish I've met are very nice and remind me of the people back home in the Midwest. They are hard working, welcoming and know how to make stressful work fun.

At the airport we learned more of the Startup Ireland story and made a game plan for the rest of the day. Once a cozy little cafe was open, Michael took us out for a solid breakfast. 

My egg and spinach dish hit the spot!

Before coming to Ireland, I knew drivers sit on the opposite side of the car and drive in the opposite lane on the road in Europe, but it really threw me for a loop when I got in. The Go Car we have as part of the event is a little Ford Focus, very similar to my car at home... except it's a manual and everything is flopped to the right. 

As we rode the short bit to the cafe, Rachel and I giggled in the back seat as we mistook passengers napping or putting on make up for distracted drivers. It seems like a simple change, but it's such an adjustment to look over and see a steering wheel in what seems should be the passenger seat after experiencing something so different for 21 years.

Our hotel, Waterloo Lodge. I just love the bright red door!

After a delicious egg brunch and more social media overview, we got notice that our hotel rooms were ready. Michael took us to the hotel to freshen up and drop off our bags while he prepared a few last minute conference details. Like everything so far in Europe our hotel is small, but nice. From the outside, it is not at all what I was expecting in a hotel, but really is beautiful inside and out.

A short time later, he returned to take us to Dublin forum venue. This is the location where several prominent speakers will gather tomorrow morning. Here we explored and met the rest of the people who have worked so hard to put this event together. I wish I could tell you more about it and show you pictures, but you'll have to check back tomorrow for that. We want our event guests to see for the first time right when they walk in.

Once "the three Americans" did all we could at the venue to help out with last minute arrangements, we set out to find burgers and "pints." Now after a full hot meal and a relaxing warm shower, I better sign off before I fall asleep. I'll do my best to get a short post up tomorrow, but in the mean time, follow the hashtag #startupIRL to see what I'm doing. Thanks for reading!

Good night! Time to catch some sleep!

Giddy!

Just over a week ago, I was jumping on the bed, squealing like a little girl. Sure, I'm 21 years old and nearly a college graduate. I didn't care. The email I'd been anxiously waiting for just popped into my inbox with good news! I couldn't think of a time I'd been more excited in all of college.

Who should I call first? Mom and Dad? I'd need to call the bank. And the phone company! And my roommates would need to know. Eek! I could hardly pause my happy dance long enough to dial my dad's office number. As the phone rang on the other end, I tried to come up with the right words to say. Once he was on the line, it didn't matter. "I'm going to Ireland!!" I blurted.

Credit: Startup Ireland

Today, as I sit racking my brain for what I forgot to pack, I'm just as excited. In just a few short hours, I'll be my way to Dublin, Ireland to work on a social media team for Startup Ireland! 

While I'm abroad for the next eight days, I'll be using Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to keep everyone up to speed with the activities of the conference. Each day, I'll work in a different city covering events aimed to foster entrepreneurship and celebrate the 'let's make it happen people' of Ireland. My time will be divided between Dublin, Waterford, Cork, Limerick, and Galway.

My goal is to post a few updates on Roots during my trip, but the fast pace of this adventure will make it difficult to share everything here. For the play by play, be sure to follow @startupireland on Twitter and like Startup Ireland on Facebook. We will be using the hashtag #startupIRL to keep track of all we do. 

Well, I better load up the car to catch my flight! Don't forget to follow my trip on social media! Thanks for reading!

Ag Jobs A to Z: Blogger

Photo Credit: Latham Seeds

I'm really excited to highlight Shannon Latham for the next letter in Ag Jobs A to Z. We met the summer after my freshman year at Iowa State through the Agricultural Entrepreneurship Initiative. I was fortunate to work as Shannon's intern, dividing my time between her family businesses. During that summer, I grew to admire her creativity and heart for the community. Shannon wears many hats in North Central Iowa including mother, business woman, Girl Scout leader and entrepreneur. Today, she shares her perspective as a blogger. Thanks, Shannon!

1. Where did you go to school? 
I double majored in Ag Journalism / Public Service & Administration in Ag at Iowa State University.
              
2. What inspired you to become a blogger?
I truly enjoy writing. Blogging piqued my interested because I have a passion for writing, and I enjoy getting to know people and learn new information when I conduct interviews for articles. Because I had worked for six years in an advertising agency before going to work for our family business, I was friends with people who developed websites and I was aware of “social communities” that were being created online. I started following pioneering blogs like “Nuts about Southwest.” This Southwest Airlines blog is a fun and clever way to connect with customers on a daily basis, so I decided to borrow that idea.

3. How long have you been a blogger? 
I started blogging for our business, Latham Hi-Tech Seeds, in 2008. Last year I started a second blog, “Fairytale Beginnings and Every Day Realities,” on www.EnchantedAcresIA.com as a way to share farm life and activities underway at our pumpkin patch. I believe blogging is a great way for us to virtually show our farms to consumers and to help address common misconceptions.  Since food is a common denominator among all people, I use recipes as bridge builders with my audience.

4. What skills are necessary to be a successful blogger? 
Like any career or hobby, having a good network is key to blogging. I rely on my contacts – and friends of friends – to help me secure sources for my articles. I believe my background and training in Journalism helps me identify story ideas (i.e. ideas for blog posts) and helps me conduct interviews. My journalism training also taught me the importance of writing a nutshell paragraph and outlining the story. It’s important to draw readers into your article and then give them information that’s useful and relevant to them. My Journalism professors also stressed verifying facts and finding credible sources… I wish more bloggers did that! We all know you can’t believe everything you read on the Internet, so I hope that my readers look to my blogs as a credible and reliable source of information.

5. How does your job fit into the agricultural industry? (Who do you work with? Who do you help? Who helps you?) 
Before I post anything on my blog or any social media channel for that matter, it must be one of these 3 things: (1) pro agriculture in general; (2) pro farming or (3) pro community. My main objective is to be an advocate for agriculture in general and the seed industry in particular. I want to put a face on farming and help foster dialogue between pro

ducers and consumers. That’s why I’m a member of CommonGround Iowa and also why I’m serving as chair of the Communications Committee for the American Seed Trade Association.

To help protect our livelihoods and maintain the viability of our farm-based businesses, we must engage with consumers and promote ag literacy. We also must engage politicians and help them understand how proposed legislation or rules impact our livelihoods. Agriculture and farming groups can’t afford to be silent. If we don’t educate others about our business, who will? If you don’t tell your ag story, who will? Chances are some anti-ag group will tell a story that you won’t like!

6. What career/internship opportunities are there for people interested in blogging? 
Look for communications-related internships to help you make connections within the ag/communications field. I believe you’ll be a more interesting blogger if you write from experiences you’ve had like travel, agronomy / crop scouting, raising beef, baking or cooking, etc. What’s your area of expertise? How can you create a niche and provide information of value?

7. Anything else you would like a student audience to know? 
If you’re interested in blogging, make sure you’re familiar with copyright laws. If you’re copying information from a source, be sure to give credit and/or hot link. Know that the objective of every blog post is to drive traffic to a site. You need to look for ways to draw people to yours, but you also have to be careful that you’re not citing so much information from another online article that you’re actually prohibiting people from that site. Also note that contest rules are continually changing. If you’re planning to run an online giveaway, be sure to read the most current rules.

Thanks again to Shannon for sharing perspective. It's great to have fellow blogging friends like her. Come back soon for the next Ag Jobs A to Z highlight! Thanks for reading!

Ag Jobs A to Z: Accountant

To kick off the Ag Jobs A to Z series, meet Katie Wieringa, a CPA and senior accountant with Van Bruggen & Vande Vegete. 

In addition to verifying tax returns and tackling special projects in the firm's Orange City, Iowa office, she enjoys playing with her kids and lending a hand around the farm. She also serves her community as Budget Mentor for Love INC.

Thanks, Katie for taking time to answer a few questions about life as an accountant!

1. Where did you go to school?
I attended Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa

2. What inspired you to become an accountant?
I enjoyed my high school accounting classes, really loved my college accounting classes, and felt the job opportunities would be more abundant than other fields I considered pursuing.

3. How long have you been an accountant?
I have been working as an accountant for over nine years.

4. What skills are necessary for a career as an accountant?
The best accountants have the ability to pay attention to minute details and then step back and analyze the big picture.  They are able to relate well to the people they work with as well as their clients; and they embrace that each individual has worth, whether they are a successful business person making millions of dollars or a laborer living paycheck to paycheck.  The best accountants are organized, diligent, and have integrity.

5. How does your job fit into the agricultural industry? (Who do you work with? Who do you help? Who helps you?)
On a daily basis, we get to work with individuals in all aspects of agriculture- row crop farms, dairies, cattle feedlots, swine operations, feed mills and various other agri-businesses-both large and small.

We work alongside farmers, bankers, lawyers, and investors.

We prepare hundreds of farmers’ tax returns, but our work goes well beyond the number crunching.  We work with farmers to prepare accrual financial statements so they can see a clearer picture of their operation.  We assist in benchmarking to see how farmers compare to their peers.  We compile breakeven and cash flow analysis to determine if the operation is sustainable and if an expansion is beneficial.  We act as the liaison in client-lender relationships and advocate in loan restructuring, refinancing, alternative financing; in short, we advocate creditworthiness with lenders when needed.  We assist with recordkeeping and its associated software.  We consult in valuation and estate planning so that the family farm can flourish in the next generation.

6. What career/internship opportunities are there at VB&VV?
We are always looking for great accountants with the talent, dedication and professionalism our clients have come to expect!  And it is always a big plus when our accounting graduates come with a passion for and knowledge of agriculture!

7. Is there anything else you would like a student audience to know?
Don’t feel boxed in by your major or the job market right now.  You may have a college degree, but you will keep learning for the rest of your life.  This can be within your major and will most definitely be outside of it as well.  When I graduated with my accounting degree, I wasn’t ready to be “stuck” in an office, so I went to teach English in China.  Circumstances brought me back to the farm I grew up on; I found myself learning to plant, harvest, and care for livestock.  I have been amazed at how these experiences have helped me grow as an individual and prepared me for the many facets of accounting work.  I have been working as a CPA for just shy of a decade, and love how my international and agricultural personal experiences help me relate to my clients and give me better perspective of the bigger picture.

Thank you again to Katie for sharing her time with me. I'm so excited to continue learning Ag Jobs A to Z! Thanks for reading!

Monday Night Movie Night: Why I Farm Music Video

This week's Monday Night Movie Night is one of the nearest and dearest to my heart I've ever posted. Over the summer, during my internship with Beck's I had the privilege of working on this video. Seeing all the creativity, hard work and passion that went into it makes me appreciate it that much more each time I watch it.

I hope you were touched by The Henningsens' graphic lyrics and the beautiful scenes of their real family farm. If you enjoyed the song, download it for free for a limited time at www.whyifarm.com! Thanks for reading!

Ag Jobs A to Z

I don't know how it happened, but it's my senior year, career fair is 35 days away, and I need to get serious about finding a job after graduation. At the same time, many of my younger classmates are nervously preparing for their internship search. So naturally, I've decided to blog about it.

Between now and the big Iowa State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences career fair on October 20, I'm going to highlight "Ag Jobs A to Z." A fellow blogger, Janice Person, has some great A to Z agriculture blogs, so I have to give her credit for some of the inspiration. Thanks, Janice!

Iowa State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences hosts a huge career fair each fall. This year over 200 companies have registered to attend. (Photo Credit: Mike Gaul - Iowa State CALS Career Services)

Along this 26 post adventure, I want to connect with industry professionals, and broaden my knowledge of post-graduation career options. At the same time, I hope to create a resource for others seeking internships or full time opportunities within the ag industry. During this series, please feel free to let me know of any companies or jobs you'd like to know more about. Thanks for reading!