Name:  Maddie Weathers

Hometown:  Hastings, MN

Major and Graduation Date: Agricultural Studies, Minors: Agronomy & General Business; May 2019

Favorite ISU class:  My favorite class at Iowa State was Agronomy 182: Introduction to Soil Science. I did not grow up on a farm and my high school did not offer any agriculture classes, so this class gave me my first glimpse into what an agronomist is/does.  I found myself eager and excited to go to this class knowing that every day I would leave with an abundance of new information.  Some days, the knowledge was overwhelming and way over my head, but that is what pushed me to take the necessary steps to comprehend it.  I still refer back to the materials I have from this class.

Job Title & Company:  Sales Agronomist for CHS.

Major Job/Position Responsibilities:  In my territory in SE Minnesota, I am responsible to sell fertilizer, chemicals, and seed for primarily corn, soybean, and alfalfa growers.  I work to grow strong relationships with my growers and look for new business opportunities as well.  CHS has a farm planning software that I use daily, along with other precision agriculture technology to organize, budget and prepare for each growing season.  My main goal is to make the grower the most amount of money or return on their investment.

What you like most about your job/position?  Each day is different as a sales agronomist – which is why I love it so much!  I enjoy working with farmers and learning how I can help their operation.  It is always exciting to see the crop go into the ground and follow through harvest time to see what the crop yields (hopefully good!).  I continue to learn new things and am extremely grateful to work with great people and for a great company. 

What advice would you give to current students pursuing a career in Agriculture and Life Sciences?  My advice would be to never be afraid to ask for help.  When I started college, I was a bit overwhelmed by how little experience I had in agriculture compared to my peers. I quickly realized the abundance of people available to help me from advisors, professors, TA’s, the Career Services Office, etc.  Also, I was lucky enough to have a great group of friends (most of whom were farmers) that were patient enough to answer my questions.  Keep in touch with those people!