The Importance of the Career Expo

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By: Daniel Grayless, Agricultural Communication | Russellville, OH

Every semester companies gather in the Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H center for the CFAES Career Expo. The companies come to meet with students and hire them for jobs and internships. Around 70 companies make it to the event and hundreds of students come dressed in business professional attire to network and give their elevator speeches to try and secure an interview.

These career expos are great opportunities for students to be able to get their resumes in the hands of employers and for them to really be able to interact with the employers. There is a lot of preparation the students need to put in to be successful at the career expo.  Students need to make sure that their resume is polished and up to date, do their homework on what companies are attending and what positions they are hiring for, form elevator speeches and make sure their dress attire is clean and wrinkle free.  After all this there are other resources students can take advantage of to improve their skills and feel even better prepared.  The Career Development Office offers videos on preparing for the career expo, resume workshops and reviews and opportunities for students to do practice interviews with companies.

The career expo can be nerve-wracking and stressful especially for the unprepared. Thankfully an abundance of resources are offered to help students prepare, they just need to take advantage of them.  With the expo coming up this week it is imperative that students be preparing now if they want to make a lasting impression with employers.

 

For The Kids: What I learned from BuckeyeThon

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By: Cece Utendorf | Agribusiness and Applied Economics | Columbus Grove, OH

As a senior, I have had many awesome and inspiring experiences throughout my years at Ohio State. Above all, BuckeyeThon has been the most incredible event that I have ever been a part of. BuckeyeThon is an event put on by the students at Ohio State that raises money for the Oncology/Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplant Departments at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. The fundraising happens all year, but the main event is the Dance Marathon, which is held each year at the beginning of February. In fact, BuckeyeThon is the largest student-run philanthropy event in the state of Ohio! The Dance Marathon is centered around the children and families from Nationwide Children’s that participate. The children that attend are befittingly called “Miracle Kids.”Here’s a few of things that I have learned from my BuckeyeThon experience & why I think you should participate, too:

  1. My troubles are small I think that every single Ohio State student that participates in BuckeyeThon leaves feeling this way. Although my day-to-day may seem stressful and I may think life is hard, I have never endured what these children have endured. During the Dance Marathon, the dancers stand and dance for 12 hours without sitting down. We dance “for the kids who can’t” and because our exhaustion during that time is nothing compared to the exhaustion of what the children and their families battle daily.
  1. Always take a moment to make someone’s day This is something that you will never, ever regret doing. At BuckeyeThon, the Miracle Kids enter the event by running down a red carpet through a tunnel of loving Buckeye students that can’t wait to meet them and throughout the event they are given celebrity status. Their smiles alone make the event worth attending!
  1. Service brings people together I met one of my very best friends at BuckeyeThon in 2015! We participated in BuckeyeThon this year together as well. The camaraderie among the Ohio State community is felt very deeply at BuckeyeThon. You can feel the sense of community among everyone who is packed in the main hall of the Union when we all put our arms our one another and sing Carmen Ohio. This is a moment that I will never forget.
  1. Don’t underestimate your own ability to make a difference And amazing things happen when people come together and decide to make a difference. This year at BuckeyeThon, we collectively raised $1,338,872 for the kids at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Such an impressive number can only come from the dedication and the hearts of many!
  1. Children are better dancers than I am Truly, these Miracle Kids have better moves than I do. But it doesn’t matter! I learned at BuckeyeThon to put myself out there! You do not have to be the best at something to do it. Have confidence and step out of your comfort zone. This is where personal growth happens!
  1. Keep moving forward. One of my favorite side events at BuckeyeThon was the face painting. The Miracle Kids are given paint and use the dancers as their canvas. One sweet little boy, Hayden, drew a big red heart on my arm! Out of the blue, he told me that he wants to be a hockey player and a doctor when he grows up. This small child has been through so much, but yet has big dreams and hope for tomorrow. It’s such a great reminder of the need for strength and faith in our lives even when things seem impossible.
  1. Always take advantage of opportunities I will forever be thankful that I took advantage of the opportunity to participate in BuckeyeThon!

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A Good Kind of Discomfort

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By: Natalie Miller, Agribusiness and Applied Economics | Washington Courthouse, OH

From January 1-10, I joined a group of 26 other first year students from the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences on an Adventure through Nicaragua. Although we had spent one semester together in our pre-departure course, it was impossible for me to foresee the growth that we would experience as students in an unfamiliar culture. Most importantly, I never could have predicted that the majority of this growth would result from discomfort. As we toured Nicaraguan cities, ate beans and rice with every meal, and attempted to speak a new language, I realized that new, unfamiliar, and uncomfortable experiences fuel growth. We grew together as friends, but individually in our own unique ways.

For the first time in my life, I was thrown into a culture where my primary verbal communication consisted of saying, “gracias,” and smiling. Our group traveled with translators, but I never could have imagined how challenging being unable to communicate with someone directly could be. On the contrary, I learned that body language and laughs are universal as we stayed with families in the Peñas Blancas Mountains (checkout Abby Motter’s blog post for more about our home stay https://u.osu.edu/studentblog/2016/01/12/a-new-reality/). Another student, Hannah, and I were able to learn new card games and play pick up sticks with minimal verbal communication and a whole lot of smiling and demonstrations.

Throughout our time in Nicaragua, we hiked up a muddy mountain in the pouring rain and loved every minute, we got a little (or a lot) sunburned while swimming in a volcanic crater turned lake—it was awesome. We experienced bus sickness, a language barrier, new cuisine, and showers without hot water, but these uncomfortable experiences helped us to become more in tune with Nicaraguan culture, to foster friendships in our group, to become less materialistic and more humanistic, and to realize that all things considered, people are people wherever you are. I am so thankful for an uncomfortable, fulfilling, and infinitely gratifying ten days.

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Blue Corduroy Buckeye

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By: Sydney Snider, Agricultural Communication | Moscow, OH

Just six years ago, I zipped up my blue corduroy jacket for the first time to attend National FFA Convention. I remember sitting in the nose bleed sections of the arena listening to the national officers speak about our organization and honor its members. My first trip to convention set me on a journey that transformed my life. That trip sparked a light within me to become more involved with FFA, grow as a leader, and become a stronger advocate for agriculture. Even though I didn’t realize it until much later, my first convention trip also led me to make the decision to run for national FFA office.

Running for office involved a lot of preparation, growth, and passion. However, my time spent preparing were some of the most influential and transformative months of my life and they led to a moment that will stay alive within my heart forever. As the final session began at the 88th National FFA Convention, I thought back to the first convention I attended and the passion that grew from that trip. These thoughts and memories allowed my worries and anxiety to leave and truly enjoy what could have been my last convention session in the blue jacket. As the election process began, I was calm and excited to find out who would serve our organization. The music began and nothing could prepare me for what was about to happen. Hearing “Ohio” called was one of the most surreal moments I’ve ever experienced. In an instant, everything seemed to slow down as I (not so gracefully) ran to the convention stage. Out of breath and in shock I could only hear the roar of the crowd and my heart beat loudly as my teammates and I gathered together for the first time.

This year, I am excited to serve an organization that has helped me discover countless values, skills, and passions. As a national FFA officer, I will spend the next year traveling around the country interacting with FFA members, advisors, sponsors, and supporters. I am proud to represent the Ohio FFA Association and The Ohio State University at the national level. As I am knee deep in training and preparation for the year, I am feeling especially grateful for the support and encouragement of those who have helped me along this journey. I look forward to bringing a piece of that, a piece of Ohio, everywhere I go this year.

Ask Me Bout My Turtle

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By: Summer McCracken, Agribusiness and Applied Economics | Anna, OH

Ask me about how we were in The Columbus Dispatch. Ask me about how we got to sing Carmen Ohio with the Ohio State Buckeyes. Ask me about that 32-pound bundle of joy above Zeke’s head (a.k.a. IllyIllibuck, the 2nd oldest trophy in the Big Ten Conference). Ask me about how I joined an organization full of incredible student leaders, and how it transformed into a family. So go ahead: ask me about Bucket and Dipper Junior Class Honorary.

Last fall, I wanted to get more involved at the university level. I took a risk and applied for Bucket and Dipper Junior Class Honorary. No one knew my name nor did I know theirs. Together a group of thirty strangers embarked on a yearlong journey of scholarship, service, and leadership. For those most involved (including myself) were chosen to go on the University of Illinois’s football field for the beloved tradition of the Illibuck Pass. Seven members of both Bucket and Dipper and our sister fraternity from University of Illinois, Atius-Sachem, strolled out onto the football field during the fourth quarter of the Illini/Buckeye game. Joy gleamed on each of our faces as 60,000 fans cheered us on. I stood at the end of the pass waiting for the trophy to come back to OSU’s possession. Finally, I received Illy and I could not contain my excitement any long. Jumping up and down, waving Illy around, and yelling for all to hear as I ended the Illibuck Pass.

If that wasn’t extraordinary enough, we received a surprise from our advisor and Ohio State. Bucket and Dipper would be returning to the field again to sing Carmen Ohio with the football team. The game ended and the speckle of red at the corner of the stadium shouted at the approval of another Buckeye win. Somehow I landed among the offensive lineman. Television does not do these men justice. They were twice the width of me with another foot and a half in height. But together, we swayed back and forth on the field for the cherished tradition of Carmen.

When I first started, I didn’t realize the significance of the big wooden turtle or the impact the group of thirty members would have on me. I am honored to be serving as the Selections Chair for this prestigious organization. To learn more information about Buckeye and Dipper or to apply, go to

http://bucketanddipper.org.ohio-state.edu/index.html.

Leadership is Not a Destination, It is a Journey

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By: Micah Mensing, Agriscience Education | Oak Harbor, OH

I always appreciate the opportunity to travel, meet new people, and learn something new, and that is exactly what I got to do while attending the Agriculture Future of America Conference. Each year students from Ohio State apply to attend AFA, an intensive leadership conference held in Kansas City, Missouri. The conference’s goal is to allow every student that attends to learn something completely new about themselves and how to become a better leader, so that students can continue to build on their skills sets until they graduate from their respected university. This goal is accomplished by breaking up all the students into four different tracks, where each track focuses on a different leadership skill set. Each track has students from universities from all over the country, which allows Ohio State students to interact with other students with the same interest from all over the United States.

I had the opportunity to participate in track one, in my track we discussed the importance of networking, managing our time, dining etiquette, and how to keep all of our thoughts positive and innovating. It was very important for all AFA participates to know how to be professional while networking because of the four hundred company executives and representatives that were in attendance and interacting with us at all times. With having so many networking opportunities available, a lot of business cards were exchanged and internships offered while in Kansas City for those four short days. While at the conference we had to take advantage of every second that we were given, so for us that meant early mornings, late nights, and lots of learning in short periods of time. Time management was a lesson that was talked about, and acted upon while at the conference so that we could get the most from our experience.

From the amazing four course meals that were consistently served, to meeting new people, and reconnecting with friends from the past, my AFA Conference experience was one like no other experience I have ever had. I was once told that leadership is not a destination, it is a journey, and I feel that the AFA Conference has made a huge impact in my leadership journey.

Gateway to Grain Handling Careers

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By: Garrett O’Donnell, Agricultural Systems Management | Killbuck, OH

This past February, 12 student leaders from The Ohio State University Agricultural Systems Management Club had the opportunity to attend the annual Grain Elevator and Processing Society (GEAPS) Exchange in St. Louis, Missouri. The GEAPS Exchange is the largest conference for grain handling and processing. This was a great opportunity for students to make industry connections, to learn about new and upcoming technologies and practices from across the grain handling industry.

Fellow classmate and friend Ryan Riddle and I planned and organized the logistics for the trip to St. Louis; everything from hotels to rental cars to registration to tour stops. Along the way, we set up tours with Consolidated Grain & Barge (CGB) Enterprises in Jeffersonville, Indiana, Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) Company and Anheuser Busch Brewing Company in St. Louis, Missouri. The tours really helped students receive a thorough overview of the grain handling industry. For some, this was the first time visiting a barge terminal facility or a facility larger than their local country elevator. Since we were in St. Louis, we also journeyed 630 feet up to the top of the Gateway Arch!

The highlight of the trip for me was the Student Day at the Exchange. We had the opportunity to visit the trade show, meet and interact with grain industry professionals, and industry suppliers in many facets of the industry. We participated in round table discussions with professionals from several major grain companies, where we could ask questions about the industry, learn about internship/career opportunities and network with other student attendees with similar interests. Not only was this a rewarding experience for me but an invaluable experience for all who attended. Eight of the 2015 attendees, including myself, are now pursuing grain handling careers.

In 2016, the GEAPS Exchange is in Austin, Texas and The Ohio State University Agricultural Systems Management Club will be there!

Not All Cows, Sows, and Plows

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By: Annabel Skubon, Agronomy  | Medina, OH

My first week at Ohio State ATI, I couldn’t remember a single person’s name. Every time I met someone new, they were introduced by their nickname. Coming from a graduating class of almost 700 students, I thought I was good at putting a name to a face after meeting a person only once. After coming to Ohio State ATI, I realized that you remember people because they left you with an impression worth remembering.

Ohio State ATI is an entirely different world, it incorporates the feeling of both the small-town and big-city America, all in a little village we call Applewood. The cliche saying of “don’t judge a book by its cover” has never been more true. My freshman year, I had three resident advisers, and if you would’ve asked me then I wouldn’t have been able to tell you that one of them would become my best friend. She had purple hair, and was the tiniest person with the biggest personality. The second week of school I finally talked to her in person at a school bonfire. I thought she was one of the strangest people I had ever met and I was nervous to even talk to her, until she tweeted at me and told me I was one of the funniest people she knew. I knew right then we were destined to be friends.

That is exactly how life works sometimes, one day you see someone acting goofy, and the next day you realize you have more in common than anyone you’ve ever met. Why judge someone when you can experience everything that makes them great instead? That purple headed RA has taught me more lessons here and in life than any class I could take.

Ohio State ATI will teach you to step out of your comfort zone. Whether that means breaking down and asking for help, only to find out you had more people there for you than you imagined, or realizing that sometimes people will hurt you, and it’s in those times you find your true strength. It’s not all about cow anatomy and crop health here, although this place will teach you to be the best in agriculture, this school gives you lessons in life. We might be a bunch of down home farm kids, but here, we get to view the world through a lens that maybe people will never understand. This small school in an Amish town will make you grow and become a better person, and you might just be knee deep in cow crap when it happens.

A Day with the Dean

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By: Craig Berning, Agribusiness and Applied Economics | Anna, OH

As students in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences we are fortunate to have a Dean who loves to interact with students. On November 6th many students had such an opportunity. The morning began with a CFAES Student Council sponsored “Donuts with the Dean”. For an hour and half Dean McPheron gathered and talked with students, staff, and faculty as everyone began their day. Later that evening, students who are members of the CFAES Ambassador Team, MANNRS, and the CFAES Student Council were welcomed to the home of Dean and Mrs. McPheron for a “Dinner with the Dean”. The dinner was an opportunity for students to have personal conversations with Dean McPheron and each other in an informal setting. Toward the end of the evening Dr. McPheron addressed students thanking them for their hard work both in and out of the classroom. It also provided students an opportunity to thank the Dean for his hard work and care for students. CFAES is lucky to have a dean who makes it a priority to interact and get to know students. Thank you Dean McPheron!

Coming Together at Convention

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By: Mary Siekman, Agricultural Communication | Delaware, OH

There are many reasons I look forward to attending the National FFA Convention & Expo each year. I enjoy seeing blue jackets swarm in from all over the country, taking in the energy that floods the convention hall and reconnecting with old friends. But the one thing that makes attending convention each year something I look forward to is simple – the people. It is definitely people who make National FFA Convention great and this year I was lucky to spend it with some pretty great people.

Some of the people I spent most of my time with were members of the CFAES Ambassador Team. Together we spent Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of Convention working in the Ohio State CFAES booth talking with FFA members as perspective student to our college. Students were able to participate in science experiments and make buckeye key chains (I had to explain what a buckeye was to a student from Georgia…something I never thought I would have to do!). The coolest part about being in the OSU booth was having the opportunity to chat face to face with students from literally all over the country about why I love Ohio State and what our college has to offer students.

Students in our college weren’t only working in the OSU booth, but instead could be found all over Convention. Some of my peers were working at different company’s booths they had previously interned with, facilitating workshops with National FFA, serving as Ohio FFA Officers, receiving their American FFA Degrees, being elected to the National FFA Officer team (yay Sydney!!) or just there to support their friends. Faculty were also present during the week. Dr. Emily Buck was at convention working in the FFA News Room and also received her Honorary American Degree (be sure to tell her congratulations!)

Convention is not only a time to reconnect with old friends, but also to meet new people, too. It was such a great surprise to see Chris Soules, an Iowa farmer who recently starred as the Bachelor on the ABC television show, was at the Monsanto booth! Even though he forgot to bring me a rose I was still so excited to finally meet Prince Farming.