Agriculture’s Next Generation

For many outside the industry, a career in agriculture is synonymous with hands-on, “early-to-bed, early-to-rise” farming, versus its international scope and diverse career pathways. But agriculture, food and related industries contributed more than $1.5 trillion to the U.S. Global Domestic Product in 2023 — a 5.6 percent share — and continues to attract a skilled, motivated workforce. Ashlyn Frederick, an ag student at Iowa State University and former intern at Syngenta, took time out of her busy semester to talk about her experiences and her passion for agriculture.

Ashlyn Frederick is a senior studying agricultural communications and animal science at Iowa State University.

Ashlyn’s internship at Syngenta underscored the importance of collaboration in agriculture, from the field to the office.

Ashlyn Frederick (right) with Chelsea Lurvey (left), marketing operations specialist at Syngenta. Ashlyn worked with Chelsea during her summer internship with the Syngenta Seeds marketing team.

Extracurriculars and hands-on learning help students like Ashlyn get a firsthand experience in their fields of interest.

Q: What school do you attend and what’s your area of study? Why did you choose them?

A: I’m a senior in agricultural communications with a minor in animal science at Iowa State University. I chose ISU for its strong agriculture programs, and I’m passionate about advocating for the industry, so it only made sense to major in ag communications.

Q: What agricultural activities and organizations do you participate in at school?

A: At Iowa State, I’m involved in Sigma Alpha, the professional agricultural sorority on campus. I serve on the executive team as the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) council representative. I also serve as the publicity chair for CALS.

Q: Why did you decide to study ag? Who or what influenced you?

A: My passion for studying agriculture stems from growing up on my family’s diversified crop and livestock operation. We raise corn and soybeans along with beef cattle, and I try to go home and help with the farm operations whenever I get the chance. This also gave me the opportunity to grow up showing livestock through both 4-H and FFA. My involvement helped grow my passion for the ag industry as I got more involved in contests and events. As I got older, I knew I wanted to be a voice for agriculture and advocate for the industry.

Q: What do you hope to do in your career?

A: I don’t have a specific “dream job,” but I know I want to work in ag marketing/communications.

Q: Tell us about your internship with Syngenta. What did you learn about the industry, and what was your favorite part?

A: My previous internships were in commodity groups and smaller organizations, so working with Syngenta gave me an inside view of what it’s like to work for a corporation. I learned that one of the key components to being successful in a company like this is collaboration. There are so many parts and people involved in different projects that communication and collaboration are key to being successful. The agriculture industry is also very small, so it’s important to make connections when opportunities arise. My favorite part of this internship was being able to work with and get to know the Syngenta Seeds marketing team. They gave me lots of opportunities to work with them on different projects, and I can’t thank them enough for the experience and learnings I was able to gain from them.

Q: What advice do you have for high schoolers considering an ag program? What should they look for?

A: Look for a program that will provide the resources you need to be successful. One of the reasons I came to Iowa State was because the education, extracurricular activities and internship opportunities are unlimited. Iowa State sets you up to be successful in the real world by providing all the tools you need.

Q: Anything else you’d like to add about your ag life?

A: Agriculture has always been the backbone of my life. These past three years at Iowa State have been nothing short of amazing, and I am excited to continue to be part of the agricultural industry in my new career next year!