Transcript
Speaker: The thing that brings me the most joy is just really thinking about how we can help each other and build up leaders as we go forward, both within food and agriculture and the communities that we serve across our country. As we know that we need strong leaders across food and agriculture, we know that we need strong leaders within our rural communities, within our urban communities. And that's what our organization is positioned to do.
Speaker: Was the willingness to learn and be vulnerable. than when you're building communities, right? And finding those commonalities. Because of her removing that barrier, opening the door, believing in me before I believed in myself that I could do that.
Speaker: Welcome to the Cultivating Leaders podcast. I'm your host and curiosity captain, Nicole Ersig. If you are ready to lead better, think bigger, and grow faster, you're in the right place. We bring you real conversations with top leaders across food and agriculture, focused on the practical skills and mindsets you need to lead in today's environment.
Speaker: Today's guest has built a career around developing leaders and creating opportunities for people across agriculture to learn from one another, challenge one another, and grow together. Amanda Martin is the president and CEO of the Illinois Agriculture Leadership Foundation. Throughout her career in higher education, agribusiness, and nonprofit leadership, Amanda has helped create programs, partnerships, and gathering spaces that connect people across roles, organizations, and perspectives.
Speaker: She understands what separates a true community from a collection of contacts, why community matters so deeply in agriculture, and how each of us can build spaces where people feel welcomed, valued, and empowered to participate.
Speaker: If you want to create a stronger sense of connection within your workplace, organization, or industry, this episode is for you. Amanda, welcome to the pod. Well, thank you, Nicole. I'm excited to be here and visit with you today.
Speaker: I'm so glad you're here. So before we dive in Amanda, what did i miss from your bio? Tell us a little bit more about who Amanda Martin is beyond the title. Oh my gosh. Well, I thought you did a great job with it. I think it makes me sound more impressive than what I am, ah truly, Nicole. But Just a little bit more background. One thing that I always like to hit on is I was a first generation college student. And so I love that you highlighted that community piece because that's something that's been important to me and helped me be successful my entire career path. And it's something that I focus on now in the work I do. And so I grew up in a very rural area in Southern Illinois. College was not on my list, but I had really great mentors and that strong community that helped set me on a path.
Speaker: to success. And so from there, I wanted to help other people. And I think that vein has stayed true in and the work that I do and ended up spending that time in academia and then always sought out those students that had those similar backgrounds, but also they just had that potential for growth. And I think that's the thing that brings me the most joy is just really thinking about how we can help each other and build up leaders as we go forward, both within food and agriculture and the communities that we serve across our country.
Speaker: Oh, that's incredible. I did not know that about you, Amanda. Thanks for sharing. um So tell me about what the Illinois Agriculture Leadership Foundation is and what is the work that you do today?
Speaker: Yeah, so we are a unique organization. We are a standalone five hundred one c three We've been around 45 years and that's amazing to think about the people that have been through our programs. And so at this point, we've had over 650 fellows. We call our participants our fellows. And so they're selected.
Speaker: It's a competitive process, but they're selected to be in this fellowship and we keep them for about two years. And what we do with the fellows, they're selected from across the state of Illinois. And we focus in on those leaders that have the most potential. And so it's both emerging leaders that are early in their career, but also are seasoned leaders. And I love that because when look at it, they learn as much as they do from the speakers that we're bringing in as they do from each other, their peers. And so we like to lean in on that peer to peer connection, mentoring piece, and also just building that lifelong network. But the reason, the purpose, why our program exists is we know that we need strong leaders across food and agriculture. We know that we need strong leaders within our rural communities, within our urban communities. And that's what our organization is positioned to do is develop those leaders, give them the tools that they need to make an impact, a positive impact on their community, to help manage their teams. And then really just think about everything that happens across food and agriculture, Illinois being the agriculture state that it is, and this beacon, we think about what happens in terms of policies that impact
Speaker: our farmers and we always drive that home when we're talking with our fellows and so every decision that's made comes back to the farm gate and how can they make sure that we're doing right by our farmers, but at the same time, when we look at Illinois, we have the third largest city. In the country, so you have the very urban areas and you have the very rural areas and so part of our mission, we look at this as bridging that gap of the urban rural divide. and building up leaders that understand each other. We can sit around the table, have discussions, have different viewpoints, but we know that we're stronger together. That's really cool. So Amanda, as someone who gets to lead an organization that helps develop leaders in agriculture, I'm curious, what's the biggest gap that you think exists from a leadership standpoint in agriculture today?
Speaker: Yeah, I think just one of the pieces I just touched on, you know, We are we're passionate people, I think, within food and agriculture. One common thread that I see, everybody has this passion. They have that connection back to their community. They have their stories. And it's a tight-knit community, which I think is wonderful. But sometimes we have to open our eyes a little bit more, I think, and look outside of just our bubble. And so that's where I think we work in the most, that everybody comes from different life experiences. And how do you understand that and understand why people may feel a certain type of way, why they may have these different viewpoints. And if we can just learn to listen more, we can do more with that and just really find those connections always across the people we're working with.
Speaker: Yeah. So from your perspective, Amanda, what do you think is the difference between a net? Cause we talk about this a lot at AFA, right? Like building your network. What's the difference between a network and a community?
Speaker: Yeah. Yeah. I love that. And so your network great to have 5000 followers on LinkedIn. That's wonderful, right? That's your network, your community are those people you can pick up the phone, you have those connections, you're celebrating their wins with them. But you're also in times of need, you have that community. And I see that we instill that within the fellows that we have within our program, you know, with this program being around as long as is it has. I think it's amazing. We have our original class that have graduated in 1984. They're still friends. They still talk. They still are connected. They do their reunions and they send us photos of getting together. To me, that's the definition of community, but you look how impressive they are. They're in all different areas across food and agriculture, the impacts that they're making, but they found that connection within our experience and they built on that. And so just within the work I do, we focus in on that and why that's important. But also, I think within your own communities, right, that you're living within is how do you make those connections across people? It's not superficial, but to really understand um and help people when they need the help.
Speaker: Yeah, absolutely. I love that definition and that difference because it's almost, it's a almost more intimate relationship, which I know maybe sounds like an odd ah word to use in a professional context, but we need a professional community as much as we do a personal community. And ah so I love that definition, that differentiation between network and and community. It's kind of just like a different level of relationship.
Speaker: I think so. And I think good leaders understand that, you know, your people. right? You know their families, you know the things that are going on because as much as we want to you're going to come to work some days, and there's a lot that's going on at home and outside, and so being that empathetic leader and understanding the people you're working with is extremely important, and I think when you do build strong communities, you know those things, um and you can better serve those members on your team.
Speaker: Yeah, well, and I think, too, I'm curious your thoughts on this, Amanda. It's it's almost impossible to lead at the highest levels if you also don't have a strong community, right? Because it's not easy to, like just like you said, like coming to work every day is you're going to be faced with different battles and different challenges. And I think a lot of times we look at leaders in in high levels of organizations or leading organizations, and you can say like, man, they they are very charismatic. They look like they have it all together.
Speaker: But a key piece of that is the the foundation in the community you have behind you, i would think. Yes, yeah, right. It's lonely at the top sometimes, but that's okay. But that's why you have those strong networks. And again, and I've been a little bit of everywhere. ah You can see from my lovely rainbow of banners, you know, behind me, but there are people within my network. There's former students I talk to, I consider a part of my community. But those things are important. Just those check-ins. Sometimes you just have to shut it off, right? And just be a human and check in on fun things are going on or the upcoming SEC football schedule. Like those are those outlets, right? That are important, but it could just be a text message. It could be a quick phone call. I spend a lot of time in my car. So that's where I get to do a lot of my catch-ups that I think are important, but that's good for me too. Cause sometimes it's just a mental escape a little bit to get away from,
Speaker: the work pieces, but also still you're filling someone else's cup and that's continuing to build your community. Yeah, absolutely. ah Amanda, talk to me about your career journey and um as how you have built different communities in different phases as you've moved across ah different, like you you have just a ah really cool background in working different places.
Speaker: Yeah, a squiggly background, I think. Yeah. things right oh so I don't it's crazy to think about now at this point because we're back in Illinois and I thought I would never come back to Illinois you know it's like and I think this is again this common piece from a lot of people within agriculture it's like you want to get away it's like oh my gosh I've you know done this and whatever or I see struggles I see all these things I'm going to do something completely different and then you come back to it you know you find that community. And so when I started out again, i found that passion. I really thought I was going to go into sales. I had worked within the ag business side. I had done all of this and thought I was going to go work with a company and be a sales rep and go through the training, have the offer and something just stopped me. Um, I wanted to work with an academia a little bit more. And so I randomly applied for a job at Auburn.
Speaker: in poultry science and I always have to make sure I enunciate and say poultry, not poetry science, but you know, with the chickens and it was something so different, but I had this passion for ag and learning and I'm like, this is amazing. i can go down work in an industry that's completely foreign yeah to things that I've grown up in with corn and soybeans and then also help students. And so there is a lot of funding, honestly, for scholarships. I could go out work with these students that had similar backgrounds, help them find a way to pay for college. And so why would I not do this? And it honestly, it was the best decision I made because it set everything else in motion. So from there, again, built up this network, learned, was out in the poultry processing plant, did everything, you know, but I wanted to learn it.
Speaker: And so spent a lot of time on our farm, spent a lot of time with our students and their families and learning. and Just really built up a unique network across the poultry and egg industry and within the Southeast and then ended up because I did a lot of outreach work. I taught middle school science. My husband graduated This master's in urban forestry, and then we, I wanted to continue to do the work of reaching out to people. So then built another community and taught seventh grade middle school science to 127 seventh graders, which was wild. um That's my free ticket to sainthood, I think. but that
Speaker: But I was in a Title I school and again, you think you take a moment and you reflect a little bit, but I'm like, what am I doing? Why am I here? And it was amazing. The students that I served, about 90% of our kiddos were on free or reduced lunch.
Speaker: um And school was a safe place for them. My classroom was a safe place for them. But I was teaching science, so I was the cool teacher and could do all the hands-on pieces, you know but really pour into them. And then also just to see the way the minds worked of,
Speaker: Kiddos from an urban setting, no idea where their food comes from. So then I was able to bring the agriculture vein back in but built a great network of people there and also helped mentor some other new teachers while I was there.
Speaker: then got called back, went back to academia, i went back down to Auburn. I thought I was going to i just wanted finish my PhD because I'm like, I need to continue to do pieces within the higher ed level and reach out to students in that way. And I could still do my community work.
Speaker: And then again, know, life changes, things happen. And I got an offer from LSU. So I went back to Auburn, had worked in the college of agriculture, loved it, was doing alumni relations, all the things. And i was recruited to another school. And so went down to LSU.
Speaker: And again, i think all these things happen for a reason. When I finished up my time at LSU, I was assistant dean in the college of agriculture. So here I was this first gen kid from rural, you know, Illinois, but had like really in my mind, like made it and thought I was going to, yeah, be there.
Speaker: And then it was a different set of circumstances in terms of the communities and the challenges that Louisiana had and our students had, but very fulfilling. And I always felt like I was giving back. So I think that theme runs across um what stands out to me as now I'm talking this through and just reflecting a little bit was the willingness to learn and be vulnerable.
Speaker: And when you're building communities, right, and finding those commonalities. Why would somebody from Illinois want to come down to Alabama, work in poultry, center you know, so it's like, yeah, to prove yourself a little bit. But again, it's okay to be like, I don't know something, but I want to learn.
Speaker: And so that's every place that I went to. It's like, let me learn and then let's learn together. And then how can I help you and help you build that network and community? And so I think that theme has stayed true to me throughout this entire windy pathway.
Speaker: Yeah. Have you ever ah joined a community or found yourself in a community where you felt like you didn't belong? Oh, yeah, that's a tough one. um Yeah, I would say like just going to college for the first time.
Speaker: Absolutely. Again, you know, and I found good mentors. That's the only reason I did not feel like I belong there. That's why i didn't even apply ah to be very honest and candid with you as we talk about being vulnerable. My ag teacher paid for my college application. She locked me in our computer or lab and...
Speaker: made me fill it out because I'm like, I don't, I'm not good enough. I'm not whatever. I can't afford this. This wasn't something that's in the cards for me, but it was because of her removing that barrier, opening the door, believing in me before I believed in myself that I could do that. Right. So you still have, I think everybody always struggles with imposter syndrome. I haven't come across a leader that doesn't. Right. But again, it's,
Speaker: It's o okay to walk into a space and not know everything, but we surround ourselves by good people that help us learn and then open the door for others. And I think anybody, if you've been in those situations, I would hope that you continue to do that and that it will, it makes a difference. It's just a chain reaction across what we do when we build our communities.
Speaker: Oh, thank you so much for sharing that story. i feel like ag teachers in general are saints, but that's just another proof point. And i think even circles back around to the work that you do today, right? Of it took someone being like, hey, I'm going to not force, but like, I'm going to make this opportunity happen for you. And to know that even as you talked about the rural and urban divide of that, some of the work that all of us can do every day is knowing that sometimes in these spaces, whether it's us feeling like we don't belong in an urban space or a urban person coming into agriculture and feeling like they don't belong? How can we be the person that bridges that gap and opens the door for someone else?
Speaker: For sure. And I think just not having an agriculture background, we have this conversation all the time, even you know within our program. and it's like, okay, well, why do we want to invest in someone to be in the program? Because our program,
Speaker: It's very low in terms of the tuition rate that people pay to be a part. And we invest $25,000 to $30,000 per fellow for a program. so the other hat that I wear is a lot of fundraising pieces, but it's because I believe in this mission, we're serving our state, we're serving our country.
Speaker: I'm helping build up this next generation. But we look for that potential because that ag community is continuing to shrink. Not everybody has had that option or the opportunity. to have farmland, to grow up on a farm, but they have that passion, they have that connection, they want to better understand our food systems, they want to make a difference in terms of food access. And so to me, all those people belong at the table, but it's that willingness to learn and the willingness to open the door for others.
Speaker: Yeah, absolutely. What advice would you have for someone who finds themselves, whether it's a new job, a new city or a new place and finding themselves in a new community? um What advice do you have for them on getting started and building out and finding those mentors and finding those people that can be that support system?
Speaker: Be open. It's awkward, right? As you get older, especially you're like, oh my gosh, I'm like reload. We've moved so many times. I think we counted it and we were at like 15 or 16 houses. So we're professional movers at this point. Um,
Speaker: My husband enjoys it because he can like clean out. It's like a cleanse for him to like purge a lot of our stuff. But you can't keep a lot of stuff when you move that way. When you move it. Yeah, we're we're always nimble, ready to go with it. But I think it's getting involved in those different organizations. And so some of the pieces like I know that there's certain things that I like or there's certain places I'm going to find my people. But i I love culture and community and like every piece, every part of our nation. I think there's such unique things.
Speaker: cultural things. you know You have all the resources, you have TripAdvisor, you have all the stuff, TikTok, everything that's on there. It's like need to find those little pockets of what makes a space, a community unique and just embracing that. It's okay to be uncomfortable. It's okay to go to something by yourself, um but just being open and then giving back. And that's where I want to see more people involved in the service pieces. And I think that's where you find connections across all different interest areas. Right. So wherever we've lived, we always, we're involved in the food bank. We're going, we're volunteering, we're doing that. That's something, again, fills our cup, makes us feel good, but we can connect with other people within our community. So to me, those service pieces are extremely important and we need that now more than ever across whatever community that you're in And then just getting involved, be involved in the different boards, volunteer. And so how can you make your community better and a great place to be
Speaker: get involved. Don't just complain about it, right? Like sign up and commit that time. And so that's the advice I would give. And then, you know, for those that have been involved in AFA, we have another network and another layer of support. And so I think you can always reach out. There's ways on LinkedIn that you have those connections. And I've seen it happen that someone's moving to a location. They're like great. Let me link you up with this person at this company or within this certain area, this region, just so you have someone there, you have a comfort a little bit.
Speaker: Yeah, absolutely. At least a familiar face. Yeah. And I, I love that advice to a volunteering because i think there is something so special about like working and serving side by side with people to build relationship versus having to like, I agree, like making friends as an adult or finding community or that kind of thing can be so challenging. I'm also someone who's moved So many times across so many different states, but it is that like, Hey, if we're doing something together, serving other people, man, you, you build shared memories, you get to like, it's just a different type of bond that I think can help you build strong connections really quickly. So well, absolutely. Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker: ah well I don't get this opportunity very often with guests on the podcast, but because you are an AFA alum, I am curious, talk about, ah can you tell folks about your AFA journey and what your experience was like and um how and if it impacted where you have ended up today?
Speaker: Yeah, I think it goes back to just, we talked a little bit about the imposter syndrome, like, do I belong here, right? So I had that stayed with me. It stayed with me throughout, especially my undergrad years until Honestly, probably till I graduated with my PhD. I'm like, oh okay, I've made it. I've done it. Right. But this is going to date me a little bit. But when I was in AFA, we just had leaders conference was the big main focus. We didn't have all these other pieces that are again, are just so I think life changing and opening up those networks and just open up your eyes to all the opportunities. But leaders conference was it. And we got in a van and we drove
Speaker: to Kansas City, the minivan that I'll never forget. was a long ride. um But to walk into that room and to be selected, like that was a big deal. i'm like, wow, somebody again believes I can do this. And then you saw the companies there, you saw the caliber of speakers. It just, it blew me away.
Speaker: um and that's when i I think I knew for sure, like I have to stay involved within agriculture, look at all these different opportunities. I walked away with different internship opportunities just from being there for a couple of days. And so to me, I think what it does for students and young students as they're early in their careers, it's just going to open your eyes to everything.
Speaker: Regardless of what you've learned already within college, like being there in that space at something like Leaders Conference or the different institutes that are offered, you just see a little bit more.
Speaker: but you can also see yourself in some of these leaders. And I think that's important to be able to envision that pathway, but AFA builds that. I think it instills it and then gives you that opportunity to grow. Yeah, absolutely. ah You've continued to stay involved through the National Alumni Advisory Council and things like that. I am curious as you look back now on, okay, it was just a conference in college.
Speaker: Why have you chosen to stay involved? And did that, like how did AFA impact it? I mean, it was a weekend in college. Did it really have an impact on where Amanda has ended up from a career standpoint today?
Speaker: Yeah, I think so. But it also made me better at the way that I served other people. And I say that because, you know for a long time I recruited, my passion, my goal will always be like getting people involved in agriculture. My kiddo, I'm like,
Speaker: we're gonna do farm camp this summer and you get to you you know all the things. I want people to love agriculture. I want them to understand how hard our farmers and producers work for them. um And again, I think AFA it highlights all of those things. And so to me, it was that light bulb moment.
Speaker: It didn't matter that it was only a couple days, it was a light bulb moment that I'm like, look how expansive, how vast this industry, this space is, look how welcoming. We are. We need people on every level. It doesn't matter if you have an ag background or not. We need HR. We need the finance minds. We need the sales. And so it was a space that you could come in and learn. And so, again, i think I've taken all of those experiences and it's added to how I welcome people, how I want to get people excited and engaged about the industry. And AFA does that. They do that with every
Speaker: Every post that they have, every event that they have, you can't walk away from an event without being like, wow, I'm excited about what this next generation is going to do.
Speaker: It makes you feel good, right? You can sleep at night after that. Yeah, absolutely. Thanks for sharing. I am curious, as you reflect back on your college experience and career journey, um did you ever think that you would be a CEO and get to lead an organization someday?
Speaker: No. I didn't. No, no. And I don't, oh gosh. I love, I'm boots on the ground. I like to do the work. I like to just be in with the people, I guess. And so for me, I'm like, oh my gosh, even like making that that move to assistant dean, I was very worried about, I'm like, is this going to take away from the things that really make me happy in my job? And I was intentional with my time and kind of how I focused in to make sure I could still do the things that I love to make sure I could still be teaching and mentoring with students because otherwise i think I would have ran myself into the ground a little bit with it. And so looking back, no. And I honestly, I thought I would stay in academia forever.
Speaker: i was kind of like, this is great. I you all hit this big goal and I was assistant dean and I could do this forever. And then we had lived away for so long. you know i had i lost my dad unexpectedly. And so that was just kind of a shock. It was a reset for me. And I'm like, okay, let's let's think about what's important too. And people are always important. and So we made the move after I said I'd never go back. And here we are and I love it. and I'm so, so happy to be back in the Midwest too. But then I rebuilt myself.
Speaker: I started back over. And I think good leaders and wherever you're in your journey, sometimes you do that. You need to do that. So I had a reset. I went a different direction. And I'm like, what else could I be doing? that i still felt like I was serving that need and where I felt the passion outside of just academia. And so I'd worked with American Ag Board, went on and worked with Farm Foundation. And this...
Speaker: It was just timing was perfect for where I'm at now. And I couldn't imagine now doing anything else because it's just all of those windy, weird paths that I went on really helped me prepare for this role and what I'm doing and how I can help build up the leaders and just give back to the state that gave me so much in my younger years, too.
Speaker: Thank you for sharing that. Cause I think so many folks, uh, like you, we, you go to college and you have like an idea of what your career is going to be. And many of us, uh, pursue it and, and are fortunate to achieve it. And then you realize like, Hey, there's like, I feel like what you said, Amanda just gives permission of like, it's okay to reinvent yourself throughout your career. Careers are long. And sometimes what we decided to do and what we thought the path was, you know,
Speaker: 10, 15 years ago as a college student, it's okay to change and that you can pivot and still do the things that you're passionate about. Yeah. And that finding it right. Because yeah if it's just, and that most people, i feel you don't just want a job.
Speaker: You don't want a job anymore, right? Life is precious and important. Time is our greatest asset and resource. And so how can you do something that you love that feels fulfilling? That's not just a paycheck.
Speaker: It is something that, you know, think about the time that you spend with the people at work. A lot of times that's more time than our family. And so you want to do something that's fulfilling and and it's okay. It's okay to make a change and do a rebuild. Yeah.
Speaker: Yeah, absolutely. So I'm curious for you, how was the ah shift from, i am a leader of a team inside of an organization to, I am the boss and I am leading the organization.
Speaker: Yeah, ah fun, I would say. Yes, right. So I think lots of different experiences that I had because I feel like when you're a leader, you lead on every level. It doesn't matter, right? and The titles don't matter. um It's how you show up and how you build up the people. around you. And so I think probably the biggest adjustment for me, like adjusting to working with a board, that was something new. I always got to be the liaison in between and, you know, do some things that it's like I could balance and be the peacekeeper and all the different roles that I was in. And now I get to be in the hot seat and balance.
Speaker: Feedback from everyone, right? I have 15 different bosses some days with our board because everybody has a different opinion, but that is good because we have these brilliant minds and I love it because it's not just me alone. i have a board of directors that really invest in what we do. And so I think just adjusting to that and learning to ask for help.
Speaker: That I always struggle with that with it, but being in the role, it's okay. Again, even if you're leading an organization, you do have that title. You got to surround yourself with the best people and how can you create opportunities for growth across your team? But really think about that because if you invest in them, they'll invest in you and everything works a little bit easier, or better when you have that balance across your team.
Speaker: Yeah, absolutely. What advice would you have for anyone listening who's like, Hey, I want to be where Amanda is someday. I want to be leading, whether it's a organization in agriculture or or something along those lines.
Speaker: Go teach seventh grade science. It worked on my patients and all the skills that I need yeah for today. i just be open, be open to change. I think and i do coaching, you know, with our fellows too. And I,
Speaker: Again, it's just from my experiences, I see things in people that they don't always see. And so I try to elevate that. I'm like, you need to apply for this job. Well, I don't think that I'm qualified. You're qualified. like and Why would you think that? And so it's just kind of reversing the way that they think about themselves. And so that's where I would challenge others. it What do you have to lose? Like applying for those higher level positions,
Speaker: reach out, ask those questions, ask for feedback. And so don't be afraid to make that change. That is the only reason why I've been able to get to where I'm at, right? We had a windy path. We moved all over. We did all these things. I wasn't afraid to start back over kind of at an early stage in a career, an entry level job, honestly, to build back up because I wanted that willingness, that humbleness to learn. earn and earn my space. But again, you've got to, you got to put yourself out of your comfort zone and take the risks to be able to do that.
Speaker: Great advice. Thank you. Okay, Amanda, we are going to move into what we call rapid fire. And I always know that this is where you try to answer in one sentence or less. And I attempt not to ask follow-up questions. Okay.
Speaker: Very good. Okay. What is a trait that you think more ag leaders need? Oh, I would just say openness to new ideas and patience. Yeah.
Speaker: What's your go-to way to make someone feel welcome? Oh, a nice cup of coffee, but also like connecting them to my network. I love to make connections across people.
Speaker: I love that. ah What is one question that you think sparks conversation and brings a group of people together?
Speaker: What's the latest place that you travel to if we're doing a ah fun question? so I love to see people's travel experiences. What is the name of one person who has had a big impact on Amanda Martin's career?
Speaker: Oh my gosh. Only one. i'm going to say Dr. Maxwell, Lucas Maxwell. And he was my advisor for ag Ambassadors while I was at SIU.
Speaker: Also one that kept me in line so that first generation college student could make it all the way through. And then he also got ordained online to be the officiant in our wedding because I met my husband who was also an ag ambassador. So very special person, still a mentor to me. And he's the godfather of our kiddo now. So talk about those long networking relationships and community. He's one of those.
Speaker: Oh, I love that. Yeah. ah And how would you describe your leadership philosophy? i would say my leadership philosophy really focuses on bringing people to the table, having them reflect and see what I see in them, and then just building people up. that's the We have a very short time when you think about it. And so when you think about those times that you play in people's lives and their different parts of their journey, how can we build people up? And that's what I focus on with what I do. Absolutely. That's great.
Speaker: Okay, I think you may know this, but we love hot takes at AFA. So we always love to ask our guests for a hot take. And what is a hot take that you have either about ah leadership or it can be agriculture in general?
Speaker: Let's think about this. So I would think we are in a crucial time right now within agriculture and everything that's going on. across our country, across our world. And so i want to see people step up. I want to see them get involved um and use their voices. We do that within our program, but we think about just the future of farming. I worry. i worry every day when we think about our farmers, the stress that they're under. And so kind of my hot take with this would be let's, let's think about the people that work with us for us in our communities and how can we
Speaker: do better by them and take care of them and ensure that we have a safe food supply. Food safety is national security we think about it and it is now more real than ever. And so let's do a better job with all of those things.
Speaker: I love that. It's such a great way to connect, Amanda, the ah true, like tangible piece of agriculture when we think about feeding people to, hey, that doesn't happen without leadership and connection and humans ah encouraging and making that wheel turn to get to that actual tangible national security, food in people's bellies.
Speaker: Yeah, for sure. And we all play a part in it, right? Everybody, at least three times a day, we hope that agriculture is part of your life. Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. Absolutely. Amanda, well, I have loved this conversation so much. Thank you so much for joining us. And there has been, i think, so many pieces of this that are just inspiring me. i love the way you've talked about community and how to build that and some tangible advice for for building our own communities. At AFA, you know, we are all about building bridges is and building connections. So where can people connect with you and learn more about you and the work that you're doing at the Illinois Agricultural Leadership Foundation?
Speaker: Yeah, so I'd encourage them to follow us on social media, on LinkedIn. We're always posting about what our fellows are doing. And then on our website, agleadership.org. And so we share lots of information about the exciting partners we have, as well as what's going up going on coming up. We'll be taking our fellows on an international seminar in February to Vietnam and Singapore. And so I'd encourage you to follow along for that because it will be a wild adventure for them.
Speaker: So cool. It's amazing to see how many states have really unique experiences to connect people to agriculture and different agriculture experiences around the world. So I know I love following Amanda, especially on LinkedIn, as well as you share about the work that you do.
Speaker: Well, thank you so much for joining us and for sharing your wisdom with ah the listeners of the Cultivating Leaders podcast and continuing to be a part of the AFA community. Want to hear more from Amanda? Join us on September 23rd at noon central for our next cultivating leaders webinar. We are sitting down with Amanda and other recent guests to dive into their career journeys, which began with a connection that they made at AFA experiences as a college student. Visit the link in the episode description to register.
Speaker: Thanks for listening to the Cultivating Leaders podcast, where leaders grow. If this episode challenged your thinking, be sure to share it with someone else who is on a similar leadership journey. You can stay connected with the Cultivating Leaders podcast by following AgFutureAmerica on social media or drop a comment in the episode description. We'll see you again on the next episode.
