Iowa State and several agriculture companies from across Iowa will vie for minority students’ attention at a national conference.

An ISU organization is hosting approximately 800 college students and professionals from around the nation Thursday, Friday and Saturday during the Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences National Convention.

The ISU chapter of Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences, Cargill, John Deere and Pioneer Hi-Bred International will play host to students and professionals.

Mike Gaul, director of career placement for agriculture career services, worked with the ISU agriculture group to find local, national and global businesses and agencies who are looking for diversity in their companies.

The conference is geared toward minorities in agriculture-related studies but registration is open to all students said Chansi Williams, graduate student in agriculture education and studies and a member of the ISU chapter.

She said the career fair at the conference is an opportunity for 90 agriculture-related businesses, universities and government agencies to recruit minority students.

“As they are looking for diversity, we are looking for jobs,” Williams said.

College of Agriculture Dean Catherine Woteki said the conference is a great opportunity for the students attending and for Iowa State.

“We want to prepare students for the workplace, and it is a diverse workplace,” she said.

The conference also allows Iowa State to showcase the many opportunities the College of Agriculture has to offer to its students, Woteki said.

She said the College of Agriculture offers a broad range of academic programs, and the college is always open to hosting prospective students.

The College of Agriculture hopes to attract possible graduate students to Iowa State at the conference.

Mary de Baca, program manager of agriculture administration, said about 75 delegates from around the nation will tour Iowa State on Thursday morning before meeting the rest of the delegation in Des Moines for the remainder of the conference.

“We will be showing [the delegates] that Iowa State is a good place to study and a good place to be on faculty,” she said. “Our goal is to increase diversity at Iowa State.”

De Baca said since Iowa does not have a lot of diversity compared to some other states, the university is trying to increase the numbers of minorities enrolled.

“If they work away from Iowa, they’ll be in a much more diverse place, and we want them to be prepared,” she said.