The largest agricultural career fair in the nation will be held Tuesday at Iowa State, with almost 125 companies present.

The College of Agriculture will host the career fair from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Great Hall and Campanile Room of the Memorial Union.

Students from schools as far away as Oklahoma State have shown interest in coming to Iowa State’s career fair, said Michael Gaul, director of agriculture career services.

“You name it, it’s there. There is something for every major under the ag umbrella,” Gaul said.

“[The fair has everything] from seed companies, to horticulture companies, to food companies, to governmental departments like the USDA and the DNR.”

Planning for this event started at the end of August when the invitations went out to the companies, although the relationship between the College of Agriculture and these companies has been building for years, he said.

“[College students] can’t afford to shut the door on any job opportunity that presents itself,” Gaul said.

The career fair is the unofficial kick-off to recruitment for internships and full-time jobs, and some companies will offer interviews on campus and most students sign up before the career fair, he said.

“It’s a time to build relationships,” Gaul said.

“Keep in touch with these [companies], and you never know what might happen years from now.”

The quality students who are products of Iowa State’s College of Agriculture are the main draw for attending companies of the career fair, said Dean Warras, district general manager for animal nutrition at Cargill of Sioux City.

“[Cargill] has had outstanding success with Iowa State student’s behavior and integrity,” Warras said.

“You don’t find that everywhere.”

Warras, who will be sitting on the other side of the interview table from students, had some advice for potential interviewees.

“Come prepared with your paperwork, resume and/or transcript,” Warras said.

“Be professional, but not rigid, and have a good grasp on what you’re looking for. Don’t be clueless.”