Matt Bornhorst became involved with Agriculture Future of America (AFA) in high school, and realized the organization would help him succeed in his goals.

Bornhorst, senior in agriculture studies, is now helping other students learn through AFA.

Bornhorst and Claire Masker, junior in animal science and agriculture, have been selected to participate in the development of the 2003 AFA conference by being part of this year’s Students Advisory Team. Masker and Bornhorst will work with ten other individuals from around the Midwest to coordinate the conference.

“It’s a good opportunity,” Masker said. “You get more training [though AFA].”

All of the students involved in the Students Advisory Team will work three days each month on planning the conference, said Nancy Yates, program manager for AFA.

The conference, a four day personal and professional training session, has three different levels allowing students to attend for up to 3 years, Yates said.

The first level of the conference is the personal assessment and professional training track, Yates said. Students learn to make impressionable resumes, develop good interviewing skills and how to apply for an internship, she said.

The second level is the communications track, she said, and the third level teaches the students to manage change and how to work in a global marketplace.

The last portion of the conference is the career fair for students looking for internships and career opportunities, Yates said.

The conference allows the students to meet some prominent people in agriculture and get a lot of training, Yates said.

“[The conference will] further develop people and make them more marketable when it comes to getting a career in agriculture,” Bornhorst said.

Masker said there are many opportunities opened to students by attending the conference.

“[The AFA conference] allows you to grow both personally and professionally,” she said.

As part of his work with the Student Advisory Team, Bornhorst said he will work on lining up speakers and business people to help out with the workshops for the second track of the conference. Part of his job is to make sure the speakers meet the requirements for this year’s theme, “Embrace Opportunity, Create Innovation.”

“I get to meet a lot of influential people and network with other students,” Bornhorst said.

Masker’s main focus in the development of the conference is the first level. She said she will develop workshops and find guest speakers who can help the students develop their resumes and applying for internships.

“[This opportunity] allows you to have a leg up on other students,” Masker said. “I will be sought after instead of me seeking.”