There’s a saying that the best way to learn something is by actually doing it. The East Marshall FFA Chapter in Le Grand, Iowa, has such an opportunity through a unique hands-on program where students will learn about the seed industry and sales by serving as sales representatives for Garst Seed Company. The Slater, Iowa-based seed company recently named this Iowa FFA chapter a Garst dealer for eastern Marshall County.

“Many companies, including Garst, offer internships, and they are great for helping students explore career opportunities and learn more about specific companies,” says Brad Plunkett, district sales manager for Garst in Maxwell, Iowa. “With a sales territory opening in my area, I thought what better way for high school students to learn more about opportunities in the seed industry while gaining some real-life work experience and raising money for their chapter. It’s a great way to support the local communities, too. Garst agreed completely.”

Plunkett contacted FFA chapters in the area, but it was Steve Fevold, the vocational agricultural teacher and FFA adviser at the East Marshall High School, who shared Plunkett’s level of excitement about the program’s potential. “Garst is a nationally known company that also is part of Syngenta, one of the world’s largest agricultural companies,” says Fevold. “I thought what a great partnering and learning opportunity for the students. FFA members, the school and community have been very enthusiastic about having the opportunity to become Garst ProSellers."

Fevold notes there are many opportunities in this industry besides production agriculture, and each year a number of jobs in agriculture go unfilled because of a shortage of qualified people. “We have a number of FFA members who do not come from farm backgrounds,” says Fevold. “Students who get involved in the Garst program will learn more about agronomy, sales and farm management, but also careers such as supply and inventory management or research that they may not have been aware of.”

Rewards to Students

Participation in the Garst program is optional for East Marshall FFA members. Those who are involved in the program receive training from Garst in various areas, including sales, Garst’s product lineup, and evaluating product information for specific field recommendations. “Garst wants this to be a positive experience for the students, so we are providing the tools and training they need to ensure that happens,” says Plunkett. “They’ll even have the opportunity to work with Garst agronomists and other sales representatives.”

“This program enables students to take what they learn in the classroom and really put it to use in the field,” says Fevold. “Students can’t receive any more practical or management experience than making selection decisions on hybrids or varieties.”  

Part of the program also includes showing students the research side of the business through tours of Garst’s state-of-the-art research facilities in Slater. In the future, Fevold may also include in some way other students from the school who are enrolled in business management and other related courses.

The East Marshall FFA Chapter has the same earnings opportunities on seed sales as other Garst sales representatives. The money generated from the Garst dealership will be used to enhance the East Marshall FFA program.

Fevold plans to have several students use the Garst program as their supervised agriculture experience (SAE) program in FFA, which provides students additional experience in record keeping and potential award recognition. “I’m aware of only one other FFA chapter involved in a program – a feed store in Illinois – that is similar in scope to ours,” says Fevold.

Both Garst and the East Marshall School District are committed to making this a successful, long-term program for the FFA chapter. “Students need practical, hands-on learning experiences to succeed in today’s workplace,” says Steve Klein, head of marketing for Garst. “This program offers that. In addition, if agribusiness and others in the industry want to keep today’s youth interested in agriculture, we’ve got to be willing to make the investment to show there are opportunities.”

Garst Seed Company, with headquarters in Slater, Iowa, provides seed solutions for growers across North America with high yielding corn, soybean, sorghum, alfalfa and sunflower products.

Garst Seed Company is affiliated with Syngenta, a world-leading agribusiness committed to sustainable agriculture through innovative research and technology. Syngenta is a leader in crop protection, and ranks third in the high-value commercial seeds market. Sales in 2004 were approximately $7.3 billion. Syngenta employs some 20,000 people in over 90 countries.  Syngenta is listed on the Swiss stock exchange (SYNN) and in New York (SYT).