I am Ashley Hagenow, and I currently work at CHS Inc. as a brand marketing specialist and reside in Mendota Heights, Minnesota. While I am originally from Wisconsin, I attended the University of Minnesota where I earned my undergraduate degree in Agricultural Communication and Marketing with minors in Animal Science and Agricultural and Food Business Management.

Having grown up in the agriculture industry, I have always enjoyed connecting with others about where our food comes from and the hardworking people who produce it, especially through organizations like 4-H and FFA. While in college, AFA allowed me to continue growing and developing my skills and connected me with so many amazing individuals, especially through serving on the Student Advisory Team.

My career has taken me many places already, such as serving as Wisconsin’s 76th Alice in Dairyland, where I promoted the diversity and abundance of Wisconsin’s agriculture industry. I then served as a Marketing Specialist Contractor at CHS, where I enjoyed connecting with those dedicated to the cooperative system and worked on marketing projects related to agronomy, grain, energy and animal nutrition. I most recently served as a Senior Account Manager for broadhead marketing agency, where I focused on clients in agriculture and healthcare. All of these experiences are made possible because of great individuals in the agriculture industry, and my current role at CHS will allow me to continue living out my personal mission statement: “To communicate with, connect and empower others in a career that provides personal fulfillment and the ability to positively impact agriculture and its people."

Describe your AFA experience as a student.

I was first introduced to AFA through the scholarship program as an incoming freshman to the University of Minnesota. As part of this generous scholarship, I knew I would have the opportunity to attend the AFA Leaders Conference during my first year of college. As I stepped into the Leaders Conference space, I was immediately hooked through the outstanding speakers, engaging content and ability to network with so many peers in agriculture.

From there, I continually engaged with AFA through the annual Leaders Conference and had the opportunity to serve on the Student Advisory Team (SAT) from 2021-2022. This experience completely shaped and enhanced my AFA experience through facilitating workshops and the AFA Food Institute, engaging with peers and industry leaders from around the country and serving on an exceptional team alongside some of my best friends. AFA has always stood out to me for its ability to bring and keep people together, and that is what the agriculture industry is all about!

How did your AFA Student experience influence your career journey?

AFA has impacted my career journey in a variety of ways, whether equipping me with valuable teamwork and collaboration skills, allowing me to gain confidence in my public speaking and facilitation skills or making real-world connections for current or future career opportunities. AFA does a phenomenal job at meeting students where they are at, whether just starting out their college journey or preparing for a career in agriculture following graduation, and I was blessed to grow and develop both personally and professionally during my AFA journey, which has informed and inspired my current career path in marketing and communications.

One memorable experience that stands out was the opportunity to attend AllianceX in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, while serving as Alice in Dairyland. I was invited to attend and share more about Wisconsin’s unique agricultural industry through an educational program called “Expedition Agriculture,” which was the presentation shared with 3rd and 4th grade students across the state. While I tailored it slightly for a more adult audience, the core themes of sharing the top commodities in Wisconsin, the history of agriculture and how food is grown on a farm did not change, and it was an enjoyable way to engage with fellow agriculture industry enthusiasts and those dedicated to an organization like AFA. While attending AllianceX, I also helped to moderate a panel discussion with entrepreneurs from around Wisconsin who are dedicated to our food and agriculture systems. Because of this, I am inspired to continue staying engaged and involved with AFA as an alumnus as I take on new challenges and growth opportunities throughout my career!

At the time, what did AFA help you understand about yourself, your leadership style or your place in agriculture?

AFA has helped me understand that my place in agriculture is to be a connector with and of people. Throughout my AFA journey as a college student, I was amazed at the power of relationships and how the people you meet at your first time at AFA Leaders Conference are likely people who will stay in your life for a long time to come. This came full circle for me when learning of my fellow teammates on the Student Advisory Team and realizing that many of us had met or stayed in touch after our first Leaders Conference, and would now have the opportunity to continue serving and giving back to the organization in a new way. AFA also helped me realize that my leadership style is a mix of humility, adaptability, optimism and tenacity, amongst other qualities, and I have applied these styles to other personal and professional pursuits.

What skill, mindset or lesson from AFA has been most useful in your professional life?

The ability to network and stay in touch with people in both my personal and professional life has been both a skill and a mindset that I gained from AFA. There is no doubt that the individuals you meet in your first year at AFA Leaders Conference or at your first Institute are people who will stay in your life or who you will continually come across throughout your career. This became especially true after serving on the Student Advisory Team and realizing many of my close friends on the team were scattered all across the country. While we were used to seeing each other at least monthly due to AFA events, our relationships became even that much more intentional as we navigated staying in touch and living life to the fullest after graduating college and starting new journeys and chapters in life. I have used this same mindset as I navigate my professional career, whether it is staying in touch with mentors, sharing career updates with folks in my network or helping to mentor up and coming youth in agriculture. Our relationships are some of our most valuable assets in this industry, and I am so thankful for the people in my life who make it easy to navigate life’s fun moments and challenges together!

Finish this sentence: Because of AFA, I…

Because of AFA, I have built lasting and meaningful relationships in the industry of agriculture that have allowed me to be a more intentional teammate, leader and friend.