UWRF student named agriculture ambassador

Kaylin Spaeth, a junior at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, has been selected as one of 15 campus ambassadors for Agriculture Future of America (AFA). Spaeth, of Emerald, is studying agricultural business and dairy science at UWRF.

AFA is a leader and professional development organization for collegiate leaders and young professionals. Providing leader development, intern support and scholarships, AFA seeks to be a catalyst in the preparation of a new generation of agriculture leaders. Spaeth and her fellow team members serve as ambassadors between AFA and their college campuses and AFA’s corporate partners.

“My involvement with AFA has been a great way to help promote agriculture, learn more about myself, and also meet other passionate students from all across the nation,” Spaeth said. “AFA also gives students numerous opportunities to network with companies and learn more about them and how their employees are working to promote agriculture every day.”

Spaeth and the other campus ambassadors were selected through a competitive application process to serve as AFA’s student voice and represent their peers on a national level. In addition to serving as a liaison between AFA and their respective campuses, the ambassadors will assist the Student Advisory Team in delivering the 2016 AFA Leaders Conference. This event is AFA’s core leader development program and more than 700 delegates from across the nation will be selected to attend. The Student Advisory Team and the AFA Campus Ambassadors met March 31-April 2 to kickoff this planning process.

Spaeth’s entrance into the AFA leader development program began her freshman year of college when she was selected as a National AFA Leader and Academic Scholar. Since then, she has attended three Tracks of AFA Leaders Conference as well as the AFA Animal Institute and AFA Policy Institute. At the Animal Institute she was able to visit with young professionals from companies such as Select Sires MidAmerica, Ceva Animal Health and Cargill, and gained insider knowledge on different career paths. At the AFA Policy Institute in March, she connected with Wisconsin legislative representatives and learned about the policy process. Participants also met with specialists from government agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration, the U.S. State Department and the Foreign Ag Service to gain a better understanding of career options in the policy field.

In addition to her involvement with AFA, Spaeth is also active in student organizations and activities at UW-River Falls, including the Agricultural Business and Marketing Society, Dairy Club, Collegiate Farm Bureau and Agribusiness Quiz Bowl. Last summer she completed an internship with AgStar Financial, ACA focused on Ag Star’s Young, Beginning Small Farmer and Rancher Program.

For more information, email laura.walsh@uwrf.edu or call 715-425-3535.