Ag Ambassadors help equip students with skills and connections for their careers in agriculture
Ag Ambassadors is an undergraduate program for North Dakota State University students pursuing majors in the College of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural Resources.
The program began in 1998 as a way for students to serve as public relations representatives for the College of Agriculture. Over 25 years later, the program is still instrumental in recruiting students.
The ambassadors often interact with prospective College of Agriculture students during high school visits, college fairs, Discover NDSU events and the National FFA Convention.
The Ag Ambassador program isn’t just for anyone to join. Students interested in becoming ambassadors undergo an application and interview process, and in some years, only a handful of students were selected out of a few dozen applicants.
In addition to helping energize new students, the ambassadors serve NDSU by assisting with events. Although the Ag Ambassadors don’t run events themselves, they help with many smaller tasks for other local organizations’ agriculture-related events, such as setting up the Harvest Bowl banquet. They also help assemble classroom packets for local elementary schools through the Agriculture in the Classroom program.
“Being an Ag Ambassador has prepared me to serve my community by teaching me the importance of behind-the-scenes work,” says Hannah Reutter, Ag Ambassadors president. “It's an important experience to volunteer your time without being put in the spotlight or receiving compensation.”
As president, Reutter communicates service opportunities to the ambassadors — each member must assist in at least four events per semester — and leads their biweekly meetings.
In addition to valuable professional networking, Ag Ambassadors is another way for students to connect over their shared enthusiasm for ag industry topics.
Reutter says she values her time with students in other agriculture-related fields — she’s studying horticulture and crop and weed sciences — because it gives her a well-rounded perspective on the agriculture system as a whole.
Lahni Stachler, NDSU Extension agriculture and natural resources agent in Cavalier County, is a former Ag Ambassador. She says her experience helped her develop public speaking skills she uses every week in her position.
“I thank Ag Ambassadors for helping me to create and continue to cherish numerous friendships throughout my time at NDSU,” she says.
Stachler recalls meeting industry professionals at events like the Harvest Bowl Banquet and the Agriculture Future of America Leaders Conference — connections that gave her confidence to begin her career.
