Cultivating Leaders

AFA student experiences give students the tools to build meaningful careers by preparing students to navigate career changes and empowering them to lead forward. Four AFA Alumni have taken the lessons they learned as college students to be influential leaders in the agriculture industry.

Four AFA Alumni join the Cultivating Leaders Webinar series to share how their experiences with AFA shape the way they show up, build relationships and navigate their careers today. From attending AFA Institutes and Leaders Conference as students to stepping into meaningful leadership roles across agriculture, each panelist has continued to build on the skills, connections and confidence they developed early on.

Joining The Cultivating Leaders Webinar:

Chase DeCoite - Senior Vice President, Food Industry Relations at the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy

Brooke Clay Taylor - Chief Operating Officer at Empire Ag

Emily Peters - Director of Marketing and Sales at Union Pacific Railroad

Amanda Martin - President and CEO of the Illinois Agricultural Leadership Foundation

This conversation will explore the value of professional relationships, making the most of opportunities and developing the people skills that become increasingly important as your career grows. Panelists get real about the challenges, lessons and tools that helped them move from emerging professionals into influential mid-career leaders.

Dive Deeper: www.agfuture.org/news/career-lessons-from-afa-alumni

Webinar Sign Up: https://bit.ly/AlumniToTheTop

Community is built when we take the time to know one another, celebrate each other’s wins, show up when things get hard and create spaces where people feel like they belong.

Amanda Martin, President and CEO of the Illinois Agriculture Leadership Foundation, joins The Cultivating Leaders Podcast to talk about the role community has played throughout her leadership journey. From growing up in rural Illinois as a first-generation college student to building a career across higher education, agribusiness and nonprofit leadership, mentors opened doors for her. Now, she works to provide opportunities for other young leaders to learn, serve and come together.

Amanda opens up about:

• Building Community: Looking beyond your own circles, listening to different perspectives and creating spaces where people feel welcomed and supported.
• Leading Through Service: Showing up for others and using your time, skills and experiences to build authentic relationships and open doors for people around you.
• Navigating Growth: Moving through imposter syndrome, reinventing yourself throughout a career and getting comfortable with unexpected opportunities.

This episode is a reminder that leadership is about how we show up for others and help them feel like they belong.

Want to hear more from Amanda? Check out her blog here!

Connect with Amanda

• Connect on LinkedIn
• Follow the Illinois Agriculture Leadership Foundation on LinkedIn
• Visit their website

Connect with AFA

• Follow us on LinkedIn
• Follow us on Instagram
• Like us on Facebook
• Follow us on TikTok
• Visit our Website

About The Cultivating Leaders Series

The Cultivating Leaders Series is the go-to resource for anyone ready to take their leadership to the next level, delivering powerful insights from top voices in food, agriculture and beyond. The podcast offers immediate, actionable advice from the top leaders in food and ag, with guests who break down the skills that set them apart in the real world. Join the live webinars to bring leadership to life, with candid conversations, live Q&A and behind-the-scenes stories from C-suite executives. Together, these virtual experiences are designed to meet you where you are and help you lead with purpose, confidence and clarity.

Don’t forget to follow/subscribe so you never miss another episode!

Webinar Sign Up: https://bit.ly/AlumniToTheTop

Caring about your team’s strengths, contributions and growth can push everyone to greater success.

Emily Peters, Director of Marketing and Sales at Union Pacific Railroad, joins The Cultivating Leaders Podcast to talk about what it means to lead with people at the center. Throughout her 15-year career at Union Pacific, Emily has worked across industries and teams, learning that strong leadership requires curiosity, clear communication and a willingness to learn. Emily gets vulnerable how her own life experiences reshaped the way she thinks about empathy in the workplace.

Emily opens up about:

• Leading with Good Intentions: Asking questions and welcoming different perspectives can strengthen a team.
• Balancing Empathy: Caring for people while still setting clear expectations, having difficult conversations and helping them grow.
• Making leadership accessible at every level: strong relationships, thoughtful opportunities and everyday actions can help anyone lead, regardless of their title or career stage.

Whether you’re leading a team or simply want to become a better teammate, this episode is a reminder that people matter and the way we show up for them matters, too.

Want to hear more from Emily? Check out her blog here!

Connect with Emily

• Connect on LinkedIn
• Follow the Union Pacific Railroad on LinkedIn
• Follow the Union Pacific Railroad on Instagram
• Visit their website

Connect with AFA

• Follow us on LinkedIn
• Follow us on Instagram
• Like us on Facebook
• Follow us on TikTok
• Visit our Website

About The Cultivating Leaders Series

The Cultivating Leaders Series is the go-to resource for anyone ready to take their leadership to the next level, delivering powerful insights from top voices in food, agriculture and beyond. The podcast offers immediate, actionable advice from the top leaders in food and ag, with guests who break down the skills that set them apart in the real world. Join the live webinars to bring leadership to life, with candid conversations, live Q&A and behind-the-scenes stories from C-suite executives. Together, these virtual experiences are designed to meet you where you are and help you lead with purpose, confidence and clarity.

Don’t forget to follow/subscribe so you never miss another episode!

Webinar Sign Up: https://bit.ly/AlumniToTheTop

Your greatest professional advantage might be building an online presence that reflects your character, passions and genuine thoughts.

Brooke Clay Taylor, Chief Operating Officer at Empire Ag and Founder of the Rural Gone Urban Foundation, joins The Cultivating Leaders Podcast to explore what it really means to build a personal brand. With more than a decade of experience helping agriculture, food and rural businesses find their voice and tell their stories, Brooke has built a recognizable brand of her own by showing up with expertise, personality and authenticity.

Brooke gets real about:

• Defining your brand: Clarify your reputation, character and goals so you can show up with intention.
• Showing up Authentically: Build trust by aligning who you are online and in person and sharing your story with your own voice.
• Bringing personality and fun: Make professional spaces more engaging, human and enjoyable.

This episode offers practical advice and plenty of perspective if you’re trying to build a stronger online presence, communicate with more confidence or figure out how your professional identity can be more fun.

Want to hear more from Brooke? Check out her blog here!

Connect with Brooke

• Connect on LinkedIn
• Follow her on Instagram
• Follow Empire Ag on LinkedIn
• Follow the Rural Gone Urban Foundation on LinkedIn
• Follow Empire Ag on Instagram
• Follow the Rural Gone Urban Foundation on Instagram

Connect with AFA

• Follow us on LinkedIn
• Follow us on Instagram
• Like us on Facebook
• Follow us on TikTok
• Visit our Website

About The Cultivating Leaders Series

The Cultivating Leaders Series is the go-to resource for anyone ready to take their leadership to the next level, delivering powerful insights from top voices in food, agriculture and beyond. The podcast offers immediate, actionable advice from the top leaders in food and ag, with guests who break down the skills that set them apart in the real world. Join the live webinars to bring leadership to life, with candid conversations, live Q&A and behind-the-scenes stories from C-suite executives. Together, these virtual experiences are designed to meet you where you are and help you lead with purpose, confidence and clarity.

Webinar Sign Up: https://bit.ly/AlumniToTheTop

A long list of LinkedIn connections might look impressive, but the relationships that shape your career are built on trust.

Chase DeCoite, Senior VP, Food Industry Relations at the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, joins The Cultivating Leaders Podcast to talk about what it really takes to build professional relationships that last. Chase has built a career connecting farmers, cooperatives, processors, customers and industry leaders across the food and dairy value chain. 

Chase gets real about:

• Real Relationships are the Goal: real value comes from building trust early, long before you ever need support
• Listening Builds Real Connection: Strong relationships are built through listening more than you speak, asking thoughtful questions without turning conversations into interviews, and being fully present
• Human Leadership Matters Most: following through, showing up consistently, and avoiding overly polished or performative interactions compound into meaningful relationships

Whether you’re walking into your first networking reception, trying to build credibility with a new team or learning how to work across different perspectives, Chase offers a more human way to think about professional relationships.

Want to hear more from Chase? Check out her blog here!

Connect with Chase

• Connect on LinkedIn
• Follow the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy on LinkedIn
• Follow the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy Instagram
• Follow the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy on Facebook
• Visit their website

Connect with AFA

• Follow us on LinkedIn
• Follow us on Instagram
• Like us on Facebook
• Follow us on TikTok
• Visit our Website

About The Cultivating Leaders Series

The Cultivating Leaders Series is the go-to resource for anyone ready to take their leadership to the next level, delivering powerful insights from top voices in food, agriculture and beyond. The podcast offers immediate, actionable advice from the top leaders in food and ag, with guests who break down the skills that set them apart in the real world. Join the live webinars to bring leadership to life, with candid conversations, live Q&A and behind-the-scenes stories from C-suite executives. Together, these virtual experiences are designed to meet you where you are and help you lead with purpose, confidence and clarity.

Don’t forget to follow/subscribe so you never miss another episode!

What does it take to lead with speed, focus and trust when the stakes are high?

Eric Hansotia, Chairman, President and CEO of AGCO Corporation, joins The Cultivating Leaders Podcast to dive into setting transformational goals, building aligned teams and keeping farmers at the center of every decision. Eric shares how starting his career as an engineer shaped the way he thinks about problem-solving, leadership and innovation. From “right-to-left thinking” and keeping farmers and the center of the business, Eric offers practical frameworks for anyone trying to lead change and turn strategy into action.

Eric gets real about:

• Lead where you are: Stop obsessing over a perfectly mapped career path and focus on creating excellence, learning and impact in the role you have today.
• Move with purpose: Set transformational goals, create clarity around the destination and build team buy-in because success depends on both a strong plan and people who believe in it.
• Build trust that lasts: Ask better questions, focus on the decisions only you can make and create a culture grounded in benevolence, honesty and competence while protecting the moments that matter most in life.

If you are learning how to lead people, manage change or make bigger decisions with confidence, this conversation gives you a practical leadership toolbox you can start using right away.

Want to hear more from Eric? Check out his blog here!

Connect with Eric

• Connect on LinkedIn
• Follow AGCO on LinkedIn
• Follow AGCO on Instagram
• Follow the COMPANY on Facebook
• Visit their website

Connect with AFA

• Follow us on LinkedIn
• Follow us on Instagram
• Like us on Facebook
• Follow us on TikTok
• Visit our Website

About The Cultivating Leaders Series

The Cultivating Leaders Series is the go-to resource for anyone ready to take their leadership to the next level, delivering powerful insights from top voices in food, agriculture and beyond. The podcast offers immediate, actionable advice from the top leaders in food and ag, with guests who break down the skills that set them apart in the real world. Join the live webinars to bring leadership to life, with candid conversations, live Q&A and behind-the-scenes stories from C-suite executives. Together, these virtual experiences are designed to meet you where you are and help you lead with purpose, confidence and clarity.

Don’t forget to follow/subscribe so you never miss another episode!

Leadership is not about doing it alone. It is about showing up, building trust, solving the right problems and using your influence to help others succeed.

Devin Fuhrman, Chief Agriculture and Sponsor Relations Officer at Nationwide, joins The Cultivating Leaders Podcast for an honest conversation about servant leadership, building meaningful partnerships and investing in the future of agriculture. With more than 25 years of experience in agriculture, insurance and industry relations, Devin shares how his farm roots, youth experiences and career at Nationwide have shaped the way he leads.

Devin gets real about:

• Strong Partnerships: building on shared values, trust and mutual benefit
• Servant Leadership: shaping your career and strengthening your community
• Balancing High Performance: humility, collaboration and a “healthy dependence on others” matter more than ever

This episode is a reminder that agriculture’s strength has always come from people working together and the future will require leaders who are willing to do the same.

Want to hear more from Devin? Check out his blog here!

Connect with Devin

• Connect on LinkedIn
• Follow the Nationwide on LinkedIn
• Follow the Nationwide on Instagram
• Follow the Nationwide on Facebook
• Visit their website

Connect with AFA

• Follow us on LinkedIn
• Follow us on Instagram
• Like us on Facebook
• Follow us on TikTok
• Visit our Website

About The Cultivating Leaders Series

The Cultivating Leaders Series is the go-to resource for anyone ready to take their leadership to the next level, delivering powerful insights from top voices in food, agriculture and beyond. The podcast offers immediate, actionable advice from the top leaders in food and ag, with guests who break down the skills that set them apart in the real world. Join the live webinars to bring leadership to life, with candid conversations, live Q&A and behind-the-scenes stories from C-suite executives. Together, these virtual experiences are designed to meet you where you are and help you lead with purpose, confidence and clarity.

Don’t forget to follow/subscribe so you never miss another episode!

Big careers are rarely built in straight lines. They are built through risks, pivots and the willingness to figure things out along the way.

Marji Guyler-Alaniz, Chief Operating Officer at AgriSompo North America, joins The Cultivating Leaders Podcast for a candid conversation about career pivots, identity shifts and leading through change. Marji shares how her Iowa roots and passion for storytelling led her to build FarmHer and the identity shift as she navigated back to a corporate position.

Marji gets real about:

• Just one thing: The power of taking the first step when a big dream feels overwhelming
• Navigating the identity shift: Knowing when to walk away and honoring the career changes
• Building confidence: Why networks, curiosity and courage matter more than having every answer

If you are facing a big transition or wondering whether you are ready for the next opportunity, Marji’s story is a reminder that you do not have to know everything before you begin. You just have to be willing to take the next step in front of you.

Want to hear more from Marji? Check out her blog here!

Connect with Marji

• Connect on LinkedIn
• Follow AgriSompo on LinkedIn
• Follow AgriSompo Instagram
• Follow AgriSompo on Facebook
• Visit their website

Connect with AFA

• Follow us on LinkedIn
• Follow us on Instagram
• Like us on Facebook
• Follow us on TikTok
• Visit our Website

About The Cultivating Leaders Series

The Cultivating Leaders Series is the go-to resource for anyone ready to take their leadership to the next level, delivering powerful insights from top voices in food, agriculture and beyond. The podcast offers immediate, actionable advice from the top leaders in food and ag, with guests who break down the skills that set them apart in the real world. Join the live webinars to bring leadership to life, with candid conversations, live Q&A and behind-the-scenes stories from C-suite executives. Together, these virtual experiences are designed to meet you where you are and help you lead with purpose, confidence and clarity.

Don’t forget to follow/subscribe so you never miss another episode!

What if the best leaders aren’t the ones with all the answers, but the ones asking better questions?

Scott Kay, Vice President of U.S. Crop at BASF, joins The Cultivating Leaders Podcast to talk about developing people, building high-performing teams and staying ready for change in a rapidly evolving agriculture industry. Scott brings a grounded, people-first perspective on leadership, career growth and mentorship.

Scott gets real about:

• Raise your hand: volunteering can shape your leadership journey
• Lateral career moves: building the breadth and depth needed for long-term success
• Strong leadership: the power of asking thoughtful questions, accepting honest feedback and learning through failure

He reminds us that growth happens when leaders create space for others, redirect the spotlight to the right people, ask better questions and stay open to change.

Want to hear more from Scott? Check out her blog here!

Connect with Scott

• Connect on LinkedIn
• Follow BASF on LinkedIn
• Follow BASF Instagram
• Follow BASF on Facebook
• Visit their website

Connect with AFA

• Follow us on LinkedIn
• Follow us on Instagram
• Like us on Facebook
• Follow us on TikTok
• Visit our Website

About The Cultivating Leaders Series

The Cultivating Leaders Series is the go-to resource for anyone ready to take their leadership to the next level, delivering powerful insights from top voices in food, agriculture and beyond. The podcast offers immediate, actionable advice from the top leaders in food and ag, with guests who break down the skills that set them apart in the real world. Join the live webinars to bring leadership to life, with candid conversations, live Q&A and behind-the-scenes stories from C-suite executives. Together, these virtual experiences are designed to meet you where you are and help you lead with purpose, confidence and clarity.

Don’t forget to follow/subscribe so you never miss another episode!

You don’t need to have it all figured out to be a great leader.

Julie Sexton, Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at Land O’Lakes, joins the Cultivating Leaders podcast to talk about what leadership really looks like when you stay curious, get comfortable with ambiguity, broaden your perspective and trust the people around you. She reminds listeners that leadership is not about knowing everything. It is about asking better questions, developing others and having the courage to keep moving forward when the next step is not perfectly clear.

Julie opens up about:

• Enterprise-level leadership: broaden your experience, stay curious and get comfortable with ambiguity
• Understand your commitments: the importance of knowing your ability, aspiration and commitment and shifting in different seasons of life
• Coaching vs Telling: asking better questions to help teams think through the work

Julie offers honest, grounded advice on navigating career growth, stepping into discomfort and learning to lead without pretending to know everything.

Want to hear more from Julie? Check out her blog here!

Connect with Julie

• Connect on LinkedIn
• Follow Land O’Lakes on LinkedIn
• Follow Land O’Lakes on Instagram
• Follow Land O’Lakes on Facebook
• Visit their website

Connect with AFA

• Follow us on LinkedIn
• Follow us on Instagram
• Like us on Facebook
• Follow us on TikTok
• Visit our Website

About The Cultivating Leaders Series

The Cultivating Leaders Series is the go-to resource for anyone ready to take their leadership to the next level, delivering powerful insights from top voices in food, agriculture and beyond. The podcast offers immediate, actionable advice from the top leaders in food and ag, with guests who break down the skills that set them apart in the real world. Join the live webinars to bring leadership to life, with candid conversations, live Q&A and behind-the-scenes stories from C-suite executives. Together, these virtual experiences are designed to meet you where you are and help you lead with purpose, confidence and clarity.

Don’t forget to follow/subscribe so you never miss another episode!