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 w...

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 he...

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 industri...

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...

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...

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 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...

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 storytell...

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 grow...

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...

Season 3 of The Cultivating Leaders Podcast is LIVE. 🎙️ We’re bringing you real conversations with top leaders across food and agriculture about the practical skills, mindsets and career moments that shape how we lead today. You’ll hear from leaders like Julie Sexton, Scott Kay and Marji Guyler-Alaniz on what it takes to develop people, build stronger teams, navigate change and prepare for what’s...

Some leaders build careers. Others build legacies. And when you work inside one of the most trusted brands in agriculture, every decision carries the weight of both. Jonathan Chase, Vice President of the Turf & Utility Business Unit at John Deere, joins The Cultivating Leaders Podcast to explore what it really takes to lead with curiosity, integrity and deep respect for the people you serve. S...

Real leaders shine when fear creeps in, communication breaks down and chaos starts driving decisions. Cheryl Mitchell, leadership strategist and speaker, joins The Cultivating Leaders Podcast to unpack what it really takes to lead through uncertainty — especially in food and agriculture. From multigenerational farm families to fast-moving organizations, Cheryl shares how leaders can slow down, lis...

Great leadership is more than what you say. It shows up in nonverbal conversations. In high-pressure moments, your posture, presence and body language can build trust or erode it. Jan Hargrave, globally recognized body language and nonverbal communication expert, joins The Cultivating Leaders Podcast to unpack how leaders communicate confidence, credibility and authenticity without saying a word....

Leadership isn’t about the titles you collect or the recognition you earn. It’s about who you become and who you help along the way. Jason Wetzler, leadership speaker, facilitator and advocate for people-first leadership, joins The Cultivating Leaders Podcast for a conversation about redefining success, building identity and prioritizing purpose. From childhood moments on stage to hard-earned less...

Through uncertain times in agriculture, the best leaders rise to the top when they put people first and show up when the path forward isn’t clear. Elizabeth Galbreath, Professional Development Program Manager at BASF and the 2025 AFA Bridge Builder Award recipient, joins The Cultivating Leaders Podcast to share why investing in relationships is the true competitive advantage in agriculture and lea...

Preparation, transparency and trust are leadership imperatives in an industry where scrutiny is constant, and reputations can shift overnight. Hannah Thompson-Weeman, President and CEO of the Animal Agriculture Alliance, joins The Cultivating Leaders Podcast to unpack what it really takes to lead through crisis in food and agriculture. With deep roots in dairy and a career spent navigating hi...

Clarity, candor and humility shape stronger teams and smarter decisions in an industry where every choice ripples across families, communities and supply chains. Jarrod Gillig, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Beef at Cargill, joins The Cultivating Leaders Podcast to share what he’s learned across nearly three decades inside one of the most complex protein businesses. From stewarding...

Leading forward demands curiosity, adaptability and team-first mentality. Blaze Currie, Practice Lead for Food & Ag at Vivayic, joins The Cultivating Leaders Podcast to explore what it really takes to guide people, teams and organizations in leading agriculture. He brings a rare blend of global perspective and ag-rooted wisdom. Blaze has built a career staying curious, listening deeply, and ad...

There is power in navigating high-stakes and emotionally charged conversations with clarity, confidence and humanity Ashley Collins, CEO of the North Carolina Peanut Growers Association, joins The Cultivating Leaders Podcast to break down why honest dialogue matters. She provides tools so leaders can prepare, respond and grow through high-stakes conversations. With experience leading growers,...

Belonging is the foundation of great leadership. But what does it really look like to lead and work in a place where you can show up as 100% yourself? In this episode of The Cultivating Leaders Podcast, Kirk Maag, environmental & natural resources attorney at Stoel Rives LLP, explores authenticity, inclusion and the power of leading with belonging. From growing up on a farm in eastern Oregon t...

Leadership is easy when everyone agrees. But the real test comes when the voices get loud, opinions fracture and every decision is met with scrutiny. Mark McCully, CEO of the American Angus Association, joins The Cultivating Leaders Podcast to share how he navigates criticism, conflict, and controversy while staying true to his mission and values. From managing 22,000 members with competing priori...

Although the connection between farms and consumers feels more distant than ever, the power of social media and transparency could be the best advocacy tool. Dr. Michelle Schack, veterinarian, joins The Cultivating Leaders Podcast to explore how curiosity, compassion, and a willingness to learn can open unexpected doors in agriculture. From her start at UC Davis to her leadership role as co-founde...

Great leaders don’t just drive results. They build environments where people thrive, embrace change and foster growth. Jackie Applegate, incoming Chief Executive Officer of PBI Gordon, joins The Cultivating Leaders Podcast to explore what true organizational health looks like in action. With more than 30 years of experience in agriculture and leadership, Jackie has built a career rooted in resilie...

Whether you’re a student stepping into your first leadership role or a professional navigating a divided industry, this episode will challenge you to listen with intention, lead with humility and persist with passion. In this episode of the Cultivating Leaders Podcast, we are joined by Krysta Harden, President and CEO of the U.S. Dairy Export Council. From her roots as the daughter of peanut farme...