By Michelle Hummel, ASA Senior Director of Industry & Stakeholder Relations
2025 Ag Voices of the Future class meets with USDA staff.
This summer a group of college students will head to Washington, D.C., as the 10th class to complete the Valent and ASA Ag Voices of the Future program. This unique program is designed to expose young people with a farm connection or an interest in agriculture to an education on policy issues and advocacy. The experience encourages students to consider careers that may impact agriculture policy within state or federal government positions, associations, or agribusiness.
“Today, legislative and regulatory policymakers at the Federal and state levels are many generations removed from the farm,” said Jeffrey Smith, associate director of industry affairs for Valent. “We believe the best way to ensure farmers maintain access to innovative crop protection and yield-enhancing tools is to encourage young leaders with a practical understanding of ag production to consider policy careers based in Washington, D.C. Valent appreciates the opportunity to partner with ASA to identify, develop, and direct these future leaders to have a positive impact on the issues facing soybean farmers and the crop protection industry.”
Smith first envisioned the program in 2016 and worked with Michelle Hummel on the ASA Industry Relations team to develop a plan and bring the concept to life. Each year, the implementation of the program is a true collaboration between the ASA and Valent teams.
2020 and 2021 Ag Voices of the Future Classes
Ag Voices of the Future attendees receive nearly three full days of training through educational sessions, participation in meetings with government agencies, and attending Hill visits with their state soybean organizations. The program is held in conjunction with ASA’s summer board meeting which also allows students to participate in valuable networking opportunities through participation in ASA’s meeting functions, Capitol Hill reception, and a dinner with program alumni currently working in Washington, D.C.
Valent’s Jeff Smith welcomes Ag Voices of the Future students.
“It’s important that young people have an understanding of the significant policy issues that directly impact the productivity and economic well-being of our farms and the soybean industry,” said ASA President Scott Metzger, a farmer from Williamsport, Ohio. “ASA appreciates Valent’s support of this valuable program that helps cultivate future voices for agriculture.”
ASA partners with Agriculture Future of America (AFA) to promote the program and assist with the application process. AFA is a respected professional development organization for college students pursuing careers in agriculture. Students may express interest in applying for Ag Voices of the Future through the AFA scholarship application process. Each year, hundreds of students apply for the Ag Voices of the Future program and just 10 are selected by ASA and Valent to participate.
The first full day of the program begins with an overview of ASA, including the organization’s policy priorities and other leadership development opportunities offered by the association. Valent USA then provides insight into pesticide policy and the regulatory process through which products are registered and approved.
The training continues with a Capitol Hill 101 session designed to prepare the students for congressional visits. This presentation introduces them to the structure and function of Capitol Hill and helps them understand what to expect when meeting with policymakers and their staff.
The 2019 participants tour D.C. monuments after a day of training.
Additional guest speakers often include current Hill staff members and a member of ASA’s Government Affairs team who explain what it’s like to live and work in Washington, D.C. and hold a staff position for a member of Congress. Listening to this first-hand experience of what it is like to hold these positions is extremely valuable for students considering advocacy careers in D.C.
The inaugural Ag Voices of the Future class visits USDA in 2017.
Recognizing the importance of effective communication in policy and professional careers, the program also includes a writing workshop led by West Wing Writers. The firm’s team includes former White House senior staff and speechwriters who help students strengthen their writing skills and learn strategies for communicating clearly and persuasively.
Following the workshop, participants attend a briefing on key ASA policy issues in the Soy Issues Forum portion of the ASA Board of Directors meeting. This briefing helps prepare students for joining farmer leaders from their respective state soybean associations on Capitol Hill visits the next day.
The program’s third and final day includes a visit to USDA headquarters where students meet with officials from the Office of Pest Management Policy. Participants also engage in a separate discussion with a representative from EPA’s Office of Pesticide Programs, gaining additional insight into the federal agencies that help shape agricultural pesticide policy and regulation.
2022 Ag Voices of the Future Class
Past participants say they walk away from the program armed with information, connections, friendships, and experiences to help guide their future career choices – but the program isn’t all work and no play. While the program is heavily focused on education, students also enjoy opportunities to tour various D.C. monuments, museums, and restaurants to unwind at the end of the day.
Before departing D.C., the students are encouraged to create a LinkedIn profile and join the private Ag Voices of the Future alumni group. Through this network, participants gain access to internships and entry-level job opportunities with agricultural organizations, agribusiness companies, congressional offices, and government agencies. These opportunities are shared by ASA and Valent staff members, as well as alumni who continue to demonstrate their support for the program.
The 2026 Ag Voices of the Future program is scheduled for July 13-16 in Washington, D.C. More information on the program is available in the “Education” section of SoyGrowers.com.
Alumni of the Ag Voices of the Future program have moved on to hold internships and permanent positions that can help influence policy within many agriculture organizations and companies, as well as professional staff positions for members of Congress and within USDA’s headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Allie Lock
ALLIE LOCK “Participating in the Ag Voices of the Future program was a defining experience in my career path,” said Allie Lock, professional staff member for the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry under Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar. “The experience showed me the importance of ensuring producers are actively engaged in the policymaking process and sparked my interest in helping bridge the gap between those working in agriculture and those shaping policy. Those perspectives ultimately helped influence my career and continue to guide my work today.”
Clayton Elbel
CLAYTON ELBEL “Ag Voices of the Future really opened my eyes to crop protection and pest management policy and how the American Soybean Association is working to make our agricultural industry stronger,” said Clayton Elbel, program analyst in the Office of Energy and Environmental Policy, Energy and New Uses, in the Office of the Chief Economist at USDA. The program’s emphasis on regulatory affairs influenced my choice to work for the USDA. Plus, it connected me with other students who were passionate about agricultural policy, and we’re still in touch today, working together in Washington five years later.”
Maria Brockamp
MARIA BROCKAMP “Participating in the Ag Voices of the Future program helped confirm that I was interested in a career in agriculture policy someday at a time where I was at a crossroads in life as I headed into my freshman year of college,” said Maria Brockamp, Sr. Manager, Government Relations with the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF). “The foundational advocacy skills I gained from the program still serve my skillset to this day, but of course, the thing I appreciated most was the authentic connections I made with my fellow classmates, the ASA and Valent staff, and the soybean farmers from my state who I joined for Hill visits. I gained lifelong friends, colleagues, and mentors from this program. I highly recommend that any student interested in a career in agriculture policy apply!” Prior to joining NMPF, Brockamp worked for ASA on the State and Industry Relations team for nearly 18 months.
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