By Sara Bourland, Illinois Central College

Hello, my name is Sara Bourland. I am currently a sophomore at Illinois Central College. In December, I will graduate with an associate in arts degree with a focus on agriculture. After graduation, I plan to transfer to Illinois State University to earn a bachelor’s degree in agriculture education. My goal is to teach high school agriculture and make a difference in students’ lives.

Before attending Illinois Central College, I had no experience in agriculture. I grew up in the city, and my high school did not offer agriculture classes. The Growing Careers in Agriculture Mentorship Program, funded by the Illinois Soybean Association, has opened my eyes to so many careers in agriculture that I didn’t even know existed. Learning about these careers will be incredibly valuable when I become a teacher, as it will help me guide my future students into the agriculture workforce.

Participants of the mentorship program at a NRCS visit in Edwards, IL

Throughout the program, we participated in five mentorship experiences, each offering a unique perspective on the agriculture industry.

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)

Our first visit was to the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), where we were greeted by Dan Sahm. This experience was eye-opening, especially in understanding how deeply agriculture impacts the environment. We visited a field site where we learned about the conservation solutions NRCS has developed to address major environmental challenges in agriculture.

Beck’s Hybrids

Our second visit was to Beck’s Hybrids, where we were welcomed by David Ringger. His friendliness and enthusiasm made this experience unforgettable. He gave us an overview of the company, which is built on strong family and Christian values, followed by a short lesson on what it takes to be a salesperson. This was probably my favorite experience because of how welcoming and fun David made it for all of us.

Farm Credit Illinois

The third experience was at Farm Credit Illinois with mentor Rod Stoll. He did a great job showing us the ins and outs of the organization and explaining what a career there might look like. We also learned about the financing process from a farmer’s perspective. The company seemed like a wonderful place to work, with a strong sense of community and family.

Precision Planting

Our fourth visit was to Precision Planting, mentored by Jenny Ring. This was one of the most interesting experiences for me because I had very little background in manufacturing or precision agriculture. We toured the warehouse and saw how products are designed, produced and shipped. It was fascinating to see how much farmer input goes into their engineering process and how committed they are to educating customers on proper product use.

PACE Lab

The fifth and final experience was at the PACE Lab with mentor Julie Rada. This visit was especially unique because we were able to participate hands-on rather than just observe. We helped test soil samples for several different factors and being able to actually perform some of the procedures made the experience even more exciting.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I have learned so much from these experiences and made many valuable connections that I hope to carry with me throughout my future career. I am incredibly grateful to Colleen Callahan, the Illinois Soybean Association and all the mentors for providing such meaningful opportunities this semester. I have made so many great memories.