Career Exploration Videos

Online Curriculum Worksheet

The worksheet guides participants through the videos and provides questions they should be considering as they watch the keynote and career exploration videos. Teachers can use this worksheet as a tool as part of this online curriculum.

We have provided a worksheet, in two formats: a Word Document and in electronic format that provides an email with their responses.

Download WorksheetOnline Worksheet

Career Exploration Videos

Agricultural Business

Agricultural business, also known as agribusiness, is the farming, management, production, and marketing of agricultural commodities, such as livestock and crops. The agricultural business field includes resource management, farming, conservation, ranching, and sales. 

Ag Business

Agricultural Communications

Agricultural communication (or agricultural communications) is a field that focuses on communication about agriculture-related information among agricultural stakeholders and between agricultural and non-agricultural stakeholders.

Ag Communication

Agricultural Education

Agricultural education prepares students for successful careers and a lifetime of informed choices in the global agriculture, food, fiber and natural resources systems.

Ag Education

Agricultural
Studies

Learn about paths of agricultural study at higher education institutions here in Illinois.

Want to know more about degrees or programs available? Check in with your guidance counselor or ag teacher.

Ag Studies

Animal production

If you are interested in efficient production of food animals, processing and consumption of high-quality meats and dairy products, use of companion animals for recreation or leisure purposes, or the maintenance of animal health and well-being, then a career in one of the many animal sciences fields may be your key to a rewarding future.

Animal Production

Crop Production

Crop science is the study of the world’s major food, feed, turf, and fiber crops and their environment. It is a broad discipline encompassing breeding, genetics, production, and management.

Crop Production

Engineering

The discipline of engineering encompasses a broad range of more specialized fields of engineering, each with a more specific emphasis on particular areas of applied mathematics, applied science, and types of application.

Engineering

Food Production

Food processing includes the methods and techniques used to transform raw ingredients into food for human consumption. Food processing takes clean, harvested or slaughtered and butchered components and uses them to produce marketable food products.

Food Production

Agricultural Business

GAYLE ALBERT

Listen to Gayle Albert talk about her position as Ethanonal Sales at Tate and Lyle. Check out our other WCFA career videos to learn more aobut our company.

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ASHLEY SWANSON

Interested in being involved in agricultural business but focusing on the marketing and communications to clients? Meet Ashley Swanson who is the V.P. of Engagement at Rabo Ag.

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TONYA CROW

Meet Tonya Crow, a business major that turned her accounting degree into being the Energy Sales and Marketing Director.

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JESSICA CAROLAN

Jessica discusses her role as a loan officer with the Quincy office of Compeer.

PART 1

Jessica Alderson: Territory Manager, Fertilizer
Becca Burns: Commercial Manager Kelsey Cambruzzi: Grain Origination Specialist
Sara Fahrenholtz: Trading Manager
Breann Knapp: Grain Origination Specialist
Katie Lee: CSR
Kelsey Lourash: CSR

SHELBY RAUCH

Shelby discusses her role working in the Risk Asset Unit with Compeer Financial.

FULL CIRCLE

These Full Circle WCFA participants talk about turning their passion in agriculture into a career in ag business. From grain merchandising to human resources to insurance adjuster, learn about the wide range of ag business careers!

FARM CREDIT IL

Learn about our careers at Farm Credit Il and some of the women that our leaders in our company!

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courtney hampton

Listen to Courtney Hampton talk about her position as Grain Originator II at Tate and Lyle. Check out our other WCFA career videos to learn more aobut our company.

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JOANIE FOSTER

Joanie Foster, Business Project Manager describes a career where computer science and data management is becoming more and more important to business. Learn more about here career!

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karissa graves

Karissa discusses her role as a Client Services Representative in the Quincy office of Compeer Financial.

PART 2

Adreonna Ramsey: Grain Origination Specialist
Danielle Rose: Grain Origination Specialist
Shelby Schweitzer: Producer Line Manager
Emily Lacina: Crop Insurance Product Line Manager
Elizabeth Mitsdarffer: Grain Origination Specialist

Agricultural Communications

JENA PATRICK

Meet Jena Patrick: Senior Student Recruiter. She went to school for something completely different than her chosen career. Learn more about her journey!

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Kelsey litchfield

Kelsey Litchfield shares insight into her career as a digital media consultant, podcaster, and videographer. She shares advice on being your own boss and what to do to start your own business.

Full Circle

Learn more about ag communications from few WCFA Full Circle women Kristen Faucon, Chandler Bruns, and Kaity Spangler. How will you turn your passion into a career?

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Rita frazier

Listen to Rita, radio broadcaster for RFD (Illinois Farm Bureau) explain how she got involved in agriculture, how she navigated deciding her career path, and her career’s responsibilities!

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JULIE HEWITT

This video sets the stage for developing your personal brand and using that to help you define your skill set and the assets that you bring to a company.

Agricultural Education

IAVAT Recruitment and retention committee

Learn a little bit about the career of an agriculture teacher! Listen to three Illinois Ag Teachers share their advice and talk about their passion for agricultural education.

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Dusti ingles

Dusti Ingles, a Full Circle WCFA participant, shares about her career as an agricultural educator.

Agricultural Studies

parkland college

The video highlights the different degrees and courses offered through Parkland’s Agriculture department as well as various career opportunities.

black hawk college

Grow your legacy at Black Hawk College East Campus! Enjoy this video overview of everything our college has to offer.

Animal Production

robyn hendel

Robyn Hendel has had a passion for livestock and agriculture her whole life. She turned her passion into a career at Earlybird Nutrition.

Claire lefevre

Dr. Claire LeFevre shows you her journey into agriculture and why she chose to work with pigs as a Swine Veterinarian.

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cassie schleich

Want to learn about following your path no matter where it takes you? Cassie had experience in four jobs before settling in crop insurance so her family could concentrate on their cow calf beef operation and cattle genetics business.

heather luth

Heather Luth shows you her journey into agriculture and what it means to be a Production Manager working with pigs.

Engineering and Mechanic

VICTORIA MEDERNACH

Victoria Medernach, a Full Circle particpant, works for Birkey’s as a mechanic. She shares about her experience finding her career path.

Kelli Martin

Find out what it is like to be a test engineer at John Deere!

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Gayle Baker

Join Maurer-Stutz to learn about the area of engineering consulting: livestock housing and manure management. This video also will share about the design components of a dairy.

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DARCIE FARRELL

Listen to Darcie Farrell talk about her position as Staff Process Engineer at Tate and Lyle. Check out our other WCFA career videos to learn more aobut our company.

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Crop Production

julie mathey

Learn about Julie Mathey, Senior Agronomy Portfolio Application Manager as she shares the importance of technology in the agronomy field and advice for students on finding that perfect career!

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alex russell

Alex Russell, a Full Circle WCFA participant, shares about her career with Syngenta.

Corteve agriscience

Learn about Corteva Agriscience careers!

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HEATHER HAMPTON KNODLE

Heather Hampton Knodle is involved in her family farming operation. She also shares about her eduction in agricultural communication and how she also is involved in agricultural organizations and policy.

Karen Corrigan

Karen Corrigan, with McGillicuddy Corrigan Agronomics and Carl Sandburg College, shares how she blends her experience in the ag industry as an agronomist into the courses she teaches in the Agriculture Program at Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg, IL.

Food Production

Angie Uphoff

Listen to Angie Uphoff talk about her position as Sr. Quality Assurance Manager at Tate and Lyle. Check out our other WCFA career videos to learn more about our company.

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ADM

Food Prduction and Logistics
Brookelyn Childers: FOB Trucking Merchandiser
Halsey Elliott: MILL SUPERINTENDENT
Mary Liz Klueppel: FOB Trucking Manager

Tracy keen

Listen to Tracy Keen describe being a laborer in the Dextrose Loadout Division at Tate and Lyle. Check out our other career videos to learn more about our company.