Kansas City, MO — January 20, 2025 — The Agriculture Future of America (AFA) Ambassador Program equips ambitious students to shape the future of the agriculture industry. This year, 41 student leaders representing campuses nationwide were selected to serve as a bridge between AFA and the next generation of agricultural professionals.
“I am looking forward to connecting with students from all backgrounds and helping them feel welcomed and confident as they explore agriculture and the opportunities within AFA,” said Isla Gooch, Agriculture Technology Management and Education student at The University of Arizona and returning AFA Ambassador. “Serving as an ambassador has deepened my engagement on campus, strengthened my leadership skills, and allowed me to better engage in agricultural opportunities.”
As Ambassadors, students work with AFA to set goals and get personalized coaching to develop creative outreach strategies to achieve these goals. Designed for student leaders who believe in the power of connection, the AFA Ambassador Program empowers real-world leadership, marketing mindsets and industry engagement.
“The Ambassador Program has been a signature part of the CHS Foundation's support because we've seen the impressive growth in both AFA and individuals when students are empowered to become campus leaders,” said Megan Wolle, president, CHS Foundation. “Congratulations to this year's Ambassador Team!”
The Ambassador Program is made possible through the continued partnership of the CHS Foundation. The CHS Foundation has invested nearly $2 million since 2011 to expand the Ambassador experience, helping it grow to its largest class yet. This investment supports scholarships, training and travel while opening doors for students to access meaningful leadership development opportunities.
About the CHS Foundation
The CHS Foundation (https://www.chsinc.com/stewardship), funded by charitable gifts from CHS, is focused on developing a new generation of agricultural leaders for lifelong success. Together with our partners, we are igniting innovation and driving excellence in agriculture education, cultivating high-impact programs for rural youth and accelerating potential for careers in agriculture. The CHS Foundation also supports co-op education and rural safety and community projects.
About Agriculture Future of America (AFA)
AFA builds bridges for young leaders to foster engagement and innovation in food and agriculture through premier leader and career development experiences. With program participation increasing 28% in the last five years, AFA has provided 26,000 leader development experiences to college leaders and young professionals from more than 200 colleges and universities throughout 43 states since its inception in 1996. AFA has awarded more than $11.5 million in academic and leader development scholarships. For more information about AFA, visit agfuture.org.