Amanda Durow is vice president at CoBank, one of the largest private providers of credit to the U.S. rural economy. She is currently focused on lending to dairy processing and agribusiness companies. Amanda is past chair of CoBank’s dairy processing and production center of excellence. She previously served on U.S. Dairy Export Council operating committee and remains involved in many agribusiness associations. Amanda has a BS in animal science – dairy industry and MBA in finance from the University of Minnesota. Amanda and her family are fifth-generation dairy and crop farmers in Minnesota.

Describe your AFA experience as a student.

AFA was one of the most impactful leadership opportunities I had in college. As a student, I had the privilege of earning scholarships for both Track 2 and Track 3. Through AFA, I started building a network, gained greater confidence, and developed practical skills in communication, teamwork, and self-awareness. It stands out as one of the most formative leadership experiences of my college career.

How did your AFA Student experience influence your career journey?

My experience with AFA played a meaningful role in shaping my career journey by giving me early exposure to future leadership opportunities and engaging with executive leaders. It helped me build confidence in professional settings, strengthened my communication skills, and showed me the impact strong leadership can have across the agriculture industry. That experience ultimately inspired me to pursue a career where I could contribute in a meaningful way and make a lasting impact on agriculture.

What is one AFA memory, moment or conversation that has stayed with you?

A moment that has stayed with me from AFA was my interaction with Ardent Mills CEO Dan Dye. I was incredibly impressed by how much he cared—not just about AFA, but about me and my development as a future leader. That conversation stood out because it wasn’t transactional; it was a genuine investment in the next generation. It shaped how I think about leadership today and the need to intentionally invest in others.

At the time, what did AFA help you understand about yourself, your leadership style or your place in agriculture?

At the time, AFA helped me realize that there were far more career opportunities in agriculture than what I had been exposed to growing up. My perspective was limited to who visited our family farm and interning at our local CHS location in high school. AFA showed me the depth and diversity of career paths in the industry and helped me see where I could fit and make an impact.

What skill, mindset or lesson from AFA has been most useful in your professional life?

AFA reinforced that communication is everything when it comes to leadership. The ability to clearly articulate intent, operate with transparency, and build trust has been critical to my effectiveness in professional settings. Developing these foundational communication skills early in college positioned me for long-term success in my career.

In what ways do you stay connected or involved with AFA in your professional life? Why is that important to you?

Right after college, I remained closely connected to AFA through the AFA Alliance, where I served on the planning committee. That experience was incredibly valuable—it felt like a continuation of AFA and provided a hands-on leadership environment that helped me keep developing as a leader. I remained involved until I pivoted to pursue my MBA, and as I reflect back, AFA Alliance was a mini leadership course in itself.

Finish this sentence: Because of AFA, I…

I have grown into a stronger leader for agriculture and continue to strive to make a meaningful impact through my work supporting farmers and agribusinesses and driving positive change across the industry.