The International Farm Management Association Congress focuses on the future of the agriculture industry. And as delegates from across the world enter the Brown Ballroom on Illinois State University’s campus on Monday, July 20 for the IFMA 17 opening ceremony, attendees are sure to notice the work of future professionals.

For the past 10 to 12 weeks, ISU students have spent their summer days in Ropp greenhouse planting soybeans, wheat and corn. From soil to center stage, these plants are a reflection of the American heartland delegates will call home for the next week.

Switchgrass and cotton seed from Memphis, Tenn. are also on display.

These plants also provide the opportunity for ISU to showcase the university’s horticulture program, which consists of approximately 40 undergraduate students. The program is continuing to expand both in its depth of study and the breadth of its professional experiences.

Classes include landscape design, plant propagation and nursery management.

This past spring the ISU horticulture department celebrated the graduation of its first master’s degree student.

To see what the future of the agriculture industry and the ISU horticulture program have to offer, the public is invited to attend the IFMA 17 Congress. Bloomington, Ill. is only the second U.S. city to host this event in the Congress’ 38 year history. IFMA runs from July 19 to July 24.

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