AgWired

Students on the Novus International Undergraduate Networking Day are getting a great opportunity to see for themselves just how exciting and diverse a career in agriculture and science can be.

During their tour of the Novus facilities in suburban St. Louis, the students heard from many different workers at the agri-business. And some of those workers have worn many different hats during their time at Novus. One such person is Vanessa Stewart, a pet sales specialist who started out on the scientific research end of the company. She’s a great example of what we’ve been hearing during the tour: be flexible and ready to do whatever the next challenge gives you.

“Science is fun and can lead to great opportunities… not necessarily where you think in the beginning.” Stewart said she worked in the lab for six years, gaining a good foundation of knowledge of the products the company offers. She says that foundation has helped her move up into a sales role… one which she would have never imagined when she first started.

“You just need to be adaptable and versatile. And when there’s opportunities, you jump and move forward. That’s what life in general is about for me.”

She stresses that while you can start with a science degree, you never know where life will lead you.

“Whatever you end up doing, get a hold of it and love what you do!”

You can hear more about what Vanessa thinks about taking a long, but interesting, path to career goals here: VanessaStewart1.mp3

2009 Novus International Undergraduate Networking Day Photo Set

Define your role in your job… don’t let your role define you. That’s one of the messages the students participating in the Novus International Undergraduate Networking Day heard as they began their tour of the company’s facilities, plus visiting Pfizer and Monsanto in St. Louis.

Sheena Arink, an analytical chemist with Novus, showed the students, along with some of their professors and mentors, the workings of her area at the agri-business. Making their way through the chemical research area, she pointed out the various labs where important work is done every day. Later, she handed off the group to another researcher at Novus… this time on the biological side of the house so the students could get an overview of the wide variety of research being done.

I caught up with Sheena after the tour, and she told me that people need to explore all the possibilities for their careers.

“Do as many interships as possible, [so you know what’s out there].” She also emphasized that role-taking is important. “Does your role define you? I tried to get out there that you define your role. If you want to move up or move around or try different things, you need to voice your opinion and let them know you don’t want to be stuck in one area.”

She adds that she did not come from an agricultural background… a city girl who now realizes that there’s more to agriculture than farming or feeding animals.

“I think that being in the lab and seeing people talk that they’ll see there’s different aspects to the whole agricultural world.”

Listen to my entire conversation with Sheena here: sheenaarink1.mp3

2009 Novus International Undergraduate Networking Day Photo Set

After a quick breakfast and introduction to Novus International, the college students from the Novus Undergraduate Networking Day were off to see the chemical and biological labs at Novus’ St. Louis location.

Dr. Joyce Cacho, Chief Sustainability Officer for Novus, told me they’ve put together a program to show the students the application of what they are studying in their classrooms and labs.

“It’s very easy to believe when your in school that’s it’s just about the exams, as opposed to how to apply what I’m learning. However, we’d like to pique their interests in careers they have not thought of and how to apply what they’re learning at the university.”

She adds she’d like to see the students apply what they’re learning to the sustainability aspects of the job. Cacho points out that the Novus building is applying for platinum status in the LEED program… Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System, a third-party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.

Cacho says she’s impressed with their ideas and enthusiasm for their studies.

“They’re very hungry to see what they can do with it.” She says that when she asks many of the students what they want to do when they grow up, they very innocently say they don’t know. Cacho says that’s all right, because a tour like this can help fill in some of the blanks for the students as they progress and eventually get into the job market.

“It’s a tremendous opportunity going both ways [for Novus and the students]. We want to be hands-on and involved with our scholarship recipients lives.”

You can hear all of my conversation with Dr. Cacho here: DrCacho1.mp3

2009 Novus International Undergraduate Networking Day Photo Set

One of the reasons the students on the Novus International Undergraduate Networking Day were able to take this great tour of the St. Louis facilities at Novus, Pfizer and Monsanto was because of the scholarships they received from the Missouri Colleges Fund, a not-for-profit group of 16 small, private Missouri colleges and universities that work together to acquire resources to help educate students in member private liberal-arts colleges and universities. And the Missouri Colleges Fund was able to help pay for these bright students’ educations because of the generous donations of Novus, Pfizer and Monsanto.

During the welcome breakfast, President of the Missouri Colleges Fund, Mike Backer, thanked Novus’ VP of Research and Development, Chris Knight, for the company’s continued support of the fund and the students. To show his appreciation, Backer presented Knight with a folder of biographies of each of the students who received money from Novus. As you can see in the picture, Knight was very happy and surprised to receive the folder.

The evening before the event, I talked to Backer, and he told me that Novus is giving these students a unique opportunity to see these operations for themselves.

“Novus is giving more than just money. They’re providing an additional learning experience.”

Backer added that it’s not just the education of the students. The public in general needs to know how important it is to fund the sciences in our institutes of higher learning.

“Anytime we can get the word out there for the colleges fund, for independent schools, and to help promote education, it’s a good thing… good for Novus, good for the colleges, good for our economy.”

I know I posted this before, but just in case you missed it, listen to my entire conversation with Mike here: MikeBacker1.mp3

2009 Novus International Undergraduate Networking Day Photo Set

Some fortunate college students majoring in science and agricultural degrees have toured some of the leaders in agri-business in St. Louis.

About a dozen recipients of Missouri Colleges Fund scholarships, funded by Novus International, Pfizer and Monsanto, have gotten the chance to see firsthand how these three companies work… and if they would be the kind of companies they would like to work for in the future. To start of this Novus International Undergraduate Networking Day, the students, along with some professors, parents and mentors, were treated to breakfast before their busy day of activities were to begin.

While everyone was able to get fueled up with some tasty pastries and delicious, nutritious fruit and cereal, Vice President of Research & Development for Novus International, Chris Knight, told the group how his company is a one-stop shop for those looking at an agricultural or science career. And he stressed the point that you don’t have to come from a traditional production agriculture background to be a good fit for a company like Novus.

I caught up with Chris, and he told me that they are looking for innovators and people who have a passion for their work.

“The degree is just the start. But it’s a lifelong experience, especially in the area of science where science and technology constantly changes. You have to have a passion for learning and a passion for seeing your science in action and the impact you can have on a local company and the world in general.”
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You can hear all of my conversation with Chris here: ChrisKnight1.mp3

I’ll have more in just a bit!

2009 Novus International Undergraduate Networking Day Photo Set

In just a few hours, I’ll be loading up in a bus that will take a group of college students majoring in the science and agricultural fields, some with their parents and college mentors, to tour three of the most influential agri-businesses in the St. Louis, MO. area: Novus International, Monsanto and Pfizer.

Novus is sponsoring the Undergraduate Networking Day to give these recipients of the Missouri Colleges Fund scholarships a firsthand look at how these businesses actually work. In addition, the students will learn just how diverse of an employment field agri-business can be.

One of those who will be touring around the three companies’ facilities will be Carol Waeckerle, a junior majoring in biology at Missouri Baptist University. She is excited to see all of the different fields these companies offer… so she can know where she wants to work when her schooling is done. Waeckerle says it’s not surprising that a city girl like her would be interested in an agricultural job, especially considering the wide variety of employment available.

“St. Louis has these three large companies involved in agriculture, so that’s kind of one of the areas where biological jobs are present.”

Waeckerle seems to recognize just how important good science will be, as we try to get more food and fuel out of less and less farmland everyday. She admits it is daunting but believes science is up to the task.

“We need to learn to use those areas efficiently, so that we can [keep doing] what we’re here doing… [feeding and feuling the world].”

You can hear my entire conversation with Carol here: CarolWaeckerle1.mp3

2009 Novus International Undergraduate Networking Day Photo Set

Some of the best and brightest undergrad students in science and agriculture have gathered in St. Louis, Mo. for the Novus International Undergraduate Networking Day… a day when the students, their parents and educational sponsors will get to see firsthand how some of the best agri-businesses in the country operate. They’ll tour Novus’ St. Louis facilities, as well as see the operations at Monsanto and Pfizer.

The students are here, in part, because of the scholarships provided by these companies to the Missouri Colleges Fund, Inc… a not-for-profit group of 16 small, private Missouri colleges and universities that work together to acquire resources to help educate students in member private liberal-arts colleges and universities.

During tonight’s welcome reception with Novus officials and students, I had the chance to sit down with Mike Backer, President of the Missouri Colleges Fund. He told me his job is to go out and raise money from generous companies, such as Novus, so students can get the monetary help they need in their educational pursuits. But he says Novus is giving more than just money… it’s giving an educational experience.

“Tomorrow will be an opportunity for these students to see the real world… get out of the classroom, come see a laboratory, come ee how a corporation that deals in the area and what really happens.”

Backer agrees with the evaluation from Novus’ Scott Carter who believes that not only is this good for the companies involved, it’s good for agriculture and science in general.

“In Missouri, we’re really lacking in science education. So anything we can do to bring awareness to the need for more science education is a good thing… good for Novus, good for the colleges, and good for our economy.”

Backer adds that we are not just a “Wall Street” society. We’re all… urban and rural… really dependent on agriculture… whether we realize it or not.

You can hear my entire conversation with Mike here: MikeBacker1.mp3

2009 Novus International Undergraduate Networking Day Photo Set