The annual Agricultural Career Expo was held Tuesday, giving students and employers an opportunity to connect and discuss internships and careers.

Elizabeth White, assistant director of career development and student engagement, said the purpose of the fair was to connect students from across disciplines, including business and marketing, with employers in the agricultural sector.

“It’s kind of the ebb and flow of the type of employers that we have,” White said. “This year, we have some of our old partners back, like Riceland and Greenway. It really just depends on the job market.”

White said building connections early is important for students. 

“The more connections students make, the more likely companies are to reach out when they have an internship available,” White said. “Even a good conversation during an event like this can open doors.”

She said the event is not just for upperclassmen.

“I really hope students realize it’s not just for sophomores and juniors looking for internships, or seniors looking for jobs when they graduate,” White said. “It’s genuinely a networking opportunity for all students.”

White said the fair helps faculty and students stay aware of industry challenges.

“Farmers are having a lot of trouble right now due to current events, and we’ve seen that reflected in our attendance and conversations,” White said.

Layla Adams, a first-year animal science major from Lake City, Arkansas, said farmers face financial pressures and consolidation. She said the industry needs family farmers because food production is being overtaken by big operations and farmland is being bought out.

Adams said she sees a future in agriculture, though the work is demanding.

“Nobody in this field has control over everything. It’s all up to God,” Adams said. “We do the best we can with what we’re given.”

Adams said her agricultural roots come from her father’s tractor business and her grandfather’s farm.

“I was always surrounded by agriculture, and I loved it,” Adams said. “I love being outside and learning about it, and that’s where we get our food.”

Keegan Reddick, a first-year agricultural business major from Blytheville, Arkansas, said agriculture is built on relationships.

“Young people need to remember that farming is kind of like a community,” Reddick said. “Not everything should be over a screen. You build real connections in person.”

Coy Nixon, a first-year agricultural business major from Cooter, Missouri, said his family background drew him to the field of agriculture.

“There’s a lot of opportunity for new growth, technology, and environmental science,” Nixon said.

Nixon said what excites him most is plant growth and crop protection.

“Agriculture is what you eat,” Nixon said. “Even a slice of bread came from a farm, sometimes from just one farmer in Arkansas managing a thousand acres. One person can provide for so many.”

Adams said students must balance tradition with technology.

“I think we have a generation of open-minded people,” Adams said. “But we use technology too much. We have to put in the work while also letting technology work for us, without losing what’s natural.”

Alee Cooper, a first-year animal science major from Milan, Tennessee, said she was drawn to agriculture through her family’s farm and is interested in the healthcare side of the field.

“It’s very interesting how even after you get the job, you’re still learning,” Cooper said. “They even have courses for becoming a certified crop adviser, and that really intrigued me.”

Cooper said agriculture is vital to daily life.

“It’s really a main source of our food, and most of the necessities we depend on come from agriculture,” she said. “If we didn’t have agriculture, we would be without a lot of what people take for granted.”

This is the third agricultural fair hosted since 2024. White said the university plans to expand by involving the new veterinary school in future iterations.

Categories: News