The “soft” side of agriculture

When Nolan Webster (agricultural studies) came to Iowa State, he knew exactly what he wanted – to learn a broad range of agriculture topics that prepared him to go back to his family’s farm and take it over one day. He expected to learn important things in class, but stepping into a leadership role on Farm Operations Club helped Nolan expand his “soft” skills.

Farm Operations Club is one of many clubs with ties to the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS). Academic clubs, like Farm Operations, serve to connect students and alumni with similar career goals and academic interests as well as provide a place for leadership growth.

As Membership Chair, Nolan had the chance to stretch his organization and communication skills as well as collaborate with a variety of groups in the college on tasks like creating a club banner. What began as a role Nolan thought he would enjoy turned into a unique experience finding new skills to bring to his career.