Agriculture students at Southeast Missouri State University got the chance to meet and greet several experts and professionals of the global agriculture industry as a part of the annual Strategic Ag Outlook meeting.

Students were able to introduce themselves to business people who the students will be working for after they graduate.

The Strategic Ag Outlook meeting, sponsored by Southeast's agriculture department and local agribusiness Midwest Grain and Barge, is an annual meeting open to local agricultural producers and businesses, as well as Southeast students.

This year, speakers included Walt Wire of Marine Freight Exchange, Doron Fadlon of ICLF - North America, Pamela Howlett of Monsanto and Chad Henderson of Prime Agricultural Consultants.

Dan Bollinger, a junior majoring in agriculture industry, took advantage of the opportunity to get to know the industry professionals, and said that it was a great experience for him and the other students.

"It was very interesting," Bollinger said. "You got to know the people, shake hands, meet them, and they not only talked about their business and how they got started, but they also gave you life lessons in general."

Henderson mentioned one thing during his presentation he most wanted guests to take away from the meeting.

"Whatever you do in life, be passionate," Henderson said.

Bollinger said that was one thing that stuck with him after the meeting.

"Make sure you find a job you enjoy," Bollinger said.

He added that one of the professionals he spoke with said that the average person will hold three or four jobs before settling into the one that they are truly passionate about.

Bollinger said that hearing professionals tell their stories of getting to where they are now will help him stay committed to finding a job that he enjoys in the agriculture field.

Bollinger also believes that meeting people who have been successful will go a long way to jump-starting his career after graduation.

Bollinger said that networking is really important for students.

"You might meet one person, and they might talk to somebody else about you and you may get called about a job," Bollinger said.

Dr. Indi Braden, a professor the Department of Agriculture, also believes that connections made at meetings such as the Strategic Ag Outlook will further students' careers.

Braden said the meet and greet serves the purpose of "mixing people with people in the industry, and mixing students with people in the industry, opportunities for internships and future jobs."

Students were able to talk to the industry professionals in a casual setting, which led to more personal conversation.

Braden said that the less-professional atmosphere allowed the professionals to tell their story of "this is how I got there, and here's my advice how to get there, here's my honesty of where I think you should be in the future."

Braden said that she hoped students took away "communication skills, interacting with other people in the profession, hearing what they have as opportunities of where they have benefited from choices and advancements in their career. In addition to that, to hear what is going on in current events."

Guests in attendance heard from each of the four speakers that agriculture is a global market, which is something else Braden hopes students understand.

"We are a global market," Braden said. "You have to pay attention to what's going on worldwide, regardless of where you are in agribusiness."