NCGA's research director speaks to college students

Dr Richard Vierling
Dr Richard Vierling
National Corn Growers Association Research Director Richard Vierling met with a standing-room-only group of college students from around the country at Tennessee State University.

His presentation focused on grower-driven business development and entrepreneurship, and the students who attended were both undergrad and graduate students whose studies focus on genotyping assays, plant breeding and new uses.

“It was great to meet with such an enthusiastic group of young scientists interested in focusing their careers in agriculture,” Vierling said. “Advances in the lab become products that can really help farmers in the field. By reaching out to the researchers of tomorrow, we build a better future for our industry too.”

The visit enabled Vierling to network with students in the hopes that well-qualified graduate students from historically black colleges, like Tennessee State University, will be able to work at the National Agriculture Genotyping Center (NAGC) when it is fully operational in the summer of 2016. NAGC will gain a fresh perspective from the young scientists while they gain technology skills and real world experience at the Fargo, North Dakota, facility that will put them ahead of others in the eyes of employers.

The NCGA represents more than 40,000 corn farmers nationwide and works with them to create and increase opportunities.