With an impressive resume in agricultural business and economics, Omolola Bankole, graduate student in the Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology Department, was chosen to attend the 12th annual Women in Agribusiness Summit as a student scholar sponsored by John Deere Financial.
The Women in Agribusiness Summit is a national event where the sharing of business knowledge and industry innovations is at the forefront of helping women excel in the sector. Attendees benefit from presentations on the latest trends, outlooks and innovations in ag, and enjoy unparalleled networking opportunities with influential executives, and spot-on professional development.
This three-day event Sept. 26-28 in Nashville, Tennessee, will feature over 65 speakers and bring more than 250 companies.
As a part of Bankole’s experience in agricultural economics and extension, she has worked with organizations to design and implement farmer training programs to disseminate the latest farming methods and technologies to farmers, ensuring they are well-equipped to maximize production and sustainability.
Before coming to Auburn, Bankole studied at Osun State University in Nigeria where she earned a degree in agricultural economics and extension.
“Omolola is a bright student with a promising future in agriculture. The Women in Agribusiness Summit is an excellent educational and networking event for our students,” said Adam Rabinowitz, associate professor and graduate and master’s program officer. “There are a lot of great speakers and a wide variety of topics on the agenda. It’s an honor to have Omolola be recognized as a student scholar and to have her attendance sponsored by a major agribusiness company.”
When applying for the Women in Agribusiness Student Scholarship, Bankole submitted a one-page statement describing her educational and career goals and what she could gain from attending the summit. After being selected, she was matched with one of the corporate scholarship sponsors.
“I intend to connect and learn from experts in the agricultural industry to make meaningful connections, find mentorship possibilities, and gain knowledge about various career options,” Bankole said. “I am eager to learn more about the key trends, cutting-edge research, and problems the agricultural sector faces.”
Participants will go on farm tours, engage in workshops and classes, and go to various breakout sessions to build their skills and networks. Some of the topics for these sessions include “Write your Success Story,” “Rural America and AI,” “Talent Recruitment Trends in Agribusiness” and “Ag to Gen Z.”
After graduation, Bankole plans to work in the agribusiness sector using the knowledge and skill she has gained during her education and experiences to contribute to sustainable agricultural practices and innovations.
