Growing up in a family deeply rooted in agriculture, Sydney Septer was introduced to the industry at an early age. Raised on an acreage in southern Iowa, she began her agricultural journey through a cow-calf operation, raising Angus cattle as part of her FFA supervised agricultural experience.
“That project really shaped my path,” Septer says. “It’s how I got my start in FFA and ultimately earned my American FFA Degree.”
Now a senior at Iowa State University, Septer is studying agricultural communication and agricultural and rural policy studies. She is part of the first cohort of students to complete Iowa State’s agricultural communications program from start to finish and plans to graduate in December 2026.
Entering college with more than 30 dual credits, Septer added a second major after discovering an interest in agricultural policy.
“I took a class with the advisor for ag and rural policy studies and realized how much I enjoyed it,” she says. “It paired really well with ag communications and still allowed me to graduate early.”
Septer was first introduced to NAFB as a freshman through Iowa State’s Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow club, which helps send students to the annual convention.
“I went my freshman year and absolutely loved it,” she says. “Getting to talk with broadcasters and see the industry up close really confirmed this was something I wanted to be part of.”
Following that first convention, Septer secured an internship with Bob Quinn at 1040 WHO Radio’s The Big Show, traveling across Iowa to interview farmers and learn broadcasting fundamentals from a veteran farm broadcaster.
Since then, she has attended the NAFB Convention multiple times as a student, an intern and most recently as a member of the Social Media Corps.
At the most recent convention in November 2025, Septer served on the NAFB Social Media Corps, working alongside two other students to help bring the event to life for those unable to attend.
“Our goal was to make people who weren’t there feel like they wanted to be there,” Septer says.
Her responsibilities included capturing photos, highlighting key sessions, covering award winners and sharing real-time updates across NAFB’s social platforms. Each day brought something new.
“Every day looked different, and we really worked as a team,” she says. “It gave me a totally new perspective on the convention.”
Septer says the role allowed her to expand her network and interact with broadcasters in a more visible way.
“Social Media Corps is recognized throughout the convention, so you meet a lot of people and see NAFB from a different angle,” she said.
As she prepares to graduate, Septer hopes to pursue a career that blends communication and policy, with interests in government or public affairs.
“I want to help people understand the policies shaping agriculture, like the farm bill and the future of the industry,” she says.
She encourages students to apply for Social Media Corps, even if they’ve never attended NAFB Convention before.
“Take a chance and apply,” Septer says. “It’s a great way to get your foot in the door, and you won’t regret it.”
