As a senior at Iowa State University, Olivia Marti has done more than check the boxes of a typical college experience. With roots in northeastern Iowa on a row crop and cattle farm, Marti has taken every opportunity to explore the agriculture industry from the ground up—starting with agronomy and evolving into a deep interest in agribusiness.
“I started college as an agronomy major,” she says. “But after an internship with Poet Biofuels in grain merchandising, I realized I really loved the business side of ag, especially working one-on-one with farmers.”
That realization prompted a shift in her major to agricultural business, with a minor in agronomy. The internship revealed her love for relationship-building and strategy, two elements that have since shaped her career goals.
Marti was selected to attend the Women in Agribusiness Summit in Florida, which is a prestigious industry event that typically doesn’t include students. But each year, a small student cohort is selected to join, giving emerging leaders like Marti the chance to connect with top professionals in the field.
“It was phenomenal,” she says. “This isn’t a job fair. Instead, it’s a networking and learning experience. The workshops and panels gave us insights into niche areas of ag that I never would have been exposed to otherwise.”
Sponsored by ADM, Marti’s travel was partially funded through the summit’s corporate partners, giving her and a select group of undergraduate, master’s and Ph.D. students access to a full agenda of workshops, expert panels and mentorship.
“One of the biggest takeaways was how important it is to talk to people in the industry,” she says. “In my internship, they told me: ‘Grain merchandising can be taught—talking to people can’t.’ That’s stuck with me.”
Marti emphasized the value of stepping beyond the classroom, encouraging fellow students to seek out immersive experiences.
“Even if you think you know what you want to do, these events help you learn about careers you’ve never even heard of,” she says. “You get to hear real perspectives, and that helps you figure out where you belong."
As she looks ahead to graduation in May, Marti isn’t exactly sure where she’ll land, but she knows what she’s looking for: a career that keeps her close to the industry and directly connected to farmers.
“I want to stay in western Iowa and find a role that lets me work one-on-one with producers,” she said. “That’s where I’m happiest—being on the ground, having those conversations and helping people make the best decisions for their farms.”
