Careers in Agriculture: Government affairs advocate navigates agricultural policy

ATLANTA, Ind. — In a rapidly evolving agricultural landscape, the role of a government affairs advocate is more critical than ever.

Kala Jenkins has spent the past year navigating the intricate world of agricultural policy and advocacy.

With a diverse background that includes consulting for farm families and working as a grain buyer for Cargill, Jenkins brings a wealth of experience to her role, allowing her to champion the interests of farmers across the 20 states in which Beck’s operates.

Q: What is your official job title?

A: I am the government affairs advocate for Beck’s Hybrids.

Q: How long have you had this job and what did you do before?

A: I’ve been with Beck’s for a year, but some days it feels like 10 years here. Prior I was with Pinion as a consultant for several years working with farm families and agriculture organizations either on cash flow strategies or policy work. Prior to Pinion, I was with Farm Credit Mid-America and Cargill as a grain buyer.

I’ve been blessed to have a lot of boots-on-the-ground experiences with the agriculture industry that helps me with my advocacy efforts either at a federal level or in one of the 20 states we now operate in.

Q: What do your job responsibilities look like?

A: I don’t have an average day, that is for sure. Some days it may be communicating with members of Congress and their staff about a major issue that could force more consolidation of our family farms or taking away their choice of products.

I also spend some of my days helping to educate those who work in our great industry and legislation more about the great work our farmers are doing and how they are continuing to be innovative. Other days I’m monitoring opportunities and issues globally, nationally and at various state levels.

Q: What are three things you love about your job?

A: I love being able to be a voice for our industry while traveling to some really neat places, whether to Washington, D.C., or out to Iowa.

Beyond being a voice and my travel, I love getting to meet new people every day. A friend’s daughter once told me, “Kala, you are a business matchmaker with all your connections and knowledge of what everyone does.”

I had to laugh at her analogy and pondered if she was old enough to remember the movie “Hitch.”

Q: Are there any educational requirements for this type of job? What schools did you go to?

A: Policy and ag education are great starters for this job. If you have policy but don’t have the ag education, no worries at all because that is something you can learn as long as you are open to asking the questions.

I graduated from Purdue University in 2011 majoring in animal agribusiness with a minor in farm management. Yep, you read that right, no technical focus on policy.

I have always been an advocate for our industry and the farmers I’ve worked with, but didn’t realize this path that I was on to learn and grow that would be so helpful today.

Q: What personality traits and skills are helpful?

A: Communication, engagement, dedication, networking, willingness to learn and listen are very helpful trains and skills in the work I do today.

As much information as I soak in at times, you have to be able to step back and hear the other perspectives or issues to work towards common ground.

Q: What is something you admire about Indiana’s ag industry?

A: The diversity within the state and how helpful and welcoming we all are. We may not have the large land mass like some of our other friends do, but we are just as impactful from our row crops to produce to livestock and agribusinesses.

Q: What’s your favorite item on your desk?

A: A friend of mine gave me a small beach chair that is a business card holder, but a reminder to also soak in the moments and take a recharging break.

I am so passionate about what I do, I sometimes forget about taking care of me while I’m taking care of our farmers.

Q: Anything else you’d like to mention about your job?

A: If you love what you do, then it’s not a job, but yet a passion that lights your soul on fire. Go do what lights you on fire.

If you aren’t in that role today, don’t be afraid to work toward that role that makes you come alive. I didn’t get here overnight. It took patience, persistence, dedication and commitment.