Members featured in Parade Magazine’s annual career issue

Four members of the Societies were featured in Parade magazine’s annual career issue—with one making the cover photo! The magazine features various careers, and our scientists gave their reasons why their job is the best!

Learn more about who got featured below, in alphabetical order:

Lee Briese, an agronomist in North Dakota said, “I help farmers apply science to protect and improve their crops and the environment. It’s going to sound sappy, but what I like most is the sweet smell of healthy soil. The sound of amber waves of grain in the wind. The beauty of golden sunsets at harvest. But if I have to sum it all up, I really like working outside, building creative solutions to complex problems that matter to everyone but that most people will never see.” See https://bit.ly/2WCv0JP.

Sylvie Brouder, agronomy professor from Purdue University and current ASA president, said, “I teach and conduct field research supporting innovation on the farm. Agronomists work on some of today’s most complex problems: problems at the intersection of climate, food production, and the environment. I collaborate with colleagues and farmers to find creative and practical solutions that sustain livelihoods and natural resources. It’s a career that’s interesting just about every day of the year.” See https://bit.ly/2WGcfVM.

Neith Little, an urban agronomist in Baltimore said, “I help urban farmers in Baltimore be more successful. Some days, that means teaching a class on soil science. Or I could be visiting a farm to troubleshoot why their tomatoes are not growing well. I get to meet and support amazing people who are working hard to improve their communities.” See https://bit.ly/3bdgi13.

Justin Richardson, University of Massachusetts–Amherst, said, “I get to play outside for a living by studying invasive earthworms, toxic metals in parks, maple tree health, and nutrient flow in a vineyard—all in the same year! As a professor, I teach the next generation about the beautiful skin of the earth. I teach students using the state-of-the-art research on the chemistry of soils. I enjoy the freedom of leading my own projects to aid the state of Massachusetts and the United States in better understanding the health and function of their soils.” See https://bit.ly/2WDNhGv.

Parade contacted the ACSESS Department of Public and Science Communications in early March, which put out a call to more than a dozen members. Check out the overall issue, including our “cover model,” Lee Briese here: https://bit.ly/2L9a8of.

Thank you to all those who entered, and congratulations to those who were featured. We are very pleased that Parade reached out to your Societies as the place to find members working in agronomy and crop and soil science. You matter, and you are on the map!