In September 2024, the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) held their annual Next Generation program.  A cohort of 14 students from 8 universities travelled to Indianapolis for committee meetings, trainings, and networking with NASDA members, state staff, and industry professionals. Two public policy and law students, Kirby Miller and Viktoriya Dragnevska, who were nominated by their professors, represented the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the College of ACES.

Agricultural directors and commissioners from nearly all fifty states were in attendance to speak with students about different issues affecting various regions around the country.

Dragnevska, who comes from the suburbs of Chicago and does not have an agriculture background, viewed this program as a perfect way to learn more about the industry and get her foot in the door.

“They were very open to me as a Chicago kid not having much experience, they just wanted me to learn and it was really nice to be included in something like that,” Dragnevska said.

The cohort got the absolute most out of their 4-day trip, with daily activities starting around 7 AM and ending at 11 PM. State directors and leaders in the agriculture sector spoke on a variety of topics such as natural resources & environment, foreign trade, and natural disaster consequences and preparedness.

“In some of the meetings I was just sitting there like, ‘Wow I would have no idea about any of this stuff if I wasn’t here!’,” Dragnevska said.

In addition to the guest speaker events and networking, the cohort also got to experience what the city of Indianapolis has to offer.

“We went to Indiana state fairgrounds and had a tour there. We also went to a really cool museum of Western and Native American art. Overall, we got to do some really interesting stuff and hear from some really interesting people,” Miller said.

 Another highlight of the conference was the unity shown within the agriculture community.

“In agriculture even across the whole country California’s problems are Maryland’s problems and Maryland’s problems are California’s problems. Even though we don’t grow everything here in Illinois, we still deal with a lot of the same issues when you get down to it,” Miller said.

“We’re so connected, and more than you would ever think.”

 The students also reviewed different policies, plans, and even a recent supreme court ruling, all directly affecting environmental and agricultural subjects. Because of Miller and Dragnevska’s majors, this kind of work has a direct correlation with their career aspirations.

Dragnevska has her sights set on becoming an environmental lawyer down the road and will also be getting her masters in sustainability and environmental economics. Miller on the other hand is still trying to find the exact path he wants to go down.

“If I can, I’d love to stay home and help our state, but I also realize there’s a lot of opportunities out in D.C. as well. I’m leaving that door open trying to figure out if that’s somewhere I want to end up,” Miller said.

Regardless of where the two students end up after college, it’s clear the future is bright. With their newfound knowledge and connections, Miller and Dragnevska are now better equipped to navigate the intersection of policy, law, and agriculture—wherever their careers may take them.