Registration is open for Growing the Future: A Student Symposium on Agribusiness, a free event at Northern State University designed to inspire students to become the next generation of leaders in agriculture. The symposium will be held Tuesday, April 7, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Centennial Rooms in the Student Center at Northern State University.
The event is open to high school and college students interested in agriculture and agribusiness. The symposium is free to attend, and lunch will be provided. Space is limited, and attendees are encouraged to register early. Event is not open to general public.
The symposium will feature a strong lineup of presenters, including Wells Lamont Company, a student panel, an agricultural business partners panel, Dr. Matt Roberts presenting “The Truth About Trade,” greetings from Northern State University President Alan LaFave, and Brian Hefty of Ag PhD and Hefty Seed Company.
“We are excited to host our first Agricultural Business Symposium on campus,” said Dr. Kristi Bockorny, Dacotah Bank Dean and professor of management at Northern State University. “Our faculty committee has invested significant time and energy into creating a meaningful and engaging program, bringing together speakers who understand firsthand how agriculture and business intersect. This is an opportunity for students to gain insight into agricultural business industries and ask questions. We look forward to welcoming students to campus for what promises to be an inspiring and impactful day.”
“We are thankful for the grant monies that the School of Business was awarded from the Aberdeen Energy Agriculture Fund, an Aberdeen Area Community Fund sub-fund, to help support this year’s symposium,” Bockorny said.
Northern State University also now offers a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Business, which prepares students for careers in agricultural finance, commodity marketing, supply chain management, and more. The symposium gives students an opportunity to explore the agricultural business field while connecting with professionals and learning about future career pathways.
High school and college students interested in attending can register at northern.edu/ag-symposium. For questions, contact Lisa Anderson at lisamarie.anderson@northern.
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