Andrea Westedt has a satisfying career "feeding the world."
Westedt is a production research agronomist. Her specialty is wheat --
planting it, growing it and studying it.
"My job as a research agronomist is to discover the cheapest and most effective
ways to produce a seed crop. [It's] kind of like how a process engineer tries
to find the most cost-effective way to make a quality part," Westedt explains.
Westedt's job can be grueling. Nearly half of her time involves travel
to different fields, where she takes detailed crop notes and cares for the
crop.
When she's not out in the field, Westedt carefully enters and analyzes
crop data. With her varied duties, her workweek can run 40 to 60 hours, depending
on the time of year.
Although her job can be challenging, Westedt wouldn't have it any other
way.
"I became an agronomist because I like growing things, genetics and science."
Westedt's career choice allows her to do what "cubicle dwellers" don't
get to do -- work outdoors and be paid to do so. This freedom can be a mixed
blessing. Springtime in the fields can be beautiful.
"I enjoy the spring when the weather breaks and things are starting to
grow. I have a reason to leave my desk, get outside and enjoy the weather."
However, it's not so fun during the cold winters. "When the weather is
bad I have to get work done. I can't just hide inside. I have to go out and
get it done," she says.
Becoming an agronomist seemed a natural choice for Dave Wilber, who grew
up in farm and ranch country. Wilber always knew he'd work in the agricultural
field, but he wasn't exactly sure in what capacity.
Then someone built a golf course in his backyard and Wilber discovered
his passion -- golf! He started working on the golf course at age 16.
"I got a summer job at this golf course and loved it," he says. He continued
to work at the course throughout high school and university. He gained invaluable
practical experience, as well as a great golf swing.
Wilber made his way through university and earned degrees in soil science
and turf management. Today, he's a consulting agronomist working in various
parts of the United States and the United Kingdom. An agronomist, by Wilber's
definition, is someone "who knows everything there is to know about soil fertility."
In order to stay in the know, Wilber constantly updates his knowledge through
fieldwork and independent study.
Before he became an independent consultant, Wilber spent seven years in
the golf industry as a course superintendent and in construction. As a consulting
agronomist, he conducts soil testing and consultation. His goal is to reduce
pesticide use while producing better quality turf.
The golf industry is booming, and Wilber services more than 100 clients
-- mostly golf courses. It's his job to keep the greens looking good.
Agronomy is a specialized field. These scientists tend to concentrate on
particular crops. "I'm a turfgrass specialist. I know guys who are fully into
corn. They can tell you everything you ever wanted to know about corn, and
then some."
Wilber loves the outdoor aspect of agronomy. He spends much of his time
on the greens, rain or shine. "I think of agronomy as fieldwork," he says.
"Pretty much all my life I've done something outside. It's not an office job."
It might be an outdoor job, but that doesn't stop Wilber from spending
a fair amount of time on the computer. He advertises on the Internet and promotes
eco-friendly methods of maintaining lawns.
A few years ago, Wilber was part of a turf workshop on the Net and learned
there were a lot of people who wanted help with their home lawns. That prompted
him to create a website where the home gardener can get good information and
advice.
Agronomy is a job well-suited to Wilber's independent nature. "Many agronomists
are independent consultants, so there's not a lot of corporate structure.
Independent-type people do well in this job."