Agribusiness Talent Council

Empowering Tomorrow's Agri-Leaders: Apply Now for Michigan Agri-Business Association 2025-26 Leadership Program.

Small towns that are famous for their agricultural products. We are grateful to all the growers and employees who labor to grow and harvest these crops in our backyard.

Meet council member Dianne Cote: Growing People & Careers in Horticulture While most people at Walters Gardens, Inc. focus on growing amazing plants, Dianne’s passion is growing amazing people! With a strong background in HR and 3.5 years in horticulture, she’s dedicated to helping individuals find rewarding careers in agriculture. As an ATC member, Dianne is especially proud of MiCareerQuest and the ATC scholarship, both of which help connect students with real-world opportunities in the industry. She’s also a champion for educator partnerships, ensuring the next generation of horticulture workers is informed and inspired. Whether through facility tours, job fairs, or interview coaching, her organization is committed to mentorship and internal growth. When she’s not fostering careers, Dianne is soaking up the beauty of late spring, when flowers are in full bloom. And when it comes to fresh produce, she can’t live without apples and asparagus! ???? Thank you, Dianne, for your dedication to both people and plants! #Horticulture #HR #GrowingCareers #MiCareerQuest #ATC #Mentorship #SupportLocalAg

Thank you to Leprino, TreeHouse Foods and JBS for participating in our Ag-Jobs-4-All Hiring events the past two weeks. We appreciate your partnership and ability to find job seekers for your open positions.

Meet ATC Council member Rebecca Huttenga. Agriculture isn’t just a career—it’s a way of life. For Becky, that journey started on a hobby farm in Ottawa County, where she grew up as a proud 4-H kid, raising every kind of farm animal except hogs. That passion led her to Michigan State University, where she earned her B.S. in Animal Science and completed all the requirements for her Master’s in Animal Science. GO GREEN! ???? Today, Becky is deeply involved in community and student outreach through initiatives like Spotlight on Ag Readers and MiCareerQuest, helping share the incredible story of agriculture. She’s proud to work in Ottawa County, a community that recognizes and supports the impact of agriculture across the state. When she’s not advocating for ag, you’ll find her soaking up the sun in her favorite season—summer! ?? For fresh produce, Crisp Country Acres is her go-to, and when it comes to local meat, she supports HEHLDEN FARM, Maple Hill, Raterinks, Mike’s Processing, and more. Thank you, Becky, for all you do to support and celebrate Michigan’s ag industry! ?? #Agriculture #AgEducation #CommunityOutreach #MichiganAg #ATC #SupportLocal

Help us support the next generation of agribusiness professionals. If you know a high school senior or college student in the field, encourage them to apply for the Agribusiness Talent Council scholarship before March 28th.

Thank you Matthew Bernia for sharing. Future Spartans- Your Path to MSU just got a little easier. Apply to MSU Institute of Agricultural Technology for Free.

In honor of National Agribusiness Month, we will be featuring members of our council and provide background on how they landed in a career in agribusiness. Meet Jessica VandenBosch, ATC council chair who works in Human Resources for Dykhuis Farms in Hamilton, MI. Jessica didn't grow up on a farm and never expected to work in agribusiness but what started as another job in HR became a source of pride as she saw the vital role farming plays in feeding communities. Jessica is passionate about supporting her team at Dykhuis Farms, one of the top 40 pork producers in the U.S., and advancing innovation like PigFlow to improve productivity and animal care. She also sees great value in council projects like MiCareerQuest, which provides hands-on experiences to students in a variety of careers, including agribusiness, helping them connect with the industry and discover future opportunities. We’re grateful for Jessica’s dedication to the council and helping to drive progress in our industry. #Agriculture #Agribusiness #NationalAgricultureMonth

According to O.C. Tanner, 79%?of people who quit their jobs cite “lack of appreciation” as reason for leaving. While this is most important for managers to consider when leading their staff, it is equally as important for the team to appreciate one another. Incorporate staff "shout - outs" at your team meetings, send an email thanking your teammate for assisting you on a project or leave a hand written "thank you" on their desk. It doesn't need to be complicated or elaborate- just sincere.

Congratulations to Dawn Drake on this well deserved recognition.