Joe Hora, Iowa State alumnus, completed two internships with Monsanto prior to obtaining a full-time role with the company upon graduating in May of 2013. His internships, along with the skills and network he gained as a brother of Alpha Gamma Rho, have set him up for a successful career in agriculture.
“Interning with Monsanto for two summers provided the experience necessary to better understand the vision and the direction that Monsanto is moving towards as a leader in the agriculture industry,” Hora said. “And AGR provided me the necessary education and experiences to be prepared for the professional world. The ability to communicate effectively is an attribute that I learned through my experiences at AGR, and it continues to be a staple in the role I play at Monsanto.”
Hora was initiated by Eta in 2009 and quickly became a leader on campus and in the Chapter. Through holding a Chapter office and attending Leadership Seminars and National Conventions, he continued to hone these important skills and build his network.
“I gained the understanding of networking and collaboration between people,” Hora said. “And a lot of the valuable information I learned from attending conferences came from the other AGR leaders that attended from across the country. I was able to learn from their experiences and build strengths from them.”
During his two internships, Hora was given the opportunity to explore a wide range of positions within Monsanto, giving him insight into the many facets of the ag industry. “Projects throughout my two summers serving as an intern were varied across the board,” he said. “I spent time working with our ag retail side, farmer dealers and direct with our growers. Each experience taught me new lessons that have continued to help my abilities in the sales field.”
When the time came to decide where he would start a full-time position, Hora’s experiences throughout college pointed him in a clear direction. “I felt Monsanto gave me the best opportunity to grow as an ag professional and give me a career that I love,” he said. “I also saw the technology, people and resources the company has to offer new hires. Monsanto will set you up for success if you’re willing to learn and work hard.”
“The training program gave me the opportunity to learn from and work with current District Sales Managers as well as current dealers within Monsanto. The people I worked with were highly skilled in their businesses and provided me with the necessary knowledge and tools to be successful in my own sales district,” Hora said.
Throughout the past year as a direct sales manager with Monsanto, Hora has learned that nothing comes without hard work and determination. “It is an exciting time to be a young ag professional with Monsanto, but I understand that I still have to bring value to our customers and business partners,” he said. “I have quickly learned that the seed industry is always evolving and continues to change. Understanding how to effectively deal with new technology, services and people is what will help make all young ag professionals in the seed industry more successful.”
Hora says AGR continues to help him grow in his current role. “AGR exists all throughout the Agriculture sector, so the ability to network and develop relationships through the AGR experience has greatly benefitted my personal development. I have gained the necessary knowledge from other agriculture leaders that shared the AGR experience.”
When asked what advice he would give to collegiate brothers, Hora said, “Continue to build your professional network and realize there is an opportunity in agriculture for anyone who wants to be a part of it. The ag sector is only going to grow as the world population continues to expand and the demands for agriculture products increase. Skilled people will be needed to fulfill those demands.”
Monsanto has been a longtime supporter of Alpha Gamma Rho, and their efforts to recruit the talented men of AGR are part of an ongoing partnership between the Fraternity and Monsanto. Hora believes there are a lot of similarities between AGR and Monsanto that help to make the partnership so successful. “The major similarity is the emphasis on improving lives through the advancements and innovations of agriculture. The vision of Monsanto is to earn that trusting relationship, and I feel that at AGR, it’s alike. As an AGR, we build that necessary trust to rely on a brother and always be there for one another.”
