Kristi Goedken, a senior in agricultural communications with a minor in event management, has made the most of her time at Iowa State. As an active member of the ISU National Agri-Marketing Association, Sigma Alpha Sorority, Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow (ACT), and CALS Connections, this busy senior still finds time to have some fun by participating in volleyball and basketball intramurals.
Her passion for agriculture stems from her roots in the family farm. Growing up in Earlville, Iowa, Goedken was actively involved in her family's beef, hog and row crop operation. They also farmed alongside her grandparents, who raise dairy cattle and row crops. She actively participated in 4-H and FFA, further strengthening her passion for agriculture.
When it came time to choose a college, Goedken was looking for an institution that had a strong agriculture program but would also challenge the way she thought. She wanted to go far enough away from home to meet new people, but stay close enough to return home when needed. Iowa State proved to be the perfect fit. "As for my major, I knew I wanted a degree that I could shape to meet my needs. I've always been interested in social media and marketing, and an ag communications degree would allow me to take the necessary classes to become proficient in those areas," informs Goedken.
Upon arriving on campus, Goedken was quick to get involved. She decided to participate in Start Something College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) programs to gain a better perspective on entrepreneurship. "There's no better way to learn about something than to jump in headfirst and be willing to learn!" she exclaims. She did just that and has served on the Start Something CALS Student Leadership Team for the past two years. "I've loved every moment of my time with Start Something CALS" she explains.
Her favorite Start Something CALS memory has been attending the holiday celebration at Bruce Rastetter's home. "It's such a great way to network with fellow peers at Iowa State while also meeting donors and individuals who have previously gone through the program."
Her extracurricular and academic involvement have served her well during her internships. In 2017, she served as an agronomy sales intern for River Valley Cooperative and as an agency support intern for Farm Bureau. In 2018, she worked at the Iowa State Fair as a livestock entry intern. This past summer, she was able to work as a marketing communications intern for Corteva Agriscience. She will be taking a full-time position at Corteva Agriscience as a sales support coordinator after graduation. In this role, she will be working with reps in a designated area to ensure that they receive all of their ordered products.
Goedken has no plans to slow down in the near future. "I've been to four of the seven continents all within one year's time frame and have a goal to visit all seven!"
Wherever her path leads her, we look forward to watching her succeed and are grateful for the time she has devoted to Start Something CALS. Good luck Kristi!