24 GERMINATION.CA JULY 2019 For BASF, the PDP is a successful method of retaining employees in sales/ marketing, agronomy and more. It’s an on-the-job training program that BASF leadership believes “adds significant value to students’ educations by teaching them relevant and targeted skills that can be directly applied to their future careers.” The PDP has been running in the U.S. and Canada for about five years (BASF runs similar programs in some other countries), and 22 people have completed the program in Canada. Most of the gradu- ates are in sales and marketing, and Sweat says they’ve also included some technical services employees (agronomists). In Sweat’s view, the PDP allows employees to quickly become comfortable in the work environment and familiar with the company culture. It attracts potential employees, he says, because applicants hired through the program are confi- dent they will get the on-the-job training they’ll need. The PDP also helps retain employees and promote an optimal over- all company performance, all through a strong focus on personal engagement. “We design each participant’s program around their interests, and of course, we get to know those areas of interest,” Sweat says. “The program also ties in to our belief in diversity of thought on various teams and throughout the whole company. In the end, it all provides benefit for us as a firm and for our grower customers.” View of a Graduate Melissa Parkinson went through the PDP in 2015, when the program was 18 months long; it’s now 12 months. “The program helps you narrow down what you want to do,” says the lead at BASF Regina crop protection for cereals. “I was exposed to both marketing and sales. I have an ag business degree, and the program also advanced my agronomy knowledge. The biggest benefit for me was to learn skills like time management, how to run a meeting, and how to work with growers, honing sales techniques. It sets you up for a good career here at BASF.” While in the program, Parkinson says the difference between learning in the classroom and learning in the real world became very clear. While she did have a lot of team projects in her fourth- year university courses, which she says were very valuable, her PDP experience also included lots of team work. “I was Jon Sweat is vice-president of BASF Agricultural Solutions Canada. a valued part of each team I spent time with, in marketing and sales, and in each role, I learned how roles don’t have to be cookie cutter, but adaptable to each person,” she says. “A lot of different oppor- tunities came up and there was the chance to see if each was or was not a fit. It also gave me the opportunity to learn the big picture, to understand the importance of breeding innovation, for example, which really sets you up for success.” Demand for Ag Workers Lori Litherland, founder of national recruiting firm Litherland & Company in Etobicoke, Ont., confirms what many media outlets have reported in recent years — that demand for workers in all areas of agriculture remains strong. Ag business grads are in particular demand, but no matter the job, from agronomists serving farmers on the front line to research to ag economics/business positions, Litherland says on-farm experi- ence is important. “Summer jobs doing some sort of farm work is a big factor in getting hired,” she reports. “If students can go back to the same farm for more than one year, and particularly if they are given more responsibility the next year, they go to the top of the pile of resumes.” Litherland adds that new ag industry hires are also expected to have contributed to their community, so involvement with 4H and volunteering is important in terms of showing good citizenship traits and building skills in teamwork and leadership. Social media savviness, networking skills and critical thinking are also important. “I think you need to be an advocate for agriculture and be able to discuss all the new technologies,” she adds. “Companies want people who are able to handle a discussion.” In addition, Litherland says ag firms of many types are looking for workers willing to live in rural areas. “We’ve seen a migration from rural communities in Canada going back many years now, but it’s very positive for our farming sector that there are city kids who want to live in the country.” She also advises other ag sector com- panies, small and large, to do what BASF is doing — offering potential hires the chance to be mentored and to be exposed to different parts of the business. Melissa Parkinson went through the PDP in 2015, when the program was 18 months long; it’s now 12 months. “COMPANIESWANT PEOPLEWHOARE ABLETOHANDLEA DISCUSSION.” –LoriLitherland