72 / SEEDWORLD.COM OCTOBER 2018 “I was looking at how to create a laboratory in the middle of Guatemala and to create a breeding program,” Fritz says. “It was a huge opportunity.” Robert Allan is one of the people who helped usher in the Green Revolution. Winner of NAPB’s Lifetime Achievement Award, Allan is an accomplished wheat breeder who worked with Norman Borlaug. He says the next generation of breeders is in a good position to pick up where previous generations left off. “To be at this meeting and to see so many young people is really surprising to me, and it’s a very good thing they’re able to interact with scientists as well as each other. “[Modern technology] has taken a lot of the guesswork out of plant breeding,” says the 87-year-old. Tackle Uncertainty Head-On “The uncertainty is something I struggle with a lot. Right now, the best thing for me to keep moti- vated is to just try to open my opportunities and broaden my horizons,” says Tavin Schneider, a 22-year-old senior at Montana State University. She’ll gradu- ate in December and will attend Washington State University for her master’s degree. She studies plant sciences with a minor in genetics. “You never know what opportu- nities are going to come in your future, so take the ones you are excited for, learn all the time and be open to anything,” she says. That’s good advice in a time where technology has opened up a world of possibilities for young breeders. “It’s a lifelong learning experi- ence. Today, that is especially true with so much technological innovation in plant breeding,” says Todd Campbell, a geneticist with the United States Department of Agriculture and the new president of NAPB. According to Campbell, that process of discovery is something that comes naturally for plant breed- ers, who generally are exposed to Robert Allan, NAPB Lifetime Achievement Award receipient. Tavin Schnieder studies plant science with a minor in genetics. a range of opportunities early on. Coming on as chair for NAPB, Campbell sees a young, vibrant organization that’s quickly attracting the attention of young breeders. NAPB now has more than 400 members, the highest number since its founding eight years ago. “The first thing [I want to do as chair] is to con- tinue to build on successful collaborations we have with other organizations like the American Seed Trade Association, Crop Science Society of America and the American Society of Agronomy. We need to all work together for the same common goal to improve our ag system,” Campbell says. Get Creative Liz Prenger grew up in a farming family. She loved being outside, loved working with her hands, and found it hard to leave the farm when it came time to do her post-secondary studies. The 24-year-old master’s student at the University of Georgia now works in soybean breeding, focusing on the genetics and improvement of soybean seed composition. “You have the ability to focus on different projects and different aspects of breeding. These little projects might not have a huge direct impact necessarily in monetary value, but if you add this trait you are study- ing into your soybean lines, it may make them better able to withstand pressures and whatever specific environment they are growing in — and that contributes to the yield and the performance of the variety in that particular location,” she says. The result of following the breeding path to wher- ever it leads is the chance to make an impact in places Katelyn Fritz is an undergraduate from Iowa State University double majoring in agronomy and global resource systems.