Growing Careers in Agriculture

Cargill. John Deere. USDA. Ardent Mills. Michigan State University. Individual farm operations.

Kansas State University Department of Entomology Professor, Zelia Z. Wiley, Ph.D., can name students who have found success at these and many other organizations in agriculture and related industries.

From corporate and governmental to academic and entrepreneurial jobs, she’s proud to see all they have accomplished. That’s the power of MANRRS.

MANRRS was founded in the 1980s to develop a network of underrepresented students and professionals in the industry. Zelia has been involved in that mission for 38 years, first as a student and later by serving as an advisor and the national president for the society of MANRRS and by chartering two MANRRS undergraduate chapters at the University of Kentucky and K-State.

“I can name these students out of my 30 years as an advisor. I'm very fortunate that they're all doing so well,” Zelia said. “I have been able to work with students to make sure they understand their why. And I think through MANRRS, I've been able to help students see that why.”

Minding Their MANRRS

Two interns with the Undergraduate Research Experience program at K-State’s Department of Entomology — Amaya Bradford, a fourth-year student studying agricultural science with a concentration in food science and biological systems engineering at Florida A&M University, and Danielle Earles, a third-year student majoring in neuroscience with a double concentration in chemistry and biology at Xavier University of Louisiana — found the opportunity at K-State through MANRRS.

“What surprises me most about MANRRS is the diversity of opportunities,” Amaya said. “It just opens so many doors for you.”

Initially, Amaya planned to go to pharmacy school, but by attending a MANRRS conference, networking and learning about other possibilities, she became interested in becoming a professor.

“A lot of inspiration comes through the organization that makes you think about more of what you can do,” she said.

Danielle, who is new to MANRRS, has found unexpected connections between agriculture and her chosen course of study. She hopes to bring what she's learning at K-State and through MANRRS to her campus.

“I would love to have the honor to bring the networking and all of the wonderful opportunities back to my campus to share with my fellow students,” she said. “My school is a very big STEM school, and I feel like they’re not aware of all the opportunities that MANRRS and agriculture have to offer.”

Growing Professionally

In the U.S., MANRRS operates in six regions. Junior-level chapters are available to middle and high school students, and collegiate chapters are available to college students. Activities range from oral presentations and poster competitions to networking sessions with professionals and attendance at the national conference. Zelia said the mix of events is a little different each year, depending on the goals and interests of the students.

But the growth is constant.

“It's the sense of belongingness that MANRRS gives to the students, and they get that confidence,” she said. “I see growth in professional etiquette, and, since 2020, we have to meet students differently. In 2025 and 2026, things have been really hard socially for the students.”

From something as simple as making eye contact and preparing résumés to articulating goals and acing interviews, MANRRS builds students up, which is especially important for underrepresented students.

“You may be the minority, but you're the majority when you're all together in MANRRS,” Zelia said. “People often see students as numbers, but MANRRS is able to look at them as individuals. We're very inclusive. I get business majors coming up to me asking, ‘Can I join MANRRS?’ Yes, there's a spot for you.”

Amaya said she would encourage all students to join their local MANRRS chapter, and that involvement comes down to a simple question: What do they want to do?

“Tell them about how many more opportunities that they would've gotten if they were in MANRRS, plus how many more friends they would've made if they were in MANRRS,” she said. “Tell them about all the opportunities, the scholarships, the conventions, the conferences, the people you meet, the networking, and that usually is enough. But if you need more than that, just ask them if they want a job. That's a really big thing.”

Reaping Rewards

Zelia said the most rewarding aspect of being an advisor with MANRRS is seeing students like Amaya and Danielle learn valuable communication skills and gain a sense of poise.

“Even right now with Amaya and Danielle, I can tell you I've only had them for a week, but I see the growth in them,” Zelia said. “To see the students evolve is the satisfaction. Every student is different in their growth.”

The daughter of two educators, Zelia remembers her parents’ wisdom: Your integrity will go before you.

Zelia has developed a reputation for mentoring students and is often sought out by her MANRRS peers to mentor rising stars like Amaya and Danielle.

Reflecting on these young college students and professionals she advised decades ago, Zelia recalled her father telling her that when students stay in touch and do better than you, then you’re doing a good job as a teacher.

“I feel very honored that a lot of people say I'm an educator like my parents,” Zelia said.

She continues to plant seeds for future generations to succeed.

To learn more about MANRRS and find a chapter near you, visit the organization’s website.

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