b'booked, there werent many folksgoals were, where I saw myself as Ican just feel it, says Ben Peterson, outside his family and company thatwrapped up graduate schooljustaccount executive for Peterson he knew.a couple of really neat opportuni- Genetics. Its got a big feel to it, and I found myself at a retirementties then to get some advice andits something that really brings the party for a seed industry professional,get started thinking about where Iindustry together.and there was only one other personmight land in the industry, Ford,Peterson says that Chicago has there, Schweigert, now ASTA chairhead of corn breeding at Syngenta,been a staple on his calendarits and president of Gro Alliance, says.says. That really meant a lot to mesomething to mark down and look I walked up behind him at the bar,as a graduate student to get noticed,forward to all year long. and he asked: What do you think ofand have people see me as if I wereMy first year, I remember not this conference so far? I said, Wellimportant for the future of the indus- knowing what the heck was going on its amazing, but I just dont knowtry.I just decided, lets just go ahead anybody, and theres not really a wayCroegaert says he was intern- and dive in. The people there will for me to get to know anyone. Heing during his first ASTA conferencehelp you out, and youll learn a lot, said, Well, why dont we do some- and had an interesting first businesshe says.thing about it? dinner there. ASTA will continue hosting the Schweigert was talking with theI had my first ever businessCSS & Seed Expo in Orlando, Florida, then current chair of ASTA, Dondinner with a co-worker, Croegaert,starting in 2023. Though the location Wertmanand what started as anow director of Verdant Partners,might change, Crouse says the expe-happenstance meeting at a retirementsays. My co-workers daughter had arience will only get better from here. party turned into some phone calls,baby and had to leave immediately. In Orlando, were not going to then conference calls, but eventu- This left Croegaert in the handshave to split the show up to dif-ally led and laid groundwork forof the Independent Professional Seedferent floors or different towersSchweigerts work with the FutureAssociations Todd Martin.instead, were going to bring it closer Seed Executives Initiative (now LEADPoor Todd was left with me astogether, Crouse says. Exhibits can committee).an intern, and he actually stuck thebe more front-and-centre, so exhibi-That was my pathway into chair- dinner out, he says. Much to mytors can get more traffic. But not only ing a committee and ultimately goingsurpriseand I appreciate that, andthat, all the private meeting rooms onto the board and finally to chairweve had a really good relationshipare in the same hallway, so theres the association, he says. You know,ever since. less separation to network. It was as a first-time attendee, you mightJust like Schweigert notes, Fordreally a win-win-win everythingit be thinking: Boy, I just want to seeconfirmsmany ASTA membersall feeds into each other.whats going on, but get involved,are eager to network, learn and careWere looking forward to new talk to people and meet people.about folks in the industry, no matterexperiences that will change the Theres a lot of senior folks in thetheir age. nature of the event entirely, she industry that want to be a mentor toTheres a lot of people there thatadds. new people. really do care, not just about the kind of business or their company, but College Students, Take Note want to see the industry do well and It wasnt just Schweigert who found amove forward, Ford says, noting that home at the ASTA CSS & Seed Exposince his days as a graduate student, at a young ageboth Ben FordASTAs CSS & Seed Expo has helped and Blake Croegaert say their firstbuild new relationships and experi-experience with the conference wereences that will stick in his memory. during their years as students. As a graduate student, FordChicago Will Be Missedremembers that while peoples cal- Though ASTA is moving forward to a endars were filled to the brim withnew home for the CSS & Seed Expo meetings, they still made time tomembers will miss the home theyve catch lunch with him and talk aboutfound for years.Want to hear more memories from Chicago?his goals for the future.Chicago has been a staple of theMake sure to visit ASTAs Chicago Memories page atWed kind of talk over what myindustry, and when we get there, youasta.swoogo.com/css22/memories JANUARY 2023GERMINATION.CA 27'