b'It Might Be Goodbyeoutside his family and company that hesays. That really meant a lot to me as aChicago has been a staple knew.graduate student to get noticed, and have I found myself at a retirement partypeople see me as if I were important for Chicago, But ASTAfor a seed industry professional, andthe future of the industry. of the industry, and when we there was only one other person there,Croegaert says he was interning Schweigert, now ASTA chair and presi- during his first ASTA conference and hadget there, you can just feel it. dent of Gro Alliance, says. I walked upan interesting first business dinner there.Its got a big feel to it, and its Remembers It Fondly behind him at the bar, and he asked:I had my first ever business dinnersomething that really brings What do you think of this conferencewith a co-worker, Croegaert, now direc-so far? I said, Well its amazing, but Itor of Verdant Partners, says. My co-just dont know anybody, and theresworkers daughter had a baby and had tothe industry together. not really a way for me to get to knowleave immediately.Ben Petersonanyone. He said, Well, why dont we doThis left Croegaert in the hands of something about it? the Independent Professional Seed Schweigert was talking with the thenAssociations Todd Martin. current chair of ASTA, Don WertmanandPoor Todd was left with me as an what started as a happenstance meeting atintern, and he actually stuck the dinnerThe people there will help you out, and a retirement party turned into some phoneout, he says. Much to my surpriseandyoull learn a lot, he says.calls, then conference calls, but eventuallyI appreciate that, and weve had a reallyASTA will continue hosting the CSS & led and laid groundwork for Schweigertsgood relationship ever since. Seed Expo in Orlando, Florida, starting in work with the Future Seed ExecutivesJust like Schweigert notes, Ford con- 2023. Though the location might change, Initiative (now LEAD committee).firmsmany ASTA members are eagerCrouse says the experience will only get That was my pathway into chairingto network, learn and care about folks inbetter from here. a committee and ultimately going ontothe industry, no matter their age. In Orlando, were not going to have the board and finally to chair the associa- Theres a lot of people there that reallyto split the show up to different floors or tion, he says. You know, as a first-timedo care, not just about the kind of busi- different towersinstead, were going attendee, you might be thinking: Boy, Iness or their company, but want to see theto bring it closer together, Crouse says. just want to see whats going on, but getindustry do well and move forward, FordExhibits can be more front and center, involved, talk to people and meet people.says, noting that since his days as a gradu- so exhibitors can get more traffic. But not Theres a lot of senior folks in the industryate student, ASTAs CSS & Seed Expo hasonly that, all the private meeting rooms are that want to be a mentor to new people. help build new relationships and experi- in the same hallway, so theres less separa-ences that will stick in his memory.tion to network. It was really a win-win-win College Students, Take Note everythingit all feeds into each other.It wasnt just Schweigert who found aChicago Will Be Missed Were looking forward to new experi-home at the ASTA CSS & Seed Expo atThough ASTA is moving forward to aences that will change the nature of the a young ageboth Ben Ford and Blakenew home for the CSS & Seed Expoevent entirely, she adds. Croegaert say their first experience withmembers will miss the home theyveWant to learn more about the new the conference were during their years asfound for years.iteration of the ASTA CSS & Seed Expo in students.Chicago has been a staple of the2023? ASTA will have a booth set up right As a graduate student, Ford remem- industry, and when we get there, you canbeside the registration desk in Chicago bers that while peoples calendars werejust feel it, says Ben Peterson, accountfor you to not only say goodbye to filled to the brim with meetings, they stillexecutive for Peterson Genetics. Its got aChicago with a card to the Hyatt staff, but made time to catch lunch with him andbig feel to it, and its something that reallyalso catch a sneak peak of what Orlando talk about his goals for the future.brings the industry together. will look like in 2023.SWWed kind of talk over what my goalsPeterson says that Chicago has been were, where I saw myself as I wrappeda staple on his calendarits something ON THE WEBup graduate schooljust a couple ofto mark down and look forward to all yearWHERE really neat opportunities then to getlong. some advice and get started thinkingMy first year, I remember not know- Want to hear more memories from Chicago?about where I might land in the industry,ing what the heck was going onI justMake sure to visit ASTAs Chicago Memories page atFord, head of corn breeding at Syngenta,decided, lets just go ahead and dive in.asta.swoogo.com/css22/memories. DECEMBER 2022SEEDWORLD.COM /7'