UNL ranks in top five nationally at 2025 AFA Leaders Conference

A group of 37 University of Nebraska–Lincoln CASNR students pose together on a staircase at the 2025 AFA Leaders Conference. The students, dressed in professional business attire, stand in several rows and smile toward the camera inside a large conference venue with glass windows and escalators in the background.

Thirty-seven students from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources attended the 2025 Agriculture Future of America Leaders Conference in Kansas City, Missouri. UNL ranked fifth out of 108 institutions represented at the national event.

Thirty-seven students from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources were selected to participate in the 2025 Agriculture Future of America (AFA) Leaders Conference, held Nov. 6–8 in Kansas City, Missouri. UNL ranked among the top five universities represented at the event, placing fifth out of 108 participating institutions.

The AFA Leaders Conference is a four-day professional development experience designed to help college students in agriculture build leadership and career skills. Delegates participated in workshops focused on six core competency areas: relationship development, collaboration, career management, cultural emotional intelligence, interpersonal intelligence and systems thinking. Attendees also explored internships and job opportunities, learned about graduate programs and networked with industry professionals.

Two CASNR students served in national leadership roles at this year’s conference:

Lexi Bodlak, a senior Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Communication major from Thurston, served on the 2025 AFA Student Advisory Team.
Caleb Burnside, a junior Agribusiness major from Stapleton, was selected as a 2025 AFA Ambassador.

Supporting the UNL contingent was CASNR’s AFA Champion, Meg Klosterman Kester, strategic initiatives and alumni engagement, who assists students with the application process and promotes the conference experience within the college.

“The AFA Leaders Conference provides an unmatched opportunity for students to develop leadership capabilities and connect with peers and industry professionals,” Klosterman Kester said. “It’s exciting to see 37 of our students earn a spot through this competitive process.”

Students accepted into the conference applied through AFA’s national review process. The high number of UNL participants and the university’s top-five ranking reflect strong student engagement and the institution’s commitment to cultivating leadership in agriculture.

More information about the AFA Leaders Conference is available at agfuture.org/experiences/leaders-conference/overview.