Ben Brown
Clinical Faculty in Agricultural Risk Management at University of Missouri
Brown says, “I serve as a research and Extension specialist for agribusiness and policy. My primary focus is in agricultural risk management including commodity markets, federal policy and financial considerations. My office is the truck tailgate, the dining room table, the basement meeting room or anywhere eager learners are gathered.”
What is the benefit of collaboration between industry and education?
Each partner has a role to play in delivering the best information in supporting Ohio’s producers and developing the next generation in Ohio’s agricultural community. For an entity like Ohio State University, our role is to provide relevant, timely and unbiased information for producers, agribusinesses and teachers to make the best decision possible. We rely on these groups to provide us information on what is interesting and of interest to the community as a whole so we can do the research and provide application material. Communication in this partnership is critical. If we all play our role correctly- the industry as a whole moves forward in a positive manner.
What value/assistance can you and your company provide to teachers and classrooms as they connect with you?
I’m willing to provide background information for lesson content, do a classroom visit in person or virtually via Skype, or serve on a teacher’s advisory board. I can also suggest possible field trips. I would be happy to speak to a class of students on market outlook, economic conditions supporting production or consumption of agricultural products, the role of farm policy, and how producers grow their business. I’m also willing to lead the class through a trading simulation we created teaching simple economic principles.
Why should teachers connect with you through GrowNextGen?
First—I’m fun to hang out with! But more importantly because I care about supporting youth that want to be involved in agriculture and educating those that didn’t have the opportunity to experience agriculture earlier in their life. I’m a product of the Land-grant University system and I’m proud to work for an institution like Ohio State University.
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