While she wasn’t quite sure at that point what career path she intended to take, Edmundson did know that she wanted to continue to be involved in agriculture in some form.
After a winding path that included working with two non-profits that focus on global food production skills and food security, Edmundson realized she also wanted to work with youth. She started at Oklahoma State University to obtain a Master’s degree in animal science, international agriculture, and education.
The opportunity to participate in the Global Food Security Symposium came at a perfect time for Edmundson. The Symposium brings together global leaders, social innovators, and influencers to host a worldwide discussion on improving food security worldwide. For 2019, the March event focused on water scarcity.
“[Water is] always a concern and we will always have to think about it,” said Edmundson. “It highly impacts production, and decisions as to whether to have crops or animals.”
The CCGA Symposium website takes it a step further by asking, “By 2050, over one half of the world’s population could be at risk due to stress on water resources. How will we grow an adequate quantity—and quality—of food to feed and nourish a rapidly growing, urbanizing world in the face of increasing water insecurity?”
Out of 600 applicants, Edmundson was chosen as one of 20 delegates to be invited to the symposium. According to the symposium website, delegates are “…exceptional students from universities throughout the United States and across the globe studying agriculture, food, health, and related disciplines.” All delegates are invited to participate by telling their stories, writing about their experiences, networking, and learning. Edmundson was the only delegate from the Midwest with a background specifically in agriculture, and met a wide variety of students from not only the United States, but from around the world.
“One of the students, from Nigeria, is going to King’s College in London. It’s his goal to eventually become the leader of Nigeria,” Edmundson said. Other delegates’ focuses were on fish nutrition (“fish need clean water too,” Edmundson said), public policy, engineering, environmental engineering, and more.
“A student from the University of Texas is looking at how water can bring peace to the Middle East,” said Edmundson.
Overall, she found the experience to be everything she expected, and more. She said the delegates were treated like next-gen leaders, and were expected to be fully immersed in the conference.
And Edmundson seems like good leadership material.
“Hearing stories of fellow Next Generation Delegates from around the world also put into perspective that there is not one solution that fits all as each scenario of water scarcity and issues vary. In addition, these issues are not going to be relieved with one industry or perspective. It’ll require cooperation with private and public sectors, nutritionists, agriculturists and many others to ultimately find a solution that will work long term for the benefit of communities and their future generations,” she writes in a blog post regarding the Symposium. “Each of us Next Generation Delegates are leading in our own distinct ways in our local communities, states and countries to support these current leaders of today and to inspire youth to seek opportunities in food production.”
While at the Symposium, Edmudson shared her story in a speech as part of a Storytelling event. She focused on her experiences with water.
“Water, whether too much or too little, determines if we have a crop to sell each fall harvest, quality cattle to contribute to the food industry, and at the end of a day a place to call home,” she says in her speech. “On the farm, we recognize the importance of a good rainfall but are continuously making strides towards preparing for when that moisture may not come, through improved management practices for our livestock and crop operations, innovative technology and research. As stewards of the land, farmers around world are making strides to work with less water while maintaining the health of our soil and general environment for our generations to follow. Water means to me food on each of our tables and a way life in the agriculture industry.”
“It was very nerve-wracking, but it was great to get feedback,” she said. “I was reminded to stay open-minded, and I really value that.”
And it was great to have a reminder, that while we here have been experiencing some less-than-positive aspects of water, clean and usable water is a resource that we cannot take for granted.
